Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: September 3rd

A glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. - Ephesians 5:27.

HERE we see wherein the glory of the church will, in the day of Christ, consist, and concerning which we may remark four things. First, We see they have their imperfections now. For though they possess in their hearts gracious principles, yet there are other principles there, which are endeavouring to counteract them continually, so that there is within them an internal war,- “the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these being contrary the one to the other,” so that Christians cannot do the things that they would. Something is wanting in the exercise of every grace and defective in the performance of every duty now. Even the apostle, who had made such progress, says, “I have not attained; I am not already perfect.” “Yea,” says James, “in many things we offend all.” And, indeed, Christians know that the sins of their holy things are such as not only to humble them, but even to sink them in despondency, were it not that they have an Advocate with the Father, “whose blood cleanseth from all sin.”

Secondly, We see how these imperfections are metaphorically expressed. They are held forth as spots and wrinkles. We cannot notice spots in black, and we never do notice spots in coarse and repulsive visages. No; spots suppose comeliness and loveliness upon the whole. Spots are consistent with beauty, but they detract from it. We read in Scripture of those spots which “are not the spots of God’s children,” but there are spots, therefore, that may be found in them. There are deficiencies which are compatible with sincerity and the life of God in the soul. Wrinkles are one of the common symptoms of age or weakness. They remind us of the decay of life, health, vigour, and declension in some measure, and failure of comeliness. By these the apostle means declensions from our religious character. This very church to whom this text was addressed soon left her first love and ceased her first works. Our Saviour notices in another of these churches, “Thy works are ready to die.”

Thirdly, We see that from all these blemishes and defects they are to be effectually and completely freed, when they are “presented before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” yea, “without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.” They are now complete in their justification, for they are found in the righteousness of Christ; but soon they will be as complete in their holiness as they are in their justification. Now they are delivered from the penalty of sin, but then they will be freed from all the pollution of it. Now sin is dethroned in them, but then it will be destroyed. Now sin has no more dominion over them, but then it will have no more being in them.

Then we see, Lastly, What it is that achieves and finishes their glory. Why, it is this:-that they will no more have any “spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Sin, as long as it remains in the believer, is the source not only of his misery, but of his dishonour. What is the glory of God? He is “glorious in holiness.” Our glory must be like God’s glory; and we shall never be completely glorified till we are holy even as he is holy.

The Lord shall choose our inheritance for us. - Psalms 47:4.

HOW much very often depends upon a single step in life. Our reputation, our comfort, our usefulness, our character, may depend upon the movement, and repentance may be quartered upon us for life. The effects with regard to the present state may be irretrievable. We are commanded therefore to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise. We are morally to keep always awake; to have our senses exercised to discern between good and evil. We are always to watch and pray. This should induce us to repair to God in humble and earnest prayer and say, Thou, Lord, shalt choose our inheritance for us; for if we do not pray as well as watch, we shall watch in vain. And those who are just stepping into life, who are issuing into the world, should say from this time unto God, “Thou art my Father, he thou the guide of my youth.” And those who are in perplexity, and in difficulty, should wait upon God, and let integrity and uprightness govern them in all their movements; and not only wait upon God in prayer for direction, but they should wait for the manifestation of God’s will as displayed in the events of providence.

Always remember the case of the Jews; they had a pathless wilderness before them, and how were they to find the way? Oh, there was a fiery cloud and pillar to guide them-fiery by night and cloudy by day. By this they were always to be influenced; and if the cloud began to move, though it were at midnight, the watchman immediately ran through the camp exclaiming, “The pillar is moving.” “In what direction?” “In such a direction,” and they immediately followed it: if it turned to the right, they turned; if it turned to the left they turned; when it paused, if it were for a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, they rested too. They would not go without their guide, and they would not suffer their guide to go without them.

“Through each perplexing path of life

My wandering footsteps guide,

Give me each day my daily bread,

And raiment fit provide.

Such blessings from thy gracious hand,

Lord, humbly I emplore,

And thou shalt be my chosen God

And portion evermore.”