Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: July 13th

The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.- Deuteronomy 30:6.

Even Moses, who delivered the fiery law of wrath and terror, preaches like a Barnabas, a son of consolation. In this chapter we have a precious enumeration of new-covenant blessings and evangelical promises, all settled in the eternal counsels between Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; all founded in infinite wisdom, everlasting love, and immutable faithfulness; therefore sure to all the seed "who are chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world." Such is the solid foundation of gospel faith and hope. The happy heirs of it the Lord God sets a special mark upon. Hereby he owns them as his peculiar ones. This is also an evidence to them of their special relation to him. As the Father loved his people before time, and gave them to Jesus, to be redeemed in the fulness of time; so also, at the appointed time, the Lord the Spirit performs his office upon them-he circumcises their hearts. This power belongeth to God only. This St. Paul calls "the circumcision made without hands,"- Colossians 2:11. Outward circumcision was a painful operation to the flesh. By it was signified the cutting off all carnal hope and legal confidence in the flesh; and was a sign and seal of new-covenant blessings by Jesus. The circumcision of the heart brings the experience and enjoyment of hope in Jesus, peace and joy in Jesus, and a longing expectation of the full enjoyment of Jesus in glory to the soul.

When the callousness and hardness of the heart is cut off, then it gladly hears and receives the love of God its crucified Saviour. This love, known and believed, begets love to God in a circumcised heart. And though there is all comfort in love, yet there is a painful sensation attends loving souls. This is the fruit and evidence of love. They mourn and grieve at feeling the sins and corruptions of their natures; they are pained at the sight of them-groan under a sense of them- are filled with shame for them, and detestation against them. O how do they strive against them and cry to Jesus for victory over them! To "love the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul," this is their one desire on earth; that they may be in love, wholly devoted to him who bought them with his blood. Of all such souls the Spirit of inspiration declares, "Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord!"- Deuteronomy 33:29. "We are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."- Philippians 3:3.

Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against this Philistine, to fight with him: for thou art but a youth; and he a man of war from his youth. 1 Samuel 17:33.

We frequently use the phrase, carnal reason. What do we mean by it? Just what Saul here used to David. It is the reason of the flesh: it consults the nature and appearance of things only: it judges of and determines events according to human probability entirely: it looks to no other or higher cause, than nature and sense. Now, had David listened to, and obeyed, this sort of reasoning, he would have brought no honour to his God, nor wrought deliverance for his people. But observe, O my soul! David opposed faith to this carnal reasoning, and by faith overcame it. There was not one word of the Lord in Saul’s mouth. But David introduced, “the Lord the deliverer.” Like St. Paul, “he conferred not with flesh and blood.” (Galatians 1:16.) But being valiant in faith, he overcame the gigantic foe, in the name, relying upon the power of an omnipotent Lord, and thus he obtained a glorious victory. Most excellent lesson for us. Christian! ever consider your carnal reason as a home-bred enemy, a domestic foe, that opposes your Lord’s truth, with, How can these things be? It disputes your Lord’s commands, with, Hath the Lord forbidden this? Doth he require that? It dares cavil against the mysteries of grace and wants them to be explained to the judgment of carnal conception; or else exclaims, reject them as absurdities. How often has this enemy put you to the stand, when you should have followed your Lord? how often caused your hands to hang down, when they should have been lifted up to the Lord? how often caused you to lay aside the weapons of your warfare, when you should have fought the good fight of faith? Treat it as an enemy to your Lord’s glory, and your soul’s comfort. Refuse it audience.

Remember, the antidote against it is, simple faith in divine love. This brings the enjoyment of God into the heart; engages his power in our defence; arms the soul with fortitude against every enemy, which carnal reason represents as too formidable to stand against. Yea, faith takes up this triumphant language: “More than conqueror, in all these things, through Christ who hath loved us,” (Romans 8:37.) And boldly challenges, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?” (verse 33.) O that little word elect! how does carnal reason fight against it!

My reason proud resists my faith,

And often dejects my heart:

Instead of trusting what God saith,

Our souls at dangers start.

This is a sin we should confess,

And cry unto the Lord,

With strength’ning faith our souls to bless,

And courage from his word.