12. Devotional: And She Went to Inquire of the Lord

Devotional: And She Went to Inquire of the Lord
Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

And she went to inquire of the Lord. (Genesis 25:22)

    “IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.” Why worry when we can pray? Rebekah prayed. Let us imitate Rebekah, for God commands us to do so. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Are you in trouble? Go, and inquire of the Lord: What is the cause? Unite with holy Job in praying, "Show me wherefore Thou contendest with me." Are you in perplexity? Go and inquire: What is the meaning? He will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shouldest go; He will guide thee with His eye. Go in an inquiring spirit. Go, persuaded whatever thy circumstances or trials may be, that, as a believer in Jesus, wrath and curse can have nothing to do with thee; they were lifted when Jesus died in thy stead. Be assured that whatever comes from God is a blessing, a benefit, a favour, a proof of love, however painful, perplexing, or distressing it may be. Do not reason, but believe in the promise of thy God; do not despair, grieve, or complain; but go, and inquire of the Lord at His throne, of His word. He says, "I will be inquired of."

Prayer was appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give;
Long as they live should Christians pray,
For only while they pray they live.

11. Devotional: He Cannot Deny Himself

Devotional: He Cannot Deny Himself
Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

    GOD HAS OPENED HIS HEART TO US IN HIS WORD. He has told us all His mind: He means every word He has spoken, and will fulfill every promise He has made. He cannot deny Himself or falsify His word; He can have no temptation to do so. Man may be fickle, he is but a bruised reed; Jehovah is always the same, He is the Rock of Ages. He will have compassion on the miserable who seek His face and show mercy to all who plead with Him in Jesus' name. He will not cast out a repentant sinner, or refuse to receive a confessing backslider. He cannot turn a deaf ear to our cries, or refuse to deliver us when we call on His name. He will take His own time, but will never dishonour His faithful word. He will be rigidly faithful, both to His threatenings and promises. Let us take courage and trust in Him; we have His word, it is true, from the beginning; we have this assurance, that He cannot deny Himself. Let us then stay ourselves on the word of our God; let us trust Him though the night be dark and the burden be heavy. He exhorts, "Trust ye in Jehovah for ever, for in Him there is everlasting strength."

Engraved as onto solid rock
The mighty promise shines;
Nor can the powers of darkness mock
Those everlasting lines.

10. Devotional: He Will Save

Devotional: He Will Save

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

He will save. (Zephaniah 3:17)

    THE LORD THY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. Whom will He save? The lost, the wretched, the unworthy. Every applicant, for "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Our Lord says, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." How? Freely, without money and without price; fully, by His blood, power, and providence; eternally, all who flee to Him for refuge, all who call on Him for pardon, peace, and life, shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; they shall not be ashamed or confounded, Why? Because it is His Father's will; because He delighteth in mercy; because it will eternally glorify His name. From what? From sin, its guilt, filth, and power; from the present evil world; from Satan; from the wrath of God; from every evil work; and from all the evil designs of men. He has saved us by showing us grace and dying in our stead. He does save us by His presence, word, providence, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. He will save in every trouble, from every foe, even unto the end. Look to Him then, and to Him alone, to deliver, direct, relieve, and preserve. He says, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."

Why should I doubt His love at last,
With anxious thoughts perplexed?
He who saved me in troubles past,
Will save me in the next.

9. Devotional: Lord, Increase Our Faith

Devotional: Lord, Increase Our Faith
Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Lord, increase our faith. (Luke 17:5)

    SOLA FIDE! FAITH ALONE SAVES, FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE! The believer is as his faith. If faith is weak, he is fearful, fretful, and troubled; if faith is strong and rightly placed, he is courageous, active, and happy. Faith comes from Jesus, He is its author; it leads to Jesus, He is its object. Faith is like a grain of mustard seed, it grows and increases; Jesus alone can increase our faith. Let us apply to Him this morning, and let this be our prayer, "Lord, increase my faith." Strong faith will believe without feeling, yea, against feelings and appearances. It will trust God where it cannot trace Him; it assures the soul that what He has promised He is able to perform, and will assuredly do so. Great faith will have great trials, for God never gives faith without trying it; and the heat of the furnace is in proportion to the strength of our faith. Little faith lays hold on Christ, and brings salvation; strong faith receives much and often from Christ and brings great consolation. Go to Jesus with the faith thou hast, and plead with Him for the faith He requires. He gives freely to every importunate pleader; and He will assuredly give to thee.

