Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: July 4th

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.- 1 John 1:9.

Doubtless there are many confessions of sin made by the lips of men which are vain and fruitless. Yea, a man may be under a sense of legal terror and wrath in his conscience; and, like Judas, in the anguish of his spirit confess that he has sinned, and yet never obtain forgiveness from God. But every believer in Jesus is made a priest unto God, to offer spiritual sacrifices by Jesus Christ. And as the high-priest under the law laid both his hands upon the scapegoat and made confession of sins, Levit. 16:21-so the Christian, every anointed one, lays both his hands of faith and hope on Jesus Christ, confessing the evil of sin, the desert of sin, the sin of his nature, and the sin of his life, and pleads for forgiveness. The sacrifice of Jesus is the alone object of his faith. And the blood of the Lamb is his only hope for pardon. This will be the daily exercise of believing souls; for we have daily need both of pardon and cleansing.

Such souls, thus confessing sin, are not left in doubtful suspense. Do not argue, God is merciful and perhaps he may forgive sin: but through the perfection of the one atonement of Jesus, by the word of truth they are fully assured, God the Father absolutely will pardon; not merely as an act of mercy, but because he is faithful and just. FAITHFUL to his own word, his oath, his counsel and his covenant-promises. JUST to fulfil the engagements entered into with Jesus, and to bestow what the precious blood of his Son hath procured for poor sinners. The blood of Christ was the stipulated price for ALL our sins. This, Christ as our surety hath paid to God. To demand payment for that debt of the debtor, which his surety has paid, is not just. But God is just, he doth not this. And thus through the faith of his heart the sinner is brought to make confession of sin with his mouth, with godly sorrow and holy shame for sin; and sincere abhorrence and detestation of sin. And lest such a soul should be "swallowed up with overmuch sorrow," God the Spirit is just, he will assuredly "cleanse him from all unrighteousness"-sprinkle his heart from a guilty conscience-cleanse his mind from every guilty fear, through the application of the blood of Jesus. So that the soul shall have, "the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,"- Isaiah 61:3.

And now the scales have left mine eyes,

Now I begin to see;

O the curs’d deeds my sins have done:

What murd’rous things they be!

What, is’t for crimes that I had done,

My dearest Lord was slain,

When justice seiz’d God’s only Son,

And put his soul to pain?

Forgive my guilt, O prince of peace,

Nor let me wound thee more;

Hence from my heart, ye sins, begone,

For Jesus I adore.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10.

This is a precious, evangelical chapter. Glorious gospel truths are here held forth to us. Lord, help us to see them, and feed upon them. Here is, (1st.) a solemn observation of the feast of tabernacles. This was appointed by the wisdom of God the Father, (Leviticus 23:34.) Did God solemnly command the people to dwell in booths for eight days, but to some glorious end? Christ is the substance of the whole law: here is a shadow of him. Here is typified, God’s beloved Son, who was to tabernacle in our flesh, and all the Father’s glory to dwell in him. (2d.) “The people gathered together as one man.” So, “Unto Shiloh, the Messiah, shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10.) (3d.) Ezra the priest reads and expounds to them the law, in the open street: (much such another crime as field preaching) the people were convinced of sin, and wept. The law ministers death and condemnation to them. Here is the office of the Holy Ghost, in convincing of sin, and comforting them by faith. (4th.) Ezra preaches the gospel to them, and says, “Weep not-neither be ye sorry.” No! not when their hearts were wounded by sin; the terrors of a broken law fell upon them; and when they saw justice armed with vengeance to destroy them? No: for, says he, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” How so? A glorious ray of Christ’s rich love, and marvellous grace to sinners, beam forth here. See what is the joy of the Lord. Our precious Lord Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, “For the joy that was set before him, (of saving us miserable sinners) endured the cross, despising the shame,” (Hebrews 12:2.) Look unto Jesus. Meditate on this joy of your Lord. Though he was to suffer the most excruciating pains and agonies on the cross- be exposed to public shame and infamy as a malefactor, hanging naked; yet such was his joy in saving his dear people from hell, to be glorified with him eternally in heaven, that he patiently endured all, and cheerfully despised all this. O! such love, such grace, such joy, never dwelt but in the heart of an incarnate God! Sinner, this joy of the Lord is your strength and mine; the faith of this creates the highest joy in our souls: and this joy inspires our hearts with strength and courage against all our enemies. For we are more than conquerors, through Christ who loved us, and had such joy in saving us. O to think I am a poor, weak, and vile sinner from day to day-surrounded by the most subtle and powerful foes, is enough to make our hearts faint, our knees feeble, and our hands hang down. But, O the joy, the strength it inspires the soul to know, “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” Zephaniah 3:17.

The joy which cometh from the Lord,

Our daily strength shall be:

It’s reap’d by faith in his good word,

Who hung upon the tree.