All These Things

 

Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 7

 

…all these things are against me.

 Genesis 42:36

 
What things?
   These losses, rosses, bereavements, persecutions, sorrows, and sicknesses.—   
            Against you!
 
Never.
 
They are not against you unless they lead you unto sin
  —bind you faster to this world
  — alienate your mind from God
  —and prevent you being useful in your day and generation.
 
They cannot be against you if they wean you from earth
  —lead you to God
    —endear the Saviour
      —render the Bible more valuable
        —and make you long for home.
 
You forgot that they come according to the arrangements of a gracious providence, and that you heavenly Father sent them for your good.
 
Leave off complaining, for it springs from ignorance of God’s Word,
  or forgetfulness of your many mercies and sins;
  or forgetfulness of your many mercies and sins;
  or form unbelief and a bad temper; and
it reflects upon the love, care, and kindness of your God.
 
These things are painful, trying, and perplexing;
  but they are intended to do you good, and while you are complaining,
    they are working together under divine direction for your present
      and everlasting welfare.
 
Beloved, how apt we are to mistake the design of our trials.
 

Let saint their gloomy fears restrain;

No reason have they to complain,

Whatever ills befall;

No troubles from the dust can rise,

For God is holy, good, and wise,

And overrules them all.

 
James Smith
 

I Am Alpha and Omega

 Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 6

 

I am Alpha and Omega,

Revelation 1:8

 
This is the Saviour’s testimony to his own dignity and glory.
 
He takes the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, 

  which enclose and include all the rest and says, 

       “I am Alpha and Omega.”
 
These letters form the words which reveal and make known facts, 

   Jesus is the great manifester of God.
 
By him the divine nature and perfections are brought to light.
 
These letters include all that is necessary for communication, 

  among all who use the tongue.
 
Jesus is the All-sufficient One.
 
He possesses in himself salvation, consolation, and glorification.
 
He comprehends in himself 

  all wisdom and knowledge, 

  all worth and wealth, 

  all time and eternity.
 
He is the source and end of salvation.
 
From him it flows, and he is the centre round which it revolves.
 
To be all this he must be God.
 
He is naturally, essentially, and eternally divine.
 
He includes in himself all that is great, good, and glorious; 

  therefore believers are never weary of hearing of him, 

      or speaking his praise.
 
In him sinners will find all they need.
 
Sweet view of Jesus this, 

  four times in this book does he take this title, 

      therefore we should often dwell upon it and profit by it.
 

When o’er the word my eye is cast,

There Jesus is the first and last,

And all the blessings there made known,

Their Alpha and Omega own.

 
James Smith
 

God Now Accepteth

 Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 5

 

…God now accepteth thy works. 

-Ecclesiastes 9:7

 
When? When he has accepted thy person and is reconciled to thee.
 
For God never accepts our works while we are his avowed enemies, this would be to accept the works of a rebel—of a traitor—of one who is at enmity against him.
 
God accepts our persons when we accept his Son.
 
Jesus is presented to us in the gospel as God’s free gift, as a Saviour suited to our case, as a blessing which includes all we do, or can need.
 
This gift is ejected by men in general, they put it from them, and treat it with contempt.
 
We did this once.
 
But when the Holy Spirit quickened our souls—enlightened our minds—and wrought faith in our hearts, then we gladly embraced him.
 
Having received Christ from God, we are received by God from Christ; we are accepted in him and entitled to all spiritual blessings through him.
 
God now accepteth our works, poor, imperfect, and worthless as they are: because they are the works of a beloved child, the efforts of a feeble friend, the production of a loyal subject.
 
The cup of cold water, the will to do, or to give, when we have not the power is accepted, and placed to our account.
 

Accepted in Jesus and living on him,

His promise I trust and his precepts esteem;

I strive to be holy, I labour for God,

And my works are approv’d thro’ his merit and blood.

 
James Smith
 

His Fruit Was Sweet

 Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 4

 

…his fruit was sweet to my taste.

 -Song of Solomon 2:3

 
The Lord Jesus is comparably lovely.
 
His personal excellence baffle the power of description.
 
Every beautiful figure which nature can furnish is employed to set him forth.
 
But a spiritual perception is necessary to discern and delight in him.
 
Every one who perceives his glory, applies to his fulness, receives and enjoys his communications.
 
Here he is compared to the apple trees amidst the trees of the wood, as affording refreshing shade and delicious food.
 
“His fruit was sweet to my taste.”
 
