Our Condition - God's Mercy!
Many of the Psalms are poetic records of God's mercy towards His ancient people, calling upon them to bless and praise His most glorious name. Israel's history forms a mirror in which we see our own spiritual history. Oh for grace, so to read it, meditate upon it, and exercise faith in it - as to permanently profit by it. My eye is now fixed upon one important verse, a record of God's goodness to them, and equally so of His kindness to us. "Give thanks to the One who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endures forever!" (Psalm 136:23).
Our Condition. LOW! We were not created so - but were brought into it by Adam's sin, who represented us, ruined us, and laid us low! Our own conduct sunk as lower still! We are now, by nature, so low, that we cannot be lower! We are now so vile, so weak, that we could not be worse!
Look at man in reference to God - he is God's determined foe! Look at man under the law - he is condemned, condemned to everlasting burnings! Look at man in the world - he is its dupe - victimized by its fashions, customs and spirit.
Look at man in connection with satan - he is satan's vassal, satan's abject slave - inhabited and influenced by satan. Not only so, but he is led captive by satan to do his will!
Look at man - in association with his fellow men - see his craft, cruelty, and covetousness!
Look at man ruling the brute creation - what lack of feeling, care and kindness! Often, man seems to be sunk even lower than they!
GOD'S MERCY. This was freely fixed upon us, is very great towards us, and will always distinguish us.
He remembered us - and sent His Son to redeem us!
He remembered us - and sent His Spirit to quicken us!
He remembered us - and sent His Word to instruct us!
He remembered us - and sent His ordinances to comfort us!
He remembered us - and sent His grace to sanctify us!
He remembered us - and sent His rod to correct us!
He remembered our guilt - and provided an atonement, our weakness - and provided strength, our danger - and provided a refuge, our destitute state - and provided for us a home in Heaven.
"The One who remembered us." It was not the exercise of God's memory merely - but the exercise of His memory influenced by immortal love. It was a father, remembering his child, a bridegroom, remembering his bride, a God, remembering His poor fallen creatures, who were the objects of His love, and whom He had determined to save! Blessed, forever blessed be the Lord, for remembering us in our low estate, for His mercy endures forever!
Mercy is man's best friend. It is that in God which looks upon us with pity, feels for us with sympathy, and exerts itself for our relief and deliverance.
Divine mercy was personified in Jesus, and wept over us, stretched out its hand to help us, and shed its blood to save us.
God's mercy should be our heart's theme. We should think of it, speak of it, and sing of it.
We should rejoice in its freeness, fullness, and immutability. Let us think more of God's mercy than of our trials, our troubles, or our foes.
God's mercy began with us of its own accord, came to us unsought and unsolicited, raised us from our low estate, has heaped favors upon us, will not leave us now - but will follow us all the days of our life, will comfort us in all our tribulations, against all our sorrows, and make us a match for all our troubles!
God's mercy will crown us at last! Mercy will accompany us to the day valley, and through it. Mercy will conduct us to the Jordan, and over it!
Mercy will lead us up into the holy city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Mercy will place a crown of pure gold, or of sparkling glory, upon our heads, that we may wear it to its honor forever and ever!
O beloved, how will God's mercy look, when we contemplate it in the light of glory - when from the holy city we look back upon the past, and lift up our voices and sing, "To the One who remembered us in our low estate; for His mercy endures forever!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Abide With Me # 4
Abide With Me # 4
My dear friends, we live in stirring times, everything is full of life and vigor - except the Church of Christ, which ought to be more so than anything else. We hear of the outpouring of the Spirit, and of a great revival of religion in another land, and we need the same blessing in our own. Many seem to be impressed with this fact, and means are being used to obtain such a blessing. But is it not to be feared that many are looking to meetings, to excitement, and to the use of means - rather than to God? And is there not reason to fear that the feelings produced by exciting circumstances and startling news from abroad, will end with them? It is not mere excitement that we need - but something purer, deeper, and more spiritual. We may have physical excitement, mental excitement, and even spiritual excitement - and it may end in nothing. We need deep spirituality. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need abiding in Christ, that we may breathe the spirit of Christ, copy the example of Christ, and so be extensively useful in the cause of Christ.
Shall we have a revival of pure and undefiled religion? Shall we be instrumental in obtaining and bringing about such a blessed state of things? If so, we must attend to the following things:
First, we must be in Christ. Apart from Christ, without union to Him - we can do nothing in this matter. As poor sinners, we must feel our need of Christ, come to Christ, obtain salvation from Christ, and by faith and love be united to the person of Christ. No union to Christ - no grace, no spiritual life, no acceptance with God, or access with confidence to God. Without union to Christ, we have no power with God; and unless we have power with God, we shall have no power with man for spiritual and saving purposes.
Second, we must be intimate with Christ. We must live by faith in Him. We must walk with Him. We must carry everything to Him. We must seek all we need from Him. We must be constantly going to Christ, conversing with Christ, and obtaining from Christ.
The branch receives from the vine night and day, summer and winter; there is a constant communication from the root, through the trunk to the branches, and hence the buds, the blossoms, and the fruit.
Just so, there must be constant fellowship between Christ and our souls. The more we receive from Christ, the more we can do for Christ. This leads me to observe,
Thirdly, that we must act for Christ. There are many things done by religious people, and in the cause of God - but they are not done for Christ. Jesus could not say, "You did it unto Me." We may act from pity - or from pride, for applause - or to satisfy conscience; but we should act for Christ. The glory of Christ should ever be our aim and end in all our religious actions. As all that Christ did, as the Saviour - He did for us; so all that we do as Christians - should be done for Him.
