Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: October 29th

Master, carest thou not that we perish?- Mark 4:38.

Saints in all ages have experienced, that their extremity of distress has been God’s opportunity to deliver; so these disciples found it; they were in the most imminent danger and in the greatest fears and distresses. Their vehement address to Jesus bespeaks it. "Jesus was asleep." We believe in our Saviour, as a MAN like unto ourselves: we adore him as the sovereign Lord whose "eyes are over the righteous, and his ears are ever open to their prayers."- 1 Peter 3:12. Of this we have the clearest evidence, the fullest proof. Jesus awakes as a man, and with the power and sovereignty of Jehovah he rebukes the boisterous wind, and says to the raging waves, "Peace, be still;" and instantly all nature obeys its Creator; all is hushed into a profound calm.

While others are pleased with the feats of a Caesar, or the conquests of an Alexander, it is our delight to meditate upon the wonderful works of our God-man and blessed Saviour. Transporting to know this awful God is ours, our Jesus, and our friend! But art thou not ready, O believer, sometimes to say, "My Lord hath forsaken, and my God hath forgotten me!" It seems as though he cares not; even though I perish. I am in the wide ocean of difficulty and distress. Corruptions rage, temptations assault, the fiery darts of the enemy fly thick around me; I groan under the sense of a hard heart and an absent God. Hear the voice of thy Lord, "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted: for a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee."- Isaiah 54:7; Isaiah 54:11. Judge not of God’s love by thy sense and feeling, but by his word and truth, the stability of his promises, and the security of his oath. He may be battering down thy life of sense to make thee strong in faith, strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. These disciples, though in a terrible storm, were safe, because Jesus was in the ship, though asleep; so is every disciple where Jesus dwells in the heart by faith. The affections of God’s love never cease, though storms surround us, and the sense and comfort of love may seem to us as it were asleep; and as with these disciples, so shall it be with thee, O Christian; thou shalt find thy loving Saviour ever near to hear, and ever almighty to deliver thee; God’s moment is thy mercy; in the deeps of distress are God’s wonders known. "In the moment of the Lord, Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide) it shall be seen." What saith the Lord? "Call upon me in time of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." It is the joy of faith to reply, "Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."- Psalms 32:7.

Wisdom is justified of all her children. Luke 7:35.

“ O! could I but know, and be sure, I am a child of God, I should be quite happy. The want of this makes me very uncomfortable.” Such is the language of many a doubting believer. Well, soul, here is a mark laid down: by it judge of thyself, and know thy state. Art thou a child of wisdom? If so, thou wilt justify wisdom. But what is wisdom? What is it to justify wisdom? (1st.) Thy Saviour is “the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24.) He is not only wise to win souls, but is wisdom itself. He makes all his children wise unto salvation, by knowing him, “of God, made unto them wisdom.” (; 1 Corinthians 1:30.) Wisdom is here arraigned, and his ways censured by the calumny of fools. He is condemned as a licentious person; a sot; an epicure; a jovial friend, and companion of wicked sinners. If you are a child of wisdom, you will also meet with the same treatment from a carnal world and self-righteous men. If you dare openly confess salvation by the Son of God alone-free and full justification unto eternal life, by his blood and righteousness only, without your works contributing thereto, either in whole or in part, you will be condemned as a licentious Antinomian. Both the profane and self-righteous will unite, to proclaim you a friend to sin, and an enemy to all good works. Why? Because their carnal hearts were never under the constraints of Christ’s love. Their licentious thoughts were never brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Therefore, their lips proclaim their ignorance, while they are opened against his truths. Now, you are called to justify wisdom, who has justified you. (2d.) How is this to be done? (1st.) Hold fast, wisdom’s truths in your hearts, as your chief glory, in opposition to all gain-sayers. So, (2d.) From a warm and lively sense of comfort by them, your lives will justify their holy influence. You will loudly proclaim to all the world, that, though you dare not attempt a single act, to justify your souls before God; yet you dare not continue in sin, because grace hath abounded. Your holy faith forbids it. The heavenly love of Christ animates to all obedience. Your glorious hope in Christ makes you ready, and obedient, unto every good word and work. For the grace of God which bringeth salvation to the soul, teaches all the children of wisdom “to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world.” (Titus 2:12.) Thus we know, we have the faith of God’s elect, and are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26.

I know my soul is made alive,

By Jesus’ mighty power;

For sin I hate, against it strive,

And pray to love Christ more.