IT PLEASED GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 8

 

Galatians 1:15

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my

mother’s womb, and called me by his grace.

 
Paul is speaking of being separated from his mother’s womb, of being called by grace, of Christ being revealed in him, and oh hid being made a preacher, and an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he traces up the whole to the pleasure of God.
 
It pleased God to convert, consecrate, and crown the Apostle with such eminent success.
 
There was nothing in him to deserve it, nothing to move God to do it.
 
He did it, just because he would, because it pleased him to do it.
 
So in our case.
 
So do we differ from others?
 
From our former selves?
 
Who made us to differ?
 
Have we spiritual gifts and graces?
 
Why were they conferred upon us, and not on others whom we now?
 
We can trace it to no cause but the sovereign good pleasure of God.
 
He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and hath compassion because he will have compassion/
 
When all have more than they deserve, none have cause to complain. But where some are peculiarly favoured, it becomes to them to trace their favours to their proper source, and be grateful.
 
“The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name sake, because it pleased the Lord to make them his people.”
 

God’s glorious arm the work hath wrought,

My soul abhors a boating thought;

Before his feet I humbly own,

Praise is due to grace alone.

 
James Smith