Now, unless we are in union with Christ, we cannot be intimate with Christ; so unless we are intimate with Christ, we shall not, in our efforts and endeavors to do good acts for Christ.
Fourth, we must be like Christ. We may possess His nature, for "if any man has not the Spirit of Christ - he is none of His." We must become His disciples, and learn of Him. We must copy His example, breathe His spirit, and imbibe His temper.
Every Christian should represent Christ in the world, in the family, and in the Church; and if we do not give a fair representation of Christ - we do not answer the end of our new creation.
Until we are more like Christ, it cannot be said of us, "You are manifestly declared to be the epistles of Christ, written not with ink - but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone - but in the fleshy tables of the heart." O for grace to make us more like Christ!
Finally, we must receive the Holy Spirit from Christ. The Father promised to give His Holy Spirit to the Church. When the Son had finished His work on earth, He went up to Heaven, and received of the Father the promised Spirit. On the day of Pentecost He sent down that Spirit into His Church; and by the wisdom, power, and operations of that Spirit - sinners were converted, the Church increased, and believers were edified.
Now, the great thing we need for ourselves, is the Spirit in His fullness and in power. That fullness and power of the Spirit that we need must be obtained from Christ - but it can only be obtained by close walking with Christ.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 5)
My dear friends, we live in stirring times, everything is full of life and vigor - except the Church of Christ, which ought to be more so than anything else. We hear of the outpouring of the Spirit, and of a great revival of religion in another land, and we need the same blessing in our own. Many seem to be impressed with this fact, and means are being used to obtain such a blessing. But is it not to be feared that many are looking to meetings, to excitement, and to the use of means - rather than to God? And is there not reason to fear that the feelings produced by exciting circumstances and startling news from abroad, will end with them? It is not mere excitement that we need - but something purer, deeper, and more spiritual. We may have physical excitement, mental excitement, and even spiritual excitement - and it may end in nothing. We need deep spirituality. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need abiding in Christ, that we may breathe the spirit of Christ, copy the example of Christ, and so be extensively useful in the cause of Christ.
Shall we have a revival of pure and undefiled religion? Shall we be instrumental in obtaining and bringing about such a blessed state of things? If so, we must attend to the following things:
First, we must be in Christ. Apart from Christ, without union to Him - we can do nothing in this matter. As poor sinners, we must feel our need of Christ, come to Christ, obtain salvation from Christ, and by faith and love be united to the person of Christ. No union to Christ - no grace, no spiritual life, no acceptance with God, or access with confidence to God. Without union to Christ, we have no power with God; and unless we have power with God, we shall have no power with man for spiritual and saving purposes.
Second, we must be intimate with Christ. We must live by faith in Him. We must walk with Him. We must carry everything to Him. We must seek all we need from Him. We must be constantly going to Christ, conversing with Christ, and obtaining from Christ.
The branch receives from the vine night and day, summer and winter; there is a constant communication from the root, through the trunk to the branches, and hence the buds, the blossoms, and the fruit.
Just so, there must be constant fellowship between Christ and our souls. The more we receive from Christ, the more we can do for Christ. This leads me to observe,
Thirdly, that we must act for Christ. There are many things done by religious people, and in the cause of God - but they are not done for Christ. Jesus could not say, "You did it unto Me." We may act from pity - or from pride, for applause - or to satisfy conscience; but we should act for Christ. The glory of Christ should ever be our aim and end in all our religious actions. As all that Christ did, as the Saviour - He did for us; so all that we do as Christians - should be done for Him.
Now, unless we are in union with Christ, we cannot be intimate with Christ; so unless we are intimate with Christ, we shall not, in our efforts and endeavors to do good acts for Christ.
Fourth, we must be like Christ. We may possess His nature, for "if any man has not the Spirit of Christ - he is none of His." We must become His disciples, and learn of Him. We must copy His example, breathe His spirit, and imbibe His temper.
Every Christian should represent Christ in the world, in the family, and in the Church; and if we do not give a fair representation of Christ - we do not answer the end of our new creation.
Until we are more like Christ, it cannot be said of us, "You are manifestly declared to be the epistles of Christ, written not with ink - but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone - but in the fleshy tables of the heart." O for grace to make us more like Christ!
Finally, we must receive the Holy Spirit from Christ. The Father promised to give His Holy Spirit to the Church. When the Son had finished His work on earth, He went up to Heaven, and received of the Father the promised Spirit. On the day of Pentecost He sent down that Spirit into His Church; and by the wisdom, power, and operations of that Spirit - sinners were converted, the Church increased, and believers were edified.
Now, the great thing we need for ourselves, is the Spirit in His fullness and in power. That fullness and power of the Spirit that we need must be obtained from Christ - but it can only be obtained by close walking with Christ.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 5)
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Abide With Me # 3
Abide With Me # 3
As we must trust Jesus, so we must identify our cause with His. Christ and His people are one. As the branch and the vine are one, as the members and the head are one, as the building and the foundation are one - so Christ and His people are one. He has identified Himself with them - and they should identify Him with themselves. He has identified His cause with theirs - and they should identify theirs with His. Jesus takes an interest in all that concerns them and theirs - and they should take an interest in all that concerns Him and His. "You are not your own, you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your spirits, which are His."
