20. Devotional: Jehovah-Rophi

Devotional: Jehovah-Rophi

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

I am the Lord who heals you! (Exodus 15:26)

    In the seasons of sickness, we are too prone to look too much to the means, and place too great a dependence upon them. But the believer should view the Lord not only as the physician of the soul — but also of the body. Means should be used — but the Lord only should be looked up to as the Healer. When King Asa was diseased, he did not seek the Lord — but the physicians; and the Lord took it as an insult offered to His divine majesty. 2 Chronicles 16:12.

    All medicines have their healing qualities from our God, and it befits us to look up to Him for His blessing upon all that we take. We never can trust God for too much, unless we despise the means which He usually blesses. When we look to Him, call upon Him, and place confidence in Him — we honor Him. His direction is, "Trust in Him at all times; pour out your heart before Him! God is a refuge for us." He loves to be acknowledged, consulted, and trusted.

    He is your Healer, believer; He knows perfectly the nature of your illness, the remedies that are necessary — and waits to be called in to your relief. Call on Him first; look to Him principally; and give Him praise for intervals of ease, and all favorable symptoms. Look upon the physician and surgeon as His servants, and beseech Him to direct them. They are at best but feeble instruments, broken cisterns, or dry wells — without Him. If He blesses — their prescriptions are effectual; if He withholds — their endeavors are vain. How many are trusting to a great name, a skillful man, rather than trusting to the Lord; but He has said, "See now that I Myself am He! There is no god besides Me. I put to death — and I bring to life, I have wounded — and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand!" Deuteronomy 32:39. "I will heal you, and I will bring you health and cure."

    Bodily sickness is often intended to be medicine for the soul. The Lord designs by it . . .
to cleanse us from some idols,
to purge away our inordinate attachment to temporal things,
and bring us nearer to Himself.

    The cares of the world have too much of our hearts, and occupy too much of our time; self-examination is neglected; secret prayer is shortened; and we can find but little time for any spiritual exercises. What base ingratitude — and yet how common! What folly — and yet how general! How loudly it calls for God's rod! How deeply it grieves a Father's love! Then the Lord comes and throws us on a bed of sickness, or confines us from our worldly employments — that we may find time for those things which involve His glory, and our best interests.

    Have you, Christian, ever complained that you had not time to attend to things of a spiritual character? If so, look upon your present sickness as a visitation from the Lord to give you a little time for these employments. Make the most of these precious hours — now sow to the Spirit. Then, if spared to go back again into your worldly employments — you will be better prepared to engage in them. Or if called to an eternal world, you will receive life everlasting. Seek pardon — as well as healing; you deeply need it, and it is far more important than the return of health. But both shall be given if consistent with the Lord's glory — which above all things you should seek and desire. And if pardon is enjoyed, and health once more returns — you should cheerfully sing:

O bless the Lord, my soul;
Nor let His mercies lie
Forgotten in unthankfulness,
Or without praises die.

'Tis He forgives your sins,
'Tis He relieves your pain,
'Tis He who heals your sicknesses,
And makes you young again!

19. Devotional: The Lord Trieth the Righteous

Devotional: The Lord Trieth the Righteous

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

The Lord trieth the righteous. (Psalm 11:5)

    “THE LORD’S THRONE IS IN HEAVEN.” He sees all and knows all. He gives grace to the righteous, and where the Lord gives grace, He always tries it; therefore His own people must expect to pass through the fire. He will try our faith, of what sort it is; our love, of what strength it is. He will also try our patience and our constancy. Let us not therefore be surprised at trials, nor let us be discouraged by them; for He tries out of pure love, with the best design, according to a wise rule, and at the fittest season. He considers our frame, our circumstances, and our foes; He does nothing rashly or unkindly. He would not put us to pain if we did not need it; trials are preservatives or restoratives; they keep us from evil, or bring us out of evil into which we have fallen. Trials then are from the Lord: His wisdom selects, His love appoints, and His providence brings them about. If you ask, "Why, Lord, am I tried thus?" the answer is, "To humble thee, and to prove thee, and to do thee good at thy latter end." Receive every trial as from God, go to Him for strength to bear it, grace to sanctify it, and deliverance from it; and so all will be well. It is not for His pleasure, but for our profit, that we are so tried.

Often the clouds of deepest woe,
A sweet love message bear;
Dark though they seem, we cannot find
A frown of anger there.

