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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: July 6th

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Morning Devotional

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.- Matthew 5:44.

Love is the very badge and characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. Love is of God. All tempers and passions which are contrary to love, "are earthly, sensual, and devilish." Let no disciple say, This is a hard saying, who can obey it? Nay, but it is the command of thy loving Saviour; he practised it; he has left thee an example. To this end art thou born from above of the Spirit of love; and art possessed with "faith, which worketh by love." Therefore though hard and impossible it may seem to carnal reason, and to flesh and blood; yet we are under the indispensable obligation to follow the steps, and obey the commands of that Jesus, who loved us and died for us, though his enemies. He hath blessed us, and prays for us, and does good unto us, though we have rebellious natures which are at enmity and hatred against him. Never, never till thine enemy’s hatred and variance against thee exceed thine to thy Lord, art thou at liberty to dispense with this command. It is for the health and profit of thy soul. In keeping this command of love, verily there is a great reward of inward peace and consolation from the God of love. So shalt thou enjoy the witness of his Spirit, of thine adoption. Tell thy Lord of thine enemies and pray for them by name. Behold the blessed effects of love upon the heart of a most bitter and implacable foe-1 Samuel 24. See how David, the man after God’s own heart acts-how his faith works by love. When his persecuting foe, Saul, was delivered into his hand, love would not suffer him to do him any hurt. Yea, love smote his heart for only cutting off the skirts of his robe. Hear the pathetic cry of the bloody-minded Saul; struck with astonishment, and melted by love, he said, "Is this thy voice, such thy conduct to me, my son David? and he wept. Thou art more righteous than I; thou hast rewarded me good for evil; the Lord reward thee for it." Admire and imitate. Love is the weapon of thy spiritual warfare; by it thou art sure to prevail against, and conquer thine enemy. Therefore "if he hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." So strive to burn up his wrath, and melt him into affection. But suppose it hath not this effect upon him: it shall turn to the blessing and comfort of thy own soul. Thou shalt enjoy peace and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Lord, shall thy bright example shine

In vain before my eyes?

Give me a soul akin to thine,

To love my enemies.

The Lord shall on my side engage,

And in my Saviour’s name

I shall defeat their pride and rage,

Who slander and condemn.

Evening Devotional

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure. 2 Peter 1:10.

Without election there had been no Saviour given: no salvation wrought out: no promises made: no Spirit sent: no sinners effectually called to be saints: no love from God to comfort them; nor any heaven open to receive them. O how do poor sinners fight against their own mercies, when they call in question and reject the electing love of God. But, says one, I tremble to think, if I should not be one of the elect, what a dreadful thing would that be? Not at all more dreadful, but just the same, as if there had been no election. But what kind of argument is this, against any truth? Suppose a profane sinner says, if there is a hell, and I should be one of the damned, what a dreadful thing would that be? What does this prove? People are apt to stand in nature and self, and judge of the truths of God. Hence they have hard thoughts of a God of love. Behold, I shew unto you a more excellent way: far better to give diligence, to make your election sure, than to cavil and dispute about what is a plain article of Christian faith. Disputes seldom promote love; but assurance of our election will. Your fear and trembling, lest you should not be one of the elect, is a sure evidence, that you are not stupid and thoughtless about salvation. It is “with fear and trembling you are called to work out your own salvation, remembering it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12.) By his grace, study diligently to make your election sure. There is no election to salvation, but in Christ. Sinners are chosen: justified; sanctified, and saved in him, with an everlasting salvation. The faith of God’s elect, cordially receives and embraces these truths, and lives upon Christ, to enjoy the comfort of them. Such a believing soul, cannot but breathe out its sighs, and send up its prayers for the Holy Ghost to bear witness with his Spirit, that he is a child of God. Says St. Peter, prove the sincerity of these, and that your heart is in earnest, to enjoy this assurance, by giving diligence. Self-love may excite a desire after comfort.

But if faith works by love, to the truths of God, it will make you diligent in the ways of God. O the unspeakable joy, when the comforting Spirit bears witness to the soul, of the Father’s love in Jesus: that I am a child of God, through faith in Christ, that my sins are pardoned through his blood, and my person justified in his righteousness. This is glory begun below, by a heaven of love, possessing the sinner’s soul. Then he says, “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Thou Life of lives, Life of my soul,

Me quicken ev’ry day;

O let not sloth my pow’rs control,

Not let me ever stray.

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