O Jesus, now Thyself impart
And fix Thy presence in my heart;
Give strong and living faith!
Then will I throw off every load,
And walk delightfully with God,
Believing all He saith.

8. Devotional: Peace, Peace

Devotional: Peace, Peace
Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Peace, peace. Isaiah (57:19)

    SUCH ARE THE GOSPEL’S SOOTHING SOUNDS WHISPERED IN THE BELIEVER'S EAR. In times of tribulation, in times of temptation, in times of bodily disease and suffering, it softly cries "Peace, peace." Peace, for Jesus died to put away your sins. Peace, for Jesus lives to intercede for you in heaven. Peace, for Jesus reigns, and your concerns are in His hands. Peace, for Jesus loves, and His love is immutably fixed on you. Peace, for God is love. Peace, for you are reconciled to Him by the death of His Son. Let not your heart be troubled. Every thought of God respecting you, is peaceful. Every purpose of God toward you which providence has to work out, is peaceful. Heaven is at peace with you. You are also at peace with heaven. Your peace was made when Jesus died in your stead; when He put away your sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Look to Him as your peacemaker. Live in the atmosphere of Gethsemane and Golgotha. Often meditate upon that precious verse, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee." Let your mind rest in the Lord always. He is the God of peace.

Jesus, my feeble faith increase,
And sweetly multiply my peace;
Because I fully trust Thy power,
My sin shall trouble me no more.

7. Devotional: Wait In Anticipation

Devotional: Wait In Anticipation

Author: Basilea Schlink (1904-2001)

    You think you can no longer bear the burden that has been placed upon you. But listen! The Father wants to comfort you as His child: The dark valley is almost over. Soon bright beams of joy and bliss will be waiting for you. You will laugh as much as you have cried. "Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh." Live in expectation of the hour when your weeping will turn to laughter. This hour will come and in all eternity your laughter will never cease. This hour will come while you are still on earth—and perhaps it will be tomorrow. Wait in anticipation! (Luke 6:21)

6. Devotional: I Wait for the Lord

Devotional: I Wait for the Lord

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

I wait for the Lord. (Ps. 130:5)

    THIS is a blessed posture, but it is often a trying one. Every Christian has to wait, and waiting is for his good. "It is good that a man should both hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." We are kept waiting to try us—are we sincere? Are we in earnest? Do we value the blessing? To stir us up; we are apt to become formal, to settle on our lees, to sink into lukewarmness. Then comes a trial, this sends us to the Lord. He does not appear. We go again. We get no answer. We must wait. This rouses our energies, reproves our folly, and makes us more decided and determined. It is to teach us our dependence. We are apt to forget, or lose sight of this. We sink into self. We get conceited, or vain. Then comes something which shows us that we cannot do without the Lord. We go to him. He seems to turn a deaf ear to us. We go again. We must wait. This humbles us, and brings us into our proper place. Beloved, is there any particular blessing which you need? Have you asked it of God? Does he delay to give it? Wait for him. He will appear. His time is the best. Wait patiently. 

For God, I look; with strong desires, 
To God my ardent soul aspires; 
And hope, still waiting for the Lord, 
Rests on the promise of his word.

5. Devotional: The Lord Is My Shepherd

Devotional: The Lord Is My Shepherd

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

The Lord is my Shepherd. (Psalm 23:1)

    DAVID WAS ONE OF HIS SHEEP. All His sheep know Him, love Him, and follow Him. They possess His disposition; He was meek and lowly in heart. Are you a sheep of Christ? Are you looking to your Shepherd, following and rejoicing in Him? If so, it is His delight to lead you, feed you, protect you, and heal you. Your person, life, health, comforts, and safety, are committed to His care. He is the good Shepherd, He laid down His life for His sheep; He searches and seeks out His sheep wherever they have been scattered; He feeds His flock; He gathers the lambs with His arm and carries them in His bosom. He loves His sheep more than His own life; He cares for His sheep more than for all the world