THE REFUGE DEVOTIONAL
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,”
Romans 8:16 NASBS
Beloved of God, what a blessed hope you have as a Christian. For the Holy Spirit guides you to see, not only with your physical eyes, but also with the eyes of your heart.
The word of God tells us, “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
This is a guarantee the Holy Spirit brings to you. For Christ has passed through the heavens and is now seated at the right hand of God, and you too will be with Him one day in an incorruptible body. Paul teaches concerning this, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality.”
Beloved, you must understand, that in the days of your flesh you were prone to forget the king Who loves you, you were slothful in the heavenly race, and your conscience was soiled with the corruptions of this world. But thanks be to God, that your progress to heaven is not based on your own merit, but on the provision of grace granted to you by Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, your teacher, keeps you in the humble school of discipline, showing you Calvary’s cross where the Lord Jesus Christ died in your place. He gives you frequent visions of God’s holiness in His inerrant word that is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
He is the one Who reveals to you the blessed work of the Trinity that works mightily upon your soul, bringing you into harmony with His perfect will. His office is to teach you to draw near to Christ in times of need so that you may find mercy and grace to help in time of need.
The Holy Spirit also sanctifies you with sweet moments of repentance, making sure that you have a pure heart so that you can be steadfastly persuaded of the Father’s love. This gives you the full assurance that nothing can keep you from Him in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, the world does not have this hope that you have, but rather it clings to perishable things that are here today and gone tomorrow. But your hope is eternal and everlasting, for Christ is a faithful son over his house, whose house you are.
So hold fast to your confidence in Jesus and let Him be the source of your hope until the end. Oh, Lord, “As I have a position in the world, keep me from making the world my position; May I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the Creator; Let not faith cease from seeking thee until it vanishes into sight. Ride forth in me, thou King of kings and Lord of lords, that I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end.”
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”