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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: July 19th

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Morning Devotional

We have not an high-priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are; yet without sin.- Hebrews 4:15.

"Without sin!" O, cries the sanctified soul, that this was my happy state. And verily, as sure as the word of God is true, thou shalt enjoy this perfect freedom from thy worst enemy. But thou must be content to wait God’s time, and live in God’s way; that is, by faith upon thy best friend Jesus. Thy present blessedness is to understand and rejoice in this great mystery, that Christ who knew no sin was made sin for us. Therefore, by faith we glory, knowing that God looketh on us, blesseth us as righteous in Christ, and doth not impute sin unto us. As the head is without sin, so are all the members, viewed and beloved in the sight of God. And this is the evidence that we are born of the Spirit and have the mind of Christ, that we hate all sin and long for entire deliverance from it, and aspire after full conformity to the image of God. But this we cannot enjoy in the body. We must first sleep in Jesus ere we awake up after his perfect likeness.

In the mean time we have a loving, sympathizing high-priest before the throne of God. This is our comfort. That very human nature in which our sins were expiated on earth, is now crowned with glory in heaven. This is very refreshing. Christ can as soon forget his own glory as any part of his suffering body. He feels for them. He is touched with the most tender concern and affection towards them. He knows what sore temptations mean, for he hath felt the same. Temptations, even though most violent, cannot harm us: nay, they do not defile us, unless we enter into them. Therefore, they should not deject us. And need we ever be overcome by them? Doth not Jesus live? Have we not free and familiar access to him, as the glorified man and Mediator? Is not all power in heaven and earth given unto him? Believest thou this, O soul? Think on Calvary’s proof of his love. Remember Bethany’s proof of his resurrection. Call to mind his tender love to, and affectionate care for, his sheep, when Saul was worrying them. O he called, "Why persecutest thou ME?" Thou canst not hurt them, but I feel it. He ever lives at the right hand of glory to intercede for and save us poor sinners. And let thy distress be what it may, his loving advice suits it. "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."- Psalms 50:15.

With joy we meditate the grace

Of our high priest above;

His heart is made of tenderness.

His bowels melt with love.

He in the days of feeble flesh

Pour’d out his cries and tears,

And in his measure feels afresh

What ev’ry member bears.

Then let our humble faith address

His mercy and his pow’r;

We shall obtain deliv’ring grace

In the distressing hour.

Evening Devotional

Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Acts 2:40.

Some, from a warm zeal for free-will, and a strong opposition to salvation by grace, have been weak enough to cite this passage to prove, that we have a hand in our own salvation; because we are here called upon to save ourselves. They might with equal propriety have inferred, that we are here exhorted to new create ourselves. But there is a sense, in which this exhortation is peculiarly applicable, to every saved sinner, every justified believer in Christ. For the honour and glory of our Saviour, and for the peace and comfort of our souls, let us attend to it. Wisdom informs us, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet not washed from their filthiness. O how filthy are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.” (Proverbs 30:12-13.) Now these are at enmity against, “That seed that serve the Lord, and which are counted to him for a generation.” (Psalms 22:30.) It was so from the beginning. It is so now. It ever will be so, as long as two seeds or generations are in the earth. Therefore, we are called upon to save ourselves from this generation; for it is untoward. The men of this generation may have extensive imaginations, profound learning, and shining abilities-they may occupy high stations in church and state. Yet they are perverse. They deride the glorious gospel: set at nought the precious Saviour: his perfect atonement, and one righteousness, they see no need of: they ridicule the operations of his Spirit, and call all who pretend to them, enthusiasts. Glad are they, when they can shew the untowardness of their nature, and the vexatious disposition of their spirits against them. From such, O Christian, save yourself. How? Refrain from their company. Despise their deistical notions. Abhor their proud, free-will, self-righteous tenets. Defile not yourself by reading their works. It is like trying the effects of poison upon a healthy body. Separate from them. Come out from amongst them. So shall you save yourselves, from partaking of their evils and judgments. Know his friends, and associate with them. Bless your precious Lord, for saving you from their untoward state, which was of his unmerited mercy and distinguishing grace. O when you read of them, and see them, reflect, such I was once; who made me to differ? Thus you will get good by them, if the reflection tends to sink your soul in humility, and causes you to exalt the riches of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

Dangers beset on ev’ry side

From men profane, and sons of pride:

O keep me, Lord, by grace divine,

And make me know I’m ever thine.

Born from above to walk with thee,

By faith that I may holy be:

Then let it be my constant care,

Of men untoward to beware.

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