WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS

 EVENING DEVOTION

OCTOBER 2

 

Romans 8:37

…we are more than conquerors…

 
This is marvellous.
 
For the believer has to conflict with all that is depraved in his nature; 

  with all that is opposed to God in the world; 

  with all that is unholy in his family; 

  with many painful and trying dispensations of providence; 

  with Satan his grand adversary; and also 

    with sickness and death.
 
But he overcomes.
 
He triumphs.
 
But it is through him that loves him: that is, through Jesus.
 
The love of Jesus is his solace, his delight, and his encouragement.
 
The loving Jesus supplies him with grace, strength, and wisdom: and 

  by these he overcomes.
 
He conquerors by faith in Christ.
 
He overcomes all by patience, fortitude, and confidence in his Saviour.
 
He overcomes all and appears on the field uninjured.
 
He overcomes and is benefitted by the contest.
 
He obtains a great, a signal, a complete victory; and 

  will a length appear possessed of the spoils and 

    crowned as the conqueror.
 
No one can overcome but by Jesus.
 
But if united to him,

  if living by faith upon him,

  if copying his example, 

   we shall not only overcome,

      but be more than conquerors.
 
Believer, expect opposition.
 
Christian, see your dependence, it is on the wisdom, power, care, 

  and interference of Jesus.
 

Conform’d to our Head in outward distress,

In sorrow and need, in pain and disgrace,

All happy and glorious we inwardly prove,

And more than victorious through Jesus’s love.

 
James Smith
 

WE HAVE RECEIVED THE ATONEMENT

 
EVENING DEVOTION

OCTOBER 1

 

Romans 5:11

…we have now received the atonement.

 
The Lord Jesus has made satisfaction to divine justice for our sins.
 
He has done and suffered, all that is necessary for our pardon and justification.
 
His sacrifice is our expiation.
 
What he did is presented to us in the gospel.
 
By faith we receive it, rely on it, plead it before God for our acceptance, are accepted on account of it, and enjoy peace.
 
The atonement was made on Calvary, it contains all that God requires, he is satisfied: but it must be received by the sinner, or he cannot enjoy peace.
 
We must daily exercise confidence in it, or we cannot walk happily with God.
 
We have now received the atonement, we had not once.
 
We did not feel our need of it.
 
We did not see its value.
 
We did not understand its nature.
 
What a mercy that we do now!
 
The death of Jesus is our life, “He bore our sins in his own body on the tree.”
 
“He our away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
 
“He is our peace.”
 
Let us never lose sight of his atoning sacrifice, or of his justifying righteousness; for if we do, Satan will prevail against, guilt will soon fill us with gloom, duties will become irksome, and the prospect of death terrible.
 

Saviour! may thy atonement

Be ever new to us,

Grant we may every moment

In the spirit view the cross.

 
James Smith
 

THE FAITHFUL GOD

 EVENING DEVOTION

SEPTEMBER 30

 

Deuteronomy 7:9

…the faithful God,

 

 
“A faithful man who can find?”
 
But suppose we cannot, we have found a faithful God.
 
One who may be believed, without enquiry; who may be trusted, without feral to whom we may open our hearts, without reserve.
 
He is faithful, and therefore he corrects our follies—reproves us for our faults—teaches us his will—supports us in our trials—brings us through our troubles—holds our enemies in check—makes darkness light before us, and crooked things straight.
 
Upon every mercy we receive, upon every danger we escape, upon every disappointment we meet, upon every history we read, and upon every cross we carry, we may see written, “The faithful God.”
 
He is faithful, to maintain the rights of his own throne, to execute the rights of his own throne, to execute the threatenings of his word, to fulfil the promises of his grace, to answer the prayers of his people, and to make all things work together for good, to those that love him, and are called according to his purpose.
 
His faithfulness is seen, in expelling Adam from paradise, in destroying the world with the flood in sending his Son to redeem us; and in giving his Holy Spirit unto us.
 

Cast thy burden on the Lord;

Plead his promise, trust his word;

So shalt thou have cause to bless

His eternal faithfulness.

 
James Smith
 

AND AARON HELD HIS PEACE

 EVENING DEVOTION

SEPTEMBER 29

 

Leviticus 10:3

And Aaron held his peace.

 
He was in deep trouble.
 
His trial was peculiarly great.
 
It was death.
 
The death of two sons at once.
 
It was instantaneous death.
 
In an act of presumptions sin.
 
It was in the presence of the people, as an example of Jehovah’s jealousy and wrath.
 
It was without time for repentance, or any knowledge of their eternal state.
 
But God said, “I will be glorified, and Aaron held his peace.”
 
This was opposed to murmuring, to fretting, to questioning the right or justice of God, or refusing to be comforted.
 
