Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 12th

Whom he justified, them he also glorified.- Romans 8:30.

What poor scanty thoughts do we too often entertain of the love and beneficence of our covenant God! At best our conceptions are too contracted: we are straitened in our own bowels, while we have no cause to be straitened in the superabounding grace of our Lord: we have little reason to borrow contracted thoughts of God’s love from Egyptian taskmasters. Our own corrupt nature too, too often furnishes with carnal pleas and unbelieving suggestions, which weaken our faith, cool our love, damp our zeal, deject our spirits, and grieve our hearts. Simple hearts should have nothing to do but with the plain simple truths of God. Hath the Lord said it? He will also do it. Faith defies Satan’s power, and smiles at human contradictions. Though humbled souls lie low in selfabasement, yet their views are exalted to the highest confidence, by God’s purposes, declarations, and promises in Christ Jesus. So they are established in the truth.

All the blessings of grace and glory are sure to every believer; for all such are in Jesus beloved, justified and saved in the sight of God. So also in themselves, they are discharged from guilt, absolved from punishment, acquitted from the curse of the law. When the comforter brings the sweet knowledge of this to the conscience, then how do they triumph in Jesus! Satan cannot see this without envy. Then he stirs up all the powers of nature and corrupt reason to stop their glorying.

Some miserable teachers are not aware whom they serve, when they talk of Jesus’ righteous, justified members being consigned over to eternal damnation. Justification by faith is a fruit of electing love. All such as are chosen to salvation, they can never perish. Says St. Austin, "If any of the elect perish, God is deceived; but God is not deceived, therefore none of the elect can perish; for the Lord knoweth who are his." In Jesus they have a sure right and title to glory. And the Lord the Spirit glorifies every justified soul. The church, the King’s daughter, he makes all-glorious within now. So each member hath a meetness for glory above. The glory of God lies near the hearts of sanctified souls. The way of truth and the paths of holiness are their delight. Sanctification of the Spirit is inseparable from belief of the truth. Both spring from the electing love of God the Father, and shall most assuredly issue in certain salvation of every happy subject. This is the challenge of Jesus: "Father, I WILL that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am."- John 17:24.

To God the only wise,

Saviour and our King,

Let all the saints below the skies

Their humble praises bring.

Soon all the chosen seed

Shall meet around the throne,

Shall bless the conduct of his grace,

And make his wonders known.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:12.

Soldiers of an earthly monarch are regularly enlisted to fight under his banner: they wear his livery, and are furnished by him with arms. In a day of battle, they prove their courage and faithfulness. So the Captain of our salvation chooses and enlists his own soldiers. He puts on them a livery, whereby they are known to his enemies. He puts an armour on them, and weapons into their hands. From the moment they enlist under him, they enter the field of battle. There is never any peace with the enemy. The fight is the good fight of faith. The prize is eternal life. The daily word of command is, fight. Stand to your arms. Give no quarter to the enemy. Beware of the least truce with them, for the danger is great, the effects will prove awful. It is a good fight. It is in a good cause: under a good captain, who gives good encouragement, and has assured us of certain victory over the worst of enemies.

Fight this good fight for the glory of him, who, in dying for us, has for ever conquered all who are against us. But they are not all dead yet. Fight on. It is a good fight of faith. Dost thou say, I have no faith? Then pull off thy soldier’s livery. What hast thou to do in the ranks? But who told thee that thou art destitute of faith? Why, thou hast laid down thy shield, art got into the enemy’s camp. He has seduced thee by his deceitful insinuations, and will prevail over thee. No faith! What meanest thou? Instead of fighting against, thou art parleying with the enemy. Dost thou believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners? Yes, sayest thou, but I have not the comfort of knowing that he is my Saviour! What then? Wilt thou deny thy faith for want of comfort? Desert thy Lord’s banner till thou hast obtained assurance of his love?

Fight on against thy worst foe, unbelief, and cry to thy best friend, Lord increase my faith. The battle is the Lord’s. Thy strength is from him. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: all ye who hope in the Lord. (Psalms 31:24.) Lay hold on eternal life. It is the free gift of God. Lay hold of it by faith. Possess and enjoy it now in the belief of thy heart. Hold it fast in hope. Quit not thy confidence in it. So shall thy heart be warm with love, thy spirit filled with joy, and thine arms made strong to fight, until thou art crowned in eternal glory. Remember, the joy of thy Lord is thy strength. When death the last enemy comes, hold fast thy faith, and thou shalt sing, victory in death.

True, ‘tis a fight with many foes,

For us too great and strong;

But Christ hath conquer’d all our woes,

The battle can’t be long.

Cheer up, my soul, look to thy Lord

For strength in ev’ry hour;

Vict’ry is promis’d in his word

And he will give thee pow’r.