THOU STANDEST BY FAITH

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 7

 

Romans 11:20

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off,

and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

 
Faith in Jesus is of the greatest importance.
 
We cannot overvalue it, unless we put it in the place of Christ.
 
Are we justified? It is by faith.
 
Are we sanctified?
 
Our hearts are purified by faith.
 
Do we fight?
 
It is the fight of faith.
 
Do we overcome?
 
This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
 
By faith we look to Jesus.
 
By faith we receive Christ. By faith we walk with God.
 
By faith we stand: for we are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.
 
It is by believing what Christ is to us, what Christ has for us, what Christ will confer upon us, that we stand.
 
It is by faith that we receive from Christ, light to guide us in every difficult path; strength to act, to fight, and preserve in our Christian course; in a word, grace to help in every time of need.
 
Let us, therefore, take heed, lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
 
Let us strive against doubts, and encourage confidence in God.
 
We cannot believe in God’s word too confidently; we cannot trust in the Saviour’s finished work too steadily; we cannot confide in God’s veracity too finally.
 

Christ is my Rock, and though my foes,

Display their utmost wrath,

Yet in the power which he bestows,

I stand by precious faith

 
James Smith

THE OFFENCE OF THE CROSS

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 6

 

Galatians 5:11

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision,

why do I yet suffer persecution?

then is the offence of the cross ceased.

 
The doctrine of salvation by a crucified Jew was in Paul’s day peculiarly offensive; many stumbled at it and perished; and the doctrine of complete salvation by faith in Christ alone, is still offensive to many.
 
Man naturally desires to be something, to do something, and to be thought something; but in the doctrine of salvation by grace, man is nothing, —Christ is all.
 
It presents the Crucified One as the object of faith, the alone ground of hope, and the medium through which every blessing flows.
 
It places all upon a level, the harlot and the modest maiden—the thief and the honest man—the poor and the wealthy—the illiterate and the learned; and presents salvation to each on the same terms, requiring all alike to rest upon the finished work of Jesus, and allows no flesh to glory in God’s presence.
 
This is very offensive to the pride of man. In a word, the gospel knows no man after the flesh, but points all to Jesus, directs each to the strait gate and narrow way, inculcates self-denial and self-renunciation as necessary to salvation, and shuts up every soul to this alternative, it must believe in Christ, or perish.
 
This is the offence of the cross.
 

Jesus is a perfect Saviour,

Only source of all that’s good;

Every grace and every favour

Come to us through Jesu’s blood.

 
James Smith
 

THE PROMISES OF GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 5

 

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and

 in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 
The promises of God are the assurances he has given his people,
  that he will bless them and bestow favours upon them.
 
They all originate in his divine sovereignty, and flow spontaneously from his will.
 
They are but the effects and tokens of his love, the kind expressions, and manifestations of his grace.
 
They are acts of divine condescension which fringe the promiser under a bond and prove his fatherly care of us and concern for our welfare.
 
They all rest on the same immutable basis, even his veracity and faithfulness, and are stored up in Jesus as the present property of his people.
 
They open the heart of Jehovah, challenge the faith of the Christian, and animate the hopes of the penitent sinner.
 
They are connected with the mediatorial office of Christ; for as prophet he publishes them, as priest he confirms them, and as king he fulfils them.
 
They all belong to the same persons, believers; have the same design, our benefit; and aim at the same end, the praise of Jehovah’s grace.
 
They all lead us to the same fountain, the fulness of Christ: and produce the same effects, even admonition, gratitude, and praise.
 

The promises surpass my thought,

But faithful is my Lord;

In unbelief I stagger not,

For God hath spoke the word.

 
James Smith
 

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 4

 

-Acts 20:35

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring

 ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the

words of the Lord Jesusm how he said,

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

 
These are very remarkable words.
 
They were acted upon by Jesus.
 
They contain their very principle which influenced him in eternity,
  which induced him to leave heaven for earth, and
  which actuates him still.
 
He urged this saying upon his disciples,
  so that it is probable that it became
   a kind of proverbial saying among them.
 
He has preserved it for our instruction and admonition.
 
Receiving implies wasn’t and unfulfilled desires;
  giving supposed a possession,
  and honourable trust.
 
Giving manifests a generous disposition, and a concern for the comfort of others.
 
It is acting like God, who created that he might give,
  redeemed that he might give,
    glorifies that he may give.
 
It is a source of pure pleasure.
 
