Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: October 7th

That I may know him.- Philippians 3:10.

"There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four. . . .the fire which saith not, it is enough."- Proverbs 30:15-16. So true is this, of the fire of love when kindled in believing hearts. It burns with insatiable desire towards Jesus. Amazing! Had Paul so long known, loved, and preached a crucified, risen Jesus, and yet now desires to know him! Yes. Such is the nature of faith, that like riches to a miser, the more they increase, the more the desires of his heart increase after them. His wants are greater than his possessions. So the living members of precious Jesus see such inexhaustible treasures in him their living head, and such numerous wants in themselves, that their hearts are ever crying after, looking to, and longing for more of his presence, blessings and comforts in knowledge and experience. And, like a chaste virgin espoused to an affectionate lover, her desires will never be completely satisfied till he is brought into the nearest relation and closest embraces, when she takes up her abode, and enjoys the presence of the object of her love. Lovers of Jesus can never be satisfied with any other but him, nor will they be fully satisfied nor perfectly happy, till they are for ever present with their ever-loving Lord.

But the knowledge of him, even now, creates a paradise of peace, a heaven of love and holiness in the soul. Hence there is a godly jealousy in espoused souls, lest other objects should steal upon their affections. If at any time their eyes have been turned from their Lord, there is a holy shame; they blush at their folly, and cry, O that I may know him who rests for ever alike in his constant love to me a poor sinner. In this consists the life and joy of the heart, to know that Jesus hath made peace for us by the blood of his cross; that he hath wrought out a robe of righteousness by the obedience of his life to adorn us; that he ever lives to pray for us. Yea daily, constantly to know him, as dwelling in my heart by faith, ever present with me to the joy of my mind, and to the peace of my conscience. And truly, beloved, if thou art not thus kept knowing Jesus, looking to Jesus, feeding upon him continually in thy heart by faith, thou wilt know and feel other things, which will creep in and sadly distress thy mind. The voice of the law will be heard in thy conscience, backed by Satan’s injections, and thou wilt find anguish of spirit and bitterness of soul. But by sweetly abiding in the knowledge of Jesus, by faith, thou shalt manfully stand thy ground, and courageously conquer and triumph. "So shall grace and peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord- 2 Peter 1:2.

Ye are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of GOD. Colossians 2:12.

Who are risen with Christ? All the members of his mystical body. He is their head and representative. They are all mystically risen with him. But they have no knowledge or comfort of this, till another resurrection is experienced by them. This is what the apostle here alludes to. This is by faith. As soon as any poor sinner knows, understands, and believes, that Christ died for our offences, and was raised again for our justification, that soul is actually risen with Christ. Here, behold, (1st.) the preciousness of faith. (2d.) Whose operation it is. (3d.) The glorious effects it hath upon the heart and life. It brings Christ into the soul. Faith causes the soul to ascend up to a risen Saviour. Thus, this living, powerful, influencing grace, which is the work of the Holy Ghost, is distinguished from a dead faith, a lifeless assent, a barren notion, which floats in the heads of carnal professors. Examine yourselves. Prove and try your faith this night. Is your faith from Christ above? Then it leads your hearts and affections, from things below, to Christ above. Be not deceived. Take not up with a notion of faith in your head, instead of the grace of faith in your heart. The former will leave you just where it found you: in your sins, with the love of the world reigning in your hearts: the riches, honours, and pleasures of the world, your idols and your pursuits; and yourself only, a poor, cold-hearted, formal professor. O how many of this sort abound! They differ from the rest of the world, only in notion and speculation; in tongue and doctrine.

Lord Jesus, forbid that this should be our state! If we have the faith of the operation of God the Holy Ghost, our souls will be fired with the love of Christ; our hearts will burn with ardent love to him, his truths, his people, and his cause. We shall delight to live above with him, and long to reign eternally in his presence. We shall consider this body as our prison, overcome the world as our enemy, and treat all things with contempt in comparison of fellowship with our God and Saviour. If we are not all times thus happy, at least we shall hunger and thirst after it. Risen souls are earnestly concerned to have gospel doctrines brought into heart-experience and life-influence. O, Sun of Righteousness! let us feel thy warm enlivening beams upon our hearts, that we may not grow cold, formal, and languid before thee. Thine is the power.

Then raise our low affections, Lord,

To live above with thee:

Let formal frames be e’er abhorr’d;

Let us thy glory see.

Thus shall we know we’re rais’d indeed,

From earth, and hell, and sin;

To live with thee, our glorious Head,

Whose love doth reign within.