18. A Quote from C. H. Spurgeon (17)

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17. Devotional: Take No Thought for the Morrow

Devotional: Take No Thought for the Morrow

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Take... no thought for the morrow. (Matthew 6:34)

    “YE ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS.” Anxious Christians, give ear to our Lord’s words. If He cares for sparrows, will He not care for you? Let no anxious, perplexing, distressing thoughts flood your mind. You know not that you shall live even until tomorrow, for the Lord may take you home tonight. But if you do, the Lord will be as thoughtful of you, as kind to you, and as watchful of you, as He has always been. There is daily grace as well as daily bread. You cannot be fatherless and you will not be neglected. Whatever your circumstances may be, your Father knows them. He has provided for them and He will bring you through, to His own great glory. Let the peace of God rule in your heart. Stay yourself upon the word of the Lord. Your loving Saviour wishes you to be free from anxiety, to wait upon Him without distraction, to honour Him by the exercise of calm, patient, believing trust. Go to rest this night, obeying your Redeemer's word, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all temporal things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." When you awake in the morning your God will still be with you, as He promised, to lead you ever onward unto the perfect day.

By day by night, at home abroad,
Still I am guarded by my God:
By His unfailing bounty fed,
By His unerring counsel led.

16. Devotional: He Careth For You

Devotional: He Careth For You

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

He careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

    GOD IS THE GOD OF ALL GRACE. He has called us to eternal glory by Jesus our Lord. He continues to care for us. He knows all His people, their persons, wants, and trials. He thinketh upon them to benefit, to deliver and supply them. He keeps His eye upon them in all places, at all times, and under all circumstances. He has them in His hand, and will not loose His hold. He looks upon them always as His own, the objects of His love, the purchase of His blood, the temples of His Spirit. They are precious in His sight. He knows they are weak, fearful, and have many enemies. He teaches them to cast themselves and all their cares upon Him. He has given them His word that He will care for them. It is a Father's care which He exercises. It is wise, holy, tender, and constant; therefore all will be well, only trust. Believe that He cares for you this day; commit all your concerns to Him in the faith of this: leave them with Him, persuaded that He will manage all things well by His infinite wisdom, and bring all to a good conclusion by His omnipotent power. Cast all your cares upon Him for He careth for you. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to be moved."

"Cast," He says, "on me thy care,
‘Tis enough that I am nigh;
I will all thy burdens bear,
I will all thy wants supply."

15. Devotional: Is the Lord's Hand Waxed Short?

Devotional: Is the Lord's Hand Waxed Short?

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

 "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Numbers 11:23

    WE MUST NEVER TEMPT THE LORD. The Israelites did that in the wilderness and kindled the wrath of the Lord. Be not faithless like them: only trust and not doubt. He has all power: is anything too hard for the Lord? Why then are we cast down? Because we do not believe His word, depend simply on His faithfulness, and expect all we need from His hand. He was displeased with Moses when he questioned His power, and He is displeased with us when we doubt His love, distrust His providence, or ask, "How can this thing be?" Whatever may be your difficulty, trial, or want, plead with the Lord, and confidently expect deliverance; and if any temptation arises to weaken your faith, rouse your fears, or disturb your tranquility, meet it with this question, "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Beloved, look not to the hand of man, but simply look to the hand of God; man may disappoint you, God will not. He is faithful that promised. He is a God at hand. He will be near you throughout this day; His hand is able and ready to help you; therefore trust, and be not afraid.

In heaven, and earth, and air, and seas,

He executes His firm decrees;

And by His saints it stands confessed,

That what He does is ever best;

Then on His powerful arm rely,

And He will bring salvation nigh.

14. Hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Author: Martin Luther (1483-1546)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
    A bulwark never failing;
    Our helper He amid the flood
    Of mortal ills prevailing.
    For still our ancient foe
    Doth seek to work us woe −
    His craft and pow’r are great,
    And, armed with cruel hate,
    On earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide,
    Our striving would be losing,
    Were not the right Man on our side,
    The man of God’s own choosing.
    Dost ask who that may be?
    Christ Jesus, it is He −
    Lord Sabaoth His Name,
    From age to age the same,
    And He must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled,
    Should threaten to undo us,
    We will not fear, for God hath willed
    His truth to triumph thru us.
    The prince of darkness grim,
    We tremble not for him −
    His rage we can endure,
    For lo, his doom is sure:
    One little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly pow’rs,
    No thanks to them, abideth;
    The Spirit and the gifts are ours
    Thru Him who with us sideth.
    Let goods and kindred go,
    This mortal life also −
    The body they may kill:
    God’s truth abideth still:
    His kingdom is forever.