Let us remember these words of the Lord Jesus
  when we go to his throne and draw encouragement
   from them to ask for great blessings, to ask often,
    to ask with confidence: and let us encourage others to go to him,
     assuring them that he considers it more blessed to give than to receive.
 
Let us walk by this rule, prudently, plainly.
  Notwithstanding discouragement.
 

The man who marks from day to day,

In generous acts his radiant way,

Treads the same path the Saviour trod,

The path to glory and to God.

 
James Smith

THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 3

 

1 Corinthians 15:28

And when all things shall be subdued unto him,

then shall the Son also himself be subject unto

 him that put all things under him,

that God may be all in all.

 
The design of Jehovah, in all ways and works, is the glorification of himself. 

  He will be all in all.
 
He is all in the great scheme of salvation.
 
The plan was drawn by infinite wisdom in eternity and is carried out by divine power in time.
 
Are we chosen to salvation? 

   Is it of God in Christ?
 
Are we given to Jesus?
 It is by Jehovah.
 
Are we ordained to eternal life?
 It is the act of the Most High.
 
Are we blessed with all spiritual blessings?
 It is by the Father of mercies.
 
Are we redeemed by the precious blood of Christ?
 He was foreordained to this work by the Father.
 
He is all in the dispensation of grace.
 
Are we quickened?-
    It is by God.
 
Are we taught?-
    It is by God.
 
Have we faith and repentance?-
    They are the gift of God.
 
Do we overcome Satan?-
    It is because the God of peace bruises him under our feet.
 
Are we laborious?-
    It is the effect of his power which worketh in us mightily.
 
Are we holy?-
    By the grace of God we are what we are.
 
Do we overcome all our foes?-
    It is through him that loved us.
 
He will be all in the world of glory.
 
In our complete and everlasting salvation, God will be all.
 

Here the whole Deity is known;

Nor dares a creature guess,

Which of the glories brightest shone,

The justice or the grace.

 
James Smith
 

THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 2

 

Ephesians 2:19

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,

but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

 
The Lord has a family which is peculiarly his own.
 
It is a spiritual family; for every member of it is born of God, is taught by the Spirit, is inhabited by the Spirit, is led by the Spirit, and is baptized by the Spirit into the ONE BODY.
 
It is wholly and entirely of God.
 
It originated in his purpose.
 
It expresses his sovereign pleasure.
 
It is produced by his power.
 
It is called his own.
 
It is designated,-the household of God.
 
His in opposition to Satan
 
His in distinction from the world.
 
His as differing from man’s.
 
It is the family where he dwells-the home of God.
 
THe flock over which he presides.
 
Here he manifests his paternal love in supplying every want, protecting every member, employing every child, loving and delighting in each and every one.
 
All the members of this household are brethren, and all are blessed.
 
It is designed to glorify his grace, to honour his Son, to maintain his cause, to execute his will.
 
Here in his family he is known, trusted, praised, obeyed, loved, and enjoyed.
 
Are you of this household?
 
Do you sincerely love the Head and the members of this household?
 
This honour have all his saints.
 

Lord, come and dwell with me,

Now make my heart thy home;

Unite me to thy family,

Unite me to thy Son.

 
James Smith

THE PROOF OF YOUR LOVE

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 1

 

2 Corinthians 8:24

Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches,

the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

 
We profess to love God.
 
We cannot be Christians without love.
 
Christians love professes to prefer Christ and his cause to all besides.
 
To submit to his authority and acquiesce in his will.
 
To obey all commands without partiality or insincerity.
 
To delight in his saints as the excellent of the earth.
 
To sympathise with sufferers, especially with those who suffer in his cause and for his sake.
 
To be ready to every good work.
 
Such is our profession if we are sincere and diligent Christians.
 
The law of God requires this at our hands.
 
Jehovah as a Sovereign promises to produce it.
 
By the Holy Spirit it is brought forth within us.
 
He convinces us that by nature we have it not.
 
He leads us to admire it, desire it, and seek for it.
 
By unfolding the gospel and shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts, he produces it.
 
By daily and filial fellowship with God it is sustained. Beloved, do we profess to love God and his people?
 
Then let us prove the sincerity of our love, by uniting with the, by assisting them in every good work and work, and by preferring them to all beside.
 
Let us shew them all possible kindness for Jesu’s sake.
 

Mercy through Jesus we have found

Free mercy from above;

May mercy move us to fulfill

The perfect law of love.

 
James Smith