Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: September 29th

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.- Romans 8:12.

Christianity teaches us to owe no man any thing. He is a prudent man who keeps his accounts clear and knows to whom he is indebted; he is a grateful man who acknowledges favors with just sentiments. If this is necessary and commendable in the economy of this short life, how much more so in things of a spiritual and eternal nature! How wise, how just is it to render to all their dues! If we are debtors to the flesh, let us serve that; but if debtors to the Lord, it is then our duty and privilege to serve him. What owest thou, O Christian, to the flesh? Verily, neither suit nor service: but alas! thou hast obeyed its sinful motions, gratified the corrupt lusts thereof, and what hast thou reaped for it but shame and sorrow? These are the only fruits that sin and folly bear. The flesh with its corruptions and lusts is at enmity to thy God, and at war against thy soul. Willingly to give place to such an enemy to fulfil the lusts and live after the sinful desires of the flesh, will most assuredly weaken thy confidence in Jesus and bring death upon thy peace and comfort; yea, "if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." The Lord strengthen us daily to deny its demands, and to mortify its lusts! for we are not debtors to the flesh, but to the Spirit; debtors, in an immense sum of love and gratitude; time can never discharge it. With inexpressible joy and delight we shall ever be paying, but never discharge this debt through a never-ending eternity.

The gospel of the grace of God is no licentious doctrine; it sets at liberty, it is true; but it is from the most galling yoke and most servile drudgery to sin and lusts; but yet it binds the soul in the sweetest bonds of grateful service and loving obedience to Jesus, the best of masters. What owest thou to the Spirit, O Christian? Write upon thy heart, even all my present peace, all my future hopes; for he it is who convinced thee of sin, revealed to thee the love of God in Christ, gave thee power to believe on Jesus, grace to repent. He fills thee with joy and peace in believing; he bears witness with thy spirit, and assures of thine adoption to be a child of God; and it is through his influence only, thou art able to mortify the deeds of the flesh, to love thy God and Saviour and live to his glory; and canst thou deliberately grieve the Spirit, this blessed inhabitant, this loving comforter, by yielding service to thy inbred enemy? O, with what fire of indignation against lust! with what warmth of affection to his God doth Joseph cry out, under the solicitations of a strong temptation, How can I do this great wickedness? and what?-sin against the best of masters? against my own soul? no; but against my most kind, most loving, and eternal friend, the Lord my God! Genesis 39:9.

We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8.

God’s dear children have not all the same clear perception of truth. They are not all of one mind and the same sentiment in all points. Yet, they all have but one Lord, one faith, and one hope. And, there is an uniformity in their experience, with respect to the exceeding sinfulness of sin-the depravity of their nature-their perplexities from the world, the flesh, and the devil-their love of the scriptures-and the exceeding preciousness of Christ. This proves that they are taught by and with the same Spirit. We have perplexities of a spiritual nature, beside those in common with others, which natural men are total strangers to. These are no weak evidences of our spiritual birth. To be perplexed with a body of sin and death-with a sense of unbelief-with deadness, formality, wanderings in spiritual duties-with Satan’s temptations, injections, accusations-corrupt reasonings, and carnal pleadings: the feeling all these makes it manifest, that the soul is born of God, and alive to God. For when dead in sin, we felt nothing of them. How exceedingly absurd, and foolish then, do many act, because thus perplexed. O they are ready to give up hope, cast away confidence, and deny they are God’s children. But their sense of these things, and groaning under them, are evident tokens of salvation. “Perplexed, but not in despair.” O take heed of giving the least way to despair: Of desponding: Of letting go your confidence in Christ: Of giving up for one moment, the least degree of hope in him. For, consider the evil of this. (1st.) You hereby slight the everlasting love of God the Father to sinners. (2d.) You dishonour the work and salvation of the Son of God for sinners. (3d.) You grieve the Holy Spirit, the Comforter of sinners. (4th.) You disregard the gospel of grace, glad tidings to sinners; and set at nought all God’s precious promises in Christ unto sinners. (5th.) You give the enemy all possible advantage over you. He stands, and cries, “There, there, so would I have it.” (6th.) You give sin all its strength against you. (7th.) You perplex, distress, and darken your own soul, whereby you are hindered from running the way of God’s commands with love and delight. A thousand evils are connected with indulging despondence. Away then with all false humility. It is devilish. Hold fast this faithful saying, “for it is worthy of all acceptation, at all times, under all circumstances, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. Till the devil can blot that truth out of God’s word, or make you any worse than a sinner; you, as a quickened sinner, have the same reason as St. Paul, or any other apostle, to say, I am always confident.” 2 Corinthians 5:6.

Jesus our soul’s delightful choice,

In thee believing we rejoice;

Yet still our joy is mix’d with grief,

While faith contends with unbelief.