BECAUSE I LIVE YE SHALL LIVE ALSO

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 28

 

John 14:9

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more;

 but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

 
Christ and his people are one.
 
He is the head, and they are the members of his body. 

From him they receive life, 

   wisdom, 

       power, 

           holiness, and 

                  every grace.
 
He has a fulness on purpose to supply them grace, as their circumstances may require.
 
Have hitherto been supplied with grace by Jesus, and he who hath supplied us until now. Will continue to do so.
 
He lives, necessarily, as God.
 
Officially as God-man.
 
He lives in high authority, possessing unbounded influence. 

He lives to use what he possesses, to fulfil his word, complete his work, and lead his people on to the enjoyment of eternal life.
 
They shall live, that is exist, as Christians, preserve in their journey, and be happy in his love for ever,
 
They shall live because Jesus who ever lives is their Life, their Representative, and their Surety, He lives for them, ruling, over-ruling, securing and loving.
 
He lives in them and their life is hid with him in God.
 
Beloved, see the ground of your safety: the source of your joy: the wisdom of your God.
 
Your life and happiness are identified with the life and happiness of Jesus.
 

If my immortal Saviour lives,

Then my immortal life is sure;

His word a firm foundation gives,

Here let me build, and rest secure.

 
James Smith
 

REST IN THE LORD .

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 27

 

Psalm 37:7

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself

because of him who prespereth in his way, because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

 
The sinner is naturally restless, he is removed from his natural basis, and the wandering of the desire keeps him in constant agitation.
 
To him Jesus says, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest.” The believer has accepted this invitation, and has found rest; but he is often led away by temptations, worldly cares, and unbelief; and then he becomes restless again.
 
Beloved, you are directed to rest, not in your circumstances, attainments, or enjoyments, but rest in the Lord.
 
Rest in the will of God, for whatever he wills is for your good, your highest good: “this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
 
Rest in the love of God, and often meditate on the words of Jesus on this point, “Thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
 
Rest in the mercy of God, from which flows endless streams of blessings for your supply.
 
Rest in the word of God, for it is true, immutable, and pledges him to do you good.
 
Rest in the relation thy God fills to thee, he is thy Father; kind, careful, wise, and ever-present.
 
Rest in the Lord as he is manifested in Jesus, thy God in covenant; working all things after the counsel of his own will.
 

Safe in the Lord his saints may rest,

And calmly wait his will’

Though poor and tried yet are blest,

Their God is gracious still.

 
James Smith

REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS.

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 26

 

Revelation 2:5

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,

and repent, and do the first works; or else I will

come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy

candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

 
Repentance implies thought, serious thought in reference to the conduct and state of the heart; it proceeds from conviction, deep and solemn conviction of our sin and sinfulness in the sight of God; it proves concern, a concern to escape danger, obtain pardon, and enjoy peace; it includes sorrow, that we have grieved the Lord, dishonoured his cause, and slighted his mercy; it always leads to reformation.
 
There may be some degree of reformation without repentance, but there can be no repentance without reformation.
 
Let us think upon our ways, reflect on the dishonour we have done to the Saviour, be concerned to enjoy anew the tokens of his forgiving love, mourn over our follies and faults, and begin again to do our first works.
 
Look to Jesus and for Jesus, and abstain from the very appearance of evil, as we did at first.
 
What love, what zeal, what caution, what carefulness, what entire consecration to God, we manifest then!
 
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
 

Recall to mind the happy days,

When thou wast fill’d with joy and praise;

Repent, thy former works renew,

Then I’ll restore thy comforts too.

 
James Smith
 

MY NEDITATION OF HIM SHALL BE SWEET.

 
EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 25

 

Psalm 104:34

My meditation of him shall be sweet:

I will be glad in the LORD.

 
To meditate is to think closely, seriously, and for some time upon one subject: if the subject is spiritual, the exercise is peculiarly profitable: if the mind is spiritual, meditation of Jesus will be sweet. 

Let us think of him frequently, intently, and seriously.
 
Let us meditate on the glory of his person,
-the riches of his grace,
—the strength of his love,
—the tenderness of his sympathy,
—the power of his arm,
—merit of his blood,
—the magnificence of his righteousness,
—the completeness of his conquest,
—the splendor of his ascension,
—the prevalence of his intersession,
—the exalted station of his people on earth,
—what he gives to them,what he requires of them
—and the glory to which he will raise them,
when he comes again the second time, without sin unto salvation.
 
