THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

APRIL 21

 

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just

for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,

being quickened by the Spirit:

 
Such was the design of Jesus in all his engagements, labours, and sufferings for our sakes.
 
By nature we are afar from God, 

  opposed to God, 

  afraid of God; 

  consequently far from happiness and peace.

Jesus knew the blessedness of being with God, and being like God. 

His love to his people led him to desire for them the same blessedness.
 
His desire was so strong that he was willing to do or to suffer anything in order to put them in possession of it.
 
He therefore voluntarily suffered for our sins, and put them away by the sacrifice of himself.
 
His aim was to bring us to God honourably, and to keep us with God eternally.
 
He brings us to God on the throne of grace.
 
Here we receive pardon, obtain peace, and enjoy paternal love.
 
At this throne we obtain a supply for all our wants, 

   the fulfilment of great and precious promises, and 

      sweet manifestations of acceptance and favour. 

         He will bring us to God on the throne of glory.
 
Then we shall be perfectly holy, and eternally happy.
 
Then he will be satisfied, and we shall be satisfied too.
 
That which satisfies him, will satisfy us, and in our satisfaction he will rejoice.
 

Yes, Jesus left the realms of day,

Suffer’d and shed his blood;

The awful ransom price to pay,

And bring our souls to God!

 
James Smith