I AM TROUBLED

 

MAY 16.
 
I am troubled.
Psalm 38:6
 

THIS is very often the case with the believer,
  he is seldom long without something to trouble him.
 
He has so much sin within him,
  so many foes without him, and
  such strange unexpected things in his path,
  that he is often agitated and depressed.
 
Where he looked for comfort,
    he finds sorrow;
  where he is expected help,
    he finds hindrances;
  where he promised himself pleasure,
    he experiences pain.
 
He is wearied.
 
Weary of himself,
  weary of sin, weary of the world;
  weary of the carnal state of the church of God.
 
He is weary, and it prevents his enjoyment;
  he is troubled, and it shakes his faith.
 
But what a mercy it is for the troubled Christian,
  that his Lord has experienced trouble
  as well as himself;
   so that he can sympathize with him.
 
Jesus once said,
  “Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say?”
 
He has a fellow-feeling with us in all our troubles, and
  will first sanctify them, and then safely bring us out of them.
 
Beloved, are you troubled this morning?
 
Carry your troubled heart to Jesus,
  pour it out before him,
  he can calm it, soothe it, and give it cheering repose.
 
Take it to Jesus to sanctify it for thee.
 

And still as oft as troubles come,

Jesus will send some cheering ray,

And that strong arm shall guard us home,

Which thus protects us by the way.

 
James Smith 1849

YOUR BODIES ARE THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST.

 

MAY 15.
 
Your bodies are the members of Christ.
I Corinthians 6:15

 

SOMETIMES we think too much of the body,
  And sometimes we despise it.
 
We do not often realize the value that God sets upon it.
 
It is the temple of the Holy Spirit,
  and it is a member of Christ.
 
Christ and his people are one body.
 
 Every Christian is a member of that body.
 
Our bodies are one with Christ, and
  as such the values them,
   provides for them,
   and by and by raise them from the dead
   exactly like his own glorious body.
 
Let us carry this thought with us
  today wherever we go,
   “My body is a member of Christ.”
 
He claims it,
  for he purchased it with his own blood.
 
He watches over it,
  for it is part of his care and charge.
 
He will take care of it,
  for it is in close union with himself.
 
If my body is the member of Christ,
  I must not neglect it;
  I ought not to pamper it;
  I should not in any sense abuse it;
  but, keep it pure and holy;
  that it may be a vessel unto honor,
  meet for the masters use.
 
Lord Jesus, fill my body with thy Spirit,
  and use it to thy glory and honour.
 

Soon the delightful full day will come,

When Christ shall bring my body home,

And I shall see his face;

Then with my Saviour, Brother, Friend,

A blest eternity I'll spend,

Triumphant in his grace.

 
James Smith 1849

Sunday May 19

 Spruceland Baptist Church 

May 19,  2024

Miworth Community Centre

10:30am

THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME.

 

That he may exalt you in due time.
1 Peter 5:6
 

THE apostle is exhorting to humility.
 
Nothing is so necessary for us, or
   more acceptable to God.
 
The humble man is sure to be respected.
 
Saints will love him, and
  God will do anything for him.
 
Pride is offensive to our fellows;
   it is detestable in the sight of God.
 
He will hold no fellowship with the proud man;
  he knoweth the proud of far off, and
  keeps them at a distance.
 
The Lord's people may be oppressed, and
  providence may seem to take part with their oppressors.
 
They may lie long in the dust,
  and be brought very low.
 
But if they humble themselves under
  the mighty hand of God,
  he will exalt them in due time.
 
When the trials has accomplished its work,
  it shall be removed.
When the proud spirit is humbled,
  when the complaining spirit is resigned,
  when the conceited creature is reduced
   to its proper level,
then the Lord will appear to exalt it.
 
He exalted by his power,
  by his grace, and
    by his providence.
 
 He exalted sometimes in temporals,
   more frequently in spirituals.
 
He rises the spirit above the circumstances,
  and this is true exhortation.
 

When, my Saviour, shall I be

Totally resign’d to thee?

Poor and vile in my own eyes,

Only in thy wisdom wise,

Only guided by thy light,

Only mighty in thy might!

 
James Smith 1849

WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD.

 
MAY 13.
 
We have redemption through his blood.
Ephesians 1:7

 

OUR state by nature was so fearful,
  that no one but Jesus could redeem us;
  for an infinite ransom was required: and
  it was not only necessary that a ransom price
   should be paid to satisfy divine justice,
  but omnipotent power must be exerted
  to rescue us from the dominion of Satan and sin.
 
The blood of Jesus is the price of our redemption, 

  and the Spirit of Jesus is the agent by whom our 

  deliverance is practically effected.
 
