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Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: November 30th

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Morning Devotional

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.- Psalms 27:13.

In times of sore distress and affliction, whether in soul or body, saints are taught many sweet lessons. Chastenings from the Lord are all in love; by them our God teaches the soul to profit. "No chastening for the present is joyous, but grievous." In the dark night of suffering, Christians sigh out many a doleful strain. Sometimes according to all appearances from nature, sense, feeling, and the judgment of reason, they are ready to cry out, "All things are against me." Hence their courage sinks, their hopes and their hearts fail them, and they are ready to faint; but they have an invisible friend always near them; he supports them by his power under all their trials and conflicts; supplies with comforting cordials; revives their spirits with the consolations of his word; and when he brings them out of their troubles, then how sweetly do they sing of him! how many a joyful psalm! What a rich treasury of experience are we favored with from the pen of David, dipped in the ink of affliction! How sweetly does he indite to the glory of his God and the comfort of his Father’s children in after-ages! He believed, therefore he spake. Unless he had believed, he had fainted.

Faith will support when all things else fail. O, what a soulsupporting grace is faith! Why so? Because it looks to, depends upon, trusts in an almighty, faithful, covenantkeeping God. Faith consults not flesh and blood, but the word of grace and truth. By faith we endure every fight of affliction, every onset of the enemy, seeing him who is invisible. As faith is the support of the soul, so the object of faith, Jesus; he is both faith’s author and strength. "Thy faith shall not fail," saith Jesus to Peter; "I have prayed for thee." It failed not as an abiding principle in the heart unto salvation, though it did in the confession of the lips. While the precious head is praying above, the dear members shall be kept in faith below.

Though poor souls, through the enemy’s power, the corruptions and rebellions of the flesh, may speak unadvisedly with their lips as David did, (Psalms 116:10-11.) "I was greatly afflicted, I said in my haste, all men are liars." But in their right mind they give all glory to God, confess his goodness, and take shame to themselves for such base declarations, and from their own experience give sweet advice to their brethren. I had fainted unless I had believed. Therefore do thou "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait I say on the Lord."

Great God, thy glories shall employ

My holy fear, my humble joy;

My lips in songs of honor bring

The tribute to th’ eternal King.

And will this glorious Lord descend

To be my Father and my friend?

Then let my songs with angels join,

Heav’n is secure, for Christ is mine.

Evening Devotional

Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5.

Preach contentment to a covetous carnal mind, and you will just have the same success, as if you bid the surging billows to be calm, or the boisterous winds be still. He possesses nothing which can give true contentment to his mind. Has he riches? they are a curse to him: for he himself is under the curse of the law. O believer! was not this, in a certain sense, your case also? You stand in need of this exhortation-“Be content.” You are the subject of a carnal nature, that is under the curse of the law: for that is ever dissatisfied, craving for more, murmuring against the dispensations of the Lord. Know and consider this. Be humble: be watchful. Consider, (1st.) what good things of this life you have. Be they little or much, do you deserve them? Have you a right to challenge more from God, the giver of them? Here set your foot, and let conscience answer nature’s cravings. (2d.) Consider what spiritual things you have. (1st.) You have the everlasting, unchangeable love of a covenant God and Father fixed on you. (2d.) The life, death, and intercession of God the Son, for your righteousness, atonement, and salvation. (3d.) As a consequence of this, and that you may know and be sure of this, the Spirit has bestowed his graces upon you. Hence you have faith in Christ, hope towards God, love to him, delight in him, a heart to cry to him, a will to please him, a desire to walk holily before him. And, (4th.) to encourage and enable to this, you have all his precious promises in Christ. These are the stuff of your faith, the support of your hope, and the joy of your soul. What want you more? St. Paul sums up all in one word: “All things are yours.” (1 Corinthians 3:22.) Is not this enough to make you content? No, say you: I find myself such a vile sinner, I am afraid I shall forfeit all these things. So you would before the next setting sun, if you stood in yourself: but you are in Christ. Therefore, here is a covenant promise from a faithful God for you: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” This is a most precious word for you: fasten upon it: draw comfort, derive contentment from it. Some who spoil texts, and mar comforts, cry, O! this regards things of this life only. Well, surely, if God loves his people’s bodies, he will never forsake their souls. And to silence all the cavils of unbelief, the words run-No, I will not leave thee: no, no, I will not forsake thee. Here are five negatives. “Be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27.

With such a promise in my heart,

My soul, cleave close to God:

Cause all base murm’rings to depart,

Which do gainsay his word.

Content is to be found in God,

In nothing else beside;

He’ll ne’er forsake us through the road,

But to the end will guide.

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