I AM THINE, SAVE ME.

 

June 30

 

Psalms 119:94  

I am thine, save me; 

for I have sought thy precepts. 

 

We profess to be the Lord’s.
 
We are not our own.
 
We belong not to the world.
 
We are no longer the servants of sin.
 
We are solely and entirely the Lord’s; having willingly given up ourselves into His hands, to be saved by His grace, devoted to His service, and employed for His glory.
 
We are His children by grace and adoption; His servants by voluntary engagement; His soldiers by public profession; and His spouse by affection and union.
 
Being the Lords we may expect His interference on our behalf; and we should call on Him and plead with Him in all straits and difficulties.
 
He will save us.
 
He will deliver us.
 
Let us therefore lay our case before Him; and then srdently expect Him to glorify His grace and us.
 
Let us walk worthy of God as the love children; and live under the impression that He will make all grace to abound toward us, so that we having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work.
 
His mercy is great until the heavens, and His faithfulness unto the clouds; and He never said to the seed of Jacob “SEEK YE ME,” in vain.
 
But He said, “SEEK YE ME, AND YE SHALL LIVE.”
 

Jesus, my Savior, and my God,

Thou hast redeem’d me with Thy blood;

By ties both natural and divine,

I am, and will be ever Thine;

Save me from sin, and Satan’s power,

Guide me and guard me every hour.

 
James Smith

MY SON, GIVE ME THINE HEART.

 

June 29

 

 

Proverbs 23:26  

My son, give me thine heart, 

and let thine eyes observe my ways. 

 
Beloved, the Most High presents Himself as a suitor this morning.
 
He asked for thy heart.
 
It is His workmanship, He wants it to be His habitation.
 
He made it by His power, He wants to rule it by His grace.
 
He will not be satisfied with anything else.
 
If He have the heart He has all; if He has not the heart, He has nothing.
 
Let us surrender our hearts to Him this morning and every morning.
 
Let us ask him to sanctify them by His grace, to fill them with His Holy Spirit, to engrave on them His image; to keep them by His power, to fill them with the fruits of holiness.
 
If the heart is given to God, the life will be according to His word.
 
If He rule in us, we shall walk as Jesus walked.
 
If our walk is not holy, our religion is but a form.
 
“He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
 
Oh, how awful, to think and profess that we are the Lord’s, and yet to have the heart under the influence of sin, Satan, and the world!
 
Jesus says, “MY SON, GIVE ME THINE HEART.”
 
Let our reply be, “Lord, take my heart, reign and rule in my in it for ever.”
 

O Jesus! wounded the Lamb of God,

Come, wash me in thy cleansing blood;

Take my poor heart, and let it be

For ever closed to all but thee;

Unloose my stammering tongue, to tell

Thy love immense, unsearchable.

 
James Smith

THE LORD WILL BE THE HOPE OF HIS PEOPLE

June 28

 

 

Joel 3:16  

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, 

and utter his voice from Jerusalem; 

and the heavens and the earth shall shake: 

but the LORD will be the hope of his people, 

and the strength of the children of Israel. 

 
We know not want a day may bring forth; we are born to trouble; many unexpected trials may befall us; but our God will be our hope.
 
He is the REFUGE, to which we may always repair, and find safety; the fulness, from which we shall receive a plentiful supply.
 
His oath, His promises, His covenant character, and the blood of Jesus, lay a firm foundation for our hope; and His gospel warrants us to hope in Him at all times, for all things.
 
Therefore let what will come, we can have no reason to be disconsolate; we can have no cause to fear; our God is our hope.
 
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost.
 
Let us gird up the loins of our minds, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought on to us at the appearing of the Lord Jesus.
 
Let us look for that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous a good works.
 
As Jesus is our hope, let His glory be our aim, and His service our delight.
 

In Him I hope, in Him I trust,

His bleeding cross is all my boast,

Through troops of foes he’ll lead me on

To victory and the victor’s crown.

