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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: December 19th

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Morning Devotional

And Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.- Luke 10:42.

What the Lord said of Aaron’s rod, is true of the hearts of all his elect: "The man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom."- Numbers 17:5. To see a dead withered stick, cut off from the root, bring forth blossoms, is a miracle in nature. So when the soul of a once dead sinner shoots forth the blossoms of affection to, and chooses Jesus as its portion and happiness, and brings forth fruits of holiness; this is a miracle of grace.

The love of Jesus to his people was not only conceived in his heart from eternity, but was manifested in his life and death in time. So when our hearts are made acquainted with the love of Jesus, it cannot be hid. When Jesus is chosen as our treasure, our affections cleave to him, we follow him; our delight is to hear his voice, to sit at his feet, and attend upon the gracious words which drop from his lips. Blessed be his name, he indulges his people now with spiritual, real communion with him; though we enjoy not his bodily presence. This is our heaven upon earth. But it differs from the heaven of glory in this; because here are many things that interrupt our constant enjoyment of Jesus-Satan envies it-the flesh lusteth against it-the world, with its profits and pleasures, tends to allure us from it. And indeed the poor heart is oft times ready to fear it shall lose Jesus’ grace and salvation. Though, like MARY, the soul hath chosen the good part in time, yet it sometimes doubts of the enjoyment of its portion in a blissful eternity. But that is impossible; because Jesus is God, and it is impossible for God to lie. But had not Martha also a part in this one thing needful? Doubtless. But still she was ever careful, and too much cumbered about other things. This our Lord reproves. The same grace which was effectual in Mary’s heart, influences the heart of every disciple to the same choice; therefore what Jesus said to her in the days of the flesh, is wrote by his Spirit for our consolation and establishment in faith and love. Mary displayed the greatness of her soul in being satisfied with no object short of Jesus, and the humility of her heart in sitting at his feet. Poor doubting, fearing believer, thy choice of Jesus is the effect of God’s choosing thee in Jesus; therefore thy good part, thy happy choice, shall never be taken from thee; but thou shalt soon hear the voice of thy beloved, saying, "Come up hither." "Where I am there shall my servants be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honor."- John 12:26.

Thus saith the wisdom of the Lord,

Bless’d is the man that hears my word;

Keeps daily watch before my gate,

And at my feet for mercy waits.

The soul that seeks me shall obtain

Immortal wealth and heav’nly gain;

Immortal life is his reward,

In love and favor of his Lord.

Evening Devotional

Said JESUS unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself. Matthew 16:24.

We are called to follow Christ in the regeneration, (Matthew 19:28.) That is, in the new state of things, called, “the time of reformation,” (Hebrews 9:10.) wherein he has set all things right between God and us sinners. Christ has not left us any thing to do, whereby to satisfy divine justice, and to fulfil the holy law, in order to procure God’s favour, and a title to his kingdom: but only to come after him, to reap all the glorious spoils and victories of the law-fulfilling life, and sin-atoning death, in our perfect reconciliation to God, justification before him, acceptance and peace with him. O soul, this knowledge is essential to thy following Christ, in faith and love. Without this you cannot come after him one step. Therefore in love he bids thee deny thyself. As though he had said, all things in the old creation of fallen nature are contrary to my spiritual kingdom, and oppose my reign in the heart; therefore, all in self must be denied. Receive this in faith, as the command of love, to enjoy peace and comfort in thy Lord. (1st.) Thy carnal reason exalts itself against the grace and truth of thy Lord. Deny this. (2d.) Thy self-righteous pride of obtaining righteousness by works, opposes free and full justification unto life, by the spotless righteousness of Christ. Renounce that. (3d.) The selfish notion of fulfilling terms and conditions of salvation is contrary to following Christ, as having finished our salvation. Disown that. (4th.) Corrupt lusts will draw away thy heart from following Christ, in the paths of holiness. Deny them. (5th.) The pleasures of carnal sense, attract the heart from Christ. Renounce them. (6th.) Unbelief is an enemy to thy Lord’s love and truth. Resist it. Oppose thy Lord’s word to it. (7th.) Doubts and fears that Christ will not receive thee- will reject thee-that he will not save thee to the uttermost- that thou mayest perish at last, will prevent thy comfortably following Christ. Reject them. Oppose his loving promise to them. Lastly, deny, renounce and disown the notion, that thou hast any power of thy own, to deny thyself in following Christ, and to persevere to the end. Let this be ever your prayer, “Draw me, I will run after thee.” (Song of Solomon 1:4.) Christ’s power of drawing is our strength for denying and running. Therefore when Christ says, deny thyself, look not on him as a rigorous law-giver, to enslave thee under bondage: but as a precious law-fulfiller, a loving Saviour, and as exalted to bestow grace on miserable sinners. He would have us live totally out of corrupt nature and carnal self, be quite happy in him; and comfortable in following of him. For he saith, “I who speak in righteousness, am mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63:1.) Profession is easy to hypocrites. Self-denial is the evidence of real disciples.

At Christ’s command we must take up

Our cross without delay-

Our lives-and thousand lives of ours,

His love can ne’er repay.

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