Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: September 11th

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.- 2 Corinthians 5:1.

It is the grand device of that arch-deceiver, Satan, to represent the religion of Jesus as tending to melancholy, gloom, and sadness; but daily experience proves the reverse; for under a sense of a crazy, disordered body, from views of its approaching dissolution, with thoughts of its being shortly committed to the silent grave, who can put on an air of composure, joy, and delight, except the Christian? Who such cause for continual felicity, as he who knows his lease is well nigh expired of his present house, that shortly it is to be pulled down; but yet, through the kindness and love of his heavenly Father, a free grant of his eternal inheritance is given him, "of a house not made with hands?" What comfort must it yield to him to KNOW the nature of the purchase, the certainty of its being obtained, the price fully paid, the deeds signed and sealed, the conveyance legally made, his trustee, Jesus, actually being in possession; yea and "the earnest of his inheritance in his heart, by the Holy Ghost given unto him:" O, the inexpressible joy of this knowledge! All this we assuredly know by faith. Come, my brother mortal, is thy house like mine, ruined, crazy, and just ready to fall? O, let us daily be looking by faith, from Pisgah’s top to the promised inheritance. Let us daily consider our approaching dissolution, that our hearts may more and more love and live with our dear Saviour, who has told us, "I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to receive you to myself: where I am, there shall you be also."- John 14:2-3.

Vain and trifling is all this perishing world has to offer, compared with the glory which shall shortly be revealed in us; yea, not to be set in competition with the grace that is NOW upon us. And what can deprive such an heir of his inheritance? Shall sin? No; that is fully atoned by the blood of Jesus. Shall the world? No; he hath victory over that, by the faith of Jesus. Shall Satan? No; the "God of peace will bruise Satan under his feet shortly."- Romans 16:20. Shall the corruptions of his nature and the workings of unbelief? These may distress and make him groan; may deject with doubts; but shall not disinherit. For unbelief also is included in that precious promise, "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are under grace."- Romans 6:14. And all such are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."

There is a house not made with hands,

Eternal, and on high,

And here my spirit waiting stands

Till God shall bid it fly.

Shortly this prison of my clay

Must be dissolv’d and fall;

Then, O my soul, with joy obey

Thy heav’nly Father’s call.

Behold, this dreamer cometh. Genesis 37:19.

St. James says, “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy,” (James 4:5.) This is fully manifest in the conduct of Joseph’s brethren against him. Joseph seemed open hearted, simple, and without guile. If he had not told his dreams, he had not raised his brethren’s envy. But the Lord’s hand was in it: no thanks to them. Their cruelty to Joseph, raised him to the greatest eminence, and saved them from death by famine. Thus the Lord brings good out of evil. Methinks I see young Joseph coming towards his brethren, and they looking upon him with an air of the greatest contempt and derision, saying, “Behold, this dreamer cometh!” There, that’s he, that we are all to bow down to, worship, and serve. Look at this mighty dreamer of foolish dreams. St. Paul, in enumerating the sufferings of the faithful, says, “Others had trials of cruel mockings.” (Hebrews 11:36.) Samson by the Philistines; Elisha by the children whom the bears devoured; David by Michael, etc. But who of all the sons of men, ever had trials of such cruel mockings as the Son of God? Know then, O disciple, thou art not to be above thy Master. It is sufficient for thee to be as thy Master. Expect cruel mockings. Wast thou never mocked and derided for thy profession? Then thou hast reason to fear thou hast not been faithful to thy Lord. Else surely the world would have seen that thou hast been with Jesus, and as verily as they mocked him, they would deride thee. Though you need not cast your pearl before swine: or as Joseph did, tell all the dealings of God with your soul, to the men of the world; yet if you dare make an open profession of salvation by the free grace of God, through Jesus only, your name will be up-mockings will be your portion. Yea, men will say of thee, as Joseph’s brethren did of him, “Behold, this dreamer cometh.” See that visionary, enthusiastic fool: he dreams that he is one of God’s elect: that he has the witness of the Spirit: that he is sure of going to heaven, not for his works, but by grace, through faith only. Such honour have all God’s saints. Pray now, who would wish, who would strive to escape it? Would you lose a badge of your profession-a mark of honour that you are the followers of the once mocked and derided Son of God? But beware of being deceived like those of old, with “the visions of their own heart.” (Jeremiah 23:16.) But glory in the heavenly vision, the vision of the Spirit, the vision of faith. Let men mock on: let devils envy: yet the vision of faith is for an appointed time. Cruel mockings are only for a short season. Soon, very soon, you shall receive the end of your faith, the salvation of your soul, and be exalted above Joseph at Pharaoh’s court. You shall be with Jesus above, where all is harmony, peace, and love.