the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.- Proverbs 17:17.
We have a striking instance of genuine and uninterrupted friendship, which mutually subsisted between David and Jonathan. How affecting is that pathetic, mournful, exclamation of David, when friendship’s sweet bands were dissolved in death! "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."- 2 Samuel 1:26. Who can read this plaintive note without sympathy? Wisdom’s assertion is literally exemplified in them. But though their love and friendship never abated in the dark scenes of adversity, but was alike at all times, yet death put a period to its existence. Natural friendship extends not beyond the confines of the grave. But, O disciple, thou hast a friend who ever lives and ever loves. The most exalted friendship when compared to his, diminishes in glory, as the light of the brightest star disappears when the dazzling glory of the sun shines forth. Is not Jesus "this friend who loveth at all times?" Yea, before time commenced, his love existed towards his church. Every member was loved by him, and was given to him of the Father. When in time he saw them polluted in their blood, defiled with sin, and loathsome in their persons, yet (O wonderful!) that was the time of love, he passed by, his eye saw, his heart loved, and his lips said, LIVE. Dost thou, O soul, live by faith on the Son of God? This is the effect of love; this is love known and manifested. But dost thou find daily that thou art a poor sinner? Therefore art thou grieved, and thinkest thou shalt weary out the love of thy friend! No; that cannot be, he loveth at all times; "whom he loves, he loves to the end." Jesus is "the brother born for adversity," to comfort in and to support under it. Now thou art in an adverse state; the world, the flesh, and the devil are all against thee; but thy friend is above, engaged for thee; he is stronger than all. Though in dangers oft, always safe. Jesus was born to suffer adversity for his brethren. A friend and a brother makes one’s sorrows and sufferings his own. So did Jesus. Our sins were his, "he bore them in his own body." "He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." And hath he loved before time? Does he love at all times? Then what shall separate from the love of Jesus? Nothing: for "in all things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us."
As the power of Jesus is equal to his love, death, which parts the dearest friends, and dissolves the sweetest friendship below, shall introduce us to the nearest enjoyment of our best friend and dearest brother above; for he says, "Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." John 17:24.
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST. Romans 14:17.
How much did our dear Saviour bear, what pains did he take with his first disciples, to teach them the nature of his kingdom? Their notions were carnal and worldly: his kingdom spiritual and heavenly. We are just like them. Blessed be his name, the Lord is the same in patience and love to teach us also. There ever was, now is, and ever will be a cry with us, Lo, here is Christ. Lo, there is the kingdom of God. It consists in this external mode: that outward rite, ceremony, or institution. Just like those ministers, the dry-vines of this day, every subject they preach upon is to save you. If they preach, what is called a charity sermon, even the gift of money is to entitle you to God’s kingdom. But what says our Lord? Behold, take special notice, “The kingdom of God is within you,” (Luke 17:21.) It consists in nothing carnal, or external. Its blessings are inward, spiritual, and substantial. (1st.) Righteousness. This the devil robbed us of. Glory to Christ, he restores it to us. He gives us a better righteousness than we lost. We lost but a creature’s righteousness, but we gain the righteousness of God’s only Son: the righteousness of God and man in one Christ. Satan ruined us by sin, Christ saves us by righteousness. The kingdom of God is established in righteousness, upon the ruins of sin and Satan. The subjects of this kingdom are all righteous, (Isaiah 60:21.) As we possess this kingdom in our hearts by faith, so Christ’s righteousness is called the righteousness of faith. For we receive it by faith. We do nothing to work it out. It is the gift of righteousness, (Romans 5:17.) O how gloriously are our souls arrayed in the righteousness of the King of saints. Let us glory of this righteousness ONLY. For the more we believe of it in our hearts, the more we live in the spirit and temper of righteousness in our lives. (2d.) Peace. We were once at peace with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and at war with God. Now we are in his righteous kingdom, and righteous in his Son. We are at peace with God, and at war with them. “The effect of this righteousness is peace and quietness, and assurance for ever,” (Isaiah 32:17.) (3d.) Joy in the Holy Ghost. Being righteous in Jesus and at peace with God, the Holy Ghost gives us the joy of this. He teaches us to joy in all Jesus is to us, and has done for us. Yea, “he fills us with all joy and peace in believing,” (Romans 15:13.) Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, “Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear,” Hebrews 12:28.
Preserve, O God, from snares of sin,
Thro’ my remaining days;
And in me let each virtue shine,
To my Redeemer’s praise.
