Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 21st

God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.- Acts 10:34-35.

It is a common, artful device of the adversary to insinuate, "one part of scripture opposes and contradicts another." Hereby he aims to distress the minds, weaken the confidence of disciples, and to render the doctrines of grace of no esteem. The unlearned and unstable in the truths of free grace salvation, "wrest this, as they do also other texts of scripture, to their own destruction." It was farthest from St. Peter to make this declaration, to subvert the fundamental truths of the gospel, and the one only way of salvation taught by himself; namely, by "election, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."- 1 Peter 1:2.

But he now perceived of a truth that this blessing came equally alike upon Gentiles as well as Jews. "God is no respecter of persons." This is a most comfortable truth to the vilest of the human race. There is nothing that claims respect in the person of one man above another in the sight of God. "All are alike corrupt and become abominable. There is naturally no fear of God before our eyes. There is none that doeth good; no not one." There is no difference. Jew and Gentile, publican and pharisee, outwardly devout, and openly profane, are all upon a level in point of justification before God. Enlightened souls see and own this in deep humility, and self-abasement: while proud pharisees challenge and claim respect from God, because they think their persons and characters are more amiable in his sight than others.

But saith Moses, "The Lord your God is a mighty and terrible God, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward."- Deuteronomy 10:17. What reward can poor sinners give to procure God’s regard, bribe his justice, or avert his wrath? Do they naturally fear God and work righteousness in order to this? Lay thine hand upon thine heart, O soul; judge as in the sight of God. Say, was this thy natural conduct and practice towards him? God knoweth, to hate him and work wickedness is the natural state and practice of thee and of all men. But yet he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, be he who or what he will, is accepted with God. For this is a full proof of being "accepted in the beloved Jesus." The Lord puts his fear in one’s heart according to covenant promise- Jeremiah 32:40. He renews us in righteousness and true holiness. Hence our practice is agreeable to our state. Prayers and alms come up before the Lord as a memorial of what he has done on the heart. And "the same Lord over all, is rich in mercy to ALL that call upon him. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved."- Romans 10:12-13.

Drop down, ye heavens, from above; and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together: I the LORD have created it. Isaiah 45:8.

Some speak very profanely against the councils and decrees of God. This proceeds from carnal reason and ignorance of divine truths. “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets.” (Daniel 2:28.) The Scriptures are a revelation of the mind and will, council, decrees, and covenant purposes of the Lord. They contain things new and old. The new covenant of grace in Christ Jesus, as well as the old covenant of works with our first parent. Hence, it is the delight of God’s children to search the records of their heavenly Father. To believe them in their hearts, is a certain evidence of their being his new-born sons and adopted children in Christ. Here is a precious portion for thee to feed upon to-night. Sensible that thou hast lost thy original righteousness, in which thou wast created, behold, O soul, from whence it is restored. Not from the earth: it comes from above: by the decrees of the Lord, the heavens and the skies pour it down. The Lord spake, and it was done: he commanded, and it was brought forth. When righteousness had forsaken the earth, lo, The Lord our righteousness came down from heaven, to fulfil all righteousness for us, and to bestow an everlasting righteousness upon us. He came down to us as rain, as the former and the latter rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3.) Let the earth open. The Lord from heaven was made of a woman: formed in the lowest parts of the earth. Let them bring forth salvation. What them? Heaven and earth united: God and man in one Christ. This is the way in which righteousness comes to unrighteous sinners. So salvation comes to perishing sinners. Both spring up together in the God-man, Jesus. I the Lord have created it. See, O sinner, and be humble. Thou hast no hand in this matter. Canst thou create or give being to any thing? Pride, avaunt! No: creation is the Lord’s work only. Jesus is the author of righteousness: he, the alone finisher of salvation. Rejoice in this new and glorious creation of righteousness and salvation. Faith receives it: hope cleaves to it: peace is obtained by it: joy springs from it. Love is excited to the righteousness of a Saviour, while the humbled sinner is kept in his right place, at Jesus’ feet. Now, if this heavenly blessing has been rained down upon thy soul, it will be alive to God, spring up in his service, and bring forth fruit to his glory. What! if righteousness is poured upon thee from heaven, wilt thou continue dead in sin? No: you will approve the things which are excellent, and pray to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the glory of God, Philippians 1:11.