Lectionary Calendar
Friday, March 29th, 2024
Good Friday
There are 2 days til Easter!
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: November 23rd

Resource Toolbox
Morning Devotional

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.- Hebrews 11:1.

Happiness, that inestimable jewel, every man is in search after. But to seek it from objects unseen and invisible to our natural senses, is a downright paradox, and will be ever condemned as the greatest absurdity in the judgment of depraved sense and carnal reason. In the knowledge, love, and enjoyment of God, true happiness alone consists. The only living and true God hath revealed himself in Christ Jesus. This is the Christian’s God. He knows no other. It is a blessed truth built upon and supported by the word of God. By faith this subsists in his mind, and is clear and evident to his newborn soul.

From this inward believing, "That God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself," O what an extensive prospect for hope ariseth! God in Christ; the promises all in Christ; he that believeth is in Christ. Christ dwelleth in his heart by faith: all the blessings of time; all the glories of eternity are sure. They are settled by the yea and amen of God, upon such believing souls. Shall any bold emissary from Satan, demand of such a soul, "What right hast thou to the inheritance of this good land? Abraham’s sons have Abraham’s plea. It is mine by promise; by faith I sojourn in it. God’s promise is faith’s claim. What he has spoken is the ground or subsistence of hope. But may not other witnesses stand up and declare against the Christian? Yea, doubtless, many; from the old man, the flesh, Satan, and the law. But the first is under sentence of death, his witness is invalid.

Satan is a known liar from the beginning, therefore no credit is to be given to him; the evidence of few is out of date; it is superseded by the promise; "for the law which was four hundred and thirty years after the covenant, which was confirmed by God in Christ, cannot disannul it, that it should make the promise of none effect."- Galatians 3:17. But blessed be our Lord, though he suffers his children to be attacked by many adversaries, he doth not leave himself without a witness and an evidence in their hearts. Though each one of them cannot say, I know I am a child of God; yet the weakest believer in Jesus hath the evidence of truth; the witness in himself, of the reality and certainty of invisible objects, "things not seen;" of things past in the eternal covenant of grace and peace; of things in time, the finished work of Jesus; of things to come, the glories of an eternal world; and amidst opposition from every quarter, here is a proof of the inward subsistence and evidence of spiritual and invisible objects, in their longing for stronger faith in them, and clearer knowledge and enjoyment of them. "To every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance."- Matthew 25:29.

Evening Devotional

Freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.

Christ spake these words to his apostles. They had their commissions immediately from him, to preach his everlasting gospel. Many of the clergy, who pretend to be their successors, cannot receive this saying. Their learned lumber (because unsanctified) cost them too much to be dispensed for nought. Free-grace truths they cannot give freely. They have not freely received them into their own hearts. Expect to receive nothing from such unconverted ministers. Pity them: pray for them. Avoid their errors: be courteous to their persons. Private Christians, as well as ministers, have freely received out of the fulness of Christ: therefore, O soul! you and I are concerned in these words. (1st.) What have we received? the free favour of God; in the rich grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This comprehends all things from God: this includes all things in God. Have we repentance unto life? It is by his grace. Have we faith in, hope on, and love to Christ? All springs from the grace of Christ. Have we a new heart, spiritual affections, holy desires? The grace of God bestowed them. How? (2d.) Freely. Like the lilies of the field, which toil not, neither spin, to obtain their rich fragrance and beautiful tinge-the God of nature freely bestows both: so on us, he freely bestows the riches of his grace. Neither, by toil, could we perform conditions, nor by spinning fulfil terms, to entitle ourselves to it. We have freely received life from the dead; justification from condemnation: pardon from guilt; sanctification from unholiness; the assured hope of heaven from the dread of hell. O consider the rich and free bounty of the Giver; the misery and unworthiness of the receiver; and say, art thou not bound to obey his command. (3d.) Freely give-thyself, thy whole soul and body, gifts and abilities, time and talents to God, the justifier; to Jesus, the Redeemer; and to the Spirit, the Sanctifier. Freely give the hatred of thy heart to thy sins, the abhorrence of thy soul to Satan, contempt of thy spirit to a vain world, love to thy brethren in Christ, pity to thy fellow-sinners, good will to all men, and food to thine own soul daily, from Christ and the word of his grace. This is the sweet exercise of faith, through the power of the Spirit. Thus free grace operates upon new-born souls. “They gave their own selves unto the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 8:5.) O the power of this truth! “Christ gave himself for our sins.” Galatians 1:4.

Lord, I am thine, redeem’d by grace,

I freely give myself to thee:

By pow’r divine I seek thy face-

How matchless is thy love to me:

Let free-grace love be all my boast,

For worth and worthiness I’ve none:

I feel that operates the most,

To love the Lord for all he’s done.

Subscribe …
Get the latest devotional delivered straight to your inbox every week by signing up for the "Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God" subscription list. Simply provide your email address below, click on "Subscribe!", and you'll receive a confirmation email from us. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your subscription to this list.
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile