YE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE LORD YOUR GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 13

 

Deuteronomy 14:1

Ye are the children of the LORD your God: 

ye shallot cut yourselves, nor make any baldness

 between your eyes for the dead. 

 
Important and interesting relation this.
 
—Children of God.
 
Who are so? Those who are born again.
 
In whom a new nature produces new desires—new tastes—new sorrows—new joys—new pursuits.
 
Those who are taught of God.
 
Who have received the Spirit of adoption.
 
Such are under obligation.
 
Children should believe what their Father says—do what their Father bids—go where their Father sends—trust in a Father’s care—expect what a Father promises—and look for a Father’s supplies.
 
What a comfort such a relationship affords!
 
You are not, you cannot be friendless.
 
You should not despond, but remember, in all your trials, a Father’s love: in poverty, you Father’s wealth: under reproaches, your honourable relation: in sickness, your happy home: in death, your endless love.
 
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
 

Oh! let a sense of this thy grace

My best affections move,

That, while my lips thy praise proclaim,

My heart may feel thy love.

 
James Smith