the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.- Philippians 4:6.
All anxious cares which torture and distress the mind arise from unbelief; they are contrary to our profession, dishonorable to our God, and hurtful to the peace and comfort of our souls. Therefore they are forbid by the gospel of grace, in love to the children of God. But, believer, thou hast not so learned Christ as to pass away a life of careless indolence and thoughtless inactivity. No; vigilance, industry, and fervency of spirit, is a suitable frame ever to be found in. Not slothful in business, but fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. Careful and diligent in the use of all means in thy power, both to procure the subsistence and welfare of thy body, as well as to keep up the liveliness and vigour of thy soul. Careful and diligent, yet without care that hath disquietude and distress. As to the things of this life, it is sufficient to answer all thy anxiety, and silence thy every fear and doubt; "your heavenly Father (saith Jesus) knoweth you have need of them." He feeds the birds. Will he suffer his babes to starve? Thou shalt have all things needful for life and godliness. If such a sinner as I may speak of himself, under worldly losses and disappointments I have thought, "Well, though I have not what I expected, I can very well go to heaven without it." This consideration, thanks to my dear Saviour, hath often brought a heaven of contentment to my soul, in a world of disappointment.
As to spiritual blessings, "He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up a sacrifice for our sins; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." The Father that hath "blessed" us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus," will hand them out to us by his Holy Spirit in number, weight, and measure, just as his wisdom sees best; and it is our wisdom to be content and thankful. Here is encouragement for faith and prayer.
And canst thou look within, without, around, above, and see no cause for thanksgiving and praise, O Christian? Are not what thou hast in hand, and what thou hast in hope, the free gifts of the grace of thy God? Call to mind his mercies to excite gratitude; reflect on his promises to quicken in prayer. Under all thy trials, distresses, sorrows, fears, doubts, and difficulties, here is sweet encouragement for thy soul; speak them out freely: make thy requests familiarly unto God. And what shall be the happy consequences? Hear and rejoice, thou shalt have more "abundantly than either thou canst think of or ask for."- Ephesians 3:20.
Christ ever lives to intercede
Before his Father’s face:
Content, my soul, thy cause he’ll plead,
Nor doubt thy Father’s grace.
Peter said, man, I know not what thou sayest. Luke 22:60.
No, Peter! Why he speaks plain enough. He is confident of thy person, knows thy voice, and the very brogue of thy tongue. He boldly affirms, “Of a truth thou wast with Jesus.” This is a downright lie, to say, “I know not what thou sayest.” Peter is ashamed of his Lord. Is he not ashamed of himself? Not yet. He lied horridly. Next, he cursed and swore bitterly. Might we not expect to hear next, he was damned eternally? He deserved it. Was he here now, he would confess it from the very ground of his heart. But he is above, confessing his desert of damnation, and ascribing salvation to God and the Lamb. For, “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.” O who can say, what there was in that turn, and that look! Lord, give us to feel some of the grace and power of it, that we may improve it. Consider, (1st.) sin is sin, in God’s saints, as well as others. Yea, their sins exceed all others. Yes, and God sees sin in them too, as well as others. And he will surely punish them for sin too. Let us not be wise above what is written. Saith the Lord, “You only have I known (with the love of a tender Father) of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2.) Who can say what a hell of agonies Peter felt, when he wept bitterly? He fully experienced that truth which he afterwards preached to others. “Judgment must begin at the house of God.” (1 Peter 4:17.) (2d.) See what this judgment is. Not damnation for sin, but condemnation for sin in the heart and conscience. The sight of it: feeling, mourning, groaning under a sense of it: looking up to God, with a broken heart, a contrite spirit, a sorrowful soul, crying out, “Against thee, O Lord, have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight.” Nothing but thy blood, O Jesus, can cleanse me. O my God, let thy grace pardon me, and thy Spirit comfort me. (3d.) What affects any sinner thus? The Saviour’s turning and looking upon the soul. Sin naturally hardens the heart, and sears the conscience. Peter, after his awful fall, would have run away from Christ: given himself up to the service of sin and Satan, till he fell into hell, if the Lord had left him to himself. So would you and I. But Jesus turns from his anger against our sins: turns to us in love. He looks. Instead of frowning us into black despair, and eternal damnation, he looks with love: he speaks love into our souls: he melts our hearts with his gracious, loving looks, into sorrow and remorse for our sins; and with hopes of mercy and pardon from his loving heart. “For where sin abounded, grace much more abounds.” Romans 5:20.
His firmest purpose will not stand,
Behold his guilt and shame;
Lord keep me by thy mighty hand,
And I shall do the same.
