NOAH WALKED WITH GOD

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 12

 

Genesis 6:9

… Noah walked with God.

 
He was reconciled to God.
 
He was intimate with God.
 
He listened to the voice of God.
 
He chose the way of God.
 
He drank into the spirit, and approved of the designs of God.
 
His God was his FRIEND, with him he could converse, to him he could look for counsel, from him he often received favours.
 
His God was his COMPANION, he walked with him realizing that he was near, loving his presence, and improving by his society.
 
He did not sit with the Lord on his throne: nor stand with him in his sanctuary: but he walked with him in his way.
 
He made progress.
 
He was diligent, as well as devout.
 
The presence of God was his happiness, he security, and his honour.
 
This privilege may be ours.
 
It is, if we are really believers in the Lord Jesus.
 
Our God is with us.
 
He is with us as our Father, our Friend, our Companion.
 
We walk with him.
 
We converse with him.
 
Believed, do you walk with God?
 
Have you been walking with God to-day?
 
Does the thought of God’s presence with you give you joy?
 
Does it soothe, and animate, and sanctify your spirit?
 
Retire to rest rejoicing in the fact, God is with me, as my Father and my Guard.
 

I walk with God—though Lord of all,

My nearest friend he is,

On him I lean, and cast my cares:

Oh what a friendship this!

 
James Smith

HE WILL BE OUR GUIDE EVEN UNTO DEATH

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 11

 

Psalm 48:14

For this God is our God for ever and ever:

he will be our guide even unto death.

 
What a precious assurance is this!
 
Our God is our guide, he led us out of the world at first, directed us to the cross, and conducted us into the path of peace.
 
He has led us through all our past difficulties and trials, he leads us by the hand at present, and he will never give up his charge, for he will be our guide even unto death.
 
He will choose our way; lead us in the paths of righteousness; kindly converse with us on the road; point out the snares and dangers in our path; and keep us by his power through faith unto salvation.
 
He undertook to guide us at first without our knowledge, he kindly appeared as our CONDUCTOR in answer to our prayers, and he will patiently bear with us unto the end.
 
He may hide his face, refuse communion, withhold comforts, smite us for our follies, and teach us, by painful experience, our dependence on himself; but he will never forsake us or give us up.
 
He will guide us to the end of the journey, and will go with us through the last dark valley.
 
He will not only lead us into the kingdom, but put us in possession of it.
 
This he has promised, and he will faithfully perform it.
 

For God, whom Zion boasts her friend,

Our God unchangeable is known;

Our Guide—who will our steps attend,

Till death advances us to his throne.

 
James Smith

UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR THY NAME

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 10

 

Psalm 86:11

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth:

 unite my heart to fear thy name.

 
To fear God includes faith in his word, love for his character, zeal for his glory, concern to please him, and the fear of offending him.
 
It sometimes signifies to worship him.
 
This embraces reverence, adoration, thanksgiving, and prayer.
 
Worship without the heart is worthless.
 
But how often on worship do we feel our hearts distracted and wandering, and at a distance from God!
 
Well may we pray, “Unite me heart to fear thy name.”
 
That is, calm it, compose it, attract it, fix it, inflame it; that it may throw all its energies into the service.
 
Such a prayer proves that we love the service, desire to honour God in it, feel our own weakness, and seek to obtain grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
 
But do all saints feel their hearts this prone to wander, and find it difficult to engage them in the Lord’s service?
 
They do at times, though some suffer from this much more than others.
 
Yet all occasionally feel some reluctance to duty, or distractions in it; therefore they all pray as David did here, or sign as he did elsewhere,
 
“O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes always.”

 

How oft my heart’s affections yield,

Scattered o’er all the world’s wide field?

My vagrant passions, Lord, reclaim,

Unite them all to fear thy name

 
James Smith

THOU KNOWN MY SOUL IN ADVERSITIES

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 9

 

Psalm 31:7

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: 

for thou hast considered my trouble; 

thou known my soul in adversities.

 
Prosperity makes friends, but adversity tries them.
 
How many will visit and smile upon us when the sun shines , but who will venture out to do us good in the wintry or stormy day?
 
David had been in adversity, he had been forsaken and neglected by his friends, but not by his God.
 
His God knew him, and visited him, and supplied him, and at length delivered gim.
 
This honour has all his saints.
 
