Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: February 7th

God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.- 2 Corinthians 4:6.

This is a glorious confession of faith, worthy to be wrote in letters of gold, and set with the most precious jewels, and ever to be worn as the believer’s ornament and glory. For here is the rich display of sovereign grace, and the glory of almighty power, in producing light in the hearts of sinners, who are by nature not only in the dark, but even darkness itself. The knowledge of Jesus is commanded by the same omnipotent agent, who called forth light in the beginning, upon this dark terraqueous globe. Light gladdens the whole creation of nature; and this spiritual light causeth joy in the soul; for it gives the knowledge of God’s glory. In what respect? that God is glorious in majesty? O this strikes us with horror. Glorious in power? That fills us with terror. Glorious in holiness? This causes despair. So every attribute and perfection of Jehovah would sink sinners into dread, astonishment, and death. But here is our relief, ’It is the knowledge of the glory of God, in the person of the anointed Saviour.’ In HIM, God’s glorious favor, eternal love, everlasting counsel of peace, covenant of grace, promises of mercy, scheme of salvation, shine with the most resplendent lustre. Hence pardon, love, peace, joy, holiness, hope, security, heaven in possession, glory in reversion; all, all center in the person of Jesus. Thus we behold the glory of God. God in HIM. This is the only comfortable knowledge, the only reviving experience of the Christian heart. And here we see how inseparably connected God’s glory and his people’s comforts are. Each leads to the other, and both tend to lay sinners low in humility, and sink them to nothing before a sovereign, gracious Lord. Could a dark chaos contribute any thing to the production of light? Canst thou, O worm of the earth, exert any power to cause that glorious luminary, the sun, to send forth its reviving beams of light? No, the first is by the command of the sovereign agent; the latter acts by the laws of its wise Creator. So as to spiritual light, saving knowledge, it is given to those who sought it not; it is made manifest to them who asked not after it. What then becomes of terms and conditions of salvation? O thou once spiritually blind and dead soul, if God hath commanded the light and knowledge of Jesus in thine heart, all boasting is excluded, all glorying in self is at an end. Surely thou wilt say-Thine is the power; to thee, to thee alone, Jehovah, be all the glory!

Now be the God of Israel bless’d,

Who makes his truth appear;

His mighty hand fulfils his word,

And all the oaths he sware.

He makes his great salvation known;

By Christ he pardons sins;

While sov’reign grace and heav’nly love

In its own glory shines.

Love not the world. 1 John 2:15.

There is one word too much in this text, to make it agreeable to the spirit and conduct of many professors. As Pharaoh said by the locusts, “take away from me this death only,” (Exodus 10:17.) so many may say, take away this Not only, for it is death to us; then we shall like the text, and most passionately obey its command, Love the world. Does it not seem by the conduct of too many, as though they thus read the text? Now, do not look at Mr. Such-an-one. Look at home. See if you are not the very person, in whom the love of the world reigns. You own it. But instead of falling under conviction of the evil of it, you have an excuse for it. You say, “I have a large family-I ought to obtain a fortune for them-though I have some riches, I must get more-I must love, court, and follow the ways of the world-there is nothing to be done without industry-we must rise early, late take rest, eat the bread of carefulness, and be all day long in pursuit of business.” Very well; this is open and honest: the very language of the world. But do you not see gross infidelity stare you in the face? It is plain, where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. You know you cannot, you dare not say, the Lord is my portion: what is there upon earth I desire besides thee? Hear the apostle’s decision and tremble. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Two such contrary loves cannot dwell in one heart. It matters not what profession such make. They may be deemed saints of God. What! without the love of God in their hearts? What other idea can we form of a devil, but that he is destitute of the love of God? James says, a friend of this world is an enemy of God, (4:4.) Well might Paul say, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” For like a stinking weed, it chokes the love of God in the heart. See the reason of this exhortation, love not the world. Examine, whether your pursuits are most earnest after the world, to gain more riches, or to enjoy more the love of God in your heart. Consider your calling. It is to be happy in the love of God in Christ. But the love of the world opposes this, and indisposes for this, therefore we must be crucified unto the world. Hard as this is to flesh and blood, yet faith in Christ makes all things possible. Love to Christ makes all things easy. “This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith,”(John 5:4.) “The love of Christ constraineth us,” (2 Corinthians 5:14.)

Thy wondrous blood, dear dying Christ,

Can make this world of sin remove;

And thou canst bear me where thou fly’st

On thy kind wings, celestial Dove.

O might I now mount up and see

The glories of th’ eternal skies,

What little things these worlds would be,

How despicable to my eyes.