Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 24th

The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.- Galatians 5:17.

Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God’s word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness. Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord’s command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine.

What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.- James 1:15. The commission of sin contracts fresh sense of guilt. This is the malady and sickness of the soul. Hence, the many symptoms attendant on guilt, legal fears, terrors of conscience, accusations from the law, triumphs of Satan, dejection of soul, distance from God, backwardness to duty, coolness of affection to Jesus, shyness at or neglect of a throne of grace.

Alas! poor souls, when they have fallen, and are sensible of the melancholy effects, they feel the hurt they have received. Verily their hearts know the bitterness of it. Awful effects of fresh contracted guilt! How much to be deplored! how carefully to be watched against, and prayed to be kept from!

But whilst there is "a fountain opened for sin and uncleanness," whilst the Mediator’s "blood cleanseth from all sin," whilst the glad tidings of the gospel proclaim salvation by grace for the chief of sinners, there is no ground for black despair to any backsliding children, though they have revolted from a God of love. Here is all encouragement-to what? To love to live at a distance from Jesus, and lie down and wallow in the mire of sin because grace abounds? No godly soul can do this; for "the Spirit also lusteth against the flesh;" the Spirit renews again to repentance. Thus Luther: ’The more godly a man is, the more doth he feel this battle between the flesh and the Spirit.’ Hereof cometh those lamentable complaints in the Psalms and other scriptures. It profiteth us very much to see sometimes the wickedness of our nature and corruption of the flesh, that by this means we may be waked and stirred up to call upon Christ. So a Christian is made to see Jesus a wonderful Creator, who out of heaviness can make joy; of terror, comfort; of sin, righteousness; and of death, life. This is our ground and anchor-hold, that Christ is our ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Is the LORD among us or not? Exodus 17:7.

A very awful question to proceed from the lips of any child of God. What was the cause of it? Why, the Lord tried their faith. That fails them: nature murmurs: the flesh wants gratification: they are athirst: they tempt the Lord: they chide Moses: he is in distress: he cries to the Lord, “What shall I do unto this people? they be ready to stone me.” Mr. Henry judiciously observes here, “They do in effect suppose, that Moses was an impostor: Aaron a deceiver: the pillar of cloud and fire a mere sham and illusion, which had imposed on their senses; that long series of miracles, which had saved, rescued, and fed them, a chain of cheats; and the promise of Canaan, a banter upon them. It was all so, if the Lord was not among them. Observe, it is a great provocation to God for us to question his presence, providence, or promise; especially for his people to do it, who are so much obliged to trust him.” Well might Moses call this place Massah and Meribah, that is, temptation and strife. Disciple, wast thou never at Massah and Meribah? Did you never tempt your God, by forgetting his past dealings of love and favour to you-passing over the sweet experiences of thy soul, in former days of light and liberty, peace and love, calling all in question, and ready to set all down as mere delusions? Hast thou not been ready to question whether the Lord is with thee or not? O if thou hast not, I know one who has, and with grief of soul testifies of it: with shame of face confesses it, and with humble prayer would cry, God be merciful to me a sinner! O how trying this to a God of patience! How dishonouring this to a God of love!

But his patience fails not: his love never changes; his mercy endureth for ever. May this shame our unbelief. Again, wast thou never at Meribah? At the waters of strife? Hast thou not contended with the Lord’s prophets, as though they had invited thee from the land of nature, into the wilderness, to die for thirst after the waters of salvation? Hast not thou with the Psalmist, said in thy heart, “All men are liars?” (Psalms 116:11.) God has forgotten to be gracious. His promise is to come to an end for ever. I shall never see the light of the living. I know who can hold up his hand, and plead guilty. O let us rebuke ourselves for our unbelief: cry to the Lord for pardon, and to strengthen our faith. And instead of questioning, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Let us in faith confess, The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Psalms 46:7.

Thou art, O Lord, my soul’s relief,

Thou hast me bless’d with grace:

Forgive my sins, my unbelief,

Shew me thy loving face.

Thy patience, Lord, I oft have tried,

But yet am out of hell:

Where can I find such love beside,

Matchless, unsearchable!