Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 13th

Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls.- Matthew 11:29.

Thus, with tender affection, speaks Jesus our prophet to the lambs of his flock. He well knows we stand in need of daily instruction from him: he teaches us in the truth as we are able to bear it; he knows the weakness of our understandings; he is "touched with a feeling of our infirmities." Therefore, lest our poor hearts should at any time conceive thoughts of him contrary to his nature and office, he says, "I am meek and lowly of heart." You find that you are poor sinners; ignorant of many truths; exercised with many conflicts, trials and temptations: do not think of me only as the high and lofty one who inhabiteth eternity, but as dwelling also with humble hearts. Look not on me as an austere master; a terrible lawgiver, a severe judge, who watches over you for evil, and is ever ready to take all advantages against you. No: I am your condescending, meek and lowly Saviour; your loving friend and kind instructor; therefore come and listen to my words: "Learn of me."

What sweet encouragement is this! Art thou, O soul, tossed with temptations? Harassed with corruptions? Beset with sinful passions? Do these bring disquiet upon thy mind, distress to thy conscience, and are a wearisome burden to thy spirits, so that thou dost not enjoy settled ease and composed rest? Remember thy Saviour’s lowly character and kind advice. He hath an ear for thy complaints, a heart of love to pity thee, a powerful arm to relieve thee. With sweet familiarity poor out thy heart to him: as a bosom-friend tell him of thy sorrows, thy complaints, and fears. Always bear in mind his kind invitation; the loving meekness and lowliness of his heart, and the blessedness of his promise. He hath spoken it, and will he not bring it to pass? He hath said it, and will he not fulfil it? "Ye shall find rest to your souls:" sweet tranquility and inward composure as can be found in no object besides Jesus. Could the children of this world persuade us there is no evil in their vain diversions and carnal delights, still we know we cannot expect our Lord’s presence, nor shall we find rest to our souls from the bewitching scenes of the play-house, etc. No; but the more rest we find to our souls in Jesus, the more we are delighted with him, and become dead to all things that are contrary to spiritual peace and joy from him. "We who have believed, do enter into rest."- Hebrews 4:3.

Let me but hear my Saviour say,

Strength shall be equal to thy day,

Then I rejoice in deep distress,

Leaning on all-sufficient grace.

I glory in infirmity,

That Christ’s own power may rest on me;

When I am weak, then I am strong,

Grace is my shield and Christ my song.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5.

St. Paul says, “The gospel is the power of God.” (Romans 1:16,) and, “Christ is the power of God;” (1 Corinthians 1:24.) and, “that our faith standeth in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5.) Hence it is plain, that godliness is of a powerful nature upon the soul. It consists not in form and shadow, not in notion and speculation, but in the real enjoyment of Christ in the heart, and in an experimental knowledge of the grace of the gospel, through faith. It is the grand concern of every living and lively member of Christ, to enjoy more of the light, life, liberty, and power of Christ and his gospel. While those who have only the form of godliness, are content in their heads-are clear in the notion of divine truths-if they can but see a harmony and consistency in the plan of salvation-give good account of the doctrines of grace-talk fluently about them, and contend earnestly for them. There is a species of the Gnostics among us at this day. They place all religion in head-knowledge, while they are careless about real heart experience. Such are visible and manifest by their life and walk. They talk high, and live low: they soar aloft in notion, but live and walk low in carnal gratifications, earthly pleasures, and sensual delights.

Still, the form of godliness exists in their heads, but their hearts are void of the power of the Spirit, and the warm influences of the love of God and the grace of Christ. They deny all this: if not in tongue, yet in life and action. What does the apostle advise concerning such? To aim to convince them, and strive to convert their hearts to the power of the truth? No: they are so fortified with head-knowledge, that you cannot reach their hearts. It would be but lost labour to attempt it. Therefore, from such turn away. Leave them. You can do them no good. They may do you much harm. (1st.) In catching their spirit and temper. It is contagious. We may say of such, as Solomon says of the furious man, “make no friendship with him; with him thou shalt not go, lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” (Proverbs 22:24-25.) (2d.) Such professors greatly damp and abate the zeal of faith, the joy of hope, and the comfort of love, which are enjoyed in communion and fellowship with God, and his Son Jesus Christ. As they have no heart to it, nor relish for it, their conversation will not savour of it. So that you will get no help forward, but rather be driven backward. (3d.) You will be in danger of believing that false position, that you can enjoy God and the world; have fellowship with both in your hearts, while a set of notions only exist in your head. And, lastly, you will learn many specious, but carnal reasons, for throwing off all self-denial, and indulging a light, trifling, worldly spirit.