Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: October 18th

Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him.- 2 Corinthians 5:9.

"In all labour there is profit."- Proverbs 14:23. The belief of this maketh the heart diligent, lively, and active. When Nehemiah was stirred up to build the wall of Jerusalem amidst the scoffs and opposition of enemies on every side, yet, in prayer, watching, and working, he and his brethren wrought with one hand, a guard in the other, and this confidence of faith in their hearts, "Our God shall fight for us."- Nehemiah 4:20. Thus animated they laboured till the work was finished.

Thus the beloved brethren of Jesus are called to be "stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;" being confident that the Lord fights for them, and "knowing assuredly that their labour is not in vain in the Lord." The labour of love is pleasant, it is profitable to the believing heart; the work of faith is delightful to the soul while it exercises the patience of hope. Most reviving consideration! we serve not a hard task-master; we labour not for a rigorous, severe Lord; we obey not from base, mercenary principles. No; every command of Jesus is in love; every work we do in his name is from love to spiritual good as well as to his glory: we have the fullest assurance that we are "accepted in the beloved." We are not left to doubt of the way of acceptance, nor to do any thing to procure it; the truth, as it is in Jesus, forbids all this; but knowing our persons are accepted in Jesus, this is the most enlivening, powerful motive not only to do, but also to abound in those things with which God is well pleased; to study to please God in our walk and way, cheerfully to lay out ourselves in his service, unreservedly to give up ourselves wholly to the Lord: O, this is the sweet exercise of faith and love. Shall we pretend to believe that Jesus is our Saviour and that we are accepted in him, and yet not labour and strive that our works may please him? Not study and endeavour, as assisted by his Spirit, to avoid those things that are contrary to his nature and commands? Alas! this is "hail, master;" only like Judas to give a kiss of hypocrisy, while faith in him and love to him are wanting.

Thou disciple of Jesus, from that moment thou didst enter into the rest of Jesus by faith, thou art called to labour, that thy works may please God, and be accepted of him; and when the heart is whole with its Saviour and simply looking to him, need one forbid such a soul to refrain from the vain pastimes and sinful gratifications of a carnal world? No; he saith these things do not please my Lord, they cannot be acceptable to him, they shall not ensnare me, I cannot displease my Saviour. "We love him because he first loved us."- 1 John 4:19.

And he requested for himself that he might die. 1 Kings 19:4.

“ Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are,” (James 5:17.) This request proves it. It arose from fear and discontent. Both were occasioned by the threats of a weak, but wicked woman. Jezebel threatened his life. O how soon, and by what weak means, are the fine frames of God’s children spoiled and discomposed! What Elijah! that great prophet of the Lord, who had wrought so many notable miracles in the name of the Lord, who had been so miraculously fed by the ravens, according to the command of the Lord-he who had courage to say, “As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself to incensed Ahab to-day.” What he! who had zeal to face four hundred and fifty of Baal’s priests, and to command them all to be slain, what does he request to die, because of the threatenings of a woman! What shall we say to this? Verily, human nature is the same in all, whether patriarchs, prophets, or apostles. All men are not the same at all times. The flesh is part of themselves. It lusts against the Spirit. This is manifest in all, none excepted. What is man when left of God? What are the best of men, when left to themselves? And yet the same apostle St. James says, “Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken, in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience,” (; James 5:10.) But where shall we find a perfect character? St. Paul might well say, “We have this treasure (all the gifts and graces of God’s Spirit) in earthen vessels.” Why? “That the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of us,” (2 Corinthians 4:7.) But if earthen vessels were not sometimes left to themselves, they would forget this. Elijah, like Paul, was in danger of being exalted above measure, for his eminent gifts, graces, and miraculous works. He is left to be buffeted, that he might know his own sinfulness and impotence. Learn a lesson hence to-night. Prophets, apostles, ministers of Christ, are men of like passions, frail sinners, like yourselves. St. Paul forbears glorying; “Lest, says he, any man should think of me above what he seemeth to be,” (; 2 Corinthians 12:6.) If we do not so judge of ministers, we shall be in great danger of harm thereby. (1st.) We shall over-rate them, look to them, instead of through them to God. We shall rest on their teaching, instead of God’s. Then, (2d.) If we do but see those infirmities in them, which are common to men, O then, who could have thought it! We shall under-rate them, and be prejudiced against them, so as not to be profited by them. Cease ye from man.