I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY.

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

 

JANUARY 12

 

Luke 2:10

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: 

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of

great joy, which shall be to all people.

 
There is everything in our hearts to cast us down, and fill us with dejection; 

and we daily meet with things in the  world, or the family, or the church, to make us sorrowful: 

but the gospel brings us glad tidings of great joy.
 
It sets before us a Saviour, and such a Saviour!
 
One who is God and can deliver us, one who is man and will sympathise with us.
 
One who knows by experience what our trials mean, and who brings all the resources for God to meet our case; so that we may well ask, “Why are thou cast down, O my soul?”
 
In his blood, there is a full, a certain pardon for all sin; 

   in his obedience, a righteousness for ever before God; in his fulness, an endless variety of blessings, to supply our needs; 

      and in his promises, comfort to cheer us in our most gloomy hours.
 
He is a Saviour for sinners; all he did, he did for sinners; just such sinners as we daily feel ourselves to be.
 
For such he obeyed the law, for such he now pleads before his Father; it is just such sinners that he invites to his bosom, and for such he is preparing mansions in heaven.
 
Whatever is necessary to constitute any tidings good, is in the gospel.
 

To love exceeds our highest thought;

Its length and breath in vain are sought:

No tongue can tell its depth and height,

The love of God is infinite.

 
James Smith