I WOULD SEEK UNTO GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 31

 Job 5:8

I would seek unto God, and 

unto God would I commit my cause:

 
This is sound advice.
 
It is the counsel of a real friend.
 
It is much better than seeking unto men, or poring over troubles, or indulging the fancy, or giving way to fears.
 
Troubles generally look worse in the distance, they are seldom found to be so bad as they appear to be.
 
My friend, I know not what may be your case, but ud I was in perplexity, I would seek unto God for wisdom.
 
If I was in sorrow, I would seek unto God for comfort.
 
If I was  in weakness, I would seek unto God for strength.
 
If I was under guilt, I would seek unto God for victory.
 
If I was in doubt and fear, I would sek unto God for confidence and a sense of his favour.
 
If I was under the power of unbelief, I would seek unto God for faith.
 
If I was harassed by satan, I would seek unto God to lift up a standard against him.
 
If I was afraid of falling, I would seek unto God to uphold me with the right hand of his righteousness.
 
If I was alarmed at death, I would seek unto God to turn the shadow of death in to morning,
 
Whatever you want, seek God for it.
 
Whatever troubles you, lay it before God.
 
You cannot seek him in vain, or without profit.
 

Seek unto God, he loves to give,

Ask but in faith, it shall be given;

Go pray, expecting to receive

His grace, his image, and his heaven.

 
James Smith

REMEMBER ME, O LORD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 30

 

Psalm 106:4

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest

unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation.

 

This is an important prayer.
 
There is very much wrapped up in it.
 
It is poverty appealing to wealth, misery to mercy. The necessity to a friend.
 
If the Lord remembers us, he will preserve us from evils, deliver us from dangers, direct us in difficulty, supply us in want, and comfort us in sorrow.
 
If the Lord remembers us, then it is not of much consequence who forgets us.
 
He is more than all creatures, and enough in the absence of all.
 
But he does remember us, and remembers that we are dust, that we are weak, exposed, dependent, and often deeply tired.
 
He remembers for us his covenant, his promises, the sufferings of his dear Son, and the relation in which we stand to him.
 
Still we may plead to be remembered, that we may share in the gifts of his providence, in the bestowment of his grace, and in the proofs of his love.
 
We should pray that he will remember, to pardon our sins, to visit our souls, to revive our graces, to crown our labours, and to fill us with all joy and peace in believing that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost.
 
Remember me, O Lord, and preserve me from all danger this night, and raise me on the morrow full of faith.
 

Thou wond’rous Advocate with God,

I yield my soul to thee;

While thou are pleading at His throne

Dear Lord, remember me.

 
James Smith

FOR THE LORD HATH COMFORTED HIS PEOPLE

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 29

 

Isaiah 49:13

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; 

and break forth into singing, O mountains: 

for the LORD hath comforted his people, 

and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

 
The Lord hath a people which are peculiarly his own.
 
This truth is constantly kept before us in his holy word.
 
He always loves them.
 
He chose them to salvation.
 
He redeemed them by the precious blood of Christ.
 
They are untied to his beloved Son.
 
They are dear to him as the apple of his eye.
 
Still they are deeply tired.
 
They often sigh and groan. 

They are still sinners, and sin festers within them, 

when it does not break out into a wound.
 
It pains them when it does not openly disgrace them.
 
They have more cause for gratitude than Gabriel has, yet they have much to distress them.
 
But their God comforts them.
 
He comforts his people by giving them his holy word
—by erecting the throne of grace
—by freely pardoning all their sins
—by bestowing his peace on thee,
—by assuring them that he is their Father
—by giving them Jesus as their portion, and with him all things
—and by unfolding before them the bright prospect of endless blessedness.
 
What condescension is this, that God should stoop to comfort a worm!
 
What grace, that he should comfort one who was a rebel!
 

This joy to strangers is unknown,

Nor can it be expressed;

It is revealed to those alone,

Who on the Saviour rest.

 
James Smith

A GREAT HIGH PRIEST

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 28

 

Hebrews 4:14

Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

 
The Lord Jesus is our high priest.
 
He was anointed, and sent to that office on our behalf.
 
He made atonement for our sins. And atonement which is radiant with all the glories of Deity.
 
Infinite in its value, and eternal in its efficacy.
 
It has expiated our guilt, and made a perfect satisfaction for our offences.
 
Now he is employed in interceding for us.
 
In this work he is always engaged.
 
He also presents our prayers, our various services, and our poor gifts to the Father, having perfumed them with the incense of his own merits.
 
He averts every evil from us, and pours down innumerable favours upon us.
 
He is now in the holiest, officiating before the throne; he has sprinkled the blood, he offers the incense, and he will soon come out to bless us.
 
