LEANING UPON HER BELOVED?

 EVENING DEVOTION 

NOVEMBER 18

 

Song of Solomon 8:5

…leaning upon her beloved?

 
Jesus is the object of a believer’s love.
 
To him the world is a wilderness.
 
Heaven is his Father’s house and his home.
 
He is passing through the wilderness in company with Jesus. 

  He is represented as the bride leaning on her beloved.
 
This is indicative of weakness in herself, and confidence in her beloved.
 
He is her strength as well as her guide.
 
Her support as well as the object of her affection.
 
She leans on him as well as converses with him.
 
He supports as well as comforts her.
 
Believers, keep close to thy Saviour’s side.
 
Never leave him while in this waste howling wilderness.
 
Lean on him, and when you feel weak lean hard.
 
His strong arm is put forth to support thy weak frame.
 
He will bear thee up.
 
He will lead thee on.
 
The more you lean on him, 

  the more you will love him; and 

   the more you love him, the closer you will cleave to him.
 
Yield to his guidance, 

  trust in his love,

   lean on his power, 

    walk by his side, and 

      commend him to others around you.
 
In his company you are safe, in communion with him you will be happy: 

  like the two disciples of old, 

    your heart will be warmed, and 

      you will be at the end of your journey before you are aware of it.
 

On thy Saviour’s love and power,

On his righteousness and blood,

Lean in every trying hour,

Lean till you sit down with God

 
James Smith
 
 

I SHALL DIE IN MY NEST

 

EVENING DEVOTION

NOVEMBER 17

 

Job 29:18

…I shall die in my nest,

 
Job’s nest was very comfortable, and appeared to be very secure.
 
It was on high, and not to be easily reached.
 
He knew that death could reach it, but he thought that nothing else would disturb it.
 
His conduct was consistent, and his conscience was quiet; God was his Father, and providence his friend.
 
“Then I said I shall die in my nest.”
 
But alas! suddenly a storm arose; the nest was destroyed, and the poor bird ;ay bleeding and exposed.
 
No earthly nest is out of danger.
 
Temporal comforts are only lent.
 
The higher the tree in which we build, the more exposed to the whirlwind and the storm.
 
Here we have no continuing city.
 
In one day we may be brought down.
 
Let us therefore endeavour to leave our matters more with the Lord, and learn to be content with his appointments.
 
We must die.
 
But when, and where, and how, should be left with the Lord.
 
Five minutes after death, it will matter very little, whether we died on a bed of down, in a spacious chamber, surrounded by friends; or at some rich man’s gate neglected and alone.
 
Present comforts may all leave us, our soft nest may be scattered to the winds, but our union to Jesus nothing can disturb.
 

I would not content with thy will,

Whatever that will may decree;

But O, may each trail I feel

Untie me more firmly to thee.

 

James Smith
 
 

 

 

JESUS CHRIST THE SAME

 

EVENING DEVOTON

NOVEMBER 16

 

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same 

 

Immutability is one of the essential perfections of Jehovah.

 

He claims it as his right.

 

He presents it as a source of comfort to his people, when he says, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

 

But the Lord Jesus is immutable, because he is divine.

 

He changes not.

 

He is the same in all the glories of his person—in all the purposes of his heart—in all the doctrines of his gospel—in the greatness of his love—in the omnipotence of his power—in the tenderness of his sympathy—in the merit of his blood—and in his hatred to sin.

 

Is Jesus immutable? Then let us adore him as divine.

 

Let us trust him with implicit confidence.

 

Let us hold fast the precious truths of his holy gospel.

 

Let us seek comfort in him, when our earthly gourds wither, and all our cisterns are broken.

 

He is the same in darkness as in the light.

 

When we are cast down, as when we are filled with joy.

 

He is always Jesus, the Saviour; the kind, the condescending, the faithful, the tender Saviour.

 

He is the same to-night, as when we first tasted his love; and as when our hearts danced at the sound of his name.

 

His purpose and love are the same,

Whatever the changes I find,

A trifle may alter my frame,

But nothing unsettles his mind.

 

James Smith

 

GOD IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS

 EVENING DEVOTION

NOVEMBER 15

 

Romans 4:6

God imputeth righteousness without works,

 
This is one of the great and gracious mysteries of revelation.
 
Man has no righteousness of his own.
 
God cannot justify without one.
 
The Lord Jesus comes into our world and produces one.
 
The righteousness of Jesus is infinitely meritorious.
 
He wrought it out in our nature, as our Substitute.
 
It was accepted for us and is placed to our account.
 
Before we have done one good work, altogether irrespective of good works, the moment we believe, God places the righteousness of Jesus to our account.
 
