Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 2nd

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.- John 1:29.

Nothing can make poor sinners truly happy, but that which taketh away the cause of all misery, sin. This is effected. The Lamb of God hath taken away all sin, by his sacrifice for us. When, by the eye of faith, we behold this Lamb, then all sin is taken away out of our conscience. When a soul thinks, ’Sin has condemned me before God; the law accuseth me daily; it works wrath in my conscience continually; and I am oft ready to cry out, O wretched that I am, who shall deliver me?’ Thanks be to God for a precious Redeemer. The Lamb, which God provided, hath done it for ever. All our iniquities were laid upon him. "He bare it in his own body on the tree," the sin, the whole of sin, every sin of all that shall believe in him, to the end of the world. By the sacrifice of himself he put all away, out of the sight of God, as one puts away an offensive thing. He bore it away into a land of forgetfulness, as a thing that is hurtful. So then saith God the Father, to all his children in Christ, "Your sins and your iniquities I will remember no more."- Jeremiah 31:34.

But one is often ready to say, How can this be true? for I daily see I am a sinner; the remembrance of sin is before me, in my thoughts; though, for a season, time may efface sin from my memory, yet it recurs afresh upon my conscience. It may, it will do so, O soul; and nothing can effectually take it away but this, "Behold the Lamb of God." He taketh sin away now, this present moment, every moment: at what time soever thou beholdest Jesus by the eye of faith, all the sin which troubles thee, thou wilt see it laid on him, and he taketh it away from thee. O how sweet to have no more conscience of sin!

Continually to behold this Lamb of God, is life to our souls, and death to our sins. Sin cannot terrify with its guilt: sin cannot prevail in its power while the heart is looking to this Lamb of God, for he says, "Look unto me, and be saved." Astonishing mystery! but this is God’s truth. Thus to behold, is to be happy. Thus to look, is to be holy. May this, O my soul, be thy daily employ below, till thou beholdest the Lamb in the midst of the throne above. Thanks to the gracious Father, for the gift of this precious Lamb; thanks to this holy Lamb for bearing and taking away sin; and thanks to the loving Spirit, for shewing this Lamb to poor sinners and ME-"God forbid I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."- Galatians 6:14.

If sin most vile to me appears,

What must th’ Omniscient see!

But, God beholds us in his Lamb,

From sin forever free.

This is the truth by which we live:

By Faith beholding Christ.

Our consciences from guilt are freed;

Then unbelief resist.

The nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. Jeremiah 4:2.

“ Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue, and people and nation.” This is part of the new song, which is sung at the right hand of God, in honour and glory to the Lamb. (Revelation 5:9.) Shall we not honour and glorify him here below? What should be the employ of the redeemed and called, every day they live on earth, till they join their brethren in heaven? Why, to bless themselves in the Lord. Bless one’s self! Is not that boasting and vain glory? Yes, if it arises from any merit, self-righteousness, or excellence, which we fancy we possess. But we are to bless ourselves, because we are in the Lord, and blessed by our God and Father, with all spiritual blessings, in Christ Jesus. Though a sinner, a miserable sinner, yea, a law accursed sinner in thyself, yet bless thyself, as a rich saint, a holy, happy soul in Christ; beloved of God, chosen of God, reconciled to God, at peace with God, an heir of God, and joint heir with Jesus. Bless thy soul, that is born again of the Spirit, to partake of such inestimable privileges. This is an evangelical duty. It raises the affections to the Lord of our salvation. It revives the heart. It fortifies the mind against sin, and invigorates the soul to all holy obedience. Therefore, it should be our daily work to bless ourselves, and to bless the Lord, for what he has done for us and in us. O, Holy Spirit! raise our legal spirits to the exercise of this gospel-practice! Cause our souls to delight more in, and to glory more of, the Lord our Righteousness. “In him shall they glory.” One view of Christ by faith stains the pride of all human glorying. O, What glory shines in the person of Jesus! He is God and man in one Christ. What glory is displayed in his love to us sinners, in redeeming us to God by his blood, justifying us by his righteousness, living to pray for us as our advocate, and saving us day by day from sin, and everlastingly from hell to heaven! Let us constantly dwell upon, and glory in his person, his work, his offices, and his everlasting love below, till we come to cast down our crowns before him above.

For, while our souls are thus sweetly exercised from day to day, sin loses its dominion, Satan his power, the world its charms, self is denied, fears subside, hopes are lively, love reigns, our affections are above, our spirits are on the wing for God, and this is our constant language, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14.

“Ye who see the Father’s grace

Beaming in the Saviour’s face,

As to Canaan on ye move,

Praise and bless redeeming love.”