Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 4th

And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?- 2 Kings 8:13.

O, the treachery of the human heart! both scripture and experience prove this melancholy truth, that it is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Who can fathom the depths of its deceits? who can understand the misery of iniquity which lies concealed in the nature of sinful man? Alas! presumptuous confidence that our nature is not so totally corrupt and abominable, too, too oft deceives and betrays even the children of God. This wretch Hazael, who had premeditated rebellion and murder in his heart, yet starts at the prediction of these crimes which as yet had no real existence. Doubtless he thought Elisha judged very hard of him; he could almost stare the prophet out of countenance; and, as though he charged him with degrading the dignity of his human nature, he demands whether he looked on him no better than an unclean beast, a fierce devouring DOG, that he should commit such abominable wickedness? His very nature even shuddered at the very thoughts. But the history assures us "lust had conceived, and it brought forth sin;" which ended in the murder of his royal master! Hazael fully verified all the prophet’s prediction.

Boast not of thyself, O Christian; say not, I am a converted man, a believer in Jesus, not an unclean wretch like this Hazael; therefore I shall not fall into that and the other sin. Be not high-minded, but fear. Thou standest not by thine own strength, but by faith. This grace ever leads out of self to its object, Christ. Flatter not thyself, that thy corrupt nature is in any-wise better than another; know there is no difference. Deceive not thyself with conceits of perfection in the flesh, or with the deluded dream, that the root of sin is entirely destroyed in thy nature. Ever remember, "that in the flesh dwells no good thing;" that it is and ever will be prone to evil continually. Happy for thee that thou art new-born, newcreated in the spirit of thy mind. It is thy privilege to live under the influence of grace and love. But still thy fallen nature is ever the same, the old man is still alive; there is the tinder of corruption, which may take fire from the devil’s sparks of temptation. What thou art least suspecting, yea when thou art most confident of standing, thou mayest be in the greatest danger of falling. What thou fearest not to-day, tomorrow may overcome thee. Think not more highly of thyself than thou oughtest to think. Be sober; watch unto prayer. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."- 1 Peter 5:5.

Sin hath a thousand treach’rous arts,

To practise on the mind;

With flatt’ring looks she tempts our hearts,

But leaves a sting behind.

She pleads for all the joy she brings,

And gives a fair pretence;

But cheats the soul of heav’nly things,

And chains it down to sense.

And ye are complete in him. Colossians 2:10.

Holy Paul has but one object in view. He aims to bring all Christians to one point, even to be happy and joyful in one Saviour. As in Christ all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, so his disciples should see, that they are complete in him. O how do we labour and toil, vex and perplex our hearts from day to day, for want of clearly seeing, and simply believing this. Consider, (1st.) The assertion. St. Paul does not here exhort, be ye complete, but affirms, “ye are complete.” Not, ye shall be complete hereafter, when you have obtained stronger faith, greater love, and done more good works: but, “ye are complete” now, at this present moment. Do not think you want any thing in yourselves, to make you complete; but know and rejoice, ye are full, complete and perfect in Christ, your Head. For ye are members of him; and being one in him, all his perfection is yours. This is the glory of faith. Here is the comfort and joy of faith. And thus faith gives glory to Christ, its author and object. It leaves all works behind. It finds all perfection in Christ, and it works by love to all good works: not to get perfection by them, but to glorify Christ, in whom we are already perfect and complete. But (2d.) In what sense are all believers complete in Christ? (1st.) In righteousness. They are perfectly righteous in Christ, therefore they are perfectly accepted, and fully justified by God, in him. (Ephesians 1:6.) They never can be more complete in righteousness, than they are IN Christ. (2d.) In the abolishing of sin. They are presented in Christ without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Christ hath by one offering perfected for ever all them who are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14.) That is, separated by the love of God the Father, from eternity; and separated by God the Spirit, to believe on Christ in time, and to whom Christ is made sanctification. (3d.) In freedom from the guilt of sin, and punishment by the law of God. The work of Christ makes “perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.” (Hebrews 9:9.) Their hearts are sprinkled from an evil, or guilty conscience. (Hebrews 10:22.) There is now no [not one, not the least] condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1.) (4th.) In their victory over death. Their victory is complete in Jesus Christ.

This is the grateful triumph of faith. “Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57.) In their assured hope of a glorious immortality, our hope in Christ is perfect and complete. Nothing can be added to it. For we are in Christ,

(1st.) Perfectly cleansed from all our sins.

(2nd.) Restored to perfect righteousness.

(3nd.) Perfectly reconciled to God. And

(4th.) The gate of heaven is open to us.

Here is a glorious perfection indeed. This is a perfection worth contending for. O precious Christ! O precious faith!-

The wounded conscience knows its pow’r,

The healing balm to give:

That balm the saddest heart can cheer,

And make the dying live.