"Hold me up--and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117
We need God's constant presence, power and grace. Except He upholds us, we shall certainly fall. We would have fallen before this if God had not kept us! We would fall every day unless we are upheld by an invisible arm. This day Satan may lay some snare for us. This day our hearts may deceive us. This day the world may lay some unexpected bait for us. And unless the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, gives us fresh supplies of grace, or holds us back by an invisible power, we shall utterly fall!
"Hold me up--and I shall be safe!" Let this be our daily prayer. It will never be unsuitable.
- James Smith
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
My Father
"My Father!" - Jeremiah 3:4
This is a child's cry. It is full of meaning, full of love, full of comfort and is a title which the Lord loves to hear us use!
"Lord, give us the Spirit of adoption this morning, and let us see and feel, that we are Your children."
Believer, to whom will you go in trouble? To whom will you look in difficulty? To whom will you cry in danger? From whom will you ask when in need?
Surely I hear you say, "My Father!"
Who speaks to you in the Bible? Who tries you by His providence? Who chastens you with His rod? Who purifies and cleanses you? Who humbles and reproves you? Again you will say, "My Father!"
Who supports the world? Who controls the nations? Who chains up Satan? Who comforts the believer? Who pardons the backslider?
Again you reply, "My Father!"
Then I exhort you to . . . trust your Father's Word, abide in your Father's house, expect from your Father's hand, and say in every trial: "I will arise and go to my Father!"
- James Smith
This is a child's cry. It is full of meaning, full of love, full of comfort and is a title which the Lord loves to hear us use!
"Lord, give us the Spirit of adoption this morning, and let us see and feel, that we are Your children."
Believer, to whom will you go in trouble? To whom will you look in difficulty? To whom will you cry in danger? From whom will you ask when in need?
Surely I hear you say, "My Father!"
Who speaks to you in the Bible? Who tries you by His providence? Who chastens you with His rod? Who purifies and cleanses you? Who humbles and reproves you? Again you will say, "My Father!"
Who supports the world? Who controls the nations? Who chains up Satan? Who comforts the believer? Who pardons the backslider?
Again you reply, "My Father!"
Then I exhort you to . . . trust your Father's Word, abide in your Father's house, expect from your Father's hand, and say in every trial: "I will arise and go to my Father!"
- James Smith
Our Maker Becomes our Husband
"As the bridegroom rejoices over his bride--so shall your God rejoice over you!" Isaiah 62:5
That God should save a sinner at all is a surprising display of unmerited grace. But that He should bring that sinner into the closest possible relation to Himself and rejoice over him, is indeed most astonishing, And yet it is true. For our Maker becomes our Husband. And as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so our God rejoices over us! He set His heart upon us. He encircled us with His infinite love. He determined to raise us to His glorious throne and purposed to make us one with Himself.
He sent His only begotten Son to redeem us. He sent His Holy Spirit to regenerate us. He intends to raise us from the dead, perfect in holiness, and robed with immortality. He will present us before His glorious presence with exceeding joy.
"He will rejoice over us with singing!" What exquisite joy will this impart. Jehovah singing with joy over His ransomed and restored creatures, as though their salvation could increase or perfect His happiness. Let us meditate on this glorious fact, and prepare for the stupendous event.
"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" Revelation 19:9
"Come, I will show you the bride--the wife of the Lamb!" Revelation 21:9
- James Smith
That God should save a sinner at all is a surprising display of unmerited grace. But that He should bring that sinner into the closest possible relation to Himself and rejoice over him, is indeed most astonishing, And yet it is true. For our Maker becomes our Husband. And as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so our God rejoices over us! He set His heart upon us. He encircled us with His infinite love. He determined to raise us to His glorious throne and purposed to make us one with Himself.
He sent His only begotten Son to redeem us. He sent His Holy Spirit to regenerate us. He intends to raise us from the dead, perfect in holiness, and robed with immortality. He will present us before His glorious presence with exceeding joy.
"He will rejoice over us with singing!" What exquisite joy will this impart. Jehovah singing with joy over His ransomed and restored creatures, as though their salvation could increase or perfect His happiness. Let us meditate on this glorious fact, and prepare for the stupendous event.
"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" Revelation 19:9
"Come, I will show you the bride--the wife of the Lamb!" Revelation 21:9
- James Smith
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Poverty of Christ for Us
"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay His head!" - Matthew 8:20
What an astonishing fact! Here is the Creator of all things without a home. Here is the Ruler of the universe without a habitation. Here is the eternal, immortal King, more destitute than the birds of the air or the beasts of the forest! "Then each one went to his own home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives." (John 7:53-8:1) Everyone had a home but Him! What brought Him into these circumstances?
Love! Love for whom? Love for sinners, the vilest, the basest of mankind. Why did He stoop so low? He became poor, that we might become rich. He was without a poor cottage on earth, that we might possess splendor in heaven. He was destitute in time, that we might possess a glorious portion in eternity. Oh, Jesus, how astonishing is Your love.
O my soul, admire, adore, and praise the wondrous love of your beloved Lord.
