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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: September 24th

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Morning Devotional

There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.- Romans 8:1.

Mr. Burkitt observes, ’this chapter is a summary of evangelical duty, and a magazine of Christian comfort: it begins with no condemnation to believers, and ends with no separation from the love of God.’ It is natural to conceive, if we had never sinned there would be no condemnation against us; but, that now we are sinners, and naturally under the condemning sentence of God’s holy law; that yet there is now no condemnation to us; this our carnal reason cannot conceive, and therefore opposes it. But it is God’s truth and the joy of faith. This unfolds the great mystery, that we are one with Christ: viewed, beloved, and chosen in him. This gloriously displays the attributes of Jehovah’s justice and holiness; while a full and ample discharge from all condemnation is obtained from his righteous law, to all Christ’s members. Therefore, that blessed name Jesus is above every name to us. In this, and every other matter of salvation, to him every believer’s knee will bow, and his heart confess, Christ is all in all. Rich privilege to be in Christ Jesus! Unspeakable happiness to be freed from all condemnation! Blessed effects of covenantunion with Christ! Joyful experience of the grace of faith in him! To have such a knowledge, and pass such a judgment upon thy soul, O Christian, is just and right. It is thy duty and privilege at all times. Practice it.

As to Jesus, how readest thou? "The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all."- Isaiah 53:6. "Christ bore our sins in his own body on the tree."- 1 Peter 2:24. "Christ suffered, the just for the unjust."- 1 Peter 3:18. "We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. He was made sin for us, who knew no sin." Can we read all this without singing a triumphant challenge, "Who then shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? God that justifieth? No: Who is he that condemneth? Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us?"- Romans 8:33-34. Here is the glorious triumph of faith. Thou art "carnal, sold under sin."- Romans 7:14. In thy flesh dwelleth no good thing; though thou hast no reason for confidence in the flesh, yet always abundant cause to rejoice in Christ Jesus: for in him thou art perfectly righteous; in him for ever freed from all condemnation. O believer, thou art called ever to rejoice in this liberty, and to evidence it by walking, "not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Strange mystery of wond’rous grace!

I’m full of sin, yet not condemn’d!

I stand in Jesu’s righteousness;

By him from ev’ry sin redeem’d.

O may the precious faith of this,

Daily enliven all my pow’rs,

To run the road to heav’nly bliss,

In Christ rejoicing all my hours.

Evening Devotional

There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Corinthians 12:7.

I dearly love St. Paul’s experience. For there is so much of the artless simplicity of the poor humble sinner; such a dread of self-glorying, while it ever exalts the rich grace of the dear Saviour. Let us make a few remarks on it, and pray our gracious Lord to bless them. (1st.) Here is a painful experience, a thorn in his flesh. What was that? Fanciful men have entertained strange ideas. Some have said the cholic: others the ear-ache, others the head-ache, etc. If it were a bodily pain, we might as well guess, the gout in his great toe. But would the apostle have been thus anxious to have a bodily pain removed? Would the most excruciating pain prevent soul exalting? Surely it was something more. It was the heart-ack. He plainly tells it was, “the messenger of Satan to buffet him.” His very soul was harassed and sore distressed, by some violent temptation, injection, or suggestion from the devil: either concerning his own state, or the truth as it is in Jesus. This was teasing, painful, and tormenting to him, as a thorn in the flesh. This brought him to a proper feeling of himself, after his abundant revelations. He found that he was the subject of corruption like another sinner. He had the irksome feeling of the “flesh,” in which, he says, “dwelleth no good thing,” (Romans 7:18.) He could not say as his Lord once said, “Satan cometh and hath nothing in me,” (John 14:30.) For he found in him an evil and corrupt nature to work upon. Therefore he buffeted him from day to day. If you experience somewhat of this, be not dejected. Call not your state in question. Resist Satan, and cry to your Lord. For know with St. Paul, (2d.) “It was given to me.” The Lord, for wise and good ends, in love to our souls, permits these buffetings. Satan thinks to destroy us, but the Lord hereby profits us. He suffers his dearest children and holiest saints to be vexed by Satan, and all kinds of temptations. To what end? (3d.) “Lest I should be exalted above measure.” Could not so holy a saint as Paul, be favoured with rich experience of heavenly visions, without danger of being puffed up with pride by them? See hence, O believer, your danger. These pungent feelings bring us down from our altitudes into the valley of humility. Then (4th.) prize the throne of grace. Flee to your precious Lord as St. Paul did. Lay all your distress before him. (5th.) Remember the precious answer he obtained from Christ, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” As though he had said, you are not to live upon your selfexalting frames and feelings; but as a poor sinner, upon the all-sufficient grace of me, your precious Saviour. Thus self was laid low, and the Lord alone exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:11.

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