How Old Are You? # 1
Birthdays are solemn days, they remind us of our entrance into the world, and direct our thoughts forward to the period when we shall leave it. Like milestones on the road of life, they inform us how far we have traveled - but say not one word about how far we have to go! Every mile sensibly lessens the distance between us and our journey's end. Today I am reminded of a passage in Old Testament history, "And Pharaoh said unto Jacob: How old are you?" (Genesis 47:8). What a touching question! How calculated to awaken solemn thoughts, and to call up interesting reminiscences! Let us glance at,
The Two PARTIES.
A sovereign - and a subject.
The greatest monarch of his day - and a plain unsophisticated shepherd.
One accustomed to rule in courts - and one in the habit of dwelling in tents.
A citizen of the world - and an old pilgrim to mount Zion.
One who was of the world, and at home in the world - and one who was only passing through the world, to take possession of a better country.
An idolatrous sinner - and a saint of the Most High God.
One who had no clear or correct conception of the divine natue and character - and one who knew God, and walked in daily fellowship with Him.
A greater contrast could not be, than between the patriarch Jacob - and the monarch Pharaoh.
Pharaoh appears to have had some excellent qualities, and in many points to have been a fine character - but he was a stranger to God, a worshiper of dumb idols, and was led captive y the devil at his will.
Jacob had many faults, and some striking defects - but he was a friend of God, walking with Him in peace and righteousness.
The pilgrim was introduced to the king, who perhaps to make him feel at ease during his interview, or from some other good motive, proposed the question, "How old are you?"
Let us look at the INQUIRY.
Questions may be meddlesome - and should not be answered.
Questions may be offensive - and should not be noticed.
Questions may be mischievous - and should call forth a serious reply.
This sincere question by Pharaoh may have been called forth by the patriarch's venerable looks. What a beautiful sight is a fine old man! His locks are silver. His brow is wrinkled. His cheeks have fallen in. His voice is tremulous. His form stoops. All unite to excite veneration, and may therefore well prompt the question, "How old are you?"
It may have been curiosity on the part of the king, or even qa benevolent feeling, which led him to make the inquiry - but whatever it was, it may be turned to very good account. Let us take it home, and examine ourselves by it.
How old am I NATURALLY? I was once a babe, and then a youth - but I am such no longer.
This should awaken REFLECTION - and lead us to remember all the way which the Lord our God has led us in the wilderness.
It should produce GRATITUDE. How many have been cut down younger, and cut down unprepared. How many are in hell now - who were born since we were! How many have sunk in poverty, been crushed by troubles, or been hurried out of time into eternity - by disease.
It should lead us to REPENTANCE. This is always the design of God's goodness. This is also its tendency to a gracious heart. Upon how many points, we have seen reason to change our minds. For how much that we have done, we have reason to weep bitter tears. How necessary it is on some points, to change our course. Can we attend to this question, and not reflect on the past? Can we reflect on the past - and not be grateful? Can we reflect, and be grateful, and not repent, and turn again unto the Lord?
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Yet They Are Your People # 1
Yet They Are Your People # 1
"Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm." (Deuteronomy 9:29).
The imperfections of the Lord's people, are sometimes so numerous and so great - that it is difficult for them to recognize the likeness of Jesus in them. They are so worldly, so selfish, and indulge such unlovely tempers - that we are ready to say that they can never be the Lord's redeemed people.
But it is impossible for us to say, with how much imperfection - true grace may dwell.
Who would have thought that Jonah was a true prophet, one of God's own choice, and object of His infinite and endless love? But he was!
Who, that heard Peter curse and swear that he never knew Jesus, would have said, that he had love in his heart to Him? Yet so it was!
