the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost, all who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.- Hebrews 7:25.
When the strong blasts of temptations blow, the swelling waves of corruptions lift up their heads: Satan casts his fiery darts: the thunders of Sinai roar: the law threatens wrath and destruction: carnal reason pleads: unbelief pronounces hopeless despair on them: happy for believers to take up the language of faith, expressed by the children of God of old, "We are not careful to answer in this matter: our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us; and he will deliver us,"- Daniel 3:16-17. Admirable faith and fortitude! A shining example of Old-Testament saints, worthy to be imitated by New- Testament disciples. Such a conduct yields ease to the mind, and peace to the conscience; while it confesses Jesus the only Saviour, it gives him the glory due to his name. And, verily, according to their faith so it was. They were saved to the uttermost. Though cast into the fiery furnace, they had the presence of Jesus; and he delivered them out of it unhurt. Who can prescribe bounds to the salvation of Jesus? He saves according to his ability. Who can limit that which extends to the uttermost? Thou comer to God by Jesus, think not sin is too strong in thee for Jesus to save thee from. "He is almighty to save to the uttermost." Art thou not willing thus to be saved? Verily faith longs for it, love desires it, hope expects it. Stagger not through unbelief. Our object of faith is a once crucified Jesus, and ever-living, interceding man and Mediator, and who is also the omnipotent God. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? Why then should sin hold thee one moment under its power? why should it at all distress thy mind? Nay, it could not, but for thy unbelief. But is not the strength of Jesus the most powerful encouragement for poor sinners to come to God continually? A throne of grace is ever open. A God of love seated on it. Jesus ever lives, and always prays. A salvation to the uttermost perfection is promised, and the infinitely powerful Jehovah able to effect it. Coming to God by Jesus, O this is a sweet mystery for faith to feed upon, to be nourished and strengthened by! We are confident of access, perfectly sure of acceptance by Jesus. We are not left to perhaps or peradventure, because it is not founded upon ourselves, upon what we have done or can do, but upon the eternal life, everlasting love, and unchangeable priesthood of Jesus.
Christ overrules all mortal things,
And manages all our affairs;
On humble souls the King of kings
Bestows his counsels and his cares.
Our sorrows and our tears we pour
Into the bosom of our God;
He hears us in the mournful hour,
And helps us bear the heavy load.
Lo, this is the man that made not GOD his strength. Psalms 52:7.
The following fact I had from my late beloved friend, and faithful minister of Christ, the Rev. Mr. Jones. A poor infidel deist had conceived a strange notion, that men need not die unless they would. Upon his deathbed, he affected to be resolute, and bid God defiance. In his last moments, he sprang up, gnashed with his teeth, and with looks of horror cried out, “God! I will not die!” With these words he expired. O the fearful death of the ungodly, who make not God their strength! They have hope in their death. For they make God their strength in their life. What can a vile sinner do to make God his friend? Where is the impotent sinner, who can make God his strength? What meaneth this? Why, God is that to every poor sinner, which the word reveals him, and faith takes him to be. Consider this. You say, I am a weak needy creature. What saith the Lord? “Let him take hold of my strength.” (Isaiah 27:5.) “Thou hast been a strength to the poor; a strength to the needy in his distress.” (Isaiah 25:4.) Again, in that sweet 52d. chapter, the title of which runs thus: Christ persuadeth the church to believe his free redemption- The Lord calls upon poor and needy sinners, “Awake, awake! put on thy strength.” (verse 1.) Now hence, for the encouragement of our hearts, and to the joy of our souls, we see that the Lord is the strength of that soul, who believes in him, chooses him, takes and receives him as such. Faith is the hand that takes hold of God’s strength: faith claims God, as the strength of the poor and needy. And because our hearts are apt to grow heavy and sleepy, neglect and forget him, who is our strength and our portion; lo! he crieth to us with a mighty voice, “Awake, awake!” Lift up your eyes: look unto me, who, “when ye were without strength, in due time died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6.) Put on thy strength. Thou hast no inherent strength. Know, thy strength is perfect weakness. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “the Lord Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:4.) Learn daily that blessed art, to say with St. Paul, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10.) The Lord commands you, “Let the weak say, I am strong.” (Joel 3:10.) “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10.
Our Saviour living here on earth,
In flesh like to our own:
To faith and joy and peace gives birth,
And brought salvation down.
Hold fast this truth in faith, my soul,
Thro’ all thy trials here;
This will thy hurtful lusts control,
And banish all thy fear.