Christ says, "My person, My obedience, My grace, My Spirit, My Word, My wealth, My glory - is yours! You shall taste My sorrows now - and share in My throne, kingdom, and glory by and by." We therefore should say, "My person, my property, my time, my talents, my influence, my all - is Yours. You, O my Saviour, shall be honored by my poverty or wealth, my adversity or prosperity, my sickness or health, my life or my death.
I will be for You, and for You alone now - as I hope to be with You and like You forever!
Beloved, let us think of Christ more, let us read of Christ more, let us commune with Christ more, and let us identify ourselves with the cause of Christ - so shall we abide in Him.
What will abiding in Christ secure?
1. It will secure our safety. Noah was no so safe in his ark; Lot was not so safe in Zoar; the man-slayer was not so safe in the city of refuge - as the true believer is in Christ. Abiding in Christ, to Him there is no condemnation; every sin is pardoned; the whole, the perfect, the glorious righteousness of Christ is his! All the glorious perfections of His nature are thrown around the man who abides in Him. He is safe from satan, who cannot destroy him; safe from sin, which shall not have dominion over him; safe from men, for no weapon formed against him shall prosper; and safe from death, for Jesus has said, "he who keeps My sayings shall never taste of death." In Christ! his person is secure.
2. Abiding in Christ - all things work together for his good. Happy believer, no one shall ever pluck you out of your Redeemer's hands, or sever you from your Saviour's love! Abiding in Christ will not only secure our safety - but our happiness! Happy, thrice happy is the man who is in Christ. He is not only pardoned - but justified; not only justified - but accepted and pleasant in the sight of God; not only accepted - but adopted, and is God's beloved child; not only a beloved child - but an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ!
It is not enough to make a man happy, to know that God has blotted out all his sins; has given him a glorious, eternal inheritance; and never looks upon him, but as in Christ, nor treats him otherwise than as a beloved child?
3. Abiding in Christ not only fixes us in a happy state - but secures our supplies. All that we need for the body and for the soul, for life and in death - is provided for us, secured to us, and will be conferred upon us - as we need it. O how precious the Apostle's words to the Philippians: "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!" Well may our beloved Lord say, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matt. 6:34).
Beloved, the God who has numbered the very hairs of our heads; the God who has redeemed our souls from everlasting death; the God who has made us one with His Son, that we are forever united with Him - this God has provided for all our needs, has promised to supply all our needs, and will be as good as His Word.
4. Abiding in Christ will also secure our usefulness. We long to be useful, and by our usefulness to glorify our God, and honor our beloved Saviour. Usefulness does not depend on great gifts, on exalted station, or bodily vigor; but it does depend very much on our union to Christ, communion with Christ, and abiding in Christ. "He who abides in Me," says Jesus, "and I in him, the same thing brings forth much fruit." Not only fruit, you see - but much fruit. O if we were living in close and intimate fellowship with Jesus, if we were abiding in Him as the branch in the vine - then how useful we should be!
Let us then be deeply impressed with the consideration that our safety, happiness, supplies, and usefulness - depend on our abiding in Jesus! And just in proportion as we wish to realize our safety, enjoy solid happiness, live without care and anxiety, and to be useful in our day and generation - shall we endeavor to abide in Jesus.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 4)
As we must trust Jesus, so we must identify our cause with His. Christ and His people are one. As the branch and the vine are one, as the members and the head are one, as the building and the foundation are one - so Christ and His people are one. He has identified Himself with them - and they should identify Him with themselves. He has identified His cause with theirs - and they should identify theirs with His. Jesus takes an interest in all that concerns them and theirs - and they should take an interest in all that concerns Him and His. "You are not your own, you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your spirits, which are His."
Christ says, "My person, My obedience, My grace, My Spirit, My Word, My wealth, My glory - is yours! You shall taste My sorrows now - and share in My throne, kingdom, and glory by and by." We therefore should say, "My person, my property, my time, my talents, my influence, my all - is Yours. You, O my Saviour, shall be honored by my poverty or wealth, my adversity or prosperity, my sickness or health, my life or my death.
I will be for You, and for You alone now - as I hope to be with You and like You forever!
Beloved, let us think of Christ more, let us read of Christ more, let us commune with Christ more, and let us identify ourselves with the cause of Christ - so shall we abide in Him.
What will abiding in Christ secure?
1. It will secure our safety. Noah was no so safe in his ark; Lot was not so safe in Zoar; the man-slayer was not so safe in the city of refuge - as the true believer is in Christ. Abiding in Christ, to Him there is no condemnation; every sin is pardoned; the whole, the perfect, the glorious righteousness of Christ is his! All the glorious perfections of His nature are thrown around the man who abides in Him. He is safe from satan, who cannot destroy him; safe from sin, which shall not have dominion over him; safe from men, for no weapon formed against him shall prosper; and safe from death, for Jesus has said, "he who keeps My sayings shall never taste of death." In Christ! his person is secure.
2. Abiding in Christ - all things work together for his good. Happy believer, no one shall ever pluck you out of your Redeemer's hands, or sever you from your Saviour's love! Abiding in Christ will not only secure our safety - but our happiness! Happy, thrice happy is the man who is in Christ. He is not only pardoned - but justified; not only justified - but accepted and pleasant in the sight of God; not only accepted - but adopted, and is God's beloved child; not only a beloved child - but an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ!