It is well for us, that God sees not as man sees; for man judges by the outward appearance - but the Lord judges by the heart. A sour temper - sometimes conceals the sweet grace of Jesus. A rough exterior - may hide a gentle loving heart. But the Lord's people are, they always have been - very imperfect. Moses admits this; but he closes by concluding after all, "Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm." We will notice,
First, the Lord's conduct towards Israel. There is the stamp of His own nature, the impress of His own divinity, upon it. It is the conduct of a God, who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth. In Egypt, when smarting under a tyrant's rod - He looked upon them, He pitied them, He appeared for them, and exerted Himself on their behalf. Long did He bear with them, and was determined to deliver them. He treated and showed Himself to them - as God. Egyptian slavery - though haughty Pharaoh resisted, though the people complained, and though timid Moses was afraid. Having brought them out - He constituted them His own peculiar people, called them His children, treated them as such, and claimed them as His own inheritance!
Just so, has He acted towards us: we were in bondage under the elementary principles of the world, we were led captive by the devil at his will, we were serving divers lusts and pleasures, hateful and hating one another. He looked upon us, He pitied us, He determined to save us. He sent us His Word - His servants - His Spirit - and His grace. He crushed the power of our foe, He subdued the enmity of our hearts - and He brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light, translating us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
He constituted us His people - by the work of His Spirit; He made us His children - by adoption and grace, and claims us for His own inheritance.
We are His people - and He is our God;
we His sheep - and He is our shepherd;
we are His children - and He is our heavenly Father.
In acting towards us thus, He displays His sovereignty, manifests His grace, exalts His gratuitous mercy, confounds our foes, lays us under the deepest obligation, and will secure to Himself everlasting glory! Let us now consider,
Secondly, Israel's conduct toward God. What a contrast is here!
Look at them at Marah - murmuring against Moses and against God, saying, "What shall we drink?"
See them in the wilderness of sin, murmuring and exclaiming, "If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt! There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death!"
See them at Mount Horeb, where they make the golden calf, and worship it.
View them at Taberah, where they wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!"
See them at Massah, where they cried, "Why have You brought us up out of Egypt - to kill us and our children, and our cattle with thirst?"
Look at them at Kibroth-Hattaavah, where they provoked the Lord to wrath.
See them at Kadesh-Barnea, where they indulged in unbelief, and were excluded from the land.
Their conduct from first to last was ungrateful, for God was their firm, fast, and faithful Friend.
It was unnatural - for He was their kind, tender, and indulgent Father.
It was treasonable - for He was their just, merciful and gracious Sovereign.
It was fearful - for it was against a present God, the symbol of whose presence was constantly before their eyes.
Well might Moses say of them, "You have been a stiff-necked people since the day I knew you!"
Well might God say of them, "I know how stubborn and obstinate you are. Your necks are as unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze. I know so well what traitors you are. You have been rebels from birth!"
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
"Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm." (Deuteronomy 9:29).
The imperfections of the Lord's people, are sometimes so numerous and so great - that it is difficult for them to recognize the likeness of Jesus in them. They are so worldly, so selfish, and indulge such unlovely tempers - that we are ready to say that they can never be the Lord's redeemed people.
But it is impossible for us to say, with how much imperfection - true grace may dwell.
Who would have thought that Jonah was a true prophet, one of God's own choice, and object of His infinite and endless love? But he was!
Who, that heard Peter curse and swear that he never knew Jesus, would have said, that he had love in his heart to Him? Yet so it was!
It is well for us, that God sees not as man sees; for man judges by the outward appearance - but the Lord judges by the heart. A sour temper - sometimes conceals the sweet grace of Jesus. A rough exterior - may hide a gentle loving heart. But the Lord's people are, they always have been - very imperfect. Moses admits this; but he closes by concluding after all, "Yet they are Your people, Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm." We will notice,
First, the Lord's conduct towards Israel. There is the stamp of His own nature, the impress of His own divinity, upon it. It is the conduct of a God, who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth. In Egypt, when smarting under a tyrant's rod - He looked upon them, He pitied them, He appeared for them, and exerted Himself on their behalf. Long did He bear with them, and was determined to deliver them. He treated and showed Himself to them - as God. Egyptian slavery - though haughty Pharaoh resisted, though the people complained, and though timid Moses was afraid. Having brought them out - He constituted them His own peculiar people, called them His children, treated them as such, and claimed them as His own inheritance!
