That Which I See Not Teach Thou Me

APRIL  30

That which I see  not teach thou me

That which I see not teach thou me: if I have

done iniquity, I will do no more. Job 34:32

We were once blind, but now our eyes are open; but still we are absolutely dependent on the devine teaching, or we shall never become truly wise.

If God teaches us, self will become vile; the world vanity; sin bitter; and the blood of Christ most precious; His righteousness glorious; His name our only hope; His love our joy; His Spirit our strength; His glory our aim; and “Teach Thou me,” our daily prayer.

We see but little of what Christ is in Himself; of what He hath done for His people; of what He possesses, and will give to all who call upon Him in truth; of what He has promised to work in us, and bestow upon us.

Beloved, let us daily plead with God to teach us, that we may know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, and he made conformable to His death.

Let us beg the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

Jehovah alone can teach us to profit.

O Jesus, teach my soul to know

Thyself, the truth, the life, the way;

May I in grace and knowledge grow,

Till I arrive in the perfect day;

From Satan, self, and sin set free,

And what I know not teach Thou me.

James Smith

But Thou Art Rich

APRIL  29

But thou art rich.

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and

poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy

of them which say they are Jews, and are not,

but are the synagogue of Satan.

Real saints always feel themselves to be poor sinners. Many of God’s people are really poor in reference to the things of time, for God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised them that love Him.

They are often persecuted, tried, tempted, and cast down; so was the church in Smyrna; but Jesus says to her, “THOU ART RICH.” So are all the Lord’s people.

Rich by relation- God is their father, and Jesus their elder brother.

Rich by donation- Jesus has bequeathed unsearchable riches to them.

Rich by promises- the Lord has promised all good things.

Rich by faith- for he that believeth shall inherit all things.

Rich in expectations- for they look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Believer, thou art rich; Jesus has willed to thee His righteousness, to justify thee; His blood, to cleanse thee; His Spirit to sanctify thee; His name to procure for thee; His angels to minister unto thee; and His heaven to be thy everlasting habitation.

Precious Savior!

I would admire and adore thy love!

O teach me to live out of self on thy fulness!

Call’d by grace, the sinner see,

Rich, through sunk in poverty;

Rich in faith that God has given,

He’s a legal heir of heaven.

James Smith

Though I Be Nothing

APRIL  28

Though I be nothing

2 Corinthians 12:11  I am become a fool in glorying;

 ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended

of you: for in nothing am I behind the very

chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

This was Paul’s estimate of himself; less than the least of all saints, and the chief of sinners.

The more we know of ourselves and of Jesus, the more shall we be humbled in the dust before God; and the lower we lie before God, the happier and holier we shall be.

Man will, must be something; this is his pride and his misery,

the Christian is willing to be nothing, that Christ may be all in all.

If we daily felt that we are nothing, how many mortifications we shall be spared; what admiring views of the grace of God would fill and sanctify our souls.

Apart from Christ we are less than nothing, but in Christ we are something.

We are empty, but He fills us;

naked, but He clothes us;

helpless, but He strengthens us;

lost, but He finds us;

ruined, but he saves us;

poor, but He supplies us.

All we are, is by Christ; all we have is from Christ; all we shall be, is through Christ.

Believer, thou art nothing; therefore beware of thinking too highly of thyself, or fancying that you deserve more then you receive, either from God or men.

Humble souls are soon satisfied.

Oh, could I lose myself in Thee,

Thy depth of mercy prove,

Thou vast unfathomable sea

Of unexhausted love!

I loathe myself when God I see,

Content if Christ exalted be.

James Smith

I Am He That Comforteth You

APRIL  27

I am He that comforteth you

I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou,

that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die,

and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;  

Isaiah 51:12

The Lord’s people are often low and responding; they do not live up to their privileges; the things of time make too deep impression, because they do not sufficiently realize eternal things.

But Jehovah is their Comforter; as such He presents Himself unto us this morning.

He is the God of all comfort.

