Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: September 26th

For we which have believed, do enter into rest.- Hebrews 4:3.

When Christ is known and believed on in the heart, ease and rest are enjoyed in the conscience. Therefore Jesus is esteemed a precious Saviour. The operations of the Spirit prove that he is the COMFORTER, by thus leading us to Christ. Hence faith and experience go hand in hand. There remaineth for the people of God a rest, perfect and uninterrupted in glory. We have the earnest of the inheritance of it on earth: by faith we enter into it: and while we abide in Jesus we enjoy rest. Who is able to conceive? Who can describe the tumult of conscience, the distress of soul, under a feeling sense of sin and fear of wrath? None can, but the heart which knows its own bitterness. Who can express the sweet peace, the calm repose of that soul who finds rest in Jesus? It is a joy which a stranger intermeddles not with.

It was God’s command under the law, "When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war for one year."- Deuteronomy 24:5. This is sometimes the case with the children of faith. When they are first married to the Lamb, and have just entered into his rest, the sound of war is not heard in their camp for a season. Jesus keeps their souls in undisturbed repose: no enemy is suffered to annoy them. The joyful sound of the jubilee-trumpet proclaims in their heart full freedom and sweet liberty from the guilt of sin, the bondage of the law, and the tyranny of Satan. Hence they are apt to conclude their enemies are all dead, and they shall see war no more; but it is not so; our enemies live and are mighty. Bless Jesus for rest; fear not thine enemies; know thou must continue in the militant state whilst in the flesh; but here is the mystery of faith, to triumph in the victory of Jesus. Whilst all are in arms against the soul, though troubled, distressed, perplexed, on every side; fightings without, fears within: although there is no rest from any other quarter, yet it is the sweet privilege of disciples to rest in Jesus. Saith Paul to his dear children, "You, who are troubled, rest with us."- 2 Thessalonians 1:7. Abide in Jesus; rest satisfied: shortly your Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, to destroy all your enemies, and to make you forever happy in his rest in glory. Disciple, indulge not a murmuring thought against thy sovereign; expect no rest any where but IN HIM. If the world smiles, it is pleasing to the flesh, but it often proves a snare to the soul; therefore saith thy ever-loving Jesus, "In the world you shall have tribulation;" that is his legacy. Here is thy rich, thy never-failing portion, "IN ME you shall have peace."- John 16:33.

Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. John 20:20.

“ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun,” (Ecclesiastes 11:7.) But, O how much more sweet and pleasant, to see the light, and behold the glory of the Sun of Righteousness! This inspires the heart with gladness. These disciples had lost their dear Lord, and mourned in darkness for his absence. Tongue cannot tell their inexpressible joy, at seeing him again. Their sight was by the eye of sense: ours is by the eye of faith. Yet our sight is not less real than theirs: and it brings the same gladness to our hearts also. Therefore it is highly prized by us. For we can neither live comfortably, walk holily, nor die happily, without seeing the Lord Christ. For, (1st.) A sight of Christ by faith, brings peace to the conscience. There is ever a war within, between the flesh and the spirit: grace and nature: the old man and the new. The motion of sin in our members is ever warring against the law of holiness in our minds. Wicked nature is like the troubled sea which cannot rest. It is continually casting up mire and dirt. But the winds and waves of corrupt nature obey Christ. He says, peace, be still, and there is a great calm in the soul. For Christ is our peace. He hath made our peace with God by his blood. He makes and keeps peace in our souls by his presence. Our stubborn lusts will fight and reign, if Christ be absent from our hearts. Therefore we cannot but be glad when we see the Lord. (2d.) The sight of him quells our doubts, and dispels our fears. Our poor hearts, seeing sin and all manner of evil dwelling in us, are ready to fear and doubt, whether we are the children of God, or not. But, O when we see the Saviour by faith, our consciences are satisfied: our minds are divinely assured, that Christ hath redeemed us to God by his blood: for we cry out, this is our beloved and our friend, in whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins. We believe and are sure he is the Christ of God, the Saviour of sinners. (3d.) The sight of the Lord gives victory over death: opens the kingdom of heaven to our view, and gives us to see a smiling God and Father, ready to receive and embrace us. O most joyful sight! If so, O Christian, beware, beware of gratifying your sight with any vain, sinful, and carnal pleasures. These will draw away your sight, and take off the attention of your minds from looking unto Jesus, and prevent your gladness of heart, and joy of soul in, and from him. “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.” Psalms 119:37.

A sight of thee, my Saviour dear,

Makes glad my mournful heart,

Expels my doubts, brings heaven near,

And sensual joys depart.

Repeat thy visits o’er and o’er,

While in this vale I dwell,

That I may view thee ev’ry hour,

Who sav’d my soul from hell.