Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 22nd

For his anger endureth but a moment: in his favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.- Psalms 30:5.

Verily here is a glorious assemblage of comforting truths like a reviving cordial of rich compounds to enliven drooping spirits. Too, too often do God’s children judge of their Father’s love, from corrupt ideas. Through the carnality of their natures, the depravity of their judgment, the weakness of their faith, the uncertainty of their frames and feelings, and the artful insinuations of Satan, their loving Father is considered as an implacable being, full of wrath and anger against them. But this is contrary to God’s revelation of himself in Christ Jesus as a God of love. So also is it injurious and hurtful to the souls of the faithful; for it damps their love, distresses their spirits, deadens the exercise of their graces, and hinders their increase in holiness; the essence of which is founded in the love of God. Therefore such views come not from God. But thus Satan gains an advantage, and triumphs over poor souls, with, ’There, there, so would I have it.’

What can the soul do? whither can he fly? what course can he take? All legal efforts are vain-creature acts ineffectual- from self and nature no hope can spring. What can he think? Truly stand amazed that he is out of hell. He cannot sink lower in his views of himself, than what his just deserts are. But never so miserable can he be in his own sight, but the grace of God in Christ Jesus is all-sufficient to afford hope and help. In nature’s despair, grace triumphs. A sense of momentary anger heightens returning favor. The joy of the morning is improved by a past night of sorrow. God ever rests unchangeable in his love to his people. This is the essence of gospel grace and truth. That we vary and fluctuate in our apprehension of his love, is natural to our very existence, as old and new creatures. "But we have a more sure word of prophesy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts."- 2 Peter 1:19. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy."- Revelation 19:10.

How will the pow’rs of darkness boast

If but one praying soul be lost!

But I have trusted in thy grace,

And shall again behold thy face.

Whate’er my fears or foes suggest,

Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;

My heart shall feel thy love, and raise

My cheerful voice to songs of praise.

Thy anger but a moment stays:

Thy love is life and length of days:

Tho’ grief and tears the night employ,

Thou, Morning-Star, restor’st my joy.

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. 1 John 3:6.

Beware, O my soul! of licentious spirits, who make Christ a minister of sin, instead of a Saviour from all sin. For such are strangers to the sweet experience of abiding in Christ, whereby sin is dethroned in the heart, the power of it subdued in the life, and holiness maintained in the soul. To abide in Christ, is to continue to believe in, and rest upon him, as the dwelling of our souls. “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.” (Psalms 90:1.) This is the claim and confession of the faithful. Ask a believer, “where dwellest thou? he will reply, on my own freehold, my Father’s patrimony, where my treasure is-IN Christ. Such an one sinneth not. What! never sin in thought, word, or deed? has he no sin in him? This state is the earnest desire of his soul. Verily, he doth not abide in Christ, who doth not long for it; but so far from being in it, that every believer feels he is a lump of sin; knows that nothing but sin dwells in his flesh; finds, if left to himself, he can do nothing but sin. Yet he sinneth not. (1st.) He abides in the truth. He cannot so sin, as to lie against the truth, and say, “I have no sin.” (2d.) So as to reject the record of truth, that eternal life is in Christ, and make the God of truth a liar. For he believes, that free remission of sin, and full justification unto eternal life, is by the blood and righteousness of Christ only. (3d.) As a new creature in Christ, he sinneth not. He lives above the power of sin, hates all sin, walks contrary to sin, and strives against every sin. (4th.) He sinneth not, as under the law of works; for he is under the grace of Christ. Though sin lives and rages in his flesh, yet he lives not in sin. He is dead to sin; sin reigns not over him. Of every evil, (let who will abuse it, at the peril of his soul) he may say with St. Paul, “It is no more I who do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:17.) (5th.) He sinneth not, as the ungodly do, or as he himself did while unregenerate. Then, the whole man, spirit, soul, and body loved sin, willfully and habitually committed sin, with enmity against God; but now, the least sin is his grief; the very motions of sin, his distress. Lastly, He sinneth not, to the damnation of his soul. For there is (not one) condemnation against him, as he is in Christ Jesus. And he is kept by the power of God unto salvation. O, precious abiding faith! Victory over every enemy is sure. “For we are more than conquerors, through Christ who loved us.” (Romans 8:37.)

Stand up, my soul, shake off thy fears,

And gird the gospel-armour on;

March to the gates of endless joy,

Where thy great Captain Saviour’s gone.

What though thine inward lust rebel?

‘Tis but a struggling gasp for life;

The weapons of victorious grace

Shall slay thy sins, and end the strife.