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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: July 21st

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Morning Devotional

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.

Believers in Jesus know that "the remembrance of sin is grievous, and the burden intolerable." A sight and sense of sin affects their conscience with sorrow and distress. There is daily need that their poor hearts should be comforted; and also that they should be established in every good word and work. But from whence shall they derive this? from striving to forget, palliate, or excuse their past sins? by promising to be more stedfast for the future in the truths of God and obedience to his will? Alas! he who truly knows what a sinful nature is, who is really acquainted with his own weakness and insufficiency to that which is good, and his proneness to all evil, will not, cannot thus deceive his own soul. But the converted soul will ingenuously confess his sins to his God and Saviour, lay them open with their aggravating circumstances, mourn over them with a godly sorrow, own his just deserts for them; and in the exercise of faith, look "to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world." Here is the everlasting spring of consolation which God hath given us, "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin." Here is our good hope, through the grace of Jesus we are completely righteous in Christ. We stand perfectly accepted in God’s beloved Son. Faith and hope are inseparable. We believe the truth as in Jesus; we hope daily for more and more of the consolations of it. In this way, disciple of Jesus, thou canst never believe nor hope too much. Nay, is it not thy distress and heaviness that thy faith is weak, thy hope languid, and thy love so cold? But why is this? Not for want of a foundation for faith and hope; for "our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father hath loved us." Who? only the prophets, apostles, holy men of old, righteous persons? Nay, but sinners of mankind: such was the character of all those whom the apostle includes in the pronoun us. And as the consequence of this love "he hath given us EVERLASTING consolation." Not the effect of time; not subject to mutability; but solid, perpetual, and eternal. Founded in the everlasting covenant, established in everlasting righteousness, issuing in everlasting salvation, revealed in the everlasting gospel, and applied to the soul by the everlasting Spirit. Consolation and comfort are enjoyed in stability in the good word of God, and in the good works of faith, "to the praise of the glory of God’s grace."- Ephesians 1:6.

Evening Devotional

Kiss the Son. Psalms 2:12.

A short command. For brevity, like the poesy of a ring: but comprehensive, like the book of God. For it compriseth all that the Scriptures require of us, and promise to us. It means, that we live in holy love, and walk in sweet friendship with the Son of God. For, (1st.) a kiss is a token of reconciliation. Kiss and be friends, is a common proverb. “The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6.) Christ has experienced this, by the kiss of Judas. Though sinners against Christ, yet he loved us: though enemies to him, yet he died for us. The belief of this love destroys our enmity. The breach between God and us is made up. We are reconciled to God, and have peace with him, through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1.) How did reconciling grace operate upon the heart of that vile sinner, Mary? She kissed her Lord’s feet, while, with tears of penitential sorrow, she washed them. (Luke 7:38.) O! give the reconciling Son of God, this love-token of your reconciled hearts. (2d.) A kiss denotes congratulation. When Samuel anointed Saul, he kissed him and said, “Is it not because the LORD has anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?” (1 Samuel 10:1.) Thus congratulate Christ, “who is the Captain of our salvation.” (Hebrews 2:10.) (3d.) It is a salute of joy. By a kiss, we welcome a dear friend, on return from a long journey, or dangerous voyage. What a journey did Christ take! what a voyage did he embark in for us! After all his agonies and sorrows for our salvation, he has arrived at his kingdom and glory: and shall we not welcome and salute him with a kiss of joy? (4th.) It is a token of great honour. Not every one may presume to kiss the hand of an earthly monarch; some are permitted, on being appointed to some place under his government. Behold, we are “made kings and priests unto God, by Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 1:6.) What an honour to kiss the King of kings! Lastly; it is a love-token of consanguinity. Loving relatives express their mutual affection by a kiss. Is Christ the loving bridegroom of our souls? Let us arise, shake ourselves from the dust, and stir up our hearts, to give him every possible token of love and affection. May we live nearer to him, enjoy more of him, and be indulged with more spiritual communion with him. May our souls ardently long to be with him, that, with rapture, we may kiss those dear feet that travelled, and were nailed to the cross for us; those blessed hands, which were stretched out in prayer, and nailed to the accursed tree, and bless that loving heart, which was pierced for our sins and salvation.

With sweet affection, let us kiss

The Son of God, our Lord,

And own it as our highest bliss,

To live upon his word.

The more we think upon Christ’s love,

While in this vale of tears,

The more our hearts will soar above,

And banish all our fears.

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