Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: November 4th

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.- Matthew 9:21.

The case of this poor woman was quite desperate. Many painful operations she had undergone in hopes of a cure; her money all spent in procuring remedies; her disorder grew worse and worse; all human hope and help failed; grim death seemed to approach her with great speed. But, strange thought! "If I may but touch the garment" of that MAN, surrounded by yonder crowd, I shall certainly be healed. Surprising, to think of a cure from a touch! A touch, not of his person, but his garment! How can nature and reason account for this? Had she consulted flesh and blood, sure she would have concluded, this suggestion is mere fancy, and will end in delusion. Had she consulted eminent physicians or learned doctors in the church about her thoughts, doubtless they would have pronounced JESUS a quack, and advised proper remedies to her, as a lunatic. But the Holy Spirit had inwardly made known Jesus to her. She saw somewhat of his glory; her mind was disposed towards him; she believed in her heart his power to heal her; she speaks within herself her thoughts concerning him; she came with trembling feet, she touched him with a fearful heart, but she departed with triumph.

How secret are the operations of the Spirit, in working faith in the hearts of sinners! "No man can come unto me," saith Jesus, "except the Father draw him."- John 6:44. A sight of Christ is of special grace. The first thought of help and hope in Jesus for sinners, is from the word of truth, and by the power of the Spirit. The soul soon evidences itself to have "the faith of God’s elect;" for under a sight and sense of its desperate state and ruined condition, it speaks within itself of going to Jesus and him ONLY for pardon and salvation. Yet the poor heart is often exercised with an IF; IF I did but believe in him, IF I could but touch him, IF I did but feel in myself I was healed of my sin and plague, O how I should rejoice! Well, though the soul is opposed by a crowd of difficulties, yet will it not be satisfied till it breaks through all carnal opposition and finds peace in Jesus; till it hears the voice of its beloved speaking pardon and comfort by his word.

When, like Isaiah, the soul cries, "Woe is me, I am undone!" it cannot rest, till with him also, a live coal from the altar of Jesus’ love is laid upon his mouth, and his language is changed to ’I am saved by Jesus.’ For "lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thy sin is purged."- Isaiah 6:7.

The Lord! how glorious is his face!

How kind his smiles appear!

And oh! what melting words he says

To ev’ry humble ear!

For you, the children of my love,

It was for you I dy’d;

Behold my hands, behold my feet,

And look unto my side.

We believe, and are sure. John 6:69.

Here is both faith and assurance. I wish to the Lord I had them, is the language of many a doubting heart, while they have both this very faith and assurance. This assurance is of the essence of faith. Without it faith has no existence. Consider, (1st.) The nature of this faith and assurance. “We believe and are sure.” Of what? That their names were written in heaven, that they were sure they were the elect of God? No. But, says St. Peter to our Lord, “We believe, and are sure, that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, and that thou hast the words of eternal life.” Their minds were as sure of this truth, as of their existence. So must ours at all times, and under all circumstances. But is this faith and assurance? Then, blessed be God, I am a partaker of both. I do believe, I am sure, that Christ is the Son of God, and that he, and he alone, hath the words of eternal life. But I want to be sure of my own interest in the Son of God. Bless the Spirit for revealing Christ in the word, and revealing him in thine heart according to the word. Go on with thy present blessed faith and assurance. It will make Christ precious to thy soul. It will cause thy soul to cleave to him. Thou wilt say, “None but Christ.” In due time, the Spirit will fully manifest thy interest in his love and salvation. (2.) Consider the blessedness of this faith and assurance. It was for want of this “many disciples went back and walked no more with Christ.” (John 6:66.) It is by believing and being sure that Christ is the Son of God, and that he hath the words of eternal life, that causes any poor sinner to follow him, to cleave to him, to call upon him, to hope in him, and to expect all salvation from him. Little as some may think of this faith, low as some may relate this assurance, yet our Lord honours it. He pronounces Peter blessed for it. He does not say, I believe and am sure that I am a child of God, and that my sins are forgiven. But, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What says our Lord to this? “Blessed art thou: for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17.) Rejoice, O believing soul ! thou hast a revelation from God thy heavenly Father, even whilst thou art doubting. All thy salvation depends on this truth. All thy comfort results from belief and assurance of it. The more steadily and confidently you believe and hold fast this truth in your conscience, the more solid peace, holy comfort and heavenly joy you experience.

Faith!-‘tis a precious grace,

Where’er it is bestow’d;

It boasts of a celestial birth,

And is the gift of God.