Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: December 22nd

Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.- Matthew 26:56.

On reading this, who can refrain from crying out, "Lord, what is man!" What danger am I in! Lord, keep me! What awful effects have a fit of fear and a frame of unbelief produced! Here was the beloved disciple JOHN, who lay in the bosom of Jesus; the courageous PETER, who was to die with him; the ambitious JAMES, who requested to sit at his right hand in his kingdom; with every one of the other disciples, forsaking and flying from innocence in distress. The shepherd was seized, and the affrighted sheep were instantly scattered. Provoking ingratitude! Dost thou think, O my soul, thou wouldst have acted one whit better? Verily, if so thou art vain. Now if Jesus had chosen them, and continued to love them, on condition of their faithful conduct towards him, this single instance was sufficient to turn his love to hatred, his election of them into reprobation, and casting them off for ever.

What then becomes of terms and conditions of salvation? The notion eclipses God’s glory; feeds pride; shackles the faith of sinners. If our dear Saviour was to judge of and determine the state of his disciples from their outward conduct as we too, too oft do by ourselves, might he not reason thus concerning them? "What treachery and deceit have I met with from these wretches! While in my greatest agonies, they were destitute of the least sympathizing spirit: they indulged sleep, instead of granting one friendly request, to watch with me one hour: though thrice awaked by me, yet they shewed no regard for me. At supper they all promised to go to prison and death with me. Here is one rash fellow hath cut off an ear; and now, upon the very first sight of danger, as though they had all combined together, they are ALL fled from me; and soon, the most daring of them all will with horrid oaths and curses deny that he knows me." Might we not expect to hear our Lord’s sentence, "Cut them asunder, and divide them their portion with hypocrites?" It must be so, if salvation rested upon terms and conditions. But no; grace reigns; not for days and years, but to eternal life. Astonishing as their ingratitude, highly provoking as their conduct was to Jesus, yet more astonishing his love, and higher his mercy surmounts than all their offences. Hence, amazing to read, the very first message Christ sends is full of love and fraught with affection. "Love covers a multitude of sins." Not one word of upbraiding; but, "Go and tell my brethren," etc. Surely, O Jesus, never was love like thine! What! brethren still? Yes; the bond of union, the dear relation ever subsists; nor sin, nor death, nor hell, shall ever destroy it. But, O Christian, under a sense of base ingratitude to, and forsaking of Jesus, what wounds so deep as love? What humiliation, what repentings does love kindle in the heart? "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.- 2 Corinthians 7:10

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. Isaiah 35:4.

Mind the title to this chapter-“The flourishing of Christ’s kingdom.” What! and yet fearful hearts in it! What sort of disciples are these? There ever were such in the church. We meet with them daily. Where is the heart which at times is not fearful? That does not stand in need of being strengthened by the word and the grace of God? O! says one, I am of a fearful heart. I read my doom. It is to have my part with the unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, etc. in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. (Revelation 21:8.) Yes: this will be the certain portion of all, who are so fearful of their good names and fair characters, as to be ashamed of Christ and his gospel, and give them up for the love and friendship of this world. Be not of such fearful hearts, here spoken of. (1st.) This sort are rather of “a hasty heart.” It discovers its state by its beating, as the pulse does the disorders of the body. It beats quick; it trembles; it fears the face of its enemies; it dreads destruction from them. (2d.) Such a hasty heart is precipitate and inconsiderate. Because it does not know so clearly, nor enjoy so comfortably the grace of Christ as others do, it is hasty in writing bitter things against itself, and drawing black conclusions of its state. Such an one says, “I am fearful I am not one of the elect-not a believer in Christ-am not sanctified by his Spirit-shall at last turn out a hypocrite, and bring a scandal upon Christ and his gospel.” Such fears are of a godly nature. They spring from holy jealousy. Such are Christ’s tender lambs and timorous sheep.

Therefore, he commands his ministers to say to such, “Be strong.” Though your strength is perfect weakness, and your enemies powerful and innumerable, yet-what? Be strong in confidence, in the Lord’s word of grace and truth; in the belief of his promises. “Fear not.” Banish your fears. Hear your Lord. Look to him. “Behold your God:” the God of fearful hearts and trembling spirits. Your God in flesh “will come with vengeance” against all your enemies, even God, “with a recompence.” His reward is with him. Nothing but love is in his heart: his lips speak nothing but grace and truth to fearful hearts and trembling souls. “He will come and save you.” Believe this: bless him for this: trust him for this: rejoice in him for this: wait upon him for this. Be assured of this, “The Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they who wait upon him.” Isaiah 30:18.

Tho’ fearful in my heart,

My Lord proclaims his grace;

He sweetly bids my fears depart,

And shews his loving face.

Be strong in faith, my soul:

Honour thy faithful Lord,

Who can thy fiercest foes control,

According to his word.