Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: December 27th

The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.- Romans 16:20.

It is very common for the followers of the Lamb to reason, but not right, after this manner: "how can I be a son of the God of peace? how can I be a subject of the prince of peace, seeing I am daily in war and fightings? If at any time the sweet sound of peace is heard in my heart, and the comforting sense of peace is felt in my conscience, soon some rebel lust, some sinful passion, or some fiery dart of the enemy, makes an attack upon me; hence war commences and peace is banished." Nay but, soul, Jesus is still thy peace. God is ever at peace with thee. Glory in this always. Know thou art to fight the good fight of faith as a soldier of Jesus. Thy present state exposes thee to enemies. Being born again of the Spirit, thy flesh lusteth against thee, and thou feelest it, art groaning under it and striving against it. The strong man, Satan, who heretofore kept thee in possession, when thou wast at peace with him, is now cast out by Jesus; therefore he besieges and attacks. The world with its vanities, its children with their smiles and frowns, promises and threatenings, animated by "the god of this world," are at war with thee; because thou art not of this world, but of the kingdom of Jesus.

That this combined power opposes thee, is a scriptural mark that thou art born of God. That thou art at war with them, is an evidence, a happy evidence of the life of thy soul, and of thy faith and love in Christ Jesus. Rather let this strengthen thy confidence than deject thy mind. Was it any proof that Jesus was not the Son of God, because Satan tried to make him question it, and tempted him to idolatry, covetousness and self-murder? Did this destroy his hope and peace in his God and Father? Nor need his temptations interrupt thine. Thy God knows thou art conflicting with Satan. It is his good pleasure to permit it for a season. Yea, he knows also thou canst not bruise Satan, much less overcome him. Natural men are ready to ask what is this bruising of Satan: we see no need of it. No, it is because they lie fast asleep in his arms. But those who are awake, and flee from him, he ever tries to distress. But, O Christian, here is thy comfort, Jesus has bruised the serpent’s head. Thy assurance of victory lies in the almighty power of Jesus, and faithful promise of thy Father. Look up with confidence for as sure as Satan’s head is bruised, thy God, who is at peace with thee, is at war with every enemy that is against them. Fight with courage. He will strengthen thee to stand against, yea more, give thee perfect victory over all the powers of darkness, all the malice of hell. As a vanquished foe thou shalt tread Satan under thy feet shortly. "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, (against the enemy) he will come and save you."- Isaiah 35:4

Ye are all one in CHRIST JESUS. Galatians 3:28.

Will a covetous man be contented with the notion that he is rich? If your body was in pain, would it give you ease, to think of a remedy, without experiencing its salutary effects? What avails all the refined notions of eternal union, without experiencing that the soul is vitally united to Christ, by the power of the Spirit, through faith? O my soul, I charge thee not to rest satisfied, with the notion of the doctrine of union, without the comforts of the grace of being united to Christ, and being one with him in heart and affection. O my Jesus, to thee I look and pray, to find and feel more and more the sweet experience of this. Give it my soul, out of thy fulness. Consider, (1st.) The persons here spoken of, ye. Ye Jews, who had the form of godliness, without the power: ye Gentile sinners, who once had neither the form nor the power of Christianity: ye apostate sinners, who yesterday were haters of God, at enmity against his law, rebels against his government, in league with sin, death, and hell, fighting under the prince of darkness: see what ye are now: behold what grace has done for you: see into whom it has implanted you. (2d.) “In Christ Jesus.” Not only in the knowledge of him, faith in him, hope on him, and love to him: though all this is precious; but much more. Ye are mystically and spiritually united to Christ, as truly as your soul is to your body, your body to your head, or your hand to your body. Now Christ is your life, your husband, your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30.) Ye are complete-perfect in him, (Colossians 2:10.) Simply believe this.

Look to Christ for the comfort of this. Glorify the Spirit for the grace of this. (3d.) “Ye are all ONE in Christ.” Whether Jew or Gentile, churchman or dissenter, etc., we, being many (though of different denominations and opinions) are one body, (1 Corinthians 10:17.) Christ is the head. We are all members in him, and of one another. As Luther says, “We have the same Christ; I, thou, and all the faithful, which Peter, Paul, and all the saints had.” We are all in the same Jesus: have all one Father: one Comforter: and are of one Spirit. Then let this faith subdue all unholy strife, and excite all heavenly love to each other. O let us make it manifest that we are in Christ, by following him who is our peace, and by holding the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. “Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works.” Hebrews 10:24.

Thou, sinners’ only hope and friend,

Within my soul still reign;

Rule my heart, and put an end

To all my strife and pain.

Let faith, and love, and every grace,

Within me more abound;

That I may prove in ev’ry place,

That Jesus I have found.