Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: February 23rd

We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.- 1 John 3:2.

Why should the Lord, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, lay an embargo on our fully gratifying ourselves in the use of them? Why are we called to daily mortification and self-denial, as to sensual objects? Verily, it is all in love to our souls, that Jesus and spiritual objects might be more enjoyed; for experience proves the life of sense to be opposite to the life of faith. The more pleasure, comfort, and happiness we enjoy in the things of this life, this tends to make us love the world, and loath to leave it; and so our affections to Jesus cool, our desires after his appearing abate in their fervor, and we lose our longings after the unclouded sight of him in glory. So St. Paul reproves Christians of old: "Are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"- 1 Corinthians 3:3. How justly applicable is this interrogation to us also! Reflect on this soul-reviving truth, Yet a little while and Jesus shall appear. So sure as he was once upon earth in our nature, he will appear again in the same human body, exalted and glorified. And can we know and believe this as an undoubted truth, live upon it in expectation, without finding a deadness to this present world, and all its enjoyments? Here we feel sin in our flesh, pains in our bodies, afflictions our companions, wanderings and deadness in duties, trials and temptations of various sorts; and innumerable evils of every kind doth this short life abound with: but at the appearing of Jesus all will be at an end; for we shall be like him: our vile bodies shall be fashioned like to his glorious body. Our souls shall be perfectly conformed to his image. In soul and body we shall eternally enjoy him. And are we the subjects of such a hope? Let us live like ourselves; as members of Jesus our head. Let us ever be pressing after him, living upon his fulness, and longing for his appearing. Most blessed sight! most desirable fruition! we shall see our Jesus as he is. Once the despised Nazarene-once the devoted victim to curse and wrath; but now the Lord of life and glory, bestowing immortality and eternal life upon his dearly-purchased, blood-bought members. O, were our hearts more with Christ on the cross, and more with him on his throne by faith, how would sin be subdued, the world overcome, Satan conquered, and our happy hearts triumphing in love! for "we are more than conquerors over all, through Jesus that hath loved us."

O the delights, the heav’nly joys!

The glories of the place,

Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams

Of his o’erflowing grace!

This is the Man, th’ exalted Man,

Whom we unseen adore:

But when our eyes behold his face,

Our hearts shall love him more.

And while our faith enjoys this fight,

We long to leave our clay;

And wish thy fiery chariots, Lord,

To fetch our souls away.

Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8.

Unregenerate persons, raised from indigence to opulence, do not love to hear of their pedigree: they see not the hand of the Lord in it. What detracts from their character and merit, hurts them. But disciples of Christ like to hear of, love to look back upon what they were by nature, that they may ascribe fresh praise to the Lord, who of his mere grace “raised their degenerate souls out of the dust, and lifted their needy souls from the dunghill, and has set them with the princes of his people.” (Psalms 113:7-8.) We are here reminded, “Ye were”-what? dark, having some glimmering light of God, his truth, his ways, etc. Nay more, darkness itself. Blind to them, as if totally deprived of sight. Ignorant of them as a beast: as dark, respecting them, as we should be of natural objects without the sun. We walked in darkness, and knew not that we were in the high road to hell. But now, blessed now! O, wonder of grace! ye are-what? enlightened by the Lord? have light from the Lord? Yes! this is true. But more; “We have a light in the Lord, like the angel which John saw, standing in the sun.” (Revelation 19:17.) We have not only the light of life, but we are in Christ, who is the Sun of Righteousness, and the light of the world. Here, we see our Father’s glory shining in the face of Christ-feel his love in him-behold his grace and truth, which came by him-enjoy precious promises in him-know the glorious doctrines taught by him: all which lead to, and centre in him. Hence we look down upon the world with contempt, upon sin with abhorrence, upon Satan with defiance, upon carnal men with pity, and up to our Lord with love and praise; for “we have an unction from him, and know all things.” (1 John 2:20.) His truths are our delight. “His commandments are not grievous!” (1 John 5:3.) Here is all comprised in one word, Walk as children of the light. But how shall I know I am a child of light? Strange question! Just as strange as for a person with his eyes open, in midday, to ask, How do I know I can see? But if you do not enjoy the comfort of light, it is because you do not walk as a child of light. There are many such dark walkers. No marvel, they are uncomfortable professors. St. Paid wept on account of such. See them described: “they mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19.) They have a tongue for Christ, but the world has their heart. Beware of such: refrain from such. For, “If we say we have fellowship with Christ, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7.)