Just so, has He acted towards us: we were in bondage under the elementary principles of the world, we were led captive by the devil at his will, we were serving divers lusts and pleasures, hateful and hating one another. He looked upon us, He pitied us, He determined to save us. He sent us His Word - His servants - His Spirit - and His grace. He crushed the power of our foe, He subdued the enmity of our hearts - and He brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light, translating us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
He constituted us His people - by the work of His Spirit; He made us His children - by adoption and grace, and claims us for His own inheritance.
We are His people - and He is our God;
we His sheep - and He is our shepherd;
we are His children - and He is our heavenly Father.
In acting towards us thus, He displays His sovereignty, manifests His grace, exalts His gratuitous mercy, confounds our foes, lays us under the deepest obligation, and will secure to Himself everlasting glory! Let us now consider,
Secondly, Israel's conduct toward God. What a contrast is here!
Look at them at Marah - murmuring against Moses and against God, saying, "What shall we drink?"
See them in the wilderness of sin, murmuring and exclaiming, "If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt! There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death!"
See them at Mount Horeb, where they make the golden calf, and worship it.
View them at Taberah, where they wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!"
See them at Massah, where they cried, "Why have You brought us up out of Egypt - to kill us and our children, and our cattle with thirst?"
Look at them at Kibroth-Hattaavah, where they provoked the Lord to wrath.
See them at Kadesh-Barnea, where they indulged in unbelief, and were excluded from the land.
Their conduct from first to last was ungrateful, for God was their firm, fast, and faithful Friend.
It was unnatural - for He was their kind, tender, and indulgent Father.
It was treasonable - for He was their just, merciful and gracious Sovereign.
It was fearful - for it was against a present God, the symbol of whose presence was constantly before their eyes.
Well might Moses say of them, "You have been a stiff-necked people since the day I knew you!"
Well might God say of them, "I know how stubborn and obstinate you are. Your necks are as unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze. I know so well what traitors you are. You have been rebels from birth!"
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, May 16, 2020
The Love of Jesus!
The Love of Jesus!
"I have loved you!" (John 15:12).
WHOM does Jesus love? Every believer, whatever his outward circumstances may be. That is, everyone who loves Him - and are in a measure, like Him. How wonderful that Jesus should love us, who are so vile, so debased, so ungrateful!! Yes - and it is fact, and He has proved it in a variety of ways.
He displayed His love before we knew Him, or were even capable of doing so - in choosing fallen men to be saved - and not the fallen angels. They fell as we did - but their nature was more noble, their fall was from a greater eminence - yet He did not assume their nature to save them - but He became man to save us! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
In making a full atonement for our sins, He satisfied justice to the full. He removed the curse entirely. He produced for us a righteousness, sparkling with glory beyond the rays of the morning sun! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
He displayed His love Now in the following ways: In conquering all our spiritual adversaries which had overcome us, and had taken captive our entire race. No human arm was strong enough to overcome them, no mere creature could escape from them; but Christ came, He fought, He conquered, He triumphed in our nature, in our name, for our sake! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
In going to heaven as our forerunner, He has carried our nature into the presence of the Father, He has shown that the path to glory is attainable, and He is now actively employed in heaven preparing places for us! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
In sending the Holy Spirit, who comes in His name, to quicken, call, cleanse, and sanctify. By Him we are converted to God, prepared for glory, rendered useful in the present world, and comforted in all our tribulations.
Christ, in acting as our intercessor and advocate before the Father, "He made intercession for the transgressors." He has pleaded for us, He presently pleads for us, He will continue to plead for us! And why? "He tells us, "I have loved you!"