He comforted those who are cast down.   

To Him alone we must look for comfort.     

Looking to creatures for what God promises, dishonours Him: and at such time the creatures may well ask, “Am I in God’s stead?“

Our God comforts us by His Son, whom He hath given to us;

by the Spirit, which He pours out upon us;

by His word, in which He speaks to us;

by His ordinances, in which He meets with us;

and by His providence, when He appears for us.

Let us look unto God as the author and giver of comfort, let us plead with Him to comfort us according to His word, and let us be suspicious of all comfort which does not come from Him, and lead to Him.

He must be the centre to which we always tend, and circumference within which we moved.

Jesus, all our consolations

Flow from Thee, the sovereign good;

Love, and faith, and hope, and patience,

All are purchased by Thy blood;

Now thy richest grace impart,

Sanctify and fill my heart.

James Smith

Behold The Man

APRIL  26

Behold the man

John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown

of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate

saith unto them, Behold the man!

Jesus is presented before thee crowned with thorns, scourged, with His face so marred more than any man’s.

His blood is flowing,   His heart is breaking,   and He is a man of sorrows.

Behold him, then, for in this man, under these circumstances, dwelt all the fulness of the godhead bodily; all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Him the love of God centred and shone forth.

He is the only foundation of His church’s hopes, the only source of eternal salvation.

He is Jehovah‘s firstborn, His only-begotten Son, the express image of His person.

He is thy Substitute, Surety, and Redeemer.

He is the holy, harmless, and undefiled Lamb of God; taking away the sin of the world.

Behold Him, for He here discloses the depth of His love; and teaches thee patience, meekness, and resignation under insult, suffering, and disgrace.

Oh, behold Jesus, and be ashamed of complaining,   every repining,   or indulging in any revengeful feelings.

Behold and be imitated!

Behold and love!

Behold and adore!

Wounded head! back plough’d with furrows!

Visage marr’d! behold the Man!

Eyes how dim, how full of sorrows;

Sunk with grief, behold the Man!

Lamb of God led to the slaughter!

Melted, poured out like water;

Should not love my heart inflame,

Viewing thee, thou slaughter’d Lamb.

James Smith

Who Maketh It Thee To Differ From Another

April 25

Who maketh it thee differ from another

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what 

hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst

 receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

I Corinthians 4:7

There is a wide difference between a Christian and a worldling; the one is dead in trespasses and sins, the other is alive and to God, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

He has been quickened by the Son of God, is born of the Spirit, and is taught by the eternal Father.

He is a new creature, being created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before ordained that we should walk in them.

Who made this difference?

You are at once ready to answer, if you really taught of God, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

“Of His own will begat He me by the word of truth.

Yes, it was the rich, free, and sovereign grace of God, and that alone, that made you differ. Grace was given you in Christ before the world began; in the Spirit was given you in time, that you might know and enjoy the things which are freely given unto you of God.

Oh, beloved, view yourself as an infinite debtor to grace; be humble before God who has thus made you to differ; and pity, pray for, and strive to benefit those who are still without.

“Look unto the rock whence you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence you were digged.“

What was there in you that could merit esteem,

Or give the Creator delight;

T’was “Even so, Father” you ever must sing.

“Because it seem’d good in Thy sight.“

James Smith

I Am The Bread Of Life

April 24

I am the bread of life

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and

he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jesus proposeth Himself to be our daily sustenance;- we need bread for the soul as well as the body.

In Jesus is all we need to refresh, strengthen, and satisfy us; but He must be received by faith.

He must be daily received. Feeding upon Jesus yesterday will not do for today. We must go to Him afresh this morning.

He presents Himself; He says, “Eat, O friends; yea, satisfy yourself, O my beloved.“

If the Holy Spirit has given us a spiritual appetite, if we are hungering after righteousness, Jesus, and Jesus only will satisfy us; and we are heartily welcome to live upon Him.