He is not a priest, but “the high priest.”
 
Not only the high priest, but, “A great High Priest.”
 
Superior to all other, in the dignity of his person, in the completeness of his qualifications and in the efficacy of his services.
 
He is our great high priest, and also the Son of God.
 
He is gone to the presence of God for us, and He is before the throne pleading the merits of his blood for us to-night.
 

He ever lives to intercede

Before his Father’s face:

Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead,

Nor doubt the Father’s grace.

 
James Smith

HE PRESERVETH THE WAY OF HIS SAINTS

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 27

 

Proverbs 2:8

He keepeth the paths of judgment, 

and preserveth the way of his saints. 

 
The believer’s journey lies through an enemy’s hand.
 
His course is lined with tribulation. His pilgrimage is exhausting.
 
It is rendered more trying by his own weakness, and the inward conflict.
 
But it is the only way to the city of habitation.
 
It leads to the rest and inheritance promised. And the Lord always accompanies his saints.
 
He suits his mercies to their condition, and adapts his communications to their wants.
 
He preserves them so that at the word, it may be said unto them, “There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to men: 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 of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
 
He preserves them when buffeted by Satan, making his strength perfect in their weakness, and proving his grace sufficient for them,
 
He preserves them with a watchful eye—a powerful arm—and a loving heart.
 
Beloved, see how he has preserved you.
 
Look forward and trust him to preserve you in time to come, it is his practice to preserve his saints.
 

The saints at all times area secure

In Jesu’s everlasting love;

Through him they shall all storms endure,

And with him reign enthroned above.

 
James Smith
 

WE COUNT THEM HAPPY WHICH ENDURE

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 26

 

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure.

 
Our afflictions are trials.
 
Every professor shall be tried.
 
Many faint in the day of adversity.
 
Some go back and walk no more with the Saviour.
 
The effect of the strike is according to the nature of that on which it falls.
 
The softened yields; the hardened flies.
 
Some under this discipline fall at his feet, but others fly in his face.
 
Happy is the man who meets his trials like a Christian, with humility, faith, fortitude, and patience.
 
Who endures them without repining, complaining, and rebelling against God.
 
He looks not so much at the rod, as at the hand that uses it.
 
Nor only at the hand, but at the heart that guides the hand.
 
He says, “It is discipline. It is chastisement. It is my Father who strikes, and he never corrects for his own pleasure but my profit, to make me a partaker of his holiness.”
 
I have prayed for deeper sanctification, he is answering my prayer.
 
I have desired brighter evidences for heaven, he is granting them.
 
Shall I then complain?
 
The cup which my heavenly Father giveth me, shall I not drink it?”
 
Such a man endures affliction, he meets it, he proves it as a Christian.
 
He is blessed.
 

Wisdom and mercy guide my way!

Shall I resist them both?

A poor blind creature of the day,

And crush’d before the moth.

 
James Smith

ON MINE ARM SHALL THEY TRUST

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 25

Isaiah 51:5

My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, 

and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall 

wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

 
And well they may, for it is nerved with omnipotence, it is directed by infinite wisdom, and it is employed by tenderest love.
 
It is stretched out for us to lean upon support; to work for us, and to secure a supply; to fight for us, and defend us from our foes; and to carry us when we are unable to go, that we may make progress in weakness. And when sick.
 
It is a Father’s arm, yet the arm of God.
 
It is a Saviour’s arm, and yet the arm that sustains heaven and earth.
 
It is our Brother’s arm, and yet the arm that bars the gates of hell, and holds every fallen spirit in check.
 
On this arm we trust, not on our own.
 
We must be weaned from trusting on all other. We must be brought to trust wholly and always on the Lord’s.
 
This is warranted by the word.
 
It is approved and commanded by our God. They shall trust in darkness and difficulty—for all my promises contain—because they feel the necessity of it—and when all beside fails and deceives them.
 
God will have us trust in the arm of his power, follow the leadings of his providence, aim at the advancement of his cause, and live dependent on his county, or we shall not know happiness.
 

Arm of the Lord, whose wond’rous power,

The world and all things made,

Thou art our strength, defence, and tower,

Our ever present aid.

 
James Smith
 

THE WHOLE FAMILY

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 24

 

Ephesians 3:15

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

 
The church of Christ is family.
 
Part of it is in heaven, part on earth, and part is not yet brought into existence.
 
God is the Father of the whole.
 
Every child is like the object of his love, care, and compassion.
 
Each one lives in his sight and is dear to his heart.
 
He will not part with one.
 
Jesus, who is SURETY for the whole, will never have to say with the troubled patriarch, “one is not.”
 
Those in heaven differ from us in place, in purity, in happiness, and employment; but they are not more loved than we are.
 