 
James Smith

REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE

 

June 27

 

 

Luke 17:32 

Remember Lot's wife. 

 
She received the angels, and hospitality entertain them; she believe their message, and prepared to act upon it; she obeyed their command, and left Sodom and her children behind her.
 
She forsook the ungodly, and went in company with the saints; yet her heart was left in the city, and she looked back.
 
She was deprived of life, far too highly prizing its comforts.
 
She was cut off by a visible display of God’s judgment.
 
The situation in which she died was instructive; it was not in Sodom, but on the plain; she escaped one judgment, but was overtaken by another.
 
She was left as a sad example of God’s jealousy, and displeasure against sin.
 
Here is a warning to the covetous, whose hearts are set on things below; 

to the self-willed, who trifle with God’s commands; 

and to the undecided, who stands between Sodom and Zoar.

 

God will be honoured by our obedience, or by our suffering.
 
It is dangerous to trifle with the smallest of God’s command.
 
We may overcome one temptation, and yet fall by another.
 
Let us examine -- are our hearts detached from the world?
 
Be not high - minded, but fear.
 
Remember lots wife.
 

Waiting for our Lord‘s returning,

Be it ours his words to keep;

Let our lamps be always burning;

Let us watch, while others sleep;

We’re no longer of the night;

We are children of the light.

 
James Smith

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE.

 

June 26

II Corinthians 12:9  

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 

for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in 

my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 
You need look to no other quarter for help, relief, or comfort.
 
Jesus assures you that His grace is sufficient.
 
You are welcome to it.
 
You are exhorted to have it.
 
To be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.
 
It is sufficient to support you under every privation, to help you over every difficulty, to strengthen you for every duty, to mortify every lust, and to fill you with all joy and peace in believing.
 
His grace is almighty -- it is free -- it is durable --  it brings salvation.
 
Look not at difficulties – dangers -- or thy own weakness; but look to the free, powerful, promised grace of Jesus.
 
Go to His throne of grace this morning, on purpose to receive grace for this day; go every day; and whenever you feel weak, timid, or cast down.
 
His grace was found sufficient for Paul, for the martyrs and saints, in the deepest trials, it shall be found sufficient for thee.
 
He says, “I am the Lord thy God; open thy mouth wide and I will feel it. Come boldly to the throne of grace, that ye may obtain mercy and find grace to help you in the time of need. Everyone that asketh receiveth.”
 
Oh Jesus, make good Thy word in me!
 

Thy strength in weakness is display’d;

My soul this truth can relish now;

A worm upon Thy power is stayed;

The weaker he, the stronger Thou;

My hope, my joy, is this alone --

My strength is Christ, THE MIGHTY ONE.

 
James Smith

WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO BE?

 

June 25

 

2 Peter 3:11  

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, 

what manner of persons ought ye to be

 in all holy conversation and godliness, 

The people of God are expected to be different from the world; they profess to have another Spirit in them, and to be the sons of God.

 They believe the present frame of things is to be dissolved.
 
They look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, they are strangers and pilgrims here.
 
What manner of persons then ought we to be?
 
Surely we ought to set light by the things of time, and aim at the things which are eternal.
 
We ought to be watchful --  prayerful – diligent  -- holy – patient -- thankful and expected.
 
We ought to be contented with such things as we have; to give all diligence to prove our title, make sure our election, and rejoice in our destination.
 
We ought to walk as Jesus walked.
To live as Paul lived, dying daily.
 
Let us ask this morning, Do we habitually believe that present things will soon be dissolved?
 

If so, are we acting according to the same?
 

Are we laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven?

Are we doing good, that we may be rich in good works and an honour to religion?

Is the coming of Jesus the object of my desire and hope?

Then let us wait the sound,

That shall our souls release;

And labour to be found

Of Him in spotless peace,

In perfect holiness renewe‘d,

Adorn’d with Christ, and meet for God.