He knew Israel in the wilderness, in the land of great drought; and he will know us, that is, he will acknowledge us, and care for us, and approve of us.
 
He hath done so.
 
We have been in adversity.
 
We have passed through a wilderness, but our God led us, and fed us, and preserved us, and brought us into a wealthy place.
 
We can witness for him in reference to the past; and we ought calamy, quietly, and confidently trust him for the future.
 
He hath passed his word that he will deliver us in six troubles, and that in seven no evil shall touch his: and he is faithful who hath promised.
 
He is the friend of his people in distress, and in our greatest trials he will glorify his richest grace.
 
Thy presence to my soul display,
And shine my gloomy fears away;
Let mercy to my thankful  heart,
Its saving health and joys depart.
 
James Smith

TESTIFY AGAINST ME

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 8

Micah 6:3

O my people, what have I done unto thee? and

wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

 
By our conduct we often reflect upon the Lord.
 
We treat him with neglect and disrespect, preferring creatures or worldly things before him.
 
He speaks of this conduct as if it went to his heart.
 
He says, “O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.”
 
Have you neglected the closet?
 
Have you slighted the means of grace?
 
Have you laid your bible on one side and left it unopened?
 
Have you withdrawn your thoughts and your affections from God, and given them to the world?
 
Why is this?
 
What reason have you for doing so?
 
The Lord asks you why?
 
He says, “Have you any charges against me? Bring them forward.
 
Have I treated you unkindly?
 
Have I been false to my word?
 
Have I acted in any way unbecoming my character? Tell me, why do you treat me with neglect? Why do you prefer my enemy, the world, to me?
 
Tell out your reasons, let me know all; anything but this shyness, this distance, this indifference.”
 
O believer! are you not guilty?
 
Have you not wounded you God?
 
Have you not grieved his Holy Spirit?
 
Return to thy injured Lord.
 

Behold again I turn to thee,

Oh! cast me not away, though vile:

No peace I have, no joy I see,

O Lord my God! but in thy smile.

 
James Smith

THEY SAY UNTO GOD, DEPART FROM US

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 7

Job 21:14

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; 

for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

 
This is what the ungodly do.
 
His presence is offensive to them.
 
They wish there was no God.
 
But as there is one, they wish to keep at a distance from him. This is not your case.
 
It was once.
 
It would have been this evening but for grace.
 
You desire the presence of God, this is the effect of his love.
 
You have seen something of his glory, in the person of Jesus Christ.
 
You have tasted that he is gracious.
 
You are reconciled to him, and are at peace with him. You have nothing to fear from him, therefore you desire that he would come unto you; and manifest himself to you soul as he does not unto the world.
 
You say. “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God.”
 
Those who now say unto God, “Depart from us,” will one day hear him say—”Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
 
But you who now invite him to your hearts and your homes, will hear him invite you, saying, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
 

My God, I cannot say “depart,”

But, “Come and dwell with me:

Take full possession of my heart,

And keep me close to thee.”

 
James Smith

WHEREFORE DIDST THOU DOUBT?

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

SEPTEMBER 6

 

Matthew 14:31

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand,

and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith,

wherefore didst thou doubt?

 
This is the language of reproof, it was addressed to Peter, but to whom is it not applicable?
 
Who of us have not doubted?
 
Who does not often doubt?
 
Who considers doubting as sinful?
 
But it is so.
 
Are not our doubts the offspring of unbelief?
 
Do they reflect on the love, care, constancy, and faithfulness of our Redeemer?
 
Could he speak plainer than he has in his word? Could he do more to lay a firm foundation for our confidence, peace, and joy?
 
Has he not promised to receive, pardon, and bless every coming sinner?
 
Has he not given us instances of the manner in which he proves his care, fulfils his word, and answers the prayers of his people, in the historical portions of his word?
 
Has he spoken?
 
Is he worthy of credit?
 
Did he ever deceive?
 
Can he trifle with an immortal soul?
 
Is he not unchangeable?
 
Then “wherefore didst thou doubt?”
 
Make no excuse for thy doubts, but at once acknowledge that they are sinful, and seek grace, that you may trust in the Lord with all your heart, and trust in him at all times.
 
Doubts weaken the soul, exhaust the spirits, and hinder cheerful obedience—strive against them.
 
Within are fears, without a storm,
And foes are round about;
But Jesus will his word perform,
Then wherefore dost thou doubt?
 
James Smith