We are redeemed unto God,
  and from all iniquity;
  so that we shall, by and by,
  be entirely devoted to God,
  and be freed from all sin.
 
The redemption that is in Christ Jesus is effectual,
  and all his redeemed ones shall celebrate
  the wonders of his redeeming love for ever.
 
This many of them are doing now, as we read,
  “And they sung a new song, saying,
   Thou art worthy to take the book,
    and to open the seals thereof:
   for thou wast slain, and 

   hast redeemed us to God by thy blood,
   out of every kindred, and tongue,
    and people, and nation; and
    hast made us unto our God kings and priest,
      and we shall reign on the earth.”
 

Behold him for transgressors given !

Behold th’ incarnate King of heaven !

For us, his foes, expire !

Amaz’d O earth ! the tidings hear:

He bore, that we might never bear

His Father’s righteous ire.

 
James Smith 1849

THE LORD IS OUR GOD.

 

MAY 12.
 
The Lord is our God.
 
II Chronicles 13:10
 

SO spake the men of Judah to the people of Israel,
  who had adopted the worship of the golden calves
  which Jeroboam had made and set up; and

SO may the Christian say to many,
   who make a god of their wealth,
    their character,
    their station in society, or
    their connections.
 
The Lord is our God,
  for we have received the revelation
   he has made of himself;
  we believe in the name of his only begotten Son;
  we daily worship add the throne of his grace;
  we place implicit trust in his precious promises; and
  we feared to offend him by word or deed.
 
We know his name, and love it;
  we embrace his gospel, and rejoice in it;
  we approach him as a Father, and
    seek all we need at his hands.
 
As Jehovah is our God,
  we have an unfailing source of comfort,
  a reason for sweet repose of spirit, and
  are certain that our wants will be supplied.
 
For as he is our God,
  he will be a God unto us;
  his power will protect us,
  his wisdom will guide us,
  his mercy will sympathize with us,
  his justice will revenge our wrongs, and
  his providence will make all things
    work together for our good.
 
He will never leave us.
He will never take his eye off us.
He will not allow anything to harm us.
 

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;

Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end!

Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

 
James Smith 1849

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH.

 

MAY 11.
 
God is our refuge and strength.
Psalm 46:1
 

 
THE present world is a wilderness.
 
Here we are exposed to storms and tempests,
 to dangers and foes.
 
If left to provide for ourselves, we must perish,
  and our enemies would triumph over us.
 
But the Lord has condescended to become
  a refuge of his people,
  to him we may repair and find safety,
  received supplies, and enjoy repose.
 
If he defended us,
  no one can injure us.
If he is our refuge,
  nothing can overcome us.
 
But every Christian can say, “The Lord is my refuge.”
 
Beloved, let us keep this in view today,
  whatever trials we may meet with,
  whatever tempests we may have to pass through,
  whatever foes we may assail us,
  the Lord will protect and defend us.
 
From the wrath of man,
  from the rage of hell,
  from the storms of time,
  he will shelter and screen us; and
  he will not only receive and protect us,
  but he will strengthen us with strength in our souls.
 
If God is our refuge, we must be safe;
  if God is our strength, we shall certainly overcome.
 
Let us therefore fly to him, and trust in his word.
 

Jehovah, our refuge and rock,

In trouble his help will supply;

Though earth be remov’d with a shock,

Still God, our Redeemer, is nigh;

Then trust in his promise and be not afraid,

In all thy distresses he’ll come to thy aid.

 
James Smith 1849

THE LORD OF GLORY

 

MAY 10.
 
The Lord of glory.
 
1 Corinthians 2:7

 

IN the Old Testament Jehovah is called,
“The glorious Lord,”
  and here Jesus is said to be
“The Lord of glory,”
   which is the same.
 
Jesus is therefore Jehovah.
 
He is “The king of glory,”
  whose ascension to heaven is so
   beautifully set forth in Psalms 34.
 
All the glorious perfections of deity are his,
  and he is entitled to the highest honour.
 
When in human form,
  he was tabernacling with us, he said,
  “The Father judgeth no man,
  but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;
  That all men should honour the Son,
   even as they honour the Father.
He that honoureth not the son,
  honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
 
Jesus is infinitely glorious, and
  he should be glorified by us.
 
Do we believe in the Father,
  we should believe also in Jesus.
Do we trust in the Father,
  we should trust also in Jesus.
Do we worship the Father
  we should worship Jesus also.
He should be the object of
  our love, adoration, and confidence
     equally with the father.
 
He is our glorious Lord.
 
Glorious in his person.
Glorious in his work.
Glorious in his government.
Glorious in his conquest.
Glorious in his character.
Glorious in the salvation of his people.
 