It is ours.
 
Ours by free gift.
 
IT is in this that we are justified.
 
In this we are truly righteous, therefore we are accepted of God, and no charge lies against us in the book of God.
 
All is met.
 
All is answered.
 
The just God acquits us from all charges, pronounces us righteous, declares us to be free from all condemnation.
 
Thus, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
 
Beloved, when Satan tempts you, when fears distress you, when your past conduct generates despondency, when the claims of the law disturb you, endeavour to exercise faith in this glorious fact, that God imputes righteousness without works.
 

Jesus, how glorious is thy grace!

When in thy name we trust,

Our faith receives a righteousness,

Which makes the sinner just.

 
James Smith
 
 

BEHOLD, HE PRAYETH

 

EVENING DEVOTION

NOVEMBER 14

 

Acts 9:11

…behold, he prayeth.

 
Saul, the pharisee, had long used the form of prayer, but never until now had he really prayed.
 
He was now created anew in Christ Jesus, he had spiritual life, he was under divine teaching, he felt his need of salvation, and therefore he prayed.
 
None really pray but those who are born again; but all quickened souls do pour out their hearts before God.
 
They feel that they must pray or perish.
 
They must pray or sink under the burden they have to carry.
 
The heart is too full to fold, it must have vent; the desires are too strong to be suppressed, they will escape.
 
Words may be wanting, but prayer will ascend; for prayer is rather the language of the heart than of the lip.
 
Reader, there was a time when you did not pray.
 
You were dead in trespasses and sins.
 
There was a period when you began to pray, that was the time when you were quickened by the Holy Spirit.
 
You cannot live without prayer now, though you feel dull, dead, dark, cold, and stupid; this is the evidence that you are alive unto God.
 
God admires the prayers of his people, and calls us to behold the pleasing fact, a persecutor prays.
 
He always attends to praying souls, therefore CONTINUE IN PRAYER.
 

O thou, by whom we come to God,

The life, the truth, the way!

The path of prayer thyself hast trod;

Lord, teach us how to pray.

 
James Smith
 
 

...JUST ONE;

 EVENING DEVOTION

NOVEMBER 13

 

Acts 7:52

…Just One;

 
This is one of the titles of Jesus. He was holy in his nature, and perfectly righteous in his conduct.
 
He rendered to all their due.
 
As a Son, he honoured his Father by filial obedience to his will, as a Servant, he always did those things which pleased him: and as the Substitute of his people, he did what was demanded of them, and suffered in their stead what they deserved.
 
He magnified the law and made it honourable.
 
He bore our sins in his own body on the tree.
 
By one offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
 
He is still the JUST ONE.
 
Just to every character he sustains, to every name he wears, to every office he fills.
 
He will justly punish his foes, and with equal justice punish his foes, and with equal justice save all who believe in His Name.
 
His Word he will never falsify.
 
His character shall never be sullied.
 
He will not cast out one coming sinner.
 
He will not turn a deaf ear to one who call upon his Name.
 
He will not deny salvation to any self-condemned soul who seeks it at his feet
 
He will justly reward his servants, not overlooking even a cup of cold water given in his Name.
 
He will appear “THE JUST ONE,” in the doom of the wicked, and in the everlasting happiness of his saints.
 

O thou Gracious, Wise, and Just,

In thy hands my soul I trust,

Make me holy, be my Guide,

And for all my wants provide.

 
James Smith
 
 

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

 EVENING DEVOTION

NOVEMBER 12

 

Jeremiah 8:6

What have I done?

 
A very necessary enquiry with which to close this day.
 
We too seldom examine our hearts, or compare our conduct with God’s word.
 
Let us the to-night seriously ask ourselves a few questions.
 
What have I done against the Lord?
 
Have I not broken his law, and disbelieved his gospel?
 
Have I not grieved his Spirit, and slighted his beloved Son?
 
Have I not murmured at his providence, and opposed his will?
 
Have I not doubted his love, and questioned his faithfulness?
 
Have I not forsaken him the fountain of living waters, and preferred his creatures to himself?
 
What have I done for the Lord?
 
Have I visited his sick, and relieved his poor?
 
Have I instructed his ignorant ones, and encouraged his desponding?
 
Have I assisted his ministers, and filled my place in his church?
 
Have I pleaded with singers, and endeavoured to restore backsliders to his fold?
 
Have I kept his glory in view, and sought to advance his kingdom in the world?
 
What have I done, compared with my means, my opportunities, my professions, and with what others have done?
 

Lord, with this guilty heart of mine

To thy dear cross I flee;

And to thy grace my soul resign,

To be renew’d by thee.

 
James Smith