His fruit includes the promises he has made, the pardon he bestows, the reconciliation he has effected, the peace he imparts, the fellowship he has with his people, the assurances of his love, the joys of the Holy Ghost, the hope of eternal life, access into God’s presence, and the precious foretastes of glory which he sends.
 
Sheltered from storms, protected by foes, preserved from the sultry sun, and fed with fruits of salvation, the believer is happy, and his Saviour is precious to his soul.
 
And while the fruits of Jesus are sweet to him, sin is bitter; he has no relish for the follies, vain amusements, and sinful pleasures of the world.
 

Oh! sweet repast of heavenly love,

How rich these royal dainties prove;

In thine embrace ‘tis life to be,

So sweet thy fruit and shade to me.

 
James Smith
 

For Thou, O God,

 Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 3

 

For thou, O God, hast proved us:.

-Psalm 66:10

 
Every man’s profession shall be tried, and every one’s principles shall be proved.
 
It is easy to talk of faith, but it is not easy to exercise it.
 
It is easy to boast of what we will do under certain circumstances, but it is the circumstances which try us.
 
Boasters always fail.
 
A haughty spirit goes before a fall.
 
We are never sad, but as we renounce our own strength, and rely on God’s faithful word.
 
The dark night, the fierce foe, the fire and water, the much tribulation, will prove us.
 
Many appear to start well, but when they come to be proved, they have not the root of the matter in them: in the time of trial they fall away.
 
Many young Christians, in the warmth of their love, sadly reflect on more advanced believers; but when they come to be tried they are not more eminent.
 
We do not know what we are, but as God shews us; for the heart is deceitful above all things, and grievously infirm.
 
By the temptations of Satan, and by the mysterious dispensation of his providence, he proves us and shews us what our profession is worth.
 
He says, “I will melt them and try them. I will bring the third part through the fire.”
 

O Lord! how wondrous are thy ways,

To try our faith, our souls refine;

So, passing through the furnace blaze,

The silver flows more pure to shine.

 
James Smith
 

I Believe God

 
Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 2

 

…I believe God,

-Acts 27:25

 
The most reasonable thing in the world, and yet at some times most difficult.
 
He has spoken to us in the plainest terms,
  he has confirmed his promises with the blood of his dear Son,
  he has made every one of his saints a witness to his faithfulness,
  and yet we do not half believe him.
 
We do not absolutely doubt the truth of his promises,
  or his faithfulness to them,
    but we question their application to us.
 
Yet he has described our characters,
  presented us with examples as much like ourselves as possible:
    but unbelief is so strong,
      Satan is so active, and present things have such influences,
        that we do not believe God.
 
May he deeply convince us of the sin of unbelief,
   humble us for it before his throne, and
      send his Holy Spirit to work faith in our hearts.
 
Beloved, do you, as you read, or
    hear his precious promise, say,
        “That is true, God will perform it.
              He will make it good in my experience.
                 Therefore, I cannot want.
                      I will not fear.
                 I will only trust in his word,
              rely on his power, plead at his throne, and
          wait for the fulfilment of the promises in his own time and way.”
 
Such should be the language of all our hearts.
 
But, alas! how few of us use it.
 

Now learn in every state,

To make his will your own;

And when the joys of sense depart,

To walk by faith alone.

 
James Smith
 

Grace To Help In Time Of Need

 
Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 1

 

…grace to help in time of need.

-Hebrews 4:16

 
The term grace includes the wisdom and strength, which may be necessary to enable us to act aright, under all circumstances.
 
We daily need grace.
 
But there are seasons in which we need grace especially;
  as in prosperity, to keep us from getting proud and presumptuous;
  in adversity, to keep us from complaining or desponding:
  in temptation, to preserve us from its snares: and
  in death, that we may die to the Lord’s glory.
 
Grace is to be had.
 
There is a throne erected on purpose to dispense it.
 
It is to be had in answer to prayer.
 
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
 
Let us not attempt any thing in our own strength, or
  fancy that we can accomplish any thing by your wisdom;
    but let us love under a deep sense of our need of grace,
      of God’s willingness to bestow it, and
        of the incalculable benefits to be derived from it:
          thus let us approach the throne, pleading the name of Jesus.
 
O for grace to keep me in health,
  to cheer me in sickness,
    but especially to make me victorious in death!
 

The grace I every moment want,

The fresh supplies of faith and love,

God of exhaustless mercy, grant,

In answer to my Friend above.

Increase my faith, confirm my hope,

Until I yield my spirit up.

 
James Smith