Behold your King, your Saviour, crowned,

With glories all divine;

And tell the wondering nations round

How bright these glories shine.

 
James Smith 1849

A THORN IN THE FLESH

 

MAY 9.
 
A thorn in the flesh.
 
2 Corinthians 12:6

 

WE are not informed what was Paul's peculiar trial at this time,
  and no doubt there is mercy in the concealment.
 
Most Christians have some thorn,
  which they cannot extract,
  which is a daily trial, and
  which wounds deeply and painfully.
 
If God sends us a thorn,
  no one but God can remove it;
  but if God sends it, it is sent in love.
 
It is to prevent some evil, or
  to prepare us for some good.
 
If it makes us pray,
  if it drives us to the Lord’s throne,
  if it humbles us in the dust,
  if it endures the promises,
  if it makes us long for heaven,
  if it teaches us deeply our need of Christ,
    it is a blessing.
 
Better be wounded by the sharpest thorn,
  then be allowed in ease, health, and prosperity,
  to wander from the Lord.
 
Beloved have you some painful thorn in the flesh,
  carry it to the Lord.
 
It may be sickly body,
  a trying family,
  a cross providence or
    some peculiar temptation!
 
But whatever it may be,
  take it to Jesus, and
  you will find his grace sufficient for you, and
  his strength made perfect in your weakness.
 
He only pains us for our good.
 

Lord, if consistent with thy will,

O take this thorn away,

But if for me ‘tis needful still

That it should longer stay,

Then patience give, the thorn to bear,

And faith to trust thy love and care.

 
James Smith 1849

THEY FORGET HIS WORKS.

 

MAY 8.
 
They forgat his works.
 
Psalms 78:11

 
EVERY work of God is expressive of his 

  wisdom, holiness, and love.
 
He works for his people.
He wrought for Israel of old,
  he wrought wondrously.
 
They were afflicted - delighted - filled with joy.
 
But when they came out of trouble they were ungrateful,
  they soon forget his works.
 
There is a bad memory which will retain the sense
  of any little offence received from men, or
  probation permitted by God;
  and yet forget his great and glorious promises,
  his wise and wonderful works.
 
God's works should be observed – studied - remembered.
 
They are all worthy of a God.
His perfections are stamped upon them.
He makes himself known by them.
 
It is ungrateful to forget;
  and it is injurious as it is ungrateful.
 
Let us remember what God has done for us in providence,
  how he has led us, fed us, preserved us, and brought us
  through far on our journey.
 
Let us remember what he has done for us in grace,
  how he gave his Son to be our ransom,
  his Spirit to be our sanctifier, and
  his grace to change our hearts.
 
Let us remember the past,
  to strengthen our confidence in the future; and
  to concentrate us entirely to his service.

 

O Lord, I'll treasure in my soul

The memory of thy love,

And thy dear name shall still to me

A grateful odour prove.

 

James Smith 1849

YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.

 

MAY 7.
Ye are not under the law.
Galatians 5:18

 

IF ye were,
  it would not only require perfect obedience,
  but it would pronounce a sentence of condemnation
    for the least sin.
 
If we were under the law,
  we must use David's prayer,
  ”Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord,
  for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified.”
 
But if we believe in Jesus,
  if we are led by the Spirit of God,
  if we are not under the law.
 
We are under grace.
 
God is our Father.
 
The gospel proclaims us just.
 
Jesus died in our stead, and
  now pleads for us before his Father's throne.
 
All our sins are expiated and forgiven.
 
Our persons and service are accepted,
  though imperfect and polluted,
  in the perfume of our Redeemer’s merits;
  and the law has no claim upon us.
 
Jesus for us, gave it all that it required.
 
Jesus endured for us, all that is threatened.
 
We now love it, observe it,
  but under no alarm from it.
 
It is a simple rule of conduct,
  just telling us what God loves,
  and what he hates;
  what God requires, and what he forbids.
 
Blessed be God for delivering us from the law,
  giving us peace with him, and
  enabling us to rejoice in hope of his glory.
 
 

My soul! no more attempt to draw

Thy life and comfort from the law;

Fly tell the hope the gospel gives;

The man that trusts the promise lives!

 

James 1849

THE LORD IS MY DEFENCE

 

MAY 6.
 
The Lord is my defence.
Psalm 94:22
 

SIN has stripped us of our righteousness,
  reduced us to a state of weakness, and
  left us exposed to innumerable dangers.
We are never safe for one moment if left to ourselves.
 
All the host of hell are opposed to us,
  and in league against us;
  they influence evil men,
  and sometimes make use of even good men to injure us.
 
Afflictions crowd our path, and
  every power of the body, and
  every power of the mind,
  may prove the inlet to something injurious.
 
