Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: November 11th

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?- Acts 9:6.

Such are the effects when sovereign grace reacheth a sinner’s heart. When the light of truth shines in the conscience, it makes the stoutest heart to tremble. When Jesus is manifested to the soul, it causes astonishment and creates love. Transient convictions of sin often beget horror of conscience, and they often pass away as the morning cloud and early dew. Such conversions are very common; sinners are frequently turned from one sect and system of opinions to another; yea, also their lives and practices may be reformed, and they may seem to be converted; and often, where is the least cause, there is the greatest confidence; especially, if such persons are confirmed in their hopes by great pretensions to experience, and can talk much of ecstasies and raptures, visions and revelations, which they suppose came from God: while many continue poor, trembling, self-emptied, and low-abased souls, they know and feel nothing but sin and helplessness in themselves; yet from a discovery of the glory of Jesus and the perfection of his salvation, seek all in him, and expect all from him; but yet they remain diffident of their state and doubtful of their conversion; they are exercised with great perplexity of mind at times concerning themselves. In both cases time only manifests the truth of conversion. Effects best prove their cause.

When Christ is revealed to the heart; when the soul, by the eye of faith, "sees him who is invisible," it is manifested by holy mourning and godly sorrow for past conduct, humble hope and scripture confidence of salvation: and this excites prayer to Jesus for instruction, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The soul desires to obey his will in truth and love. The habitual frame of the soul to Christ, his salvation, his truths and commandments, is a stronger evidence of real conversion than all the visions, ecstasies, horror or transports which the passions can yield. So St. Paul’s after conduct to Jesus and his cause, fully proved that he had felt the power and tasted the sweetness of a Saviour’s love. Though every conversion is not produced in the same extraordinary manner Paul’s was, yet the soul of every believer is turned to the very same object, Jesus, for whole salvation. Thus "Jesus, the exalted Prince and Saviour, gives repentance and forgiveness of sins. The witness of this is the Holy Ghost, whom God gives to them who obey him."- Acts 5:31-32.

As new-born babes desire the breast,

To feed and grow and thrive;

So saints with joy the gospel taste,

And by the gospel live.

Not by the terrors of a slave,

Our souls obey Christ’s will;

But with the noblest pow’rs we have,

We love and serve him still.

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:21.

Meek Moses, righteous Lot, patient Job, were as wicked by nature as any sinners that ever were born. True, they were eminent saints. But who made them so? The same Saviour, who sanctifies you and me. Cease ye from man. Look upon the most holy saint, as a sinner in himself, but only distinguished by the grace of God. When any grace eminently shines in any sinner, remember it all comes out of the fulness of the Saviour. So look for grace for yourself. While Job suffers the loss of all, yet he glories in the possession of all. Thought he could not now say, my children, my possessions, my health, etc. yet he could say, “My Redeemer liveth,” (chap. 19:25.) The belief of this sweetened every cross: made up every loss: kept his head from sinking in the deep waters of affliction: his heart from fainting under the greatest tribulations: and fortified his mind with the greatest patience, under the severest calamities. He saw his Lord in all, therefore by his grace he submits to all. Job is here set before us, as most eminent for his patience. To what end? That we might learn patience hereby? Remember patience is a grace. It is a gift from the God of all grace. We can no more derive patience from the example of Job, than we can get light and heat from a painted sun. View the saint, but look to the King of saints to be like-minded. “The Lord gave.” Sweet consideration! Look upon all you enjoy as the free gift of a covenant God. Hold the giver fast, but hold the gifts with a trembling hand. Perhaps, ere to-morrow’s sun, you may be constrained to say of some of your sweetest enjoyments, “The Lord hath taken away.” Love saw they would do you harm, and that it is best for you to be without them. Therefore in love, God takes them away. Love is always the same, in a giving, as in a taking God. Therefore, what good reason have we to say for both, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!” Here you see the work of faith. It sees the Lord’s name written upon every enjoyment: it owns the Lord’s right, to give, or take away: it bows to the Lord’s sovereign will, and says, Lord, thou hast done all things well. Though what thou doest I cannot know now, yet I shall know hereafter. I am sure there is a Father’s love and wisdom in all. O that all may be sanctified to me, and I profited by all. Thus, as faith in Christ brings us to the knowledge of God, as our loving Father, to enjoy peace with him, so it teaches submission to His will, and to bless his name at all times. Rejoice in the Lord.