 
James Smith

YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION

 

June 24

 

I Peter 2:9  

But ye are a chosen generation, 

a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar

 people; that ye should shew forth the 

praises of him who hath called 

you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

 

Religion does not originate in chance, but in the purpose of God; it flows not from nature of man, but from the unalterable degree of the Most High.
 
Every believer is a chosen vessel.
 
The Church had its origin in Jehovah’s eternal election.
 
Elections flows from love; it is exercise of sovereignty; it secures man’s salvation and God’s glory.
 
It injures none, but it pours incalculable blessings upon thousands.
 
It was the act of God before time.
 
He chose us in Christ as our head; it was a pure grace; it was to holiness.
 
We were chosen to be redeemed from death; purified from sin; separated from the world; devoted to God; and raised to a state of oneness with Jehovah.
 
Being chosen of God, we choose God in return.
 
He chose us to be his people, we choose him to be our God.
 
He chose us to be the beloved Bride of Jesus, and we choose Jesus to be our beloved Bridegroom.
 
His election is the cause, our choice is the effect.
 
His choice prevented ours; or else we had chosen death, in the error of our ways.
 
Beloved, if we are the elect of God we are holy; we are in union with Jesus.
 
Let us endeavour to prove and enjoy this.
 
 

All the elected train

Were chosen in their Head,

To all eternal good,

Before the worlds were made;

Chosen to know the Prince of Peace,

And taste the riches of His grace.

 
James Smith

WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE?

 

June 23

 

 

I Samuel 29:3 

Then said the princes of the Philistines, 

What do these Hebrews here? ...

 
David’s host wanted to mingle with the Philistine’s army; this was decidely wrong; and it is as wrong, when God‘s people unite with the world contrary to His holy word.
 
We may ask, “What do these Christians here?“
 
What do they joining with the world? Their Master has told them to “come out and be separate.”
 
What do they seeking a settlement below? He has said, “Arise ye, and depart, this is not your rest.”
 
What do they out of the path of duty, or by their presences sanctioning sin? He has said, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
 
What do they on Satan’s ground? In the enemy’s ranks?
 
Do they intend to leave Jesus, and join the world?
 
Are they tried of His company, set against His word, and determined to throw off His yoke?
 
Do they intend to share in what they have proclaimed as the sinner’s doom; the frown of Jesus, the wrath of God, and the slavery of Satan?
 
What do they here?
 
Their conduct is unnatural -  degrading -  traitorous.
 
Beloved, you should keep the company of Jesus, walk with spiritual persons, and keep yourselves unspotted from the World.
 
 

Ye tempting sweets forbear,

Ye dearest idols fall;

My love ye must not share,

Jesus shall have it all;

Aid me, dear Saviour, set me free

And I will all resign for thee.

 
James Smith

G O D I S F A I T H F U L

 

June 22

 

I Corinthians 10:13  

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is 

common to man: but God is faithful, 

who will not suffer you to be tempted 

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation 

also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

 
This is the believers sheet anchor; without this his comfort with droop, and hope would give up the ghost.
 
We are at times shaken to pieces by unbelief, and filled with tormenting doubts.
 
We feel nothing of the presence, power, or comforts of the Holy Ghost; faith, hope, and love seem to be quite extinguished.
 
We have no power and scarcely any inclination to pray; and we only feel hardness, fretfulness, and misery.
 
We are tempted by Satan, and harassed with tormenting thoughts, so that we feel tired of this miserable life.
 
But God is faithful; He never fails us; but appears again and again, restoring us to peace, joy, and satisfaction; and our most miserable times are often succeeded by particular joys.
 
The Scriptures are opened up to our understanding, the promises are applied to our souls, and we are  filled with the comforts of the Holy Ghost.
 
Then our souls melt before God in contrition, and holy penitence; we feel crumbled into dust before Him; and can only admire and adore the riches of free and sovereign grace.
 
Beloved, in the darkest night, remember “God is faithful.“
 
 

He will not His great self deny;

A God all truth can never lie;

True to His word, God gave His Son

To die for crimes which men had done;

Blest pledge! He never will revoke

A single promise He has spoke.

