Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: March 17th

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:1.

THE apostle is here referring to a matter of unspeakable importance. The blessing of free justification and its consequent privileges will apply to the believer exclusively; and in his esteem, in his constant experience, it is a doctrine of the deepest interest and of incalculable value. Let us view the man who is justified with God in five respects. First, With regard to his enemies. They are very numerous, subtle, powerful, and malignant; but all their plans will be disconcerted, all their assaults will prove abortive and without avail. The man who is justified with God enjoys a sure, permanent, and immutable defence.

Secondly, With regard to his duties. His services, however defective in themselves, are accepted in the Beloved. They rise to the throne of God like grateful offerings; and the mediation and atonement of Christ always render them acceptable. Besides, not only is the justified man accepted in the performance of duty, but he is aided also. He has divine power afforded that he may serve God appropriately; and, as his exigencies arise, so spiritual energy is imparted.

Thirdly, With regard to his enjoyments. His tranquility is abiding and divine. He realizes the sublimest happiness amidst all the fluctuations and distresses of the wilderness. His mercies are all sweetened by the conviction that they proceed from a God of love; and he can drink his wine or water “with a merry heart,” because he is conscious that all his supplies flow from that beneficent Being who is his covenant God and Father, by virtue of the blood and intercession of Jesus Christ.

Fourthly, With regard to his trials. Those trials may be numerous, diversified, often exceedingly severe, but the Christian knows that they are all desirable and indeed requisite; and he rejoices in the assurance that all his afflictions are sent by an indulgent Parent, who is acquainted with his case, who knows what he requires, and who appoints every trial and calamity for his benefit and happiness. The man who is justified knows that there is nothing that is penal connected with any of the trials he realizes.

Lastly, With regard to death. The Christian may sometimes tremble when anticipating his mortality; but when his graces are in lively exercise he is all composure. The thought does not alarm him. He recognises in death a friend. Hence Dr. Gouge was accustomed to say, “I have two friends, Christ and death; Christ is my first friend, and death my second.” This is the sentiment of the justified man.

The unsearchable riches of Christ. - Ephesians 3:8.

THESE unsearchable riches of Christ do not intend so much his attributes and possessions as God, as his mediatorial resources and treasures. The whole dispensation of the Spirit is lodged in his hands; for “in him it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell”-pardon, peace, knowledge, strength, grace, and glory. There is an abundance of these riches in him; they are unsearchable as they are found in him. The world has its riches, but they are easily comprehended; and Solomon summed them all up when he said, “Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, all is vanity.” All the wealth of the world, all the world calls good and great, is infinitely inferior to mind.

The riches of the Saviour are for the soul and for eternity-they are therefore invisible as to the senses; and they are boundless, too, so that no creature in heaven or earth can ever fully explore them. Angels, it is true, desire to look into these things, and will always be looking into them, but never fathom their depths. No mortal, therefore, can ever worthily conceive of the value of that blood which cleanseth from all sin;-the perfection of that righteousness which can justify the ungodly and give him a title to eternal life;-that peace which passeth all understanding;-that “joy which is unspeakable and full of glory;”-that love which passeth knowledge; or that power that is “able to do for us exceedingly abundant above all that we can ask or think.” Well, therefore, may the Apostle call them the “unsearchable riches of Christ.”

O, how we should rejoice to know that he is in possession of such unsearchable riches. It should gladden us to learn this on his own account, for he is infinitely worthy; on our own account we should rejoice that he has in his possession and at his disposal, and for us, all the treasures of nature and grace, and of providence and glory; and we should rejoice on the account of others, that these unsearchable riches belong to one

“Whose heart is made of tenderness,

Whose bowels melt with love.”

Let us rejoice to think that therefore there are in him the resources of pity and of power, and the resources of grace and of glory. And let us tell this joy to him who has unsearchable riches, with confidence. Let us enlarge our desires and our hopes, and be not satisfied with just obtaining from him mere relief, but “ask and receive, that our joy may be full.”