Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: July 15th

And lo, an horror of great darkness fell on him.- Genesis 15:12.

There is somewhat very gloomy and awful in what is called ’a total eclipse of the sun.’ When the earth is darkened, creation puts on a melancholy aspect and seems to mourn in silent sadness. But the surprise and astonishment which naturally affect us on these accounts are greatly abated, as these are not uncommon appearances in nature; and as they are foretold and accounted for. As in the natural, so it is in the spiritual world. The children of God in all ages have experienced darkness of soul: therefore none should think this peculiar when they are exercised thus, "as though some strange thing had happened to them,"- 1 Peter 4:12. We see Abraham, the friend of God, and father of the faithful, under an eclipse of the bright shining of the sun of righteousness. The consequence of this darkness was a horror, yea a horror of great darkness fell on him. And this too, after an extraordinary appearance of the Lord himself to him, who called him by his name, bid him FEAR NOT-assures him, I AM THY SHIELD AND THY EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD: then gives him the comfortable promise of the seed that should spring from him. Upon which, Abraham "believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness;" and he offers a sacrifice as the Lord commanded. But, alas, how soon did his bright sun of comfort disappear! How soon did darkness and horror fall upon him! How changeable are our frames! Extraordinary manifestations of comfort and joy are often succeeded by darkness of soul and trials of faith. So it was with our dear Saviour after the Father’s declaration, "This is my beloved Son:" after the visible descent of the Holy Ghost upon him, he was led into the wilderness, to undergo the most sharp and trying temptations. Thus again St. Paul, after he had been caught up to the third heavens, a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him.

Hence, O believer, under spiritual darkness and distress of soul write not bitter things against thyself. Think not God ceaseth to love thee and visits in wrath. No: God ever rests in love; he changeth not; his love is ever the same. Thou art equally as safe in his hands in the dark, though not so comfortable as in the light. Nay, love itself enquires after souls in such a state and gives precious advice to them. See and study Isaiah 50:10. Now the Lord teaches his sovereignty; instructs in humility; excites patience; shews thee thy nothingness; cuts off all glorying in thyself; strengthens thy trust in him; draws out thy hope from thyself to him; and shews thee that all the promises center in Jesus, and shall be fulfilled in God’s own way and manner. Saith Jesus, "He who followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."- John 8:12.

But the body is of Christ, (or is Christ.) Colossians 2:17.

There is not a greater instance of the depravity of the human mind, and the blindness of the understanding, than its seeking happiness in the shadow of things, instead of the substance. What is all created good, but the shadow of him who created it? Yet we are prone to grasp at the shadow, and seek to be satisfied with it, while we neglect God the substance. But all, like a shadow, eludes our embraces. Still we are restless and pursuing. It is just the same in spiritual things. We are prone to take up, and rest satisfied with the shadow of things, without the body, which is Christ. Yea, so foolish are we, that unless we are kept, even after we have known the substance and fulness of Christ, and see that we are complete in him, we turn again to trust in the shadow of our own works and duties. This is awful! “But the body is Christ.” (1st.) Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, have put the glory of every attribute and perfection of the Godhead, in the body of Christ. “In him dwelleth the fulness”-no; that is not right-“all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9.) God the Father says, “Behold mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. (Isaiah 42:1.) God’s soul can delight in nothing but where his glory is. Again, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5.) God cannot be well pleased with any one, who is not like himself, perfect in holiness, righteousness, and truth. These, not one of all the human race is possessed of: therefore, God is so far from being well pleased with us, as we are in ourselves, that he hates and abhors us. But, (2d.) here is our special mercy, God loves us; he hath chosen us, and blessed us with all spiritual blessings, in the body of Christ. By Christ’s body we are redeemed from all our sins. “For he bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24.) In Christ’s righteous body, we are justified and sanctified. “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ, once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10.) Yea, “By his one offering, he hath for ever perfected them who are sanctified.” (ver. 14.) Therefore, (3d.) “Whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us.” (ver. 15.) This is his blessed office, to glorify Christ to our view and in our hearts. The Father calls on us to behold Christ, and to hear him. The Holy Ghost enables us to do this, and fills us with all joy and peace in believing in the body of Christ. Here, then, things are brought to one single point. All our righteousness, holiness, peace, comfort, and joy, are in the body of Christ. Are God and we agreed? Has God put all his glory there? Then let us seek all our happiness therefrom.

O, my friends, let us remember

That Jesus is our loving Head!

Each believer is his member,

And shall on sin and Satan tread.