 
James Smith

HOW IS IT THAT YE HAVE NO FAITH ?

 

June 21

 

Mark 4:40

And he said unto them,

Why are ye so fearful?

how is it that ye have no faith?

 

Where there is a little faith there are many fears.

 

The disciples were filled with alarm, and Jesus inquires, “How is it that ye have no faith?”

 

May not our heavenly Father often address us in the same language?

 

How is it that ye give no credit to my word?

 

“How is it that ye place no dependence on my relation – character - and veracity?

How is it that ye have no confidence in my presents – power - and love?

How is it that ye do not expect my interference and look for my supplies?

Have I not made promises which are plain – positive - and sure?

Have I not fulfilled my promises again and again?

Have I not summoned witnesses to attest the truth of my word?

Have I not promised you my Holy Spirit?

Have I not pledged my holiness?

Have I not given my Son for you and to you?

Have I not appeared for you in every present difficulty?

How is it then that ye have no faith?“

 

Beloved, let us humble ourselves before God.

 

Let us plead guilty of indulging in unbelief, and plead for faith.

 

Let us look for God in every place and every thing.

 

Let us trust Him when we cannot trace Him?

 

 

Why should my soul indulge complaints,

And yield to dark despair?

The meanest of my Father’s saints

Are safe beneath His care;

Dear Lord, increase my faith in Thee,

Till I Thy full salvation see.

 

James Smith

IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH.

 

June 20

 

Romans 8:33 

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

 
To be justified is to be acquitted, and pronounce righteous.
 
Every believer in Jesus, however ungodly he may have been, or however vile and unworthy he may feel, is justified by Jehovah.
 
The perfect work of Jesus is imputed to him, free grace is glorified in him, and he is passed from death into life.
 
To him there is no condemnation, no one can lay any thing to his charge, he is accepted in the Beloved, Christ lived and died for him, and now he liveth with and shall be glorified through and with Jesus.
 
All trespasses are freely forgiven and eternally forgotten.
 
God has cast all our sins behind His back, and now he pronounces us just.
 
Let us approach God believing that He has justified us; and let us look forward and rejoice that the judge of all the earth will declare us righteous.
 
Who shall lay any thing to our charge? It is God that justifieth.
 
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also make it intercession for us.
 
My soul, look to Jesus, to His perfect work and prevalent intercession, and there see thy salvation and find peace.
 
 

Turn then my soul, unto thy rest;

The merits of thy great High Priest

Speak peace and liberty;

Trust in His efficacious blood;

Nor fear thy banishment from God,

Since Jesus died for thee.

 
James Smith

ALL HIS SAINTS ARE IN THY HAND

 

June 19

Deuteronomy 33:3  

Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are

 in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; 

every one shall receive of thy words. 

 

Every believer is a saint, separated by the purpose of God;
   sanctified by the operation of the Holy Spirit;
        set apart for God, and devoted to His service.
 
Every saint is in the hand of Jesus; in the hand of His mercy -- in the hand of His power -- and in the hand of His providence.
 
The hand of Jesus is large enough to hold all; strong enough to defend all.
 
They are in His hand as His property, purchased by His blood;
as His charge, committed to Him by His Father;
at His disposal, to do with them as seemeth good in His sight;
under His protection, to be kept from Satan, death, and hell;
to be guarded through this desert world, to our Father’s house above;
to be moulded by His skill, and conform to His own lovely image;
to be covered from the storm, and preserved from the furious blast;
to be used for His praise, and be lifted up to His eternal throne.
 
They are His saints;
  He chose them for His bride;
    He rescued them from the hand of the enemy;
      He claims them as His right;
         He made them what they are;
            and He will glorify them for ever.
 

Blessed are the saints of God!

They are brought with Jesu’s blood,

They are ransom’d from the grave

Life eternal they shall have;

With them number’d may we be,

Now, and through eternity!