Let us set Him before us many times in the day; let us endeavour to feed upon Him; and if we feel weak, faint, or weary, let us make use of this life-giving bread; and let us ever retain the sweet assurance, and if we feed on Jesus we shall live by Him, and have eternal life.

Beloved, if you can make a living of any thing but Jesus; or if Jesus is not enough in your estimation, you are either in a carnal, or an unhealthy state of soul.

Jesus only is the bread of life: the bread which came down from heaven!

Jesus, Thou art the living bread

By which our needy souls are fed;

In Thee alone thy children find

Enough to fill the empty mind;

Oh, let me evermore be fed

With this divine, celestial bread!

James Smith

Have Faith In God

APRIL  23

Have faith in God

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them,

 Have faith in God.

You have His word, believe it; pleaded it; expect the fulfilment of it.

He cannot deceive you.         His ear is open to you. Try Him.

What do you want?   Why do you want it?

If you really need, if your motives are good, plead with God for it; expect Him to be stowed it; and receive it as coming from Him.

In every trial, for all you need, have faith in God.   He will be gracious unto you.

He is ever with you.      He is ready to help you.

He rejoices over you to do you good.    His word is true from the beginning.

He is the faithful God.   He keepeth covenant and mercy.

Believe in God for all your circumstances.   Patiently wait His time for your supplies.

Never give over praying or expecting because He delays; never doubt Him, but trust in Him with all thy heart.

He is a God; He is thy God; He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.

This is thy direction- thy duty- thy privilege: HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

Walk with God.    Talk with God.

Expect from God.      Use all for God.

Be entirely devoted to God.

“Casting all your cares upon him, for he cares for you.“

“Therefore will I look unto the Lord.“

Begone, unbelief! my Saviour is near,

And for all my relief will surely appear;

By prayer let me wrestle, that He will perform;

With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.

James Smith

I Will Surely Do Thee Good

APRIL   22

I will surely do thee good

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good,  and

make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which

cannot be numbered for multitude.  Genesis 32:12 

Though this promise was given to Jacob, it was not confined to him, but is intended for all his spiritual seed.

It is thus God speaks to us this morning.

How gracious! we know not what a day may bring forth, but we know our God, who is superintends every event, will do us good.

We may mistake as to what will be for our good, but He is infinite in wisdom and goodness, and therefore cannot.

We may look at afflictions, losses, and crosses, and cry out, “All these things are against me!”

But read the history of David, what a train of troubles attended him: hear his acknowledgment, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.“

Thy God will do thee good, therefore He will try thee, sift thee, humble thee, and prove thee.

He will give thee medicine as well as food.

He will consider nothing too expensive, or too painful, if necessary for thy soul’s welfare.

Look at your trials and say, “This also shall turn to my salvation.“

Look on the past and acknowledge, “Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life.“

Look to the future and rejoice, “The Lord will give that which is good.“

Look in every direction, and say, “I will trust and not be afraid.“

I cannot doubt His boundless love,

So full, so free, so kind:

To His unerring, gracious will,

Be every wish resign’d.

James Smith

Walk Humbly With Thy God

APRIL   21

Walk humbly with thy God

Micah 6:8   He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;

and what doth the LORD require of thee,

but to do justly, and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with thy God?

Pride is one of the greatest evils; to indulge it is to nourish a serpent in the bosom.

The grace of God always humbles us; and it is only as we are humbled that we can be happy.

God condescends to walk with the humble man, but He keeps the proud at a distance.

Consider what you were by nature, what now lurks in your heart, what you would have been but for the grace of God, and be humble. All you have is the gift of free grace; all you do is good, is the effect of God’s working in you.

What do you have to be proud of?

What reason to boast?

Oh, lie down in the dust of self-abasement; cherish humbling thoughts of yourself; admire the mercy, condescension, and the infinite compassion of God, in noticing so vile, so unworthy a worm!

Study the character and conduct of the humble Jesus, learn of Him, and endeavour to walk as He also walked.

Serve the Lord in all humility of mind.