It is not enough to make a man happy, to know that God has blotted out all his sins; has given him a glorious, eternal inheritance; and never looks upon him, but as in Christ, nor treats him otherwise than as a beloved child?
3. Abiding in Christ not only fixes us in a happy state - but secures our supplies. All that we need for the body and for the soul, for life and in death - is provided for us, secured to us, and will be conferred upon us - as we need it. O how precious the Apostle's words to the Philippians: "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!" Well may our beloved Lord say, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matt. 6:34).
Beloved, the God who has numbered the very hairs of our heads; the God who has redeemed our souls from everlasting death; the God who has made us one with His Son, that we are forever united with Him - this God has provided for all our needs, has promised to supply all our needs, and will be as good as His Word.
4. Abiding in Christ will also secure our usefulness. We long to be useful, and by our usefulness to glorify our God, and honor our beloved Saviour. Usefulness does not depend on great gifts, on exalted station, or bodily vigor; but it does depend very much on our union to Christ, communion with Christ, and abiding in Christ. "He who abides in Me," says Jesus, "and I in him, the same thing brings forth much fruit." Not only fruit, you see - but much fruit. O if we were living in close and intimate fellowship with Jesus, if we were abiding in Him as the branch in the vine - then how useful we should be!
Let us then be deeply impressed with the consideration that our safety, happiness, supplies, and usefulness - depend on our abiding in Jesus! And just in proportion as we wish to realize our safety, enjoy solid happiness, live without care and anxiety, and to be useful in our day and generation - shall we endeavor to abide in Jesus.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 4)
The True Remedy # 2
The True Remedy # 2
In every time of trial, in every season of darkness, in every severe conflict - turn then to the Lord's Word, and with David say, "The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, therefore will we not fear!" Or, "The lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?" This is the only true remedy!
3. Another soul-disorder is ANXIOUS CARE. Worry or anxiety is prohibited by the gospel, because it is injurious to us, and reflects badly upon the care and kindness of God. Yet we, like Martha - are anxious and troubled about many things. We lose sight of the fact that God is our Father, and as such is engaged to provide for us. We forget that we are in our Father's world, are living under our Father's eye, are fed by our Father's hand, and that our interests lie near our Father's heart!
The true remedy for anxious care is to realize daily, and every hour of every day that the Lord cares for us, that He knows where we are, and what we are, that He has fixed the bounds of our habitation, that His feeding the sparrows is a proof that He will never neglect His children.
Anxiety! As a believer in Jesus, as a child of God - about what should I be anxious?
God is my Father, and He loves me - loves me just as He loves Jesus.
He cares for me - cares for me as much as He cared for the apostle Paul.
He watches over me, as a tender mother watches over her precious infant.
He keeps me - keeps me as the apple of His eye; and lest anything should hurt me, He will keep me night and day. He bids me cast every care upon Him. He exhorts me not to worry about anything - but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let my requests be made known unto Him.
This is the true remedy for care: to live close and intimate fellowship with God, and cast all my cares upon Him as they come in; to live realizing the fact, that I am the object of the constant, tender, loving care of God - that my God cares for me, for my best interests, for my everlasting welfare. Yes, this is the only true remedy!
4. Another soul-disorder is SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS. This we deeply and daily feel. When we look at our duties, on our foes, on our difficulties - we feel at times almost overwhelmed. We are not sufficient of ourselves so much as to think a holy thought; and yet... the old man is to be crucified, satan is to be conquered, the world is to be overcome, the journey through a waste howling wilderness is to be completed, and the crown is to be won before we wear it.
But there is a remedy for our weakness; it is union to Jesus. When united to Jesus His wisdom becomes ours, His righteousness becomes ours, His strength becomes ours; His fullness is placed against our emptiness; His wealth is placed against our poverty; His strength is placed against our weakness.
Our needs are to drive us to His fullness; our weakness is to cause us to lean upon His arm; and our sense of nothingness to make Him all in all.
If I am one with Christ - all that He has is mine!
Let us, then, seek daily to realize our union to Christ - that we are members of His body; and let us obtain mercy and grace from Him to help us in time of need. Then our weakness will endear His strength, increase our dependence, stimulate us to earnest fervent prayer, and glorify the riches of His free grace.
This is the only true remedy!
~James Smith~
(The End)
In every time of trial, in every season of darkness, in every severe conflict - turn then to the Lord's Word, and with David say, "The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, therefore will we not fear!" Or, "The lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?" This is the only true remedy!
3. Another soul-disorder is ANXIOUS CARE. Worry or anxiety is prohibited by the gospel, because it is injurious to us, and reflects badly upon the care and kindness of God. Yet we, like Martha - are anxious and troubled about many things. We lose sight of the fact that God is our Father, and as such is engaged to provide for us. We forget that we are in our Father's world, are living under our Father's eye, are fed by our Father's hand, and that our interests lie near our Father's heart!
The true remedy for anxious care is to realize daily, and every hour of every day that the Lord cares for us, that He knows where we are, and what we are, that He has fixed the bounds of our habitation, that His feeding the sparrows is a proof that He will never neglect His children.
Anxiety! As a believer in Jesus, as a child of God - about what should I be anxious?
God is my Father, and He loves me - loves me just as He loves Jesus.
He cares for me - cares for me as much as He cared for the apostle Paul.
He watches over me, as a tender mother watches over her precious infant.
