Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 15th

Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied, and faint in your minds.- Hebrews 12:3.

Come, Christian, look up, look forward, and be of good courage. Though thy exercises are many, and thy conflicts great, though weary IN, yet grow not weary OF, the ways of the Lord. Verily, in due time we shall reap an harvest of eternal felicity, after all our present toil and labour. Faint not; continue to the end; persevere in the work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope. The battle is the Lord’s; thy foes are all conquered; victory is obtained; the crown is held forth by thy conquering Lord. Press on. But alas! thou findest contradiction and opposition from every quarter, from within and from without: numerous are thy foes which rise up against thee; thy strength is small; thy power weak: most true; but know thy calling; study thy privilege; behold thy comforter holds forth a reviving cordial this day to thy drooping spirits: "lest thou be weary and faint in thy mind," consider JESUS. Here is faith’s mystery, the Christian’s triumph: hence derive fresh life and vigour to thy fainting mind. Consider Jesus: in his divine nature, thy covenant GOD: in his human nature, thy redeeming brother: as God and man in one Christ JESUS, thy salvation; thy Almighty Saviour.

Consider Jesus in his innocent life, enduring contradiction of sinners against himself on thy account; fulfilling all righteousness for thee; that thou art perfectly righteous before God IN HIM. Consider Jesus, on the cross bearing thy sins; amidst taunts and jeers, while making atonement for thy transgressions. Consider Jesus entered into heaven, and appearing in the presence of God FOR us. Consider Jesus infinite in wisdom to know thy wants; infinite in love to sympathize with thee in all thy sorrow: infinite in power to support and strengthen thee under them: consider what infinite riches of grace he has in glory to supply all thy need.

O, consider the fulness of grace that dwells in him for needy sinners; live upon his fulness day by day, so as to receive out of his fulness grace for grace. Is it said "the blood of martyrs was the seed of the church"? Confident we are, the life and death, the blood and righteousness of Jesus are the life of our graces, the spring of our comforts, the support of our weary minds, and the only reviving cordials for our fainting spirits. Are we panting sinners at his footstool? Considering Jesus makes us joyful before his throne now, soon we shall stand eternally happy in his presence. Imitate the Father of the faithful; be not weak in faith; consider not thy own body, which is "dead because of sin. Know the Spirit is life, because of the righteousness of Jesus."- Romans 8:10.

But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I; let him do to me as it seemeth good unto him. 2 Samuel 15:26.

Here is majesty in distress: a kingdom in confusion: and the king’s royal heart struck with a panic. Every circumstance concurs to heighten poor David’s sorrow. His own son had stolen away the heart of his subjects-raised a most unnatural rebellion against his royal father, and caused him to flee from his city. Very excellently, says one, “Let a child of God be but two or three years without an affliction, and he is almost good for nothing. He cannot pray, nor meditate, nor discourse at that rate he was wont to do. But when a new affliction comes, he finds his tongue: he comes to his knees with fervency, and lives at another rate.” Perhaps David was never more weaned from self-confidence, nor did his faith ever run higher, nor was his soul bowed lower, nor did he ever breathe with more humble submission to divine sovereignty, than at this time. O, how does his grace shine in this speech! As though he had said to Zadock, the Priest, “Return with the ark: I hope I shall have the Lord’s real presence with me, though I have not the symbol of it. I see myself in his hands. I firmly believe God’s everlasting love to me. He is my Saviour and my salvation. I know my immortal soul is safe. How he will direct the event of this dark providence, I know not. If it appears that the Lord has no delight in me, as the king of his people; if he suffers my crown and kingdom to be taken from me, his will be done. He has a sovereign right to pull down one, and set up another.

By him kings reign: by his will they are disposed. Behold, here am I: let him do unto me as it seemeth good unto him. Love makes all things work together for good.” O, Christian! dost thou not admire his faith in his God, his resignation to his divine will, his submission to sovereign purposes, and his unreserved acquiescence with the counsel of the Lord? Let that man blush, who would dare impeach the character, or speak of the faith of David in a diminutive sense, as though it were weak in the power and goodness of the Lord, not to be compared with the faith of a Christian. O for more of the grace of faith, to follow the bright example of this Old Testament saint! Though his own beloved son, though his own dear subjects were against him; though driven from his palace, yet the presence of his God and the power of his Spirit were with him. Well might David say, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” (Psalms 119:71.) Ever remember, O soul, whatever thy afflictions may be, whoever may be against thee, to heighten them, and aggravate thy sorrows, yet the Lord hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.

May we possess that humble frame,

Which casts the soul of God;

And trusts and waits upon his name,

Tho’ chasened by his rod.