The whole family is alike beloved, redeemed, adopted, and destined to perfect holiness and happiness.
 
Every name is recorded in the book of life; and engraved on the Saviour’s hands.
 
Heaven is the family mansion.
 
Our Father’s house.
 
The kingdom is our Father’s gift.
 
For us he prepared it, before the foundation of the world; and with pleasure he bestows it upon us.
 
We are all one in Christ.
 
Let us endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
 
Let us treat every Christian kindly, seeing the Saviour says of what is done to them, “ye did it unto me.”
 
You cannot hurt a saint, but you injure the Saviour.
 

Lord, may my spirit form a part

Of that thrice happy whole,

Derive its pulse from these the HEART,

Its life from thee the SOUL!

 
James Smith

ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 23

 

Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected of men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:

 
Strange acquaintance for the Son of God!
 
The brightness of glory, and the express image of the Father's person!
 
But he came into our world on purpose that he might know by experience all that his people deserved.
 
He had heard of sorrow. He had seen it in others.
 
But he had never felt it himself.
 
He took our nature.
 
He came into our place.
 
He began to suffer as soon as he was born, and he pursued a course of suffering until he died.
 
In the sweat of his brow he eats his bread.
 
The reproaches of them that reproached his Father, fell on him.
 
He became intimate with grief.
 
He knew it in all its varieties.
 
In all its depth.
 
No one ever suffered so much, or from so many causes, or so constantly as he.
 
He visited joy occasionally, but he dwelt with grief.
 
It was his companion.
 
Christian, the Lord suffered for thee; he suffered like thee; he suffered far, far more than thee; and now he can sympathise with thee.
 
He knows by experience what human nature feels.
 
He suffered from all quarters, from heaven, earth, and hell; and therefore he is able; he is moved to succour thee in all thy sorrows, griefs, and woes.
 

As man, he pities my complaints;

His power and truth are all divine;

He will not fail, he cannot faint;

Lord, make thy full salvation mine!

 
James Smith

THOU HAST A LITTLE STRENGTH

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 22

 

Revelation 3:8

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door,

and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and

hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

 
Sinners are strengthless. Saints are very weak, but they have a little strength.
 
Strength is provided for us in Jesus, he is the strength of the poor.
 
Strength is promised us in the word, God says, “I will strengthen thee.”
 
Strength is presented to us by the gospel, which says, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
 
Strength is to be received by faith, in answer to prayer

  —in the diligent employment of what we have

  —by virtue of our union to Jesus.
 
We have a little strength, let us pray for more.
 
Let us hold fast and hold on. 

We should be grateful for the provision made, 

  the promise given, and 

  the welcome we receive at the throne of grace.
 
We should use what we have against Satan, sin, and the world; and for God, and the promotion of his cause.
 
We ought to seek for more.
 
God will not refuse us.
 
He cannot deny his word.
 
We need more, and we may soon need more than we do at present.
 
What a mercy that we have a little, for we were once without strength.
 
We have a little now, we are promised enough, and we shall be strong by and by.
 
It is sweetly promised to the saint; and to them that have no might, he increaseth strength.
 

Stand in the Saviour’s might

With all his strength endued;

And take to are you for the fight,

The panoply of God.

 
James Smith

PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 21

 

Colossians 1:28

Whom we preach, warning every man, and

teaching every man in all wisdom;

that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

 
The believer painfully proves that he is imperfect in himself.
 
Imperfection appears to be stamped upon all he feels,
  upon his desires—his joys—and sorrows, and
  upon all he does, on his prayers—his praises—and all his performances.
 
What says the sigh, which escapes from his full heart?
 
Imperfect.
 
What says the groan, which ascends from his troubled bosom?
 
Imperfect.
 
What says the tear, which glistens in his eye, or rolls down his cheek?
 
Imperfect.
 
But there is perfection in Christ.
 
In him there is a perfect atonement, to reconcile us.
 
A perfect righteousness, to justify us.
 
Perfect holiness, to sanctify us.
 
Perfect wisdom, to direct and instruct us.
 
We become perfect by union to him, for as his bride we have fellowship with him in all that he has, by receiving from him, for of his fulness we receive and grace for grace.
 
By his being with him, for we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
 
Our full perfection is decreed, promised, provided for, and will be realized.
 
Christ now represents us a perfect, he will make us perfect, and then present us in full perfection.
 

With him his members on the tree,

Fulfilled the laws demands;

‘Tis “I in them, and they in me,

For thus the union stands.”

 
James Smith

FOR HE IS FAITHFUL THAT PROMISED

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 20

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith

without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 
The promises of God were freely made; but being made, they must be fulfilled, for God is faithful.
 