He has displayed His love in His DEALINGS with us. He found us cruel, determined, unfeeling enemies to Him. But He reconciled us, made us friends, and filled us with wonder at His love.
He keeps us by His power and Holy Spirit, for we cannot be trusted for one solitary moment! He only chastens us in love - when He might justly punish us in wrath. He restores us from all our wanderings, and freely forgives our follies.
He carries on His work within us. He rejoices to save us, though as repulsive as worms, and viler than the earth!
His love is displayed in what He Intends to do for us. He will come in glory and majesty as our Bridegroom, to fetch us home, and make us the partners of His throne, triumphs and glory forever!
He will fill us with unspeakable joy and full of glory, and give us to possess more than our eye has seen, or our ear ever heard, or our heart could ever imagine! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you."
What will He not do for those whom He loves? What has not the love of Jesus done, or promised to do? It is, it will be, it must be matter of wonder throughout eternity - that Jesus should love us so - so freely, so constantly, with love so pure, so unbounded, and so Godlike!
Behold, how He loves us!
Behold, and wonder!
Behold, and praise!
Behold, and love Him in return!
~James Smith~
(The End)
"I have loved you!" (John 15:12).
WHOM does Jesus love? Every believer, whatever his outward circumstances may be. That is, everyone who loves Him - and are in a measure, like Him. How wonderful that Jesus should love us, who are so vile, so debased, so ungrateful!! Yes - and it is fact, and He has proved it in a variety of ways.
He displayed His love before we knew Him, or were even capable of doing so - in choosing fallen men to be saved - and not the fallen angels. They fell as we did - but their nature was more noble, their fall was from a greater eminence - yet He did not assume their nature to save them - but He became man to save us! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
In making a full atonement for our sins, He satisfied justice to the full. He removed the curse entirely. He produced for us a righteousness, sparkling with glory beyond the rays of the morning sun! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
He displayed His love Now in the following ways: In conquering all our spiritual adversaries which had overcome us, and had taken captive our entire race. No human arm was strong enough to overcome them, no mere creature could escape from them; but Christ came, He fought, He conquered, He triumphed in our nature, in our name, for our sake! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
In going to heaven as our forerunner, He has carried our nature into the presence of the Father, He has shown that the path to glory is attainable, and He is now actively employed in heaven preparing places for us! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you!"
In sending the Holy Spirit, who comes in His name, to quicken, call, cleanse, and sanctify. By Him we are converted to God, prepared for glory, rendered useful in the present world, and comforted in all our tribulations.
Christ, in acting as our intercessor and advocate before the Father, "He made intercession for the transgressors." He has pleaded for us, He presently pleads for us, He will continue to plead for us! And why? "He tells us, "I have loved you!"
He has displayed His love in His DEALINGS with us. He found us cruel, determined, unfeeling enemies to Him. But He reconciled us, made us friends, and filled us with wonder at His love.
He keeps us by His power and Holy Spirit, for we cannot be trusted for one solitary moment! He only chastens us in love - when He might justly punish us in wrath. He restores us from all our wanderings, and freely forgives our follies.
He carries on His work within us. He rejoices to save us, though as repulsive as worms, and viler than the earth!
His love is displayed in what He Intends to do for us. He will come in glory and majesty as our Bridegroom, to fetch us home, and make us the partners of His throne, triumphs and glory forever!
He will fill us with unspeakable joy and full of glory, and give us to possess more than our eye has seen, or our ear ever heard, or our heart could ever imagine! And why? He tells us, "I have loved you."
What will He not do for those whom He loves? What has not the love of Jesus done, or promised to do? It is, it will be, it must be matter of wonder throughout eternity - that Jesus should love us so - so freely, so constantly, with love so pure, so unbounded, and so Godlike!
Behold, how He loves us!
Behold, and wonder!
Behold, and praise!