He keeps me - keeps me as the apple of His eye; and lest anything should hurt me, He will keep me night and day. He bids me cast every care upon Him. He exhorts me not to worry about anything - but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to let my requests be made known unto Him.
This is the true remedy for care: to live close and intimate fellowship with God, and cast all my cares upon Him as they come in; to live realizing the fact, that I am the object of the constant, tender, loving care of God - that my God cares for me, for my best interests, for my everlasting welfare. Yes, this is the only true remedy!
4. Another soul-disorder is SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS. This we deeply and daily feel. When we look at our duties, on our foes, on our difficulties - we feel at times almost overwhelmed. We are not sufficient of ourselves so much as to think a holy thought; and yet... the old man is to be crucified, satan is to be conquered, the world is to be overcome, the journey through a waste howling wilderness is to be completed, and the crown is to be won before we wear it.
But there is a remedy for our weakness; it is union to Jesus. When united to Jesus His wisdom becomes ours, His righteousness becomes ours, His strength becomes ours; His fullness is placed against our emptiness; His wealth is placed against our poverty; His strength is placed against our weakness.
Our needs are to drive us to His fullness; our weakness is to cause us to lean upon His arm; and our sense of nothingness to make Him all in all.
If I am one with Christ - all that He has is mine!
Let us, then, seek daily to realize our union to Christ - that we are members of His body; and let us obtain mercy and grace from Him to help us in time of need. Then our weakness will endear His strength, increase our dependence, stimulate us to earnest fervent prayer, and glorify the riches of His free grace.
This is the only true remedy!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Abide With Me # 2
Abide With Me # 2
Fellowship with Christ is necessary to our abiding in Christ. Peter describes the Christian life thus: "Coming to Him as to a living stone...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5).
If therefore we would abide in Jesus, we must more and more feel our need of Him; we must increase in our knowledge of Him; we must seek all our supplies from Him; and realize that we are in union with Him!
What does abiding in Christ require? Many things - and we will notice a few of them. We must think of Him, or exercise the intellect upon Him. As we are capable of thinking, and have the power of fixing our thoughts upon an object - we must make Christ the great object of our thoughts, and think of Him. That we think of Christ so little, so seldom - is one great reason why we enjoy Christ so little.
Beloved, we should think of His glorious person; of His free and abounding grace; of His infinite and everlasting merit; of His deep and tender sympathy; of His authority and unlimited dominion; and of His eternal and changeless love!
We should think of what He was in glory; of what He became on earth; of what He did while here below; of what He suffered on our behalf; and of what He is now doing at the right hand of God.
We should think of His nature, His offices, His relations, and His glorious second advent!
Oh, how much more is in Jesus to occupy our thoughts, and feast our souls! Is it not astonishing that we do not think of Him more? Never, never, shall we enjoy deep spirituality; or rise above our doubts and fears; or rejoice in God; or be very useful among our fellow men - unless we think of Christ more!
As we must think of Christ - so we must hear and read of Christ. The senses should be employed on Christ, as well as the intellect. If we can hear at all - we should go where we can hear of Christ, not only on the Lord's day - but on other days too. If we can read at all, we should read of Christ; and as Christ is the most important subject, and as we are more deeply interested in Him than in anything else - we should read of Him most. It is one thing to read religious books - and quite another thing to read of Christ; for many religious books have very little of Christ in them. Nor should we so much read what man says of Christ - as what God says. God's own book should be our book, and we should read it, that we may know more of Christ, and become more like Christ.
We shall never abide in Christ as we ought, unless we hear more of Christ, read more of Christ, and think more of Christ. But we must not stop at thinking, hearing, or reading of Christ - we must actually commune with Christ. There is often much prayer - and yet little communion with Christ. We should realize that Christ is present with us. That we are alone with Him. That He is giving us His whole attention. That He expects us to tell Him all that troubles us, all that grieves us, all that pleases us, all that we need, and all that we desire.
We should keep back nothing from Him - but speak to Him freely on every subject, and every circumstance. And realizing that Christ is with us, listening to us, and by sympathy entering into all our circumstances - we should expect to receive intimations of His will, proofs of His approbation, communications of His grace, and the consoling influences of His love.
Our thoughts should ascent to Jesus, and His thoughts should descend and take possession of our minds. Without more direct, sensible, and secret communion with Christ - we shall not much enjoy our union with Christ, or attend to the admonition to abide in Him.
Having communion with Christ - we must trust Him. He requires us to treat Him with confidence; to believe what He says; to expect what He promises; to do what He bids us.
We must trust Him with the salvation of our souls, and having put them into His hands, having committed them to His keeping - we should rest satisfied that He will save them. We must trust Him with the body as well as the soul, believing that He feels an interest in the one as well the other. Yes, we must ask Him to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; to fulfill in us all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power. And we must trust for temporal concerns also, looking to Him for food and clothing, as well as for grace and glory.
We do not half trust the Saviour as we ought. Our confidence in Him is not worthy of Him. Our doubts, fears, and misgivings dishonor Him. Let us therefore seek grace that we may trust in Him at all times; trust Him for all, and trust Him notwithstanding all.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Fellowship with Christ is necessary to our abiding in Christ. Peter describes the Christian life thus: "Coming to Him as to a living stone...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5).
If therefore we would abide in Jesus, we must more and more feel our need of Him; we must increase in our knowledge of Him; we must seek all our supplies from Him; and realize that we are in union with Him!
