Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: February 19th

He that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father also.- 1 John 2:23.

If so, we cannot pay too much homage, nor ascribe too much glory to Jesus, as some object. Did Jesus receive from God the Father, honor and glory by this voice from the excellent glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased?"- 2 Peter 1:17. Is it the Father’s will that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father? "He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him."- John 5:23. May we not then boldly say with Paul, on another occasion, "As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me in this glorying" in Jesus, as my Lord, my God. Yea, we will acknowledge him in his lowest form and meanest appearance, as the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger; a destitute, outcast infant; obscure and mean in his birth and parentage; working at a common, ordinary employ; without form and comeliness; despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs; mocked, derided, laughed to scorn; crowned with thorns in derision; condemned and crucified as an accursed wretch, unworthy to live in heaven or on earth; adjudged fit only to die, in company with thieves and highwaymen, on a gibbet. Wholly to trust in this MAN, this GOD-MAN, Jesus of Nazareth, the root and offspring of David, this is "the FAITH of God’s elect." This the acknowledgment of the truth which is after godliness. This is the only "HOPE of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."- Titus 1:2. This is a "REPENTANCE to the acknowledging of the truth."- 2 Timothy 2:25. Thus are simple, believing hearts "comforted, being knit together in love, unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."- Colossians 2:2-3.

In this rich mine of truth and consolation we are daily to dig for all wisdom, holiness, and happiness. In this acknowledgment of the Son in his humble state, thus saving us, we have the Father’s rich love, and precious promises, and the Holy Spirit’s power, influence, and witness. "Ever giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."- Colossians 1:12.

When I behold the Father’s love

Shine in the person of his Son,

His Spirit brings my soul to own

My God, th’ eternal three in one.

Then sense submits to faith divine,

Which lords it over carnal views:

My soul gets settled in its hope;

This truth I sing, and sweetly muse.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fainteth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Isaiah 41:17.

It is common to hear people say, ‘Such-an-one is a great believer.’ What idea strikes our mind of such a person? Are we not apt to think he is very rich in himself, having a vast stock of inherent righteousness? This is wrong: he is just the reverse. He is one, who knows himself to be poor and needy. His great faith leads him out of himself, to the great God and our Saviour, to receive, out of his fulness, grace upon grace. He confesses, I am a poor and needy sinner, living upon the unsearchable riches of Christ. The sight of our poverty, and sense of our need, the Holy Spirit keeps up in our minds all through life. This makes Christ, and his riches of grace, precious to us. Some say, Such-an-one is only a seeker of the Lord. This is just what God’s children are all their days. “They are poor and needy, and they seek water.” Their souls are athirst. “And there is none.” They can find no water of consolation in the whole world: they have no spring of comfort in themselves; they can draw none from their own righteousness. “Their tongue fails for thirst.” The sin of their nature, like a scorching fever, burns within them. This, the hardened in sin and self-righteous feel not. Regenerate souls do: they thirst after the cooling stream of Christ’s grace and salvation, to refresh them: their tongue fails, in uttering a word of their own works and faithfulness, etc. All their cry is about their poverty and need, and thirst after Jesus. Well, says he, “I the Lord will hear them.”-Yea, and answer them, too. “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” (John 7:37.) ‘Well, but I have been this poor, needy, thirsty creature ever since the Lord first convinced me of sin, and brought me to Christ for salvation; while I hear others talk of their riches, goodness, perfection,’ etc. Let them talk on: bless the Spirit for what you are. Expect to be poor and needy all your days. Rejoice at what the Lord says, “I will not forsake them.” Who? poor needy, thirsty souls. Such are the work of his Spirit; the glory of his Son; and the delight of the Father’s soul. Christ upbraids those who say, “They are rich and increased in goods,” etc. (Revelation 3:17.) “He filleth the hungry with good things, the rich he sendeth empty away.” (Luke 1:53.) For Jesus says to all his people, “I know thy poverty, but thou art rich!” (Revelation 2:9.) Poor, in themselves; rich, in him.

“Why droop our hearts-why flow our eyes

While such a voice we hear?

Why rise our sorrows and our fears,

While such a Friend is near?

To all thy other favours, add

A heart to trust thy word;

And death itself shall hear us sing,

While resting on the Lord.