Daily Devotionals

John Gossner's Treasury

Devotional: September 19th

For God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Salvation, salvation! God has intended "salvation" for us from the beginning. Who is able sufficiently to thank Him therefor? Wherein does this "salvation" consist? Not in a mere imagination. Our Savior explains to us ( Matthew 5:3-11 ) wherein true salvation consists. With this genuine and infallible touch-stone we are to prove our salvation. It is singular that the Savior attributes the salvation of God’s children on earth to something entirely different from the highly praised happiness of the world. Poverty, hunger, sorrow, persecution, a clean heart, are things that make the whole world unhappy; but it is exactly these things that make the children of God blessed. One who is rich can not become blessed in the kingdom of God except he become poor in spirit, except he disengage his heart from all temporal and intellectual riches and as one poor and needy turns to Jesus to become a partaker of the unsearchable riches of His grace. One who is satiated and happy in riotous living, can not become blessed in God except he deny all his licentiousness, and hunger and thirst after that righteousness which God through Jesus Christ holds out to him in faith. A frivolous, thoughtless sinner can not be saved unless he mourn his riotous life and seek joy and peace in Christ. A licentious person, whose mind is filled with all kinds of lust can not be saved except he banish all impure desires, which he seeks to gratify, lust, revenge or other sensual indulgences, and seek his sole pleasure in Christ and in communion with Him. Unto this "salvation" we are called. This "salvation" belongs only to spiritual poverty, to hunger after righteousness, to a heart that has died from sin. It is only to be found by clinging to the Lord in faith. He is the author of our salvation. He became poor, that we might become rich through His poverty. He hungered and thirsted that we might become filled. Instead of the heavenly joy at his disposal, He suffered the cross, that we through His grief might obtain salvation.

Come, ye that love the Lord,

And let your joys be known;

Join in the song with sweet accord.

While ye surround His throne.

Let those refuse to sing

Who never knew our God;

But servants of the heavenly King

May speak their joys abroad.