Behold, and love Him in return!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Ruin and Redemption
Ruin and Redemption
Israel is the type and looking-glass of the church. In the heart of that people - we see our own hearts; and in the conduct of that people - we see our own conduct. They bring out God's character, and set before us the nature of the divine government. What they did - we do; and what the Lord did for them - He does for His people now.
When Israel was in bondage to the Chaldeans, and were groaning under their iron yoke, the prophet bore testimony against them, and delivered a gracious message from God to them. A message to exercise faith, excite hope, fire them with courage, and fill them with comfort. His message was, "Thus says the Lord: You have sold yourself for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money!" (Isaiah 52:3).
Their conduct was dishonest, their sin was great, their situation was dreadful, their sufferings were extreme - and their deliverance was to be gratuitous. They were the authors of their own misery - and God alone would be the author of their deliverance. They suffered from their own sin - but they were to be delivered alone by His grace. Such is our condition; and, blessed be God - such is our mercy!
We have sold ourselves. Man was once free. He was holy. He was happy. No creature was more indulged in all God's universe. But he became dissatisfied with his lot. He listened to the tempter. He yielded to temptation. He got as far from God as he could. He surrendered himself into the hands of satan. He came under the power and authority of the prince of darkness, who took possession of him, ruled him, and reduced him to a state of the most abject slavery! Thus he forfeited his liberty, his peace, his possessions, and his all!
He was now a traitor - a rebel in arms against God. He sympathized with satan in his enmity to, and opposition against God. He sold himself, as far as he could, out of God's hands; and gave God's sworn foe the dominion over himself. It was his own act and deed. It was done willingly - for no coercion was employed. He did it knowingly - for he was not deceived. He did it, though warned against it, and threathened with terrible consequences if he did.
What he did - we as his posterity assented to. As soon as we were capable - we gave our consent to the bargain, and testified our approval of his conduct by imitating it as nearly as we could. We sold ourselves for nothing, for all we got for our bargain was vanity, falsehood, and suffering! O the folly we displayed! O the sin we committed! O the misery we entailed upon ourselves!
We sold ourselves - but to whom? satan was the purchaser. He presented bait - and we took it! He made the offer - and we accepted it! Thus we sold ourselves to the greatest tyrant, the most degraded being, the most hardened monster in the universe! By sin we subjected ourselves to him, and by sinning we continue under that subjection. God's justice had a claim upon us, and will not, cannot give up that claim - and therefore our purchaser is made both our jailor and our tormentor - and is employed by justice to inflict punishment upon us.
Sin not only gave satan power over us - but delivered us over to death. We are therefore separated from God, the fountain of life; deprived of all moral and spiritual power; and are exposed to all the horrors of banishment from God, and the vengeance of eternal fire! In selling ourselves - we lost the freedom of the will, which came under a sinful bias, and we were enthralled by evil, and reduced to bondage by satan. We parted with the purity and holiness of our nature - and became polluted and unclean. We gave up our rectitude and righteousness - and came under guilt and disgrace. Our conscience being defiled, turned against us; so that we became the slaves of fear and shame! Happiness and comfort - gave place to misery and woe! Health and strength - gave place to disease and weakness! And paradise, with all its beauty and blessedness - gave place to a waste-howling wilderness.
Thus we were degraded, rendered wretched, and exposed to all possible misery! Earth would have been turned into hell, and every one of us would have been tortured with black eternal despair - but for the mercy of God, who had thoughts of peace respecting us. The world, as bad as it is - is not what it would have been, if sin had been allowed to take its natural course. Man, suffer as he may - does not suffer as he would, if mercy had not interfered for him. We sold ourselves for nothing - but God determined that we should be redeemed.
The appointed Redeemer was His only begotten Son. He saw our state. He pitied our condition. He volunteered to effect our deliverance. In the covenant of grace it was arranged, that though He was God - He should become man. That though naturally incapable of suffering - he should be made capable of suffering, that by His sufferings, obedience, and death - He may give unto God a ransom for us. For if we were ever to be delivered - our sin must be atoned for, the demands of justice must be met, and the penalty of death must be paid. satan must be vanquished, death mjust be abolished, and a perfect righteousness, answerable to all the demands of the law, must be provided.