What does abiding in Christ require? Many things - and we will notice a few of them. We must think of Him, or exercise the intellect upon Him. As we are capable of thinking, and have the power of fixing our thoughts upon an object - we must make Christ the great object of our thoughts, and think of Him. That we think of Christ so little, so seldom - is one great reason why we enjoy Christ so little.
Beloved, we should think of His glorious person; of His free and abounding grace; of His infinite and everlasting merit; of His deep and tender sympathy; of His authority and unlimited dominion; and of His eternal and changeless love!
We should think of what He was in glory; of what He became on earth; of what He did while here below; of what He suffered on our behalf; and of what He is now doing at the right hand of God.
We should think of His nature, His offices, His relations, and His glorious second advent!
Oh, how much more is in Jesus to occupy our thoughts, and feast our souls! Is it not astonishing that we do not think of Him more? Never, never, shall we enjoy deep spirituality; or rise above our doubts and fears; or rejoice in God; or be very useful among our fellow men - unless we think of Christ more!
As we must think of Christ - so we must hear and read of Christ. The senses should be employed on Christ, as well as the intellect. If we can hear at all - we should go where we can hear of Christ, not only on the Lord's day - but on other days too. If we can read at all, we should read of Christ; and as Christ is the most important subject, and as we are more deeply interested in Him than in anything else - we should read of Him most. It is one thing to read religious books - and quite another thing to read of Christ; for many religious books have very little of Christ in them. Nor should we so much read what man says of Christ - as what God says. God's own book should be our book, and we should read it, that we may know more of Christ, and become more like Christ.
We shall never abide in Christ as we ought, unless we hear more of Christ, read more of Christ, and think more of Christ. But we must not stop at thinking, hearing, or reading of Christ - we must actually commune with Christ. There is often much prayer - and yet little communion with Christ. We should realize that Christ is present with us. That we are alone with Him. That He is giving us His whole attention. That He expects us to tell Him all that troubles us, all that grieves us, all that pleases us, all that we need, and all that we desire.
We should keep back nothing from Him - but speak to Him freely on every subject, and every circumstance. And realizing that Christ is with us, listening to us, and by sympathy entering into all our circumstances - we should expect to receive intimations of His will, proofs of His approbation, communications of His grace, and the consoling influences of His love.
Our thoughts should ascent to Jesus, and His thoughts should descend and take possession of our minds. Without more direct, sensible, and secret communion with Christ - we shall not much enjoy our union with Christ, or attend to the admonition to abide in Him.
Having communion with Christ - we must trust Him. He requires us to treat Him with confidence; to believe what He says; to expect what He promises; to do what He bids us.
We must trust Him with the salvation of our souls, and having put them into His hands, having committed them to His keeping - we should rest satisfied that He will save them. We must trust Him with the body as well as the soul, believing that He feels an interest in the one as well the other. Yes, we must ask Him to work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; to fulfill in us all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power. And we must trust for temporal concerns also, looking to Him for food and clothing, as well as for grace and glory.
We do not half trust the Saviour as we ought. Our confidence in Him is not worthy of Him. Our doubts, fears, and misgivings dishonor Him. Let us therefore seek grace that we may trust in Him at all times; trust Him for all, and trust Him notwithstanding all.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 3)
Saturday, November 2, 2019
The True Remedy! # 1
The True Remedy! # 1
Nothing is so important when the body is badly diseased - as to procure and apply the right remedy in good time. For lack of this, many have suffered long, and at length died. It was not because there was no remedy - but because they did not know it; or knowing, did not apply it. Just so is it, in reference to spiritual things. We are surrounded by the spiritually diseased, the suffering, and the dying - but there is a remedy! Some imaging that there is none; others are led away by living advertisements, a few know and employ the true remedy. Let us look at some DISORDERS - and then point out the TRUE REMEDY for them.
1. There is sin. This is the root and cause of all other diseases and sufferings. No sin - no disease, no suffering, either in this world or in eternity. But even sin, the root of all diseases - is not incurable. Sinners have been cured. Sinners may be cured. It would be infidelity to say of any sinner, where the gospel comes - that his case was desperate. We know of no desperate case - if the true remedy is employed.
That remedy is the blood of Jesus. Jesus died that we may live. He shed His blood to heal our souls. This is the true balm of Gilead. This is the sovereign catholicon (universal remedy). It is placed within our reach in the everlasting gospel. All we have to do is to fix the eye upon it, place confidence in it, and pray the Holy Spirit to apply it.
We must look away from everything else. We must fix the eye intently upon it. We must exercise a steady confidence in it. We must entreat the Holy Spirit to sprinkle it on our hearts.
And, as soon as ever this is the case...the guilt of sin is removed, the power of sin is undermined, the love of sin is destroyed, and we are perfectly and eternally delivered from all the penal consequences of sin!
There is no remedy for sin - but the blood of Jesus! And that is an infallible remedy! It was never applied in vain - it never can be. It cleanses us from all sin. It justifies us perfectly before God. But to prove its efficacy - we must give up all other medicines! Religious services, sacraments, prayers, praises, priests, and presbyters - all must be renounced, and the blood of Jesus alone must become the sole object of our trust, the sole ground of our hope, and our sole plea for pardon and peace at the throne of grace.
This is the true remedy for both sin and sinners. It is exactly suited to them, for its healing properties are infinite and eternal! It is to be obtained gratuitously, without money and without price - and its efficacy may be proved a thousand times over!
