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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: August 25th

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Morning Devotional

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him?- Judges 6:31.

When the Lord Jesus appears and manifests himself to the soul, it is so struck with his glory and grace, that it cries out in holy ecstasy, "What have I to do any more with idols?"- Hosea 14:8 -and an altar for spiritual worship is presently set up in the heart, and consecrated to Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord of peace. In this chapter is a sweet view of the zeal of Gideon for the true worship of Jehovah. He instantly obeyed the word of Jesus, the angel of the presence, the man, the PEACE who appeared to him, and at his command he threw down the altar of Baal. He expected opposition from his Father’s household and from the men of the city, therefore he did it by night. A blessed instance of the obedience of faith joined to sanctified reason. As to the consequence after the work done, he "conferred not with flesh and blood;" he was "in nothing terrified by his adversaries." They demanded his life; but Joash his father was raised up like the fire of zeal from the Lord to argue with them. "Will ye, ye men of Israel, ye professed people of Jehovah, will ye plead for Baal? will ye serve an idol?" Be zealous, O disciple, for thy Lord; fear no consequences.

The Lord is on thy side, what hast thou to fear from those who are against thee? Be not discouraged, though thou dost find great professors; children of the visible church, thy mother; yea the children of thy Father’s grace also join in pleading by word or practice for Baal. This name signifies he that rules or subdues; a master, lord, or husband. This may most justly be applied to sin in general, and every idol lust in particular. So saith Paul, "His servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness."- Romans 6:16. Thou free man, thou heaven born son of the Lord, know thy freedom, study thy liberty.

Strive by the Spirit’s aid to live up to thy privilege, (in spite of all that professing men or opposing devils plead against it) above the domineering power of lusts, the galling yoke of sin: thy Saviour has all power in heaven and earth! Plead with him; expect power from him; thou canst do all things through Christ strengthening thee. Faith surmounts every difficulty; it silences carnal reasonings and vain pleadings from every quarter. While Jesus is viewed, sin is abhorred and holiness loved, desired, and shall be increased in the soul.

Thou art my portion, O my God;

Make me to know thy way:

O cause my heart t’ obey thy word,

And that without delay.

I choose the path of heav’nly truth,

And glory in my choice;

Not all the riches of the earth

Could make me so rejoice.

The testimonies of thy grace

I set before my eyes;

Thence I derive my daily strength,

And there my comfort lies.

Evening Devotional

I am found of them that sought me not. Isaiah 65:1.

Every display of the Saviour’s grace, is a jewel in his mediatorial crown. O what hearts have we, that we are not more humble before him, more thankful to him, and more joyful in him! Jesus, help us Gentile sinners, to look back, to look within, to look up, and to look forward, to excite humility, thankfulness, and joy of heart. (1st.) Look back, O my soul. View thy natural state; lying dead asleep in the arms of the wicked one-dead to God-under the power of sin-in love with the world-blind to the charms of Christ, without a single desire after him, or the least care for thy immortal soul. (2d.) Look within, dost thou find affection to Jesus, and desires after him? Is it the language of thy heart, none but Christ-I look to none but him-I expect salvation from him, and him only? O whence this mighty change? Say, did you first seek Christ, or Christ you? Did your desires first go out after Christ, or his desires towards you? O in the fervor of love, you must cry out, Pride, thou busy foe, avaunt! I must, I should have gone to hell, without a single desire of salvation by Jesus, if he had not sought me, and made himself manifest to me. His grace was first in the work. Then, (3d.) Look up, give Jesus the whole and sole glory. O to think, when there was nothing in us to invite the loving Spirit down, but every thing to cause him to loath us, and to leave us-yet, O matchless love, and sovereign grace! he shewed us Christ, drew us to Christ, and caused us to receive Christ. Rejoice, love, adore, and praise. Who can resist divine attraction? Who is proof against divine love? Who that loves, can love enough? (4th.) Look forward, soul! heaven is before you: Jesus stands ready to receive you: God the Father to embrace you: God the Son to glory in you: and God the Spirit to triumph over you. Glory shall complete what grace has begun. O study the grace and love of Jesus, that is our heaven below; to praise him for it, will be our eternal employ above. But one thing remains, give God the glory of all this amazing grace. Study from day to day, and from hour to hour, to do it by the faith of your hearts, the words of your lips, and the obedience of your lives. No consideration whatever, can beat down your native pride- sink into genuine humility, animate with holy love to all cheerful obedience, like this, “God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Then since I have my Saviour found,

And tasted of his love,

I’ll tell poor sinners all around

That they its pow’r may prove.

The Spirit found me dead in sin,

And led me unto Christ;

I felt such precious pow’r within,

I could not him resist.

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