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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: September 16th

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Morning Devotional

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.- John 5:39.

It was an excellent reply of a Christian lady to a scoffing infidel, who vented profane banter upon the scriptures, and asked, What proof she could give of the truth of holy writ? ’Yourself, Sir,’ said she, ’is one;’ for it is written, "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts."- 2 Peter 3:3. Even Satan, when he tempted our Lord, though he dared to pervert, yet he never once attempted to deny holy scripture to be the truths of God. Shame to professors who are ignorant of God’s word. For Jesus and eternal life are revealed therein. Even devils, who have ho hope from the scriptures, seem well versed in them. But may not Jonadab’s question to Amnon be put even to some of God’s children, "Why art thou, being a king’s son, lean from day to day?"- 2 Samuel 13:4. Leanness of soul comes on many through neglecting the nourishing truths of God’s word. It is the rich feast of the Father’s love. By it the soul is fed and nourished up to eternal life. Verily, when we lose our appetite for the scriptures, and they are not savoury food to us, it is because our souls are distempered.

"They testify of me," saith Jesus. Is not that word enough? What so sweetly, so powerfully engaging to the soul, as when somewhat of our dear Saviour is to be learned from every page? The more we are acquainted with his precious person, his amazing love, his wonderful humility, his astonishing sufferings, his finished work on earth, so much the more will he be endeared to our hearts. We shall prize the word that testifies of him, and the Spirit that glorifies him: we shall think of him, love him, live upon him, live to him, long to be with him from day to day. So we shall beguile all our troubles and trials below; our hearts will be simple and happy; our conversation and conduct will be more like the meek Lamb of God. Thus shall we grow as Pharaoh’s "kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored, while we feed in God’s meadow." Genesis 41:18. If we neglect the scriptures that testify of Jesus, no marvel if we enjoy not the comfort of the Spirit’s witness of Jesus. Says Luther, ’Let the Lord take me out of life this hour, or when it pleaseth him, I leave this behind me, I will own Jesus Christ for my Lord and my God. This I have not only out of the scriptures, but by manifold experience also, for the name JESUS hath often helped and comforted me, when no creature could.’ "Holy scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus."- 2 Timothy 3:15.

Great God! mine eyes with pleasure look,

On the dear volume of thy book;

There my Redeemer’s face I see,

And read his name who dy’d for me.

Let the false raptures of the mind,

Be lost and vanish in the wind:

Here I can fix my hope secure;

This is thy word and must endure.

Evening Devotional

Let the weak say, I am strong. Joel 3:10.

Where is the weak, doubting sinner? Stand forth, my soul, thy Lord arraigns thee; he judges and passes sentence of reproof upon thee. “O thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31.) Your doubts come from your little faith: your doubts prevent the increase of faith. You can easily believe the Lord is displeased at your sins. What is sin, but disobeying his commands? But did you never consider it as a sin, a great sin, not to believe when he commands? Not to be obedient to his word, when he requires you to be strong in faith-“Strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus?” (2 Timothy 2:1.) “Strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10.) O you do not enough attend to this! But you say, “I am so weak in myself.” Who is not? He who thinks he is not, is the weakest of all in self-knowledge. The great, the strong, the inspired Paul, gives this challenge. “Who is weak, and I am not weak?” (2 Corinthians 11:29.) You are, in yourself, upon a level with Patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all saints; and they were all alike upon a level with you, in point of self-weakness. Here is a command for you, Let the weak say, I am strong. Lo, I tell you of a great saint, a strong believer, who found himself so weak, that he took the prophet’s advice, and adopted these very words. Would you wish to follow the example of a better saint than St. Paul? He says, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10.) This is a heavenly art. It is to be learned every day. Put it in practice this night. The Lord’s glory is concerned in it. Thy comfort springs from it. Say, am I weak to strive against sin-to resist Satan-to overcome the world-to deny himself-to follow Christ-to pray unto him- believe, and hope in him-cleave to him, and love him? etc. What then? I doubt he will cast me off; and suffer me to perish. Would you serve a weak member of your body, or treat a weak child of your loins so? Would you not rather live to strengthen it? So does your Lord. He says, be strong in the grace which is in me. My strength is yours; my life is yours; all I am and have, as God-Man and Mediator, is yours. Go out of weak self. Live by faith on me. Remember, even the renowned heroes of faith, they were not only weak, but weakness itself. “Yet out of weakness, they were made strong.” (Hebrews 11:34.) O consider, you are engaged in a good cause, well provided with the best armour, and assured of perfect victory, by Jesus, the Captain of your salvation. Hebrews 2:10.

Tho’ weak as helpless infancy,

We daily feel we are,

Yet in the Lord our strength doth lie-

We are his past’ral care.

Lord, make us on thy strength rely,

And face each daring foe:

While looking unto thee as nigh,

We unto conq’ring go.

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