 
James Smith

I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS

 

June 18

John 14:18  

I will not leave you comfortless: 

I will come to you. 

 

Believers when in darkness, often fear that Jesus has forsaken in them; this is natural; but it is unscriptural for He says, “I will never leave thee, I will never forsake thee.“

 His offices require His presence with us.

 His love secures His presence to us. He will not leave us orphans.

 We are absolutely dependant upon Him; our comfort is His gift, and the continuance of comfort depends on His presence and grace.

 He is the great source of comfort to His people; His presence and His comforts are generally connected; He may withhold them for a time to reprove – instruct -- or correct us; but we may calculate upon His comforts returning, for His promise is plain; it stands unrepealed in His word; His nature and love are the same.

 His precious word of promise should be believed – pleaded -- firmly trusted.

 We never shall be orphans, for our Father ever lives; our home waits to receive us, and our hope is imperishable.

 Oh, beloved, plead this precious word of Jesus; expect Him to make it good; aim at His glory, and your comforts are sure!

 He will not leave us comfortless.

 

 Most Holy Spirit, give me faith,

To rest on what my Savior saith;

May I the sweetest comforts prove,

Of His divine eternal love;

And daily trust His faithfulness,

Who will not leave me comfortless.

 

James Smith

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.

 

June 17
 
Jonah 2:9  
But I will sacrifice unto thee with 
the voice of thanksgiving; 
I will pay that that I have 
vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. 

 

The love of the Father, the work of the Son, and the operation of the Holy Ghost, save the soul.

 

The Father devised the scheme, the Son gave the ransom, and the Holy Spirit puts us in possession of the blessing.

 

It is of God.

 

It is by grace.

 

It is through faith.

 

Deliverance from dangers, trials, and wants, is of the Lord.

 

He delivered Jonah when he cried, though he was a poor, proud, obstinate, peevish, fretful sinner; and He will deliver us.

 

He says “Look unto me and be delivered, for I am God. 

Look for I bid you.

Look, for I will attend to you. 

Look for I will deliver you.”

 

He will deliver in six troubles, and in the seven He will not for sake us.

 

He will deliver our souls from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from falling.

 

He will deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

 

Are you looking to others?

 

Are you drooping, fearing, or desponding?

 

Your God takes it unkindly; He asks, “Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?

 

Or have I no power to deliver?

 

Is anything too hard for me?

 

He says, “I will work.”

 

He asks, “Who shall let it?”

 

He swears, “I will not be wroth with thee.”

 

Of all the crowns Jehovah‘s bears,

Salvation is His dearest claim;

That gracious sound well pleased He hears,

And owns Emmanuel for His name;

He saves us by His precious blood,

And proves Himself the Mighty God.

 

James Smith

I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.

June 16

 John 14:2  

In my Father's house are many 

mansions: if it were not so, 

I would have told you. 

I go to prepare a place for you. 

 

See, beloved, what Jesus is doing.

 He is engaged for us; He did all He could for us on earth, and then ascended to heaven to carry on His work. The place He prepares will be worthy of Himself; “His rest will be glorious.”

 It will just suit us; there the wicked cease from troubling, sin shall no more annoy, troubles shall no more beset, but the weary shall be at rest.

 He is preparing us for it, as well as it for us; therefore we are so tried and afflicted. Our light afflictions which are but for a moment, are working out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

 Let us daily think of Jesus as employed for us; let us consider death as going to take possession of the place He has prepared for us; and under all that tries us or casts down, let us remember, Jesus will come again and receive us unto Himself; that where He is, we may be also.

 Our present cottage may be incommodious and uncomfortable; but our mansion will be spacious, magnificent, and worthy of a God.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and Jehovah will be his God.

Glorious privilege!

 Unspeakable blessing!    Sweet prospect!

 

And art thou, gracious Saviour, gone,

A mansion to prepare for me?

Shall I behold Thee on thy throne,

And there for ever sit with Thee?

Then let the world approve or blame,

I’ll triumph in Thy gracious name.

 James Smith