It was submission to the Lord’s will, springing 

  from a knowledge of his righteousness—

  from a supreme love to God—

  from carnal reason being brought into subjection—

  from a sense of desert.
 
My friend, this subject speaks to us.
 
It says, “In your most painful trials, imitate the saint of the Lord.”
 
It reproves all our complains, and questioning the Lord’s love and mercy.
 
It comforts us, by showing us that the greatest saints have sometimes had the greatest trials.
 
It speaks caution, and says, “Beware how you trifle, or presume, for Jehovah is a jealous God.”
 
“The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
 

In all thy dealings, Lord, with me,

O stop the murmuring groan!

Or let my only answer be,

“Father, thy will be done!”

 
James Smith

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH

 EVENING DEVOTION

SEPTEMBER 28

 

Genesis 39:21

…the LORD was with Joseph, …

 
He had been torn from his father, deprived of his home, sold for a slave, falsely accused, and cast into prison.
 
But the Lord was with him.
 
Many have found the time of greatest trial, the season of peculiar manifestation.
 
When persecuted for righteousness’ sake, a special blessing rests upon us.
 
The Lord’s presence made up for all the losses he sustained, for that will turn a prison into a palace, a dungeon into a paradise.
 
The Lord was with him to sustain him

  —to cheer him

  —to hold communion with him

  —to give him favour with the keeper

  —to teach him lessons of the greatest importance

  —to prepare him to rule over the land of Egypt

  —to make him an example to all who should suffer for his name

  —to bring him forth with honour, and crown him with peculiar dignity.
 
Before exalted he must be humbled.
 
The prison was the direct road to the palace.
 
The way of the cross leads to the crown.
 
If we reign with Christ in heaven, we must suffer with Christ on earth.
 
Beloved, wherever duty leads you, or persecution drives you, the Lord will be with you.
 
His presence is more frequently enjoyed under cloudy circumstances, than when the sun of prosperity shines.
 

Thy gracious presence, O my God.

My every wish contains;

With this beneath affliction’s load,

My heart no more complain.

 
James Smith
 

I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU

 EVENING DEVOTION

SEPTEMBER 27

 

Jeremiah 3:14

…I am married unto you:…

 
This is the closest connection that can be formed between intelligent creatures. Two become one flesh.
 
And this is the relation which the Lord selects, to represent his connection with his people.
 
He is engaged to them, and they are engaged to him.
 
His love is fixed upon them, and their love is set upon him.
 
He has chosen them, and they have chosen him.
 
He finds pleasure in them, and they find all their happiness in him.
 
He communicated to them, and they have fellowship with him.
 
He treats them with confidence, and they make him the sole object of their trust.
 
He provides all they need, and they are to live in constant dependence upon him.
 
Christian, do you realize the fact that the Lord is married unto you?
 
That he is all that to you, that the kindest, wisest, and wealthiest husband can be?
 
Are you walking with God, as his bride?
 
Are you living with God, as one that is married to him?
 
Do you leave all for him?
 
Expect all from him?
 
Aim in all things to please him?
 
Rejoice, that though every earthly friend may be torn from you, your husband ever liveth, and will never leave you.
 
Cleave to him, let nothing draw you away from him, for he is “married to you.”
 

Lord, make me in this union shine,

That heaven and earth may see,

In heart and life, I’m truly thine,

And married unto thee!

 
James Smith
 

PROVE ME NOW

 EVENING DEVOTION

SEPTEMBER 26

 

Malachi 3:10

…and prove me now …

 
That is, put my faithfulness and veracity to the test.
 
God hath spoken, will he not make it good?
 
He hath promised, will he not fulfil his word?
 
Who can doubt it?
 
But if you do he says, “PROVE ME.”
 
How is this to be done?
 
Search his word and see what he has said.
 
Take his word to his throne and plead it in prayer.
 
Watch, wait, and work as he has directed; and see if he will not do as he has said.
 
When should we prove him?
 
Under conviction, and see if he will not pardon sin.
 
In affliction, and see if his grace is not sufficient for us.
 
In perplexity, and see if he will not make darkness light before us, and crooked things straight.
 
In difficulties and peculiar trials, and see if he will not appear for us, and make a way for our escape.
 
When engaged in his service, and see if godliness is not profitable to all things, having a promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.
 
Thousands have proved him, and all have found him true and faithful.
 
Let us prove him for ourselves, so shall we become strong in faith, and be ready to bear witness whenever we are required, that his word is true from the beginning.
 
“O taste and see that the Lord is good.”
 

He will not his great self deny;

A God all truth can never lie;

As well might be his being quit,

As break his oath, or word forget.

 
James Smith