13. Devotional: Therefore Trust Thou In Him

Devotional: Therefore Trust Thou In Him

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Therefore trust thou in Him. (Job 35:14) 

    "SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS, AND SOME IN HORSES." But we trust in God our Saviour. Beloved in Christ our Lord, forget not that thy times are in His hands, that thy name is in His book of life, that He has promised to be thy God, and that He is faithful to His word. Every blessing we need is promised; every promise is firm and sure, therefore trust thou in Him. Thy heart may fail thee, thy way may perplex thee, thy fears may overcome thee, thy foes may insult thee; but thy way is not hid from the Lord; therefore trust thou in Him. His word is true from the beginning: His people in every age have proved it so, its verity is its crown; therefore you may trust it firmly, fearlessly, and constantly: and His faithful word shall calm thy fears, strengthen thy hopes, sweeten thy comforts, and lead thee to cheerful, filial obedience. His hand may seem to go against thee, but His heart beats with unutterable love toward thee; He may appear to be armed with a sword to destory thee; but even then you should say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" and you will find, that instead of destroying, His sword is for your defence. He will honour your confidence, and bring you out into a wealthy place. Only trust thou in Him. 

Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design, 
Are framed upon Thy throne above; 
And every dark and gloomy line 
Meets in the centre of Thy love; 
Therefore I trust in Thee alone, 
And humbly pray, "Thy will be done."

12. Devotional: Thou Hast Tried Me

Devotional: Thou Hast Tried Me

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Thou hast tried me. (Psalm 17:3) 

    DAVID HAD TASTED THE GOODNESS OF GOD. Not only did He visit, uphold, and keep, but He also tried and searched the heart. In the process, discipline had been exercised. The Lord trieth the righteous, and his trials discover, strengthen, and improve his character. His fire is in Zion and His furnace in Jerusalem; there He tries His people. Every trial is necessary for our good; it is ordained by eternal love; and is continued just as long as required, but not one moment longer. Every saint needs trials and every saint is tried. If the Lord intends to make us holy He will put us through the fire. Every time we pray for holiness, we pray for trials; trials enhance the value of the promises, endear the throne of grace, render the law of God profitable, and make the Saviour exceedingly precious. In trials we learn to read our own hearts, see the vanity of the world, look more closely to our evidences, humble ourselves before our God, and look with a longing eye to the end of our course. The tried Christian is likely to be a mature and stable Christian; few who walk a smooth path are either remarkably spiritual or exceptionally useful for God. Trials, like the frosts of winter, prepare our hearts to receive the good seed of the word in the spring, and then we bring forth fruit for the Lord. "When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." 

Brought into the fire, Thy wonderful power, 
Unburnt we admire, unhurt we adore; 
Brought thro' our temptation, we shortly shall prove 
Thy gracious salvation, Thy amazing love.

11. Devotional: I Will Hope Continually

Devotional: I Will Hope Continually

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

I will hope continually. (Psalm 71:14)

    “MY FLESH ALSO SHALL REST IN HOPE,” because my Lord is at my right hand, and the foundation of my hope remains immutably the same. The character of my gracious God, the faithful promises of His word, the recorded history of His saints, and my own past experience, all combine to say, "Hope continually." I will hope, that God will be merciful to my unrighteousness; that He will support me under all my trials, that He will send me seasonable relief, and timely deliverance; that good will flow from all my troubles; that grace will be brought unto me at the appearing of Jesus; and that eternal life will be my final portion. "I will hope," for I shall be unsettled if I do not; anxiety will torment me, despondency will brood over my soul, and I shall be filled with fearful forebodings. "I will hope continually," for hope honours God, it brightens the outlook, it stimulates to prayer and perseverance, and is the sweetener of human life. But I will also remember that my hope will be sorely tried; Satan will try it, the God of hope will try it, a thousand things will try it, but a good hope will live, strengthen, and work until it gives place to possession. I will not despond. Why should I? My hope is in the eternal unchanging Father.

Let the winds blow and billows roll,
Hope is the anchor of my soul:
It holds me to the Rock well known
And moors me to my Father's throne!