Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 5th

Let us run with patience the race set before us.- Hebrews 12:1.

A lively faith begets a cheerful heart. A joyful hope makes a resigned soul. An humble mind produceth a patient spirit. So we run with pleasure our short race, "looking unto Jesus." But alas! shame to us, there is a sin which easily besets us and which draws a train of burdens and distresses along with it. Why are poor disciples’ minds harassed by frequent murmurings and impatience? Why their tempers soured with evil passions, and they utter hasty, angry, unbecoming speeches? Verily, UNBELIEF is the cause of all this. Their minds are clouded; they do not see Jesus; they do not consider Jesus as seeing them; they do not look to Jesus for patience: hence Satan gets an advantage over them: pride begets impatience of spirit. Then, with fretful Jonah they cry out, "I do well to be angry."

Well, soul, and how do you find your mind after doing thus well? what is the frame of your soul after thus gratifying the will of the flesh, your proud self-will? what hast thou gained hereby but dejection of spirit and sorrow of heart? what hast thou lost? Even the comforting view of Jesus, and the sweet sense of peace: thus the feet are entangled in a snare; and, instead of running with patience, we sit down in sorrow. Tossed by stormy winds, in a tempestuous ocean, the poor bark seems driven back many degrees from the haven of rest and peace. So we suffer loss of patience by looking from Jesus to other objects. While our beloved is viewed, patience possesses the heart, the feet run with delight the way of God’s commandments, and we look forward with cheerful hope. Patience sweetens afflictions and improves exercises and trials. It keeps the heart from envy, the hand from revenge, the tongue from evil-speaking, and overcomes enemies without weapons; for it draws all its strength from Christ’s love, the sweetness of his presence, and hope of his glory. A martyr tormented by infidels, was asked by way of reproach, what miracle his Christ had done? He replied, you now behold one: he enables me to bear your reproaches, and suffer your tortures with patience. I am not moved. Is not this a miracle worthy your notice? Whatever befalls our souls is the wise allotment of our loving Father! We are exhorted to "run with patience," that we may not lie down in sorrow. The sun of consolation shall shine bright on our souls, while "we press forward towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 3:14.

O let my thoughts be humble still,

And all my carriage mild,

Content, my Father, with thy will,

And quiet as a child.

The patient soul, the lowly mind

Enjoys a sweet reward;

Let saints in sorrow be resign’d,

And trust a faithful Lord.

Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son. Galatians 4:7.

Why does St. Paul tell believers this, seeing he had in the former verse said, that the Spirit assured their hearts of it? We hence plainly see the necessity of the outward word of reconciliation, as well as the inward testimony of the Spirit: and if the witness of the Spirit within does not accord to the testimony of the word without, we do well to suspect it. Besides, from the working of a legal spirit, the prevailings of unbelief, the raging of corrupt lusts, an undue attention to the things of this life, and the accusations of Satan, children of God are prone to live below their glorious state and inestimable privilege. Hence, our loving heavenly Father has not the joy of our hearts, nor the glory of our lives. We do not always, as commanded, rejoice in Christ, our dear elder Brother. Therefore, St. Paul reminds, “thou art no more a servant.” Consider, (1st.) what means he by a servant? (1st.) He is under the law, in bondage to it. He gets no freedom of spirit, nor liberty of soul from it, do what he will. It still says, Do: work on: you have not done enough yet. I must have perfect obedience from you. You are my bounden servant. (2d.) He works for wages: he expects justification by his works, and salvation for his obedience. (3d.) He is always under fear and terror, of being punished in hell for his faults, and the wrath of God coming upon him for his disobedience. For, (4th.) he sees no higher motive to act by, and work from, than the law of works. He is alive to the law, though he is under the sentence of the curse, and death by it. Tell him of free and full justification unto life, by the work of the Son of God only, without works; he rejects it as downright Antinomianism. O, believer in Jesus, rejoice that thou art no more such a servant, but a son. (2d.) See the blessedness of this state. (1st.) You are not left to work under the law, to obtain God’s favour: for he hath freely adopted you to be his son. You have not received the Spirit of bondage to fear (hell and damnation), but the Spirit of adoption, whereby you cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15.) (2d.) You are a regenerate son. God hath begotten you again, (from the dead hope of the law) to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3.) What work couldst thou do, to deserve this blessing? Just as much as a devil in hell could, to deserve to be made an angel in heaven. It was of thy Father’s abundant mercy. (3d.) Thou art a son of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26.) A believing son by gospel grace: not a working servant, under legal terror. Live then up to your dignity, upon your Father’s love, and elder Brother’s grace, above the slavery of sin, the bondage of the law, and the fear of hell. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us!” 1 John 3:1.