Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 13th

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.- Matthew 1:21.

O precious birth! precious Son! precious name! The Holy Ghost brings consolation to the hearts of poor sinners, from the belief of the manhood of JESUS. To this end the comforter bears so particular testimony by the word of the conception and birth of Christ. This is our happiness; at all times to consider the Saviour as "Emanuel, God with us:" our brother: "flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone." As Elihu says of himself, "Behold I am, according to thy wish, in God’s stead. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee." Job 33:6-7. Thus to conceive of Jesus, is a sweet mystery, joyfully known to believing hearts.

The Holy Ghost brings joy to our souls, by the NAME of JESUS. This name is above every name to us: it is "as precious ointment poured forth:" it diffuseth the sweet odour of the Father’s everlasting love, issuing in our eternal salvation. In the name of JESUS the whole gospel lies hid. The Spirit also comforts our hearts. By the WORK of Christ, he shall save. Here is not an if, a perhaps, or peradventure; but a positive declaration, what he absolutely shall do. He shall save sinners: from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for them-from the wrath of God due to them, by suffering in their stead-from the punishment their sins deserve, by the atonement of his precious blood-from the guilt of sin in their conscience, by the sprinkling of his blood through faith-from the love and power of sin in their hearts; by the grace of his Spirit, regenerating and renewing them in the spirit of their minds. So that they are as perfectly saved IN JESUS from sin, as though they had never fallen into sin. And all this by Jesus: by no strength, power or ability of theirs.

Who does Jesus thus save? "His people:" ALL his people, of every kindred, nation, tribe and tongue, even "all that the Father hath given him."- John 17:9. Who are partakers of this precious salvation? Every poor sinner who believes in Jesus. It is free for ALL who come to him. ALL who do come to him, and trust in him, find he is their Jesus, their salvation. O believer, here is the nature, the name, the work of thy precious Jesus to look to and live upon from day to day. It is thy mercy that salvation is his work, and he hath finished it. It is thy comfort to believe this daily. It is thy duty to give Jesus all the glory. The more light thou receivest from the word of Jesus and the Spirit of truth, so much the more wilt thou see of thine own vile sinful nature, and abhor thyself. How long? even until thou receivest the end of thy faith, the salvation of thy soul. Then wilt thou eternally glory only in the infinite perfection of the salvation of Jesus.

Then is the offense of the cross ceased. Galatians 5:11.

Another version reads the words as a question, Is the offense of the cross ceased? No, nor ever will, while there is a Christian upon the earth. The cross is put for that ever-loving Jesus, who hung upon it as a curse for our souls, and an atonement for our sins. O let us be ever jealous of, zealous for, the glory of the cross, for the sake of the Lamb, who finished our salvation upon it. The cross of Christ is the Christian’s glory. The offense the world takes at him, is a proof that he has taken up the cross of Christ, and is following him. This no man can do faithfully, but he must give offense Settle this well in your mind. Sit down and count your cost. Are you willing to be Christ’s glory, and the world’s scorn? Do you expect all from the cross? Then give up all for the cross. Here nature recoils. Flesh and blood rebels. Carnal reason pleads, that worldly prudence may be attended to. Look at such and such a professor, they go on very quietly: the world takes no offense at him. Why is it? They are either quite dead in sin, or fallen into a deep sleep of security. Converse with them. You will find no sweet savour of Jesus upon their tongue: no warm affection to Christ in their hearts: no burning zeal for his glory in their lives. Hence, as the offense of the cross is ceased with them, so the peace, comfort and joy of it is departed from them. For the truth of this, I dare appeal to my own, and every disciple’s heart. When was your soul most active for God: most filled with his love: enjoying most fellowship with him, and peace and comfort in him? Say, was it not when you lived nearest to the cross, and found most of the offense of the cross of Christ? You must confess it. Holy Paul seemed to dread the offense of the cross of Christ ceasing. He was jealous lest any should question it. Lord Jesus, hast thou done so much in thy holy life, and suffered so much by thy precious death on the cross, for our soul’s eternal salvation, and shall we be ashamed of thy cross? Shall we be afraid of confessing the faith of our hearts, and the hope of our souls in thee, with our lips and in our lives? O forbid it! Never, never shall I forget my late dear, dear friend, the Rev. Mr. Jones: with his usual warmth of affection to Christ, preaching upon the scandal of the cross, says he, “My dear friends, you who are afraid to lose your good name for Christ’s sake, I pity you from my heart. Thank God, mine is gone long ago.” “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14.

I’ll glory in the cross of Christ,

Tho’ men offended be;

‘Tis thro’ his blood that I am blest,

To all eternity.

Say I am foolish, I am mad,

If I Christ’s comforts prove,

It ne’er shall make my spirit sad,

I’ll triumph in his love.