He has promised us as believers’ eternal life
  —the pardon of all sin
  —purity of heart
  —peace of conscience
  —growth in grace
  —perseverance in his ways
  —support under all our trails
  —supplies for all our wants
  —and that all things shall work together for our good.
 
These promises we should believe and expect the Lord to make them good.
 
He is faithful to his promises, this is clear from the infinite perfection of his nature
  —the stability of his well-ordered covenant
  —his solemn oath
  —the testimony of all his saints
  —the gift of his beloved Son
  —the history of the church in all ages
  —and the design with which the promises were made.
 
Let us therefore remember, that, “faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
 
Believe, that, “the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil:” or “the evil one.”
 
And let us commit the keeping of our souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
 
We cannot place too much confidence in his word, not too steadily expect its fulfilment.
 
Heaven and earth may pass away, but his word cannot change.
 

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

MY SOUL REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 19

 

Psalm 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord:

my sore ran in the night, and ceased not:

my soul refused to be comforted.

 
God has provided suitable and sufficient comfort for his people.
 
He sends them comforters just as their circumstances require.
 
But they at times refuse to hear the voice of the charmer.
 
The Lord has perhaps taken away an idol
   —or he withholds his sensible presence,
      that they may learn to live by faith
   —or he has blighted their worldly prospects
   —or he has written vanity and emptiness upon
       all their gourds, cisterns, and delights.
 
They give way to passion, as did Jonah
  —or they sink into sullen gloom
  —or allow unhumbled pride to rule the spirit
   —or yield to extreme sorrow, as Rachel did
   —or fall under the power of temptation
   —or imbibe the notion, that they have no right to comfort.
 
This is wrong, all wrong, decidedly wrong.
 
Look at what is left you: at what the gospel presents to you; at what heaven will be to you.
 
But the Psalmist was convinced that he was wrong.
 
He was sorry for his sin.
 
He was reformed in his spirit and conduct.
 
He wrote this psalm to instruct, caution, and warn us.
 
Observe, they who are entitled to all comfort, often through their own folly, enjoy the least.
 

O thou Source of every blessing

Chase my sorrows, cheer my heart,

Till in heaven thy smiles possessing,

Life, and joy, and peace impart.

 
James Smith

THE UPRIGHT LOVE THEE

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 18

 

Song of Solomon 1:4

… the upright love thee.

 
None are upright by nature, for none seek to render to God the things which are God’s and to men the things which are men’s.
 
But this is uprightness.
 
It flows from grace.
 
It is the effect and proof of a new creation. The truly upright regard the eye of God, as fixed upon them; the word of God, as binding upon them; the approbation of God, as the chief things to be sought by them; and the judgment of God, as most important to them.
 
The upright love Jesus.
 
They all know him, and highly esteem him.
 
They love him uprightly, and as the proof of it, they rejoice in his presence
  —they are grieved at his absence
  —they desire the closest union with him
  —they aim to please him in all things
  — they will give up everything for him
  —they love to speak of him, and
     they always speak well of him
  —they will do any thing for him, perform any duty, avoid any sin,
  —they will choose to suffer for him rather than deny or dishonour him.
 
Reader, are you upright?
 
Do you love Jesus?
 
You are not upright if you do not.
 
Terrible is the denunciation of the inspired Apostle, 

   “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, 

    let him be accused when the Lord cometh.”
 

Jesus, my balm for every ill,

My life in death thou art;

Thy lips as lilies pale, distil

The myrrh that heals my heart.

 
James Smith

CONTINUE IN PRAYER

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 17

 

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

 
Prayer is always necessary, and it is always profitable.
 
But we often restrain prayer before God.
 
This is sinful.
 
It dishonors God, and it injures us,
 
In prayer we do homage to the perfections of God.
 
We exercise faith on his omnipresence.
 
We express our dependence on him for our supplies.
 
We evince the sincerity of our profession.
 
We acknowledge our poverty and weakness.
 
We unburden our mind with our secret trails.
 
We give vent to our feelings of joy and sorrow, of gratitude and grief.
 
We confess our sins, acknowledge our backslidings, and obtain pardon and restoring of grace.
 
We give utterance to our desires, and spread our case before the Lord.
 
Prayer is the medium of communication between God and our souls; we communicate our thoughts, feelings, fears, and desires; and he communicates light, strength, comfort and grace to us.
 
Prayer is a very important duty; it is a great privilege.
 
Many things will conspire to lead us to neglect it.
 
But in prayer we should be constant—fervent—believing—hoping—incessant.
 
God loves it, Satan hates it, and every true Christian values it.
 
It is always necessary—profitable—and acceptable to God.

 

We perish if we cease from prayer,

Lord, grant us power to pray!

And when to meet thee we prepare,

Oh! meet us by the way.

 
James Smith