He is our Redeemer - the Lord Almighty, is His name. What love we owe Him! What obedience we should render to Him! What praise we should give Him! Beloved, are you trusting in His precious blood, and in His Almighty power, to complete your redemption?
If He has redeemed us from sin - He will deliver us from satan - and ransom us from the power of the grave. Having begun the work - He will complete it, and all His redeemed will ultimately unite in the song, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
~James Smith~
(The End)
Israel is the type and looking-glass of the church. In the heart of that people - we see our own hearts; and in the conduct of that people - we see our own conduct. They bring out God's character, and set before us the nature of the divine government. What they did - we do; and what the Lord did for them - He does for His people now.
When Israel was in bondage to the Chaldeans, and were groaning under their iron yoke, the prophet bore testimony against them, and delivered a gracious message from God to them. A message to exercise faith, excite hope, fire them with courage, and fill them with comfort. His message was, "Thus says the Lord: You have sold yourself for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money!" (Isaiah 52:3).
Their conduct was dishonest, their sin was great, their situation was dreadful, their sufferings were extreme - and their deliverance was to be gratuitous. They were the authors of their own misery - and God alone would be the author of their deliverance. They suffered from their own sin - but they were to be delivered alone by His grace. Such is our condition; and, blessed be God - such is our mercy!
We have sold ourselves. Man was once free. He was holy. He was happy. No creature was more indulged in all God's universe. But he became dissatisfied with his lot. He listened to the tempter. He yielded to temptation. He got as far from God as he could. He surrendered himself into the hands of satan. He came under the power and authority of the prince of darkness, who took possession of him, ruled him, and reduced him to a state of the most abject slavery! Thus he forfeited his liberty, his peace, his possessions, and his all!
He was now a traitor - a rebel in arms against God. He sympathized with satan in his enmity to, and opposition against God. He sold himself, as far as he could, out of God's hands; and gave God's sworn foe the dominion over himself. It was his own act and deed. It was done willingly - for no coercion was employed. He did it knowingly - for he was not deceived. He did it, though warned against it, and threathened with terrible consequences if he did.
What he did - we as his posterity assented to. As soon as we were capable - we gave our consent to the bargain, and testified our approval of his conduct by imitating it as nearly as we could. We sold ourselves for nothing, for all we got for our bargain was vanity, falsehood, and suffering! O the folly we displayed! O the sin we committed! O the misery we entailed upon ourselves!
We sold ourselves - but to whom? satan was the purchaser. He presented bait - and we took it! He made the offer - and we accepted it! Thus we sold ourselves to the greatest tyrant, the most degraded being, the most hardened monster in the universe! By sin we subjected ourselves to him, and by sinning we continue under that subjection. God's justice had a claim upon us, and will not, cannot give up that claim - and therefore our purchaser is made both our jailor and our tormentor - and is employed by justice to inflict punishment upon us.
Sin not only gave satan power over us - but delivered us over to death. We are therefore separated from God, the fountain of life; deprived of all moral and spiritual power; and are exposed to all the horrors of banishment from God, and the vengeance of eternal fire! In selling ourselves - we lost the freedom of the will, which came under a sinful bias, and we were enthralled by evil, and reduced to bondage by satan. We parted with the purity and holiness of our nature - and became polluted and unclean. We gave up our rectitude and righteousness - and came under guilt and disgrace. Our conscience being defiled, turned against us; so that we became the slaves of fear and shame! Happiness and comfort - gave place to misery and woe! Health and strength - gave place to disease and weakness! And paradise, with all its beauty and blessedness - gave place to a waste-howling wilderness.
