the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.- Matthew 27:42.
Our blessed Lord was not only crucified between two thieves, but was also surrounded on the cross, and mocked and derided by the very worst sort of thieves, the chief priests, scribes, and elders. These professing ministers of Jehovah did their utmost to rob the prince of life and Lord of glory of that honor which is ever due unto him, of being our Saviour; and, like thieves and robbers, they would enter his kingdom some other way. Verily he is the king of all his spiritual Israel. Every subject of his love will bow to the sovereignty of his grace, kiss the sceptre of his love, glory only in his despised cross, and rejoice that Jesus rules in and reigns over him. Most true, this way of salvation is contrary to the wisdom of the flesh, the reasonings of corrupt nature, and the pride of boasted FREE-WILL. These, by how much the more they are assisted by human learning, are so much the more strengthened and fortified against this self-denying truth, salvation by freegrace, through the cross of a despised Jesus. "Their wisdom and their knowledge had perverted them," says Isaiah 47:10, or they would not have said, "Let him NOW come, and we WILL believe." Poor proud creatures! FREE-WILL is ever the same. Where it reigns it always exalts the creature and opposes the sovereignty of God. It prescribes methods of conviction. It refuses to submit to those of infinite wisdom.
Through a life of thirty years, Jesus had afforded them the fullest conviction of their senses, and they believed not on him; neither would their hearts have been persuaded though he had come down from the cross; yea, though he actually did rise again from the dead, still they resisted the fullest evidence; therefore they remained inexcusable. Outward miracles and wonders may surprise the senses, but cannot work saving faith in the heart. Pride ever reigns in unregenerate hearts, and nothing but sovereign grace can subdue it. Even in hell the notion of free-will prevails. "Nay, but" said Dives, "if one went to them from the dead, they WILL repent."- Luke 16:30. Humble souls are thankful for the gift of precious faith in a precious Christ. They know it is not of themselves that they believe. Therefore they adore and love "the author and finisher of faith," and own it is given of distinguishing love and sovereign grace. Thus all glorying in the flesh is cut off. By faith we glory in the truth and rejoice in Jesus only. "It is not of him who willeth."- Romans 9:16.
Subdue the pride of my free will,
By thy free grace, my Lord;
Strengthen my faith, confirm my hope,
In thine unerring word.
While others tempt, and ask a sign,
In order to believe;
May I rejoice to know thy truth,
And on thy truth to live.
I will lift up my hands in thy name. Psalms 63:4.
From the little which carnal men see of the conduct of saints, they pronounce them fools and madmen. But were they to follow them to their closets, and be witness to what passes there, between God and their souls, they would deem it the excess of folly, and the height of madness. Two Christian friends were conversing together of the plague of their hearts, and the workings of hypocrisy and evil in their best duties. An unconverted brother of one of them overheard, and upbraided them, saying, I always thought you were two hypocrites, now I have heard it from your own mouths. I have no wandering thoughts at church-I always go with a good heart. Brother, replied the Christian, putting a piece of money in his hand, that is your own, if, when you go to church next, you will watch your heart, and tell me honestly, if you found no wandering thoughts. The poor man faithfully returned the money, and frankly owned, I was scarcely got into the church, before I thought how many looms might be set to work in it. He was a weaver. O what an awful thing it is to be ignorant of one’s own heart! And yet the knowledge of its desperate wickedness, and superlative deceitfulness, often dejects and puts disciples to the stand. Here is a blessed remedy at all times, the loving kindness of the Lord. This is better than life. This superabounds all the aboundings of sin in us. This enables us to say, joyfully, “I will bless the Lord while I live:” and with boldness, “I will lift up my hands in thy name.” In our work and warfare, against all our spiritual enemies, there is a blessed name, which is above every other name, to animate us with courage, even the name of Jesus. However dejected or despised, can we think of, believe in, and look to, that glorious name, person, work, and salvation, with which God is well pleased, without lifting up our hands with comfort and joy? Here I am tonight, a poor sinner, empty of all good, full of all evil. No worth, work, or excellency, to recommend me to God, yet will I lift up my empty hand, to receive a gift from the God of all grace. O that under a sight of my ruined state, and helpless impotency, the Spirit may teach me that heavenly art, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God, I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only, O Jesus.” (Psalms 71:16.) It is from hence that feeble knees are strengthened, hands which hang down are lifted up, and fearful hearts made strong. Consider Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1.
What name so sweet to sinners’ ears,
As that of Christ, our king?
‘Tis this repels our doubts and fears,
And joy of soul doth bring.
My hands to thee I will lift up,
A blessing to receive,
From thee my Christ, my only hope;
In whom I will believe.
