the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth.- John 14:15-31
He would be a traitor and a rebel who should dare to set up his standard in England, and demand allegiance from the king’s subjects, and require obedience to his commands, who had no right to the crown. So Jesus, if he is not KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS-the King of saints-the living and true God; but only a mere man, a Prophet mighty in word and in deed, a very good man, who taught the best morals, and set us a good example, as some proud, vain, ignorant creatures pretend; verily, if this were all, we, Christians, could see no goodness in him. But he would be a bold usurper against the one eternal Jehovah, striving to alienate the affections of the heart, and the obedience of the life from GOD, whom ye are commanded to love and serve only. Therefore, "If ye love me, keep MY commandments," saith Jehovah the mighty God, by the wonderful man Christ Jesus. Disciples know his voice. In love, he hath done all things for their salvation. From love, he requires all of them in duty. Obedience without love is slavery: Love without obedience is dissimulation. In keeping his commandments there is great reward, enjoyed in present peace, expected in future hope; both are the fruits of free grace and unmerited love, and secured by precious promises.
While others might hear of Jesus, and talk of the miracles Jesus wrought in the days of his flesh; yet those disciples only, who were obedient to his call and followed him, saw his glory, and enjoyed the comforts of his presence. So the closer disciples walk with Jesus in love and obedience, they enjoy more of the comforts of faith. And besides the gift of faith, as an evidence, they shall receive the comforting witness of their being the children of God, even from the Spirit of truth; another comforter, who shall abide with them, for ever, as a seal, earnest, and pledge of their future glory. So Jesus prays-so the Father bestows-so the Spirit applies and comforts. Glory be to the ever-blessed THREE, who thus agree in ONE, and bear witness on earth of salvation, to the comfort and joy of poor sinners. Love to Jesus is the spring of obedience. Keeping his commandments, is the way IN which, though not FOR which the Spirit comforts our hearts. "What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."- Matthew 19:6.
The God of mercy be ador’d,
Who calls our souls from death,
Who saves by his redeeming word
And new-creating breath.
To praise the Father and the Son,
And Spirit (all divine)
The one in three, and three in one,
Let saints and angels join.
He will reprove (or convince) the world of sin. John 16:8.
Has the Spirit so convinced, so reproved you of sin, of the curse of the law of sin, of the wrath of God revealed against all sin; and of that sin of sins, unbelief, that whosoever lives and dies in, is under the wrath of God: so that you have fled for refuge to Jesus, and have taken shelter in his wounds, to be saved from all sin; then you are blessed: your soul is safe, your salvation is sure. The Spirit has glorified the Redeemer in your eyes and to your heart. And Christ will glorify your soul with him in his own kingdom. Is not the Spirit rightly styled the Comforter? Did he not act the part of a comforter, even in convincing of sin? What if your heart was broken and bled for sin, yet it was that you might be comforted with the love, and made joyful in the salvation of Jesus. But having thus convinced you of sin, and brought you to Christ for salvation, has the Spirit done with you? Is the work at an end upon you? O, no. “He is promised to abide with us for ever,” (John 14:16.) He always carries on the same work, to convince of sin. He is always the comforter, to testify of the Saviour-and in both he maintains the character of the Holy Spirit. Why do little things pain you? Some, to keep up the notion of sinless perfection, call them, things not exactly right; which you cannot, dare not but look on as sins of your nature. Why do you see, feel, and mourn over yourself as a lump of sin? Why are you sensible that you sin in thought, word and deed, and that you can do nothing perfectly, that sin is in all you do, and that when you would do good, evil is present? Why is it that you hate all sin, abhor yourself, and humble yourself as a poor sinner from day to day before the Lord? Why is all this, but because the Spirit of truth is within and convinces you of sin, and cuts off all hope in yourself on account of it? But does he leave you comfortless? Though he teaches you to see and say, “though all I am is sin,” yet you can add, “this does not break my peace.” No, he convinces you also of righteousness: that Christ’s righteousness is yours, and that he is your peace. Of judgment: that the judgment of God is according to truth, “that he is just, and the justifier of the ungodly who believe in Jesus,” (Romans 4:5.) So that now you live in the life of faith, above the power of sin. Bless the eternal Spirit, O my soul; for I can joyfully sing,
A guilty weak and helpless worm
Into thy arms I fall;
Thou art my strength, my righteousness,
My Jesus and my all.