Our dangers are numerous and great.
Our folly and weakness are even greater.
We need constant guidance and protection.
 
Where shall we find one able and
  willing to be friend us?
 
To whom shall we look for succour and safety?
 
Happy is the man who can say,
    “The Lord is my defence.”
 
But this is the privilege of every Christian.
 God is engaged for him.
 God is ever with him. 
 God will never leave him.
 
If God is our defence we need not fear,
  for he is omnipotent;
  we should not yield to doubt,
  for he is on it omnipresent;
  we shall rejoice and be glad,
  for protection is certain.
 
If in trouble,
  he will keep us from sinking;
  if exposed to the fiercest of temptation,
  he will preserve us from ruin.
 
On God alone will I depend,
His promises are true insure;
He will be my feeble soul defend,
And make me to the end endure.
 
James Smith 1849

I pray for them.

 

MAY 5.
 
I pray for them.
John 17:9

 

THE Saviour’s interest in his people is special and peculiar.
 
They were given him by his Father to be
  in his care, charge, and reward.
 
He benefits others, but he rejoices over them
  to do them good with his whole heart,
  and with his whole soul.
He was now pleading with his Father
  as the great Intercessor, and
  he points to them and distinguishes them
  from the world, and says,
    “I pray for them, I pray not for the world.”
 
He was their great High Priest, and
  their names were on his breastplate.
He was their substitute, and
  their salvation was entrusted to his hands.
He was their surety, and
  he was pledged to bring them home, and
  set them before his Father's face for ever.
He was their shepherd, and
  they were the sheep of his pasture.
 
Beloved, Jesus has prayed for us,
  he has begged his Father to keep us
    from the evil of the world,
  to sanctify us through the truth, and
  to bring us into the closest possible union
   with each other and with himself.
 
His prayers are prevalent,
  they are on record,
  they wait for us, and
  they will be answered in our blessed experience.
 
Whoever forgets us,
  Jesus still loves and pleads for us.
 

The Father in his love will hear,

And grant our Lord’s request;

The souls for whom he pray’d, shall be

With full salvation blest.

 

James Smith 1849

HE SHALL COME UNTO US AS THE RAIN.

 

MAY 4.
He shall come unto us as the rain.
Hosea 6:3

 

THE Lord’s care of his people is incessant.
 
No parent was ever so careful as an only child.
No gardner was ever so attentive
  to a delicate and favorite plant.
 
He visits, he watches, he supplies.
He studies our wants, provides for them,
  and imparts what he provides.
 
He says, “I will water in every moment.”
 
Then the supply will be constant,
  in summer and winter shall it be.
 
It will be suitable, like refreshing moisture
   to a thirsty plant.
It will be in small portions,
   as the gently falling rain.
It will be in perceptible,
   like the morning dews.
It is by these supplies

 that our graces are kept alive.
That our spiritual desires are sustained.
That apostasy is prevented.
That the good work is carried on in our hearts.
 
If the Lord should cease to water,
  we soon should wither and die.
 
Our dependence on him is absolute.
Our obligation to his love are infinite.
 
Let us not fancy that we are not watered,
  because we do not sensibly feel it.
The consistency of the communication prevents
  anything like novelty.
The gentle gradual manner in which we are supplied,
  prevents our feeling any powerful impressions.
 

Each moment water’d by thy care,

And fenc’d with power divine,

Fruit to eternel life shall bear,

The feeblest branch is thine.

 
James Smith 1849

THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD...

 

MAY 3.
 
This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.
 
1 John 5:3

 

ALL acceptable obedience flows from love, and
  true love always leads to obedience.
 
If we really love God, we shall seek to glorify him; and
  herein is Jehovah glorified that we bring forth much fruit.
 
It is not the loudest talkers,
  but the holiest walkers,
  that brings glory to God.
 
The precepts are given us to be obeyed,
  as the promises are to be trusted; and
  no one can rightly trust in the promises,
  who does not labour to obey the precepts.
 
Jesus said to some of old,
  “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and
    do not the things that I say unto you?”
 
And pointing out who were to be viewed
  as the nearest and dearest relations, he said,
    “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father
     which is in heaven, the same is my brother,
     and sister, and mother.”
 
Precious Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with thy love,
  conform our lives to thy example, and
  let us prove the sincerity of our love
  by the uniformity of our obedience!
 
Let us not rest in impressions, or
  be satisfied with enjoyments,
  without obedience to thy commandments.
 
Spirit of God, make us thoroughly holy,
   holy in body, soul, and spirit!

 

Th’ effect must from the cause proceed,

And thy dear genuine children prove;

In truth, reality, and deed,

Obedience is but actual love.

 

James Smith 1849