I AM A STRANGER IN THE EARTH

 

July 29

 

Psalms 119:19 

I am a stranger in the earth: 

hide not thy commandments from me. 

 
Beloved, we are strangers and pilgrims in the earth, as all our fathers were; our days are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.
 
We are born from above, and are bound for glory.
 
We are distant from home, where our kindred, our treasure, and our hearts are found.
 
Here we have no fix residence; nor should we have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
 
We are called to submit to many inconveniences.
 
The Bible is our light, our food, our joy, and our directory.
 
We want a guide, a guard, a companion, a comforter; but Jesus has engaged to fill each of these offices.
 
We should pray for the peace of the country where we sojourn, we should not be meddlers with its concerns, but keep ourselves detached;
we should be thankful for every advantage, but set and keep our affections on things above;
we should neither be impatient nor reluctant in reference to going home, but submit to the Father’s will; we are should consider ill-treatment as permitted to do us good;
and contrast the present with our own beloved country and home.
 
As strangers and pilgrims, let us abstain from fleshly lusts.
 

There is my home and portions fair,

My treasure and my heart are there,

And my abiding home;

For me my elder brethren stay,

And angels beckon me away,

And Jesus bids me come.

 

James Smith