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich--yet for your sakes He became poor; so that you through His poverty might become rich!" - 2 Corinthians 8:9
- James Smith
What an astonishing fact! Here is the Creator of all things without a home. Here is the Ruler of the universe without a habitation. Here is the eternal, immortal King, more destitute than the birds of the air or the beasts of the forest! "Then each one went to his own home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives." (John 7:53-8:1) Everyone had a home but Him! What brought Him into these circumstances?
Love! Love for whom? Love for sinners, the vilest, the basest of mankind. Why did He stoop so low? He became poor, that we might become rich. He was without a poor cottage on earth, that we might possess splendor in heaven. He was destitute in time, that we might possess a glorious portion in eternity. Oh, Jesus, how astonishing is Your love.
O my soul, admire, adore, and praise the wondrous love of your beloved Lord.
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich--yet for your sakes He became poor; so that you through His poverty might become rich!" - 2 Corinthians 8:9
- James Smith
God's Two Treasures
God in heaven has a treasure,
Riches none may count or tell;
Has a deep eternal pleasure--
Christ, the Son, He loveth well.
God has here on earth a treasure,
None but He its price may know;
Deep, unfathomable pleasure--
Christ revealed in saints below.
- Anonymous
Riches none may count or tell;
Has a deep eternal pleasure--
Christ, the Son, He loveth well.
God has here on earth a treasure,
None but He its price may know;
Deep, unfathomable pleasure--
Christ revealed in saints below.
- Anonymous
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Leaning on her Beloved
Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved? -- Song of Solomon 8:5
Jesus is the object of a believer's love. To the Christian, the world is a wilderness. Heaven is his Father's house and his home. He is passing through the wilderness in company with Jesus. He is represented as the bride, leaning on her Beloved. This is indicative of weakness in herself and confidence in her Beloved.
He is her strength, as well as her guide. He is her support, as well as the object of her affection. She leans on Him, as well as converses with Him. He supports her, as well as comforts her.
Believer, keep close to your Savior's side; Never leave Him while in this waste-howling wilderness. Lean on Him. And when you feel weak, lean hard!
His strong arm is put forth to support your weak frame. He will bear you up and lead you on. The more you lean on Him, the more you will love Him.
The more you love Him, the closer you will cleave to Him!
Yield to His guidance, trust in His love, lean on His power, and walk by His side.
In His company, you are safe and in communion with Him, you will be happy. Like the two disciples of old, your heart will be warmed, and you will be at the end of your journey before you are aware of it!
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness--leaning upon her Beloved?" Song of Solomon 8:5
- James Smith
Jesus is the object of a believer's love. To the Christian, the world is a wilderness. Heaven is his Father's house and his home. He is passing through the wilderness in company with Jesus. He is represented as the bride, leaning on her Beloved. This is indicative of weakness in herself and confidence in her Beloved.
He is her strength, as well as her guide. He is her support, as well as the object of her affection. She leans on Him, as well as converses with Him. He supports her, as well as comforts her.
Believer, keep close to your Savior's side; Never leave Him while in this waste-howling wilderness. Lean on Him. And when you feel weak, lean hard!
His strong arm is put forth to support your weak frame. He will bear you up and lead you on. The more you lean on Him, the more you will love Him.
The more you love Him, the closer you will cleave to Him!
Yield to His guidance, trust in His love, lean on His power, and walk by His side.
In His company, you are safe and in communion with Him, you will be happy. Like the two disciples of old, your heart will be warmed, and you will be at the end of your journey before you are aware of it!
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness--leaning upon her Beloved?" Song of Solomon 8:5
- James Smith
Fear Not Little Flock
"Fear not, little flock!" Luke 12:32
The Savior's flock is small. It exists in the harsh desert. Enemies surround it. His lambs, especially, are timid. But He says, "Fear not, little flock!"
You are your Shepherd's care. You are His property and His delight. He is always present with you and is omnipotent to defend you. Every perfection of His divine nature is employed for you and He has never lost one of His charge yet--and He never will!
It was said of Him by the prophet, "He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young!" Isaiah 40:11
He gathers His sheep to His fold. He feeds them in good pasture and restores them when they wander. His CARE of them is incessant. His LOVE to them passes knowledge, and the provision He has made for them is suitable and abundant.
Beloved, let us know our Shepherd. Let us listen to His voice. Let us keep close to His side. Let us feed and rest among His sheep. Let us exercise confidence in His kindness and care.
Let us banish our fears, for why should we be alarmed? Let us cast all our concerns and cares upon the good Shepherd.
- James Smith
The Savior's flock is small. It exists in the harsh desert. Enemies surround it. His lambs, especially, are timid. But He says, "Fear not, little flock!"
You are your Shepherd's care. You are His property and His delight. He is always present with you and is omnipotent to defend you. Every perfection of His divine nature is employed for you and He has never lost one of His charge yet--and He never will!
It was said of Him by the prophet, "He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young!" Isaiah 40:11
He gathers His sheep to His fold. He feeds them in good pasture and restores them when they wander. His CARE of them is incessant. His LOVE to them passes knowledge, and the provision He has made for them is suitable and abundant.
Beloved, let us know our Shepherd. Let us listen to His voice. Let us keep close to His side. Let us feed and rest among His sheep. Let us exercise confidence in His kindness and care.
Let us banish our fears, for why should we be alarmed? Let us cast all our concerns and cares upon the good Shepherd.
- James Smith
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