Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
There are 3 days til Easter!
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: August 26th

Resource Toolbox
Morning Devotional

Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty: only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.- Galatians 5:13.

Peter was grieved because his Lord asked him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" Sure it ought to be matter of concern and grief to the loving, generous hearts of disciples, to think they yet need this caution of the Spirit. But, verily we all do. The most sanctified is yet in the flesh; and the flesh with its affections and lusts are alive: they are ever lusting and striving against the Spirit. The holy, happy soul, who is set at liberty from sin, Satan, and the law, in his conscience, is hereby liable to be brought again under bondage to the law and thraldom to sin. Know thy danger; dread thine enemy; yea, rather fear and love thy best friend Jesus; cry to him, Lord keep me continually. "Thou hast delivered my once captive soul from the power of the enemy; thou hast brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings, and put a new song in my mouth of praise to thee my Jesus and my God."- Psalms 40:2-3. Keep, O keep me from the deceitful workings and carnal reasonings of my corrupt, sinful self, the flesh! What is this liberty we are called into? Not a perfect freedom from the being of sin, but a perfect deliverance from every curse of the law, from all the wrath of God denounced in the law, from the bondage of being under the law, to do any thing to gain God’s love, recommend us to his favor, or entitle us to his kingdom. All this liberty we are called into by the faith of Jesus. He is the end or fulfiller of the law for righteousness to us who believe. O, what a glorious liberty are we called unto! Even a freedom from all sin in the conscience; so to live upon Jesus, as to consider ourselves in him, as perfectly free from all sin, entirely dead to it, and our conscience so cleansed by his blood, as to be ever easy, serene, and comfortable, as though we were innocent and never had sinned. O, this is heavenly liberty to new-born souls! This creates a paradise upon earth. This is daily to be prized and enjoyed through the Spirit. Now, how base and ungrateful ever to use, or rather abuse this liberty as an occasion to the flesh! But even the Lord’s own freemen are in danger of this through the vileness of their natures, the deceitfulness of their hearts, and the subtle devices of Satan, else the apostle had not thus addressed the BRETHREN. The doctrines of grace, the love of Jesus, and living on him by faith, lay the flesh under bondage and restraint. We cannot walk in the liberty of the Spirit, and yet fulfil the lusts of the flesh. We cannot serve God and Mammon. Thou free-men of the Lord, canst thou barter peace with Jesus for the gratifications of thy lusts? O rather "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made thee free."- Galatians 5:1.

Evening Devotional

I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Job 30:23.

What sweet familiarity does grace make, between God and believing sinners! How freely can they speak to him, upon that solemn event, death. In the exercise of faith, we think of it, without terror, and speak of it with delight. Why so? Because we have no sin, and are not sinners? No. But because we know Christ the friend of sinners, who has taken away all our sins, conquered death for us, subdued the fear of death in us, brought life and immortality to us, and is ever before the throne pleading for us. Yet we know, also, HE will bring us to death. O this is soul-comforting knowledge! What wilt thou, my loving God, my precious Saviour, who bore my sins in thine own body on the tree, bring me to death? Are the issues of life and death in thy hand? Cannot death approach nor assault me, till thou give him commission, and bring me to death? I thank thee, my dear Lord, for this knowledge. Then death, thou art no more the hideous monster, the frightful king of terrors to my soul. No. My dear Friend brings me to thee, that I may salute thee, as an angel of love, and kiss thee as a messenger of peace. Fond parents carry their children to see fine sights, to delight them. They avoid horrid spectacles which would terrify them. So doth our heavenly Father by us. He brings us to death, that we may see and be delighted, with the glorious victories of his beloved Son. Here we behold him, a triumphant conqueror over sin and death, and over the devil, who had the power of death. Our Father God brings us to the field of battle. He carries us through it. He shews us the spoils of his Son’s glorious conquest. There says he, See, reap and wear the blessed trophies of his victorious cross. All are for you, my children. Your enemies are all slain. A crown of glory for you, where you shall for ever reign. No sooner are we brought to, and carried through the field of battle, but shouts of victory await us. Hark, hark to the immortal spirits above. We shall soon be brought to join them in eternal shouts of Salvation to God and the Lamb. Now this is the life of faith. Believing in Christ, the fear of death is conquered. The hope of life is enjoyed.

Eternal life is possessed; and we cry out, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? We have an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1.

Why need I fear when God shall say,

My son, now you must die?

I’ll bring thro’ death to reign on high,

With me eternally.

My Father gives his only Son,

To conquer death for me:

This work Christ hath for ever done,

I shall his glory see.

Subscribe …
Get the latest devotional delivered straight to your inbox every week by signing up for the "Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God" subscription list. Simply provide your email address below, click on "Subscribe!", and you'll receive a confirmation email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription to this list.
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile