Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: February 11th

But Jesus answered not a word.- Matthew 15:23.

What! not a word from the compassionate Saviour, who is touched with a feeling of our infirmities? is he deaf to the cries, and dumb to the intreaties of a distressed, sorrowful heart? No; love in the heart has always an open ear to complaints, a ready tongue to speak comfort, and a kind hand to relieve. But love afflicts, to bring his children to him, and to make them call upon him: he forbears to answer, that they may be the more importunate. God’s delays prove faith’s vigor, make love cling closer, prayer more fervent, and patience shine brighter. So the graces of God’s children are drawn forth into lively exercise, and are made manifest that they are wrought by God. Perseverance obtains the blessing in due time. Jesus honors and applauds the grace of his beloved members with, ’O man, O woman, great is thy faith!’

Christ knew what work he had wrought in this poor humble, supplicant’s heart, whereby she knew Jesus to be Lord and God; therefore he proved her and tried her, that her faith might shine bright to his glory and her soul’s comfort. As she possessed the same faith, so she discovers the same resolution of Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." And, with Jacob, she would wrestle; and her heart determined, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me."- Genesis 32:26. But the silence of Jesus was very disheartening. When he speaks, it is quite discouraging. Though she worshipped him and sighed out, "Lord, help me;" yet Jesus seems rather to repulse than comfort her. But true faith ever sinks the soul low in humility, while it clings close to the most high God. The soul owns its hateful vileness and utter unworthiness, and fixes all its plea upon free-grace mercy; all its hopes upon Jesus only. Thus Christ empties whom he delights to fill. He makes us to see and confess ourselves to be dogs, fit only to feed under the table, though he loves us as children, and all that he hath is ours, by free gift, precious promise, and rich grace. O thou poor, fearing, doubting soul, who hast long been seeking, waiting, and praying for comfort, in a word or look from Jesus, take courage hence. Ever trust in him who saith, "I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."- Jeremiah 31:25.

My spirit looks to God alone;

My rock and refuge is his throne;

In all my fears, in all my straits,

My soul on his salvation waits.

Trust him, ye saints, in all your ways,

Pour out your hearts before his face:

When helpers fail, and foes invade,

God is our all-sufficient aid.

Teaching us, that, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world. Titus 2:12.

We read in Esdras of three young men, who wrote of the strength of different subjects. The first chose Wine; the second, the King; the third Women and Truth. He fully demonstrated, that truth is superior to all the charms of women and the power of a king. “As for truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore. And all the people shouted, and said, great is truth, and mighty above all things.” (1 Es. 4:38, 41.) Surely, so it is with the truth of God’s grace. The stoutest rebels have been conquered by it: the most mighty kings have fallen before it. Whom it conquers, them it also teaches. When it has brought the heart to yield to its sovereign power, it captivates the affections by its sweet influence, and regulates the life by its salutary rules. There is a most vile spirit gone forth, and prevails. Out of a zeal for holiness, and a pretense for perfection, the doctrines of grace are exploded; the God of grace is blasphemed; and, in order that men may not live like beasts, they are taught the pride of devils, which consists in rejecting and denying the truths of God’s grace. This teaches us. Who? Us, who bow to the sovereignty of God, to submit to the righteousness of his Son, and accept salvation as a free gift of free grace, without our works having the least hand in procuring it, or entitling to it. It teaches us not to labour in the fire of nature’s zeal, to establish our righteousness before God; but to deny all ungodliness-every thing which is contrary to God’s nature and will; and worldly lusts-seeing no happiness in indulging them, seeking no comfort from gratifying them; we deny ourselves and deny them, as contrary to our holy faith and heavenly hope. God’s grace, or his free favour, and unmerited love in Christ, teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly; aiming to discharge every duty to God, our neighbors, and ourselves, faithfully, conscientiously, and perfectly: but not to be made righteous thereby; not to entitle ourselves to God’s favour, but to glorify God, who hath made us righteous in his Son; and to honour him in our lives, who has reconciled himself to us by his Son. This text, like a two-edged sword, cuts both ways: it cuts down the vain confidence of self-righteous pharisees: it lops off the unscriptural hope of licentious Antinomians; “Such as walk after their own lusts, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” (Judges 1:4.) In their heads they have the notion of truth, while their hearts are strangers to the influence of grace. “From such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:5.)