Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 16th

Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?- Genesis 3:1.

It is the grand masterpiece of that wisdom which is earthly, sensual, devilish, to call in question the truth of God’s word; to insinuate a doubt about it. But here appears more modesty even in Satan, than in some of his servants; for he only puts a query upon it, whereas they absolutely deny and ridicule the truths of Jehovah. In the same way that the old serpent attacked and prevailed against the innocence of our first parents, he still attempts to destroy the comforts and oppose the holiness of God’s children by artful suggestions against the truth of God’s word. If he can but raise a doubt in our minds concerning what the Lord hath spoken, he strikes at the very foundation of our faith, hope, love, and obedience. As he abode not in the truth, he is a restless implacable enemy to the truth, and to every soul who embraces the truth as in Jesus.

Really, one finds Satan like a laborious domestic chaplain, preaching in season, and out of season, in one’s ears: ’Hath the Lord spoken this? hath he forbidden that? how can this doctrine be true? it is so contrary to reason, so inconsistent with the nature of things; you a child of God? you a believer in Jesus? your sins atoned for by Jesus? your soul clothed with his righteousness and sanctified by his Spirit? Is not everlasting love mere imagination? electing grace, the creature of fancy? the safety and perseverance of the saints of Jesus, the whim of a heated brain? is Jesus the essentially true God? hath the Lord spoken so much against sin? doth he contrary to the rest of the world, and exposes to their hatred and contempt? hath God said so and so?’

Thus with art and sophistry, he insinuates and puts on the air of a candid disputant for truth. What did Eve get by listening to him, and conversing with him? rather, what did she not lose? even the life, the love, the joy, the peace of her soul. It is our wisdom not to parley with or study to answer Satan’s suggestions, but instantly to "resist him stedfast in the faith,"- 1 Peter 5:9 -taking the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, wherein is contained the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, being able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."- 2 Timothy 3:16.

See how the prince of darkness tries

All his malicious arts;

He spreads a mist around my eyes,

And throws his fi’ry darts.

O thou my sun, and thou my shield,

My soul in safety keep;

Make haste, before mine eyes are seal’d

In death’s eternal sleep.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we believe, and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13.

We should greatly admire these phrases, according as it is written-according to the scriptures. If our faith is not founded upon and agreeable to these, it is only a fanciful delusion. “The same spirit of faith.” With whom? St. Paul ever has his eye upon Christ. He refers to Psalms 116:10, where Christ speaks by the mouth of David. But what need had Christ of faith? never forget that he was perfect man, like unto us. As such, all the graces of the Spirit dwelt in him. Faith, in his Father’s promises; hope, in his love; delight, in his law; zeal, for his glory; holy fear and reverence of his name. You see the whole chain of graces in that word, “who in the days of his flesh, when he offered up prayers and supplications, with strong cryings and tears, unto him who was able to save him from death; and was heard in that he feared.” (Hebrews 5:7.) Here is faith in the ability of God, hope in him, prayer to him, fear of him, etc. This is joyful to consider; there is not a grace in us, but what was in Christ our head, and flows to us from him. “The Spirit of faith.” It is a spiritual gift; it is a lively grace. It is not a dead notion in the head, but it brings the enjoyment of God into the heart. If we share in the graces of Christ on earth, we shall, surely, enjoy his kingdom in glory. See the genuine effects of faith. We believe, and therefore speak. Faith in the heart, opens the lips. We shall speak, (1st.) To God the Father, as to our Father, with the holy boldness and loving confidence of children. We shall delight to draw near to him, to tell him of our sorrows, our enemies, our sins, etc., yea, of all that is in our hearts. “For like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” (Psalms 103:13.) (2d.) For the glory of God, we shall speak of his everlasting, electing love, the freeness of his sovereign grace, and the riches of his abundant mercy, in giving his Son to be our Saviour. (3d.) We shall speak of his Son’s redemption of us from all sin; the glory of his righteousness, in justifying us from all condemnation; and everlastingly saving us from sin to holiness, from hell to heaven. Lastly, we shall speak to the glory of the Spirit, for quickening our dead souls, and making us happy in the Father’s love, and the Son’s salvation. Such is the spirit of faith. Lord, help our unbelief! Lord, increase our faith!

When we pray, or when we sing,

Or read, or speak, or hear,

Or do any holy thing,

Be this our constant care:

With a fixt habitual faith,

Jesus Christ to keep in view,

Trusting wholly in his death

In all we ask or do.