Thus we were degraded, rendered wretched, and exposed to all possible misery! Earth would have been turned into hell, and every one of us would have been tortured with black eternal despair - but for the mercy of God, who had thoughts of peace respecting us. The world, as bad as it is - is not what it would have been, if sin had been allowed to take its natural course. Man, suffer as he may - does not suffer as he would, if mercy had not interfered for him. We sold ourselves for nothing - but God determined that we should be redeemed.
The appointed Redeemer was His only begotten Son. He saw our state. He pitied our condition. He volunteered to effect our deliverance. In the covenant of grace it was arranged, that though He was God - He should become man. That though naturally incapable of suffering - he should be made capable of suffering, that by His sufferings, obedience, and death - He may give unto God a ransom for us. For if we were ever to be delivered - our sin must be atoned for, the demands of justice must be met, and the penalty of death must be paid. satan must be vanquished, death mjust be abolished, and a perfect righteousness, answerable to all the demands of the law, must be provided.
He is our Redeemer - the Lord Almighty, is His name. What love we owe Him! What obedience we should render to Him! What praise we should give Him! Beloved, are you trusting in His precious blood, and in His Almighty power, to complete your redemption?
If He has redeemed us from sin - He will deliver us from satan - and ransom us from the power of the grave. Having begun the work - He will complete it, and all His redeemed will ultimately unite in the song, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Men Who Had Been With Jesus!
Men Who Had Been With Jesus!
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)
There are men who seem to be so full of divine influence, that wherever they go they carry blessings. There is a strange power in their simplest words, which thrills every heart. There is a warm glow in their faces which seems like the outshining of a great altar fire, or a hot furnace of love in their bosoms. There is an unction in their prayers which takes hold of men's souls and lifts them up into the bosom of God. Their very presence brings a heavenly atmosphere. Their lives have a holy fragrance. And if you ask for the secret, you shall find it to be this: they have been with Jesus; they live with Him; they abide in Him; and wherever they go, they go right from His bosom.
These are the mighty ones of the earth. They live nearby the gates of Heaven, and when they come to us they bring their hands and their hearts full of rich blessings fresh from God. When a man comes in from outside on a cold, wintry day - he brings winter with him on his garments. When one comes from a flower garden into your chamber - he brings fragrance with him.
In the same way, when a man comes from communing with Jesus, "all his garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia." He walks in the garden of God - and comes with garments perfumed. Like the men who bore the Eshcol grapes from the vineyard-clad hills of Canaan - back into the wilderness he comes, laden with ripe clusters of the fruits, which, with his own hands, he has gathered upon the heavenly fields. He comes as a vessel, a vessel only of wood, or of clay, it may be - but a vessel fresh from the fountain, and full to the brim of the sweet waters of grace.
When they go out among the great needs and wants of human hearts - they go with their hands full of spiritual gifts. They live so near to the gates of Heaven that they catch the accents of the angels' songs, and then come and sing them in men's homes, to cheer the sad and weary of earth. They are on such intimate terms with Jesus, that He reveals to them many of the precious secrets of His love - and then they come and tell them to others who are burdened.
There is no power to be compared for a moment with spiritual power. Pompey boasted that with one stamp of his foot he could rouse all Italy to arms. But with all his power - he could not have comforted a mourner, nor dried a tear, nor lifted up a fainting one, nor led a lost soul to light. The achievements of physical power, will perish. The things that mighty men do, will pass away. The cities men build, will crumble. The thrones men raise, will topple and fall. But the things wrought by spiritual power, will endure forever.
They say that a word breathed into the air goes on and on forever, in infinite vibrations through the fields of space. This may be a mere vagary of the scientists - but certain it is, that good words once spoken will go on forever in human hearts. Songs sung into the ears of sorrow or care, will go singing on eternally. A touch of beauty on a human soul will never fade, nor be rubbed out. Joys started deep in men's hearts by spiritual truths, will never die. The things which are done in the name of Christ, and through the power of grace, will last forever. I would rather be the obscurest servant in all God's field - and have the spiritual ability to bless, to comfort, to heal, to cheer, to lift up, to feed, and to point souls to the Lamb of Calvary - than be the mightiest emperor on the globe, ruling over half a continent.