But beware of spurious humility; that is not humility which rests contented without seeking for the upmost God has promised, or aiming at the highest duties God has commanded.

By faith in Christ I walk with God,

With heaven, my journey’s end in view;

Supported by His staff and rod,

My road is safe and pleasant too;

Though earth and hell my course withstand,

Jehovah guards me by His hand.

James Smith

Christ Made Us Free

April 20

Christ has made us free

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith

Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled

again with the yoke of bondage.  Galatians 5:1

We were once the slave of sin, Satan, and the world; we were under the law as a covenant of life; but Jesus has made us free.

We are now delivered from the law, and are under grace.

We are delivered from Satan and are at war with him.

We overcome the world, and are hastening out of it.

We are at liberty to serve God, and walk with Him in friendship and holy love.

The price of our freedom was the life and death of Jesus;

the efficient cause of our freedom was the power and operation of the Holy Spirit;

the grand moving cause, was the infinite and everlasting love of God our Father;

the instrument by which we are made acquainted with our freedom is the holy gospel;

the grace which put us into possession of our freedom is faith;

and the end of our freedom is,

that we may serve our God in righteousness and holiness all the days of our life, and then be glorified with him forever.

We are freed from sin that we may be holy; and are introduced to and accepted of God, that we may be happy.

 Let us stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.

Sweet is the freedom Christ bestows,

With which He makes His people free;

A liberty no mortal knows,

Till they His great salvation see:

Freedom from wants, and fears, and cares,

From worldly lusts, and dangerous snares.

James Smith

Quicken Thou Me In Thy Way

April 19

Quicken thou me in thy way

Psalms 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;

and quicken thou me in thy way.

What poor, dull, lifeless creatures we often feel ourselves to be; and how needful is this prayer.

It is our duty to run in the way of God‘s Commandments; it is our misery that we through sin, weakness, and temptation, we scarcely creep.

We are dependent upon the Spirit for quickening. He only can strengthen, animate and enliven us.

Let us sow unto the Spirit this morning.  He is gracious, and a grace-giving Spirit. He delights to exalt and honour Jesus.

Let us therefore beseech Him in Jesus name, for His sake, that we may bring honour onto His cause, to quicken our souls.

Let us pray Him to bring us near to God; for the near to God the happier, and holier, and livelier, shall we be.

Let us ask Him to shed abroad the love of Jesus in our hearts; for the love of Christ will make us live well, bear the cross well, perform duties well, and die well.

The command furnishes us with a rule, and the promise finds us strength; but it is only the Spirit that can put us in possession of the latter, and without that we cannot attend to the former, and the gospel spirit.

The presence of Jesus, and the communications of His grace, are daily necessary to keep us lively, devoted, and working for God.

I need the influence of Thy grace

To speed me in Thy way,

Lest I should loiter in my race

And turn my feet astray.

James Smith

Our Sufficiency Is Of God

April   18

Our sufficiency is of God

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves

to think any thing as of ourselves; but

our sufficiency is of God;

Let us think of this, whenever we are cast down on account of our weakness, or the difficulties we meet with in our way.

We are weak, but Jesus is strong; and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

He has given us His word, that He will work in us to will and to do His own good pleasure.

He speaks and it is done. The word of the Lord knows no obstacles or difficulties; all things must obey Him.

When He sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said “Certainly I will be with thee:” and the Lord’s presence was his strength. He acts just so with us; His faithfulness is our sufficiency; it is opened to us in Jesus, and we receive from it according to our wants, weaknesses, and faith.

“Through God,“ said David, I shall do valiantly.

“I can do all things,” said Paul “through Christ which strengthening me.“

Look not then at your own emptiness, or weakness; but look at what God is to His people, and what He has promised to give them, and sing, “Our sufficiency is of our God“

“God is our refuge and strength; and as our days so shall our strength be.“

“His grace is sufficient for us; His strength is made perfect in weakness.“

When we cannot see our way,

We should trust, and still obey,

He who bids us forward go,

Will instruct the way to know.

James Smith