Let us go over in meditation all that regards
   his person,
       his office,
           his work,
                his kingdom,
                     his humiliation,
                         his exaltation, and
                                   his character.
 
Such meditations will be sweet.
 
Let us see him in nature, in providence, and in grace.

 

Sweet are the thoughts which fill my breast,

When on his various works the rest;

God my CREATOR lifts my voice!

In God my SAVIOUR I rejoice!

 
James Smith
 

THE LORD IS AT HAND .

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 24

 

Philippians 4:5

Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

 
Jesus is coming.
 
When he will come is uncertain, therefore we should always be ready. If we realized the certainty and nearness of the Lord’s coming, we should not be ensnared by the world as we too often are.
 
Our love would be withdrawn from present things, and we should be daily laying up treasures in heaven. Jesus will come to close the present dispensation, to judge the people, to be glorified in his saints, and reward every one according to his works.
 
The Lord is at hand, we should think of this, we should realize it, it would preserve us from temptation, it would prevent our backsliding, and it would deepen our seriousness and spirituality.
 
He will come, therefore we should expect him, prepare for him, invite him, and be found waiting, looking, and longing for his appearing.
 
When he comes he will bring us grace, destroy all our foes, conform us to his own lovely image, and then introduce us to glory. When Jesus comes his people will be made completely happy; sighs, and cries, will be exchanged for pleasures, songs, and triumphant hallelujahs.
 

Saviour, hasten thine appearing,

Bring, O bring the glorious day,

When the awful summons hearing,

Heaven and earth shall pass away:

Then with golden harps we’ll sing

Glory, glory to our King.

 
James Smith
 

FOR SHE LOVED MUCH.

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 23
 
Luke 7:47
Wherefore I say into thee, Her sins, which are many,
are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little
is forgiven, the same loveth little.

 

She hath been a great sinner; convinced of her sin,

     she sought the Saviour;

         applied for pardon, and

               she found mercy.

 

Deeply affected with the love of Christ, and 

  the manner in which he displayed it, 

  her soul glowed with love to him in return.

 

She not only loved him, but she loved him much: and 

  therefore she could endure scorn, 

  contempt, and persecution,

  in order to enjoy his presence and listen to his word.

 

Her love would not be confined in her bosom,

  it sought to show itself;

  she therefore brought the alabaster box of precious ointment,

  washed his feet with her tears,

  wiped them with the hair of her head, and

  anointed them with the ointment.

 

Here is an example for us; we also are great sinners,

   Jesus has kindly received us and pardoned our sins;

  his love to us is as great as it was to this woman,

  but is our love to him, equal to her’s?

 

I fear not.

 

But why?

 

Because our conviction of sin is not as clear.

Our views of unworthiness are not as vivid,

  our apprehensions of danger are not as painful,

  our sense of pardoning mercy is not as deep.

 

We must direct our thoughts to Jesus, and

seek for the Holy Spirit to shed abroad his love in our hearts.

 

 

For love like thine, O God of heaven,

What grateful honours shall we show?

Where much transgression is forgiven,

Let love in equal favour glow.

 

James Smith

HE WILL HAVE COMPASSION UPON US .

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 22

 

Micah 7:19

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us;

he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all

their sins into the depths of the sea.

 
His anger has been provoked by our sins,
  the effects of his displeasure have been felt, but
     he retaineth not his anger for ever; and
         though sin may have made us miserable,
             mercy shall make us happy.
 
He will have compassion upon us,
    because of the benevolence of his nature,
       in accordance with his word,
           to our comfort and salvation.
 
He is full of compassion:
   plenteous in mercy:
          ready to forgive.
 
These are his own words, and they contain enough,
if we did but believe them,
    to banish our fears,
         conquer our doubts, and
              fill us with joy and peace.
 
We have wandered, but he will have compassion, and
  the wandering shall be restored:
    the prodigal shall be received with music and dancing.
 
He will have compassion,
  for he has promised,
    his nature prompts him to it,
      he has done so in innumerable instances, and
          his heart overflows with it.
 
As soon as ever he sees you feel your sinfulness,
  he will have compassion,
     subdue your iniquities, and
        cast all your sins into the depths of the sea.
 

Moved with tenderest compassion,

Jesus heals each wounded heart;

And the richest consolation

To his mourners doth impart.

 
James Smith