This power can be gained. God will give it to his lowliest servants - but it can be obtained only in one way. Wealth will not give it. The universities cannot confer it. Genius has it not among its treasures. It is not gotten in military academies. It is not one of the jewels of the king's crown.
It can only be had by being much with Jesus. Live with Him, commune with Him, sit at His feet, lie on His bosom, go out daily and hourly from His presence - and you will be clothed with spiritual power!
~J. R. Miller~
(The End)
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)
There are men who seem to be so full of divine influence, that wherever they go they carry blessings. There is a strange power in their simplest words, which thrills every heart. There is a warm glow in their faces which seems like the outshining of a great altar fire, or a hot furnace of love in their bosoms. There is an unction in their prayers which takes hold of men's souls and lifts them up into the bosom of God. Their very presence brings a heavenly atmosphere. Their lives have a holy fragrance. And if you ask for the secret, you shall find it to be this: they have been with Jesus; they live with Him; they abide in Him; and wherever they go, they go right from His bosom.
These are the mighty ones of the earth. They live nearby the gates of Heaven, and when they come to us they bring their hands and their hearts full of rich blessings fresh from God. When a man comes in from outside on a cold, wintry day - he brings winter with him on his garments. When one comes from a flower garden into your chamber - he brings fragrance with him.
In the same way, when a man comes from communing with Jesus, "all his garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia." He walks in the garden of God - and comes with garments perfumed. Like the men who bore the Eshcol grapes from the vineyard-clad hills of Canaan - back into the wilderness he comes, laden with ripe clusters of the fruits, which, with his own hands, he has gathered upon the heavenly fields. He comes as a vessel, a vessel only of wood, or of clay, it may be - but a vessel fresh from the fountain, and full to the brim of the sweet waters of grace.
When they go out among the great needs and wants of human hearts - they go with their hands full of spiritual gifts. They live so near to the gates of Heaven that they catch the accents of the angels' songs, and then come and sing them in men's homes, to cheer the sad and weary of earth. They are on such intimate terms with Jesus, that He reveals to them many of the precious secrets of His love - and then they come and tell them to others who are burdened.
There is no power to be compared for a moment with spiritual power. Pompey boasted that with one stamp of his foot he could rouse all Italy to arms. But with all his power - he could not have comforted a mourner, nor dried a tear, nor lifted up a fainting one, nor led a lost soul to light. The achievements of physical power, will perish. The things that mighty men do, will pass away. The cities men build, will crumble. The thrones men raise, will topple and fall. But the things wrought by spiritual power, will endure forever.
They say that a word breathed into the air goes on and on forever, in infinite vibrations through the fields of space. This may be a mere vagary of the scientists - but certain it is, that good words once spoken will go on forever in human hearts. Songs sung into the ears of sorrow or care, will go singing on eternally. A touch of beauty on a human soul will never fade, nor be rubbed out. Joys started deep in men's hearts by spiritual truths, will never die. The things which are done in the name of Christ, and through the power of grace, will last forever. I would rather be the obscurest servant in all God's field - and have the spiritual ability to bless, to comfort, to heal, to cheer, to lift up, to feed, and to point souls to the Lamb of Calvary - than be the mightiest emperor on the globe, ruling over half a continent.
This power can be gained. God will give it to his lowliest servants - but it can be obtained only in one way. Wealth will not give it. The universities cannot confer it. Genius has it not among its treasures. It is not gotten in military academies. It is not one of the jewels of the king's crown.
It can only be had by being much with Jesus. Live with Him, commune with Him, sit at His feet, lie on His bosom, go out daily and hourly from His presence - and you will be clothed with spiritual power!
~J. R. Miller~
(The End)
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