Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: December 26th

We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.- Ephesians 2:10.

Upon a survey of the works of creation, the psalmist cries out with admiration, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works, in wisdom hast thou made them all!" Is such a display of wisdom and glory visible in the objects of time and sense, which perish in the using, and are destined to destruction? O, what infinite riches of wisdom, glory, and love, are manifest in the new creation in Christ Jesus, which are of a spiritual and eternal nature! Such is the economy of the covenant of grace, the glorious three persons in the ever-adorable trinity concur in the salvation of sinners. God the Father elects in Christ Jesus to glory, and ordains good works, as the fruits of everlasting love, for all the heirs of salvation to walk in. Jesus, in whom they are chosen, atones for all the guilt of their sins, and frees them from all the condemnation of the law. And the divine Spirit creates their souls anew in righteousness, peace, and holiness. But why doth he say, "created in Christ Jesus?" Because we are his members; one with him, beloved IN him, chosen IN him, viewed IN him; loved with the very same love, as Jesus our head is- John 17:23. What is wrought in us by the power of God the Spirit, is not to glorify us in our own eyes, to make us independent of our head, Jesus; but to glorify him, and keep us in close union to, and sweet communion with him; that so our good works, our fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, may abound to the glory of God. How awful is this delusion, under pretence of exalting Jesus to depreciate the work of his Spirit in us? How fatal the mistake of thinking our good works are to recommend us to God’s favor? But how does the devil amuse poor dead sinners with notions of good works, and swell them with the pride of their works! as though they were the price of God’s favor, and the purchase of his kingdom. All such works are of the flesh, they flow from pride and unbelief, and are accursed. The seventeenth article of our church speaks of "walking RELIGIOUSLY in good works." As though there are no good works, but what spring from the religion of Jesus. Christian, what thou art called to in life, that thou art created to in thy soul. Those duties exhorted to in the word, thou hast strength to perform by the Spirit. Therefore, though sinful and lost, in thy first creation, yet thou art saved and righteous by thy new creation in Christ Jesus. In him, being one with him, thou mayest say with Paul, "I have all things and abound."- Philippians 4:18.

Not to the terrors of the Lord,

Not to the thunder of that word

The tempest, fire and smoke,

Which God on Sinai spoke.

But we are come to Sion’s hill,

Where milder words declare his will,

The city of our God,

And spread his love abroad.

To reveal his Son in me. Galatians 1:16.

From hence begins spiritual life: a life from God, in God, with God, and to God. By the gospel the Son of God is revealed to us. By the Spirit, he is revealed in us. External revelation by the word, and internal by the Spirit, are both necessary to salvation. Though St. Paul was separated from his mother’s womb, to be called by the grace of God, yet he had not this inward revelation of Jesus Christ to his heart, till he heard the external word of Christ with his ear, saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4.) Hence learn to prize, both the outward testimony of the word and the inward testimony of the Spirit. Consider, (1st.) to reveal, signifies to discover, or make clear to a person, what he did not know before. So, (Philippians 3:15.) “If in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal this unto you.” So the gospel is a revelation of Jesus Christ, without which we could never have known, nor understood, that our sins are atoned by the blood, our persons justified by the righteousness, and our souls everlastingly redeemed and saved by the work of Christ. Is this knowledge, by this revelation, all that is necessary to salvation? No. Persons may attain a notion of these things in the head, and understand somewhat of them, and yet the heart be without precious faith in, and peculiar approbation of Christ, destitute of the love of Christ, and of any saving hope in him. But, (2d.) this is the chief glory of our souls, the revealing Christ in us. O for the reviving comfort of this, while we consider it. To reveal Christ in us, is to make such a clear discovery of the matchless charms and inestimable glory of his person to our souls, which we never saw before: so that our hearts are enamoured with him; we choose him, love him, delight in him, and cleave to him in all his offices and characters. For by the eye of our soul, “we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” to us miserable sinners. Hence, he is the ONE beloved of our souls. Without this revelation of Jesus Christ in us, alas! what is all external profession? No more than mere task, dry formality, and heavy drudgery. O my soul! O my dear friends! be not content to live without a constant revelation of Christ to your souls. This makes the conscience peaceful, the heart happy, and the soul joyful. This inspires love, subdues lust, captivates the affections, makes the whole man happy in God, and creates heaven in the soul. If Christ is within, in the heart, all will be right and well without in the life. If you believe in Christ, as revealed in the word, this blessed promise is for you. Pray for its daily fulfilment, “I will manifest myself unto him.” John 14:21.

“Light of those, whose dreary dwelling

Borders on the shades of death,

Come, and thy dear self revealing,

Dissipate the clouds beneath.”