Reader, if you would obtain a full pardon of all sin, perfect peace in the presence of God, and an unquestionable title to everlasting glory - then exercise simple faith in the blood of Jesus, and these invaluable blessings are yours, and yours forever. This is the only true remedy!
2. Another soul-disorder is FEAR, slavish fear! This springs either from guilt on the conscience, ignorance of the gospel, or the lack of simple faith in God, as a covenant God. The true remedy for fear, is faith in God -in God as revealed in Jesus; as pledged to us by His precious promises; as at peace with us, through the perfect work of His beloved Son.
"Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me," said Jesus. If I believe that God is love; that He has received full satisfaction at the hands of His Son for all my sins; that He will rejoice over me to do me good; that He will never leave me, nor forsake me; that He will cause all things to work together for my welfare - then how can I fear? What shall I fear? And, as a disciple of Jesus, how can I believe the gospel, the glorious good news - if I do not believe these things? They are spoken to all believers. They are the common property of every member of the living Church of God. Every slavish fear, then - must arise from taking the eye off the great atonement, or from not understanding the everlasting gospel, or from unbelief!
And the true remedy for slavish fear is to trust simply and entirely to what Christ has done for acceptance with God, to keep the promises of grace continually before the mind, and simply believe what God has said, because God has said it. He said it...because He meant it, because He wished us to believe it, and because He was willing to give us strong and everlasting consolation.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Nothing is so important when the body is badly diseased - as to procure and apply the right remedy in good time. For lack of this, many have suffered long, and at length died. It was not because there was no remedy - but because they did not know it; or knowing, did not apply it. Just so is it, in reference to spiritual things. We are surrounded by the spiritually diseased, the suffering, and the dying - but there is a remedy! Some imaging that there is none; others are led away by living advertisements, a few know and employ the true remedy. Let us look at some DISORDERS - and then point out the TRUE REMEDY for them.
1. There is sin. This is the root and cause of all other diseases and sufferings. No sin - no disease, no suffering, either in this world or in eternity. But even sin, the root of all diseases - is not incurable. Sinners have been cured. Sinners may be cured. It would be infidelity to say of any sinner, where the gospel comes - that his case was desperate. We know of no desperate case - if the true remedy is employed.
That remedy is the blood of Jesus. Jesus died that we may live. He shed His blood to heal our souls. This is the true balm of Gilead. This is the sovereign catholicon (universal remedy). It is placed within our reach in the everlasting gospel. All we have to do is to fix the eye upon it, place confidence in it, and pray the Holy Spirit to apply it.
We must look away from everything else. We must fix the eye intently upon it. We must exercise a steady confidence in it. We must entreat the Holy Spirit to sprinkle it on our hearts.
And, as soon as ever this is the case...the guilt of sin is removed, the power of sin is undermined, the love of sin is destroyed, and we are perfectly and eternally delivered from all the penal consequences of sin!
There is no remedy for sin - but the blood of Jesus! And that is an infallible remedy! It was never applied in vain - it never can be. It cleanses us from all sin. It justifies us perfectly before God. But to prove its efficacy - we must give up all other medicines! Religious services, sacraments, prayers, praises, priests, and presbyters - all must be renounced, and the blood of Jesus alone must become the sole object of our trust, the sole ground of our hope, and our sole plea for pardon and peace at the throne of grace.
This is the true remedy for both sin and sinners. It is exactly suited to them, for its healing properties are infinite and eternal! It is to be obtained gratuitously, without money and without price - and its efficacy may be proved a thousand times over!
Reader, if you would obtain a full pardon of all sin, perfect peace in the presence of God, and an unquestionable title to everlasting glory - then exercise simple faith in the blood of Jesus, and these invaluable blessings are yours, and yours forever. This is the only true remedy!
2. Another soul-disorder is FEAR, slavish fear! This springs either from guilt on the conscience, ignorance of the gospel, or the lack of simple faith in God, as a covenant God. The true remedy for fear, is faith in God -in God as revealed in Jesus; as pledged to us by His precious promises; as at peace with us, through the perfect work of His beloved Son.
"Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me," said Jesus. If I believe that God is love; that He has received full satisfaction at the hands of His Son for all my sins; that He will rejoice over me to do me good; that He will never leave me, nor forsake me; that He will cause all things to work together for my welfare - then how can I fear? What shall I fear? And, as a disciple of Jesus, how can I believe the gospel, the glorious good news - if I do not believe these things? They are spoken to all believers. They are the common property of every member of the living Church of God. Every slavish fear, then - must arise from taking the eye off the great atonement, or from not understanding the everlasting gospel, or from unbelief!
And the true remedy for slavish fear is to trust simply and entirely to what Christ has done for acceptance with God, to keep the promises of grace continually before the mind, and simply believe what God has said, because God has said it. He said it...because He meant it, because He wished us to believe it, and because He was willing to give us strong and everlasting consolation.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Abide With Me # 1
Abide With Me # 1
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine - neither can you, unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4).
Union with Christ is one of the greatest privileges of the believer; and to be one with Christ is the privilege of every believer. Nor ought anyone who professes religion to be satisfied without knowing, and daily realizing - that he is one with Christ. Our comfort, our stability, and our usefulness, very much depend on this.
The union between Christ and His people is represented by Himself by the figure of a vine and its branches; teaching us that our union with Him is as real, as close, and as necessary - as the union of the branch with its parent stem. O what a glorious privilege to be one with Christ! Thus receiving all our supplies from Christ, partaking of the nature of Christ, bearing fruit like Christ, being absolutely dependent on Christ for all our spiritual life, vigor, and strength. Being one with Christ, our Beloved Lord gives us this gracious and necessary direction, "Abide with Me."
Let us make this the great object of our lives, and keep it constantly before our minds. And in order that we may be enabled and encouraged to abide in Jesus - let us consider what it supposes, what it requires, and what it secures.
Holy Spirit, as the glorifier of Jesus - be our teacher: unfold the truth to our understandings, apply it to our hearts, and write it in large characters upon our memories.
What does abiding in Christ suppose? Of course, that we are engrafted into Him by a true and living faith, and that we rest alone on Him for our acceptance with God; for unless we are in union with Christ - we cannot abide in Him. But being in Christ, in order to our actual and experimental abiding in Him - we must daily feel our need of Him. One great part of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart is to empty us, strip us of self, lead us to feel our own weakness, and bring us as poor sinners to look to Jesus alone, as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
And just in proportion as we feel our need of Christ, and realize our absolute nothingness without Christ - shall we prize Him, enjoy Him, and exercise dependence upon Him.
As we must daily feel our need of Christ - so also we must have a scriptural knowledge of Christ. Just in proportion as we know Christ - shall we make use of Him, cleave to Him, and rejoice in Him. Well did the Apostle know how necessary the knowledge of Christ was, and therefore he prayed for the Ephesians, who knew so much of Christ already, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." And giving expression to the desire of his own soul, he exclaimed, "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."
O how little do many of us know of Christ, and therefore it is that we make so little use of Christ, receive so little from Christ, and do so little for Christ!
Our sense of our need of Christ, if it is deep and increasing - will lead us to seek to know more of Christ; and knowing more of Christ, we shall daily come to Christ for all our supplies.
This is the next prerequisite to our abiding in Christ, we must come to Him. We come to Him first - as poor, lost, helpless sinners, that we may be saved by His merit and mercy. And as believers, we must continually come to Him with all our burdens - that He may bear them; with all our cares - that He may manage them; with all our sorrows - that He may sanctify them; with all our sins - that He may cleanse them; and with all our needs - that He may supply them.
All that we need is in Christ - and it is in Christ, for us. Our deep necessity fits us for Christ - and His infinite fullness fits Him for us! Our trials, troubles, temptations, disappointments, and vexations - are to teach us our need of Christ; and what we receive from Christ is to make all these things blessings to us.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine - neither can you, unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4).
Union with Christ is one of the greatest privileges of the believer; and to be one with Christ is the privilege of every believer. Nor ought anyone who professes religion to be satisfied without knowing, and daily realizing - that he is one with Christ. Our comfort, our stability, and our usefulness, very much depend on this.
The union between Christ and His people is represented by Himself by the figure of a vine and its branches; teaching us that our union with Him is as real, as close, and as necessary - as the union of the branch with its parent stem. O what a glorious privilege to be one with Christ! Thus receiving all our supplies from Christ, partaking of the nature of Christ, bearing fruit like Christ, being absolutely dependent on Christ for all our spiritual life, vigor, and strength. Being one with Christ, our Beloved Lord gives us this gracious and necessary direction, "Abide with Me."
Let us make this the great object of our lives, and keep it constantly before our minds. And in order that we may be enabled and encouraged to abide in Jesus - let us consider what it supposes, what it requires, and what it secures.
Holy Spirit, as the glorifier of Jesus - be our teacher: unfold the truth to our understandings, apply it to our hearts, and write it in large characters upon our memories.
What does abiding in Christ suppose? Of course, that we are engrafted into Him by a true and living faith, and that we rest alone on Him for our acceptance with God; for unless we are in union with Christ - we cannot abide in Him. But being in Christ, in order to our actual and experimental abiding in Him - we must daily feel our need of Him. One great part of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart is to empty us, strip us of self, lead us to feel our own weakness, and bring us as poor sinners to look to Jesus alone, as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
And just in proportion as we feel our need of Christ, and realize our absolute nothingness without Christ - shall we prize Him, enjoy Him, and exercise dependence upon Him.
As we must daily feel our need of Christ - so also we must have a scriptural knowledge of Christ. Just in proportion as we know Christ - shall we make use of Him, cleave to Him, and rejoice in Him. Well did the Apostle know how necessary the knowledge of Christ was, and therefore he prayed for the Ephesians, who knew so much of Christ already, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." And giving expression to the desire of his own soul, he exclaimed, "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."
O how little do many of us know of Christ, and therefore it is that we make so little use of Christ, receive so little from Christ, and do so little for Christ!
Our sense of our need of Christ, if it is deep and increasing - will lead us to seek to know more of Christ; and knowing more of Christ, we shall daily come to Christ for all our supplies.
This is the next prerequisite to our abiding in Christ, we must come to Him. We come to Him first - as poor, lost, helpless sinners, that we may be saved by His merit and mercy. And as believers, we must continually come to Him with all our burdens - that He may bear them; with all our cares - that He may manage them; with all our sorrows - that He may sanctify them; with all our sins - that He may cleanse them; and with all our needs - that He may supply them.
All that we need is in Christ - and it is in Christ, for us. Our deep necessity fits us for Christ - and His infinite fullness fits Him for us! Our trials, troubles, temptations, disappointments, and vexations - are to teach us our need of Christ; and what we receive from Christ is to make all these things blessings to us.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
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