Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 14th

I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight: These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.- Isaiah 42:16.

Here is a full proof of the personality of the divine Spirit, the third glorious person in the adorable trinity; and also the nature of his office in the economy of the covenant of grace for the salvation of the elect. He WILL lead them into all the paths of truth. Truth is of the very essence and perfection of Jehovah. The Father "hath chosen us from the beginning to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the TRUTH."- 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Jesus is essentially "the way, the TRUTH, and the life,"- John 14:6 -by whom we are saved; and the Holy Spirit performs his office as our guide to HIM.

We poor sinners "are all gone out of the way:" we are blind and see not the way, ignorant and know not the way, proud and have "turned every one to his own way;" and if left to ourselves, through the darkness that is in us, should seek death and destruction in the error of our lives. But, adorable grace! the Spirit of love prevents this. He will guide to Jesus, THE WAY, and into "all the truth, as it is in him." So we enjoy life from him: a life of love and holiness now, and eternal life and glory hereafter. O the loving condescension of this heavenly guide! yet it is natural for us to resist the Holy Ghost, to grieve the loving Spirit, and quench his blessed motions. This is our chiefest grief. Yet such is his amazing love, such his sovereign power, that, like a most affectionate friend, a benign comforter, he takes us by the hand, yea takes our hearts into his hand, and WILL guide, counsel, and direct us. This he doth outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his secret but powerful influences. In the light of his word of truth, we see how sinful, miserable, and wretched we are in ourselves. But why doth he teach us this? Because we should not trust in ourselves that we are righteous, and deceive our souls into perdition.

By the word of his grace, he teaches us the knowledge of Jesus. In him he shews us the love of the Father, the super-aboundings of grace over the aboundings of sin. He turns us from the crooked paths of pride, self-will, and self-righteousness, into the straight paths of grace, truth, and holiness. Here, O believer, is thy mercy. "He WILL work and none shall let it." O, this is the crowning mercy of all, "I WILL not forsake them." Here are four absolute declarations, I WILL. Bow proud free-will to thy Lord’s WILLS. He WILL, certainly guide thy soul through all the mazes of a sinful world to eternal glory. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."- Romans 8:14.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh. John 3:6.

To learn the total corruption and desperate wickedness of human nature, is a hard lesson to flesh and blood. To have no confidence in the flesh; to consider ourselves upon a level with the very worst and vilest of sinners; yea, with the very devils, in point of hope of salvation in ourselves, is mortifying to our natural pride, and contrary to our carnal reason. “But the Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.” (Isaiah 23:9.) He hath effectually done this, by appearing in our nature, and by the doctrines which he taught. All flesh has become so totally corrupt and abominable in the sight of God, so hopeless and helpless, that nothing but the coming of the Son of God could bring salvation to us. He became the Son of man, that he might seek and save them that are lost. He seeks us, before we seek him. He saves us, before we look for salvation from him. He comes to us, by his word and Spirit, and says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.”-The flesh profiteth nothing to salvation.-They that are in the flesh cannot please God.- There is no good thing in the flesh: therefore, no good thing can proceed from it. No man, unless born again out of corrupt nature; born again of the Spirit, can see the kingdom of God.

O soul! consider, in order to raise love and gratitude, (1st.) That salvation is a work quite out of nature: that the flesh has not the least hand in it, nor contributes the least mite towards it: nay, it is totally averse to salvation by the blood and righteousness of the Son of God. (2d.) That the Son of God did not come into the world to purchase grace, and put it into the hands of nature, to make our flesh holy, righteous, and good, (as some foolishly talk) that so we might be saved. But he saves us out of nature. He gives us a new birth, into himself, by his Spirit. He leaves the flesh as he found it, vile and sinful, no good thing in it, that it might be mortified by the Spirit: yea, crucified, as accursed and devoted to death and destruction, because of the sin which dwelleth in it. (3d.) Art thou born again of the Spirit, so as to believe in Christ for salvation? Beware of having the least confidence in the flesh; aim not to make any shew in the flesh: this ministers to the pride and righteousness of the flesh. Know thy flesh, with its corruptions and lusts, as an enemy to thy Saviour, and to the peace and holiness of thy soul. Treat it as such: keep it low daily. Lastly, See all thy righteousness and perfection in the Son of God. Glory only in him and of him. Look on thyself, though ever so vile, yet shining more gloriously in the sight of God, in the glorious robe, and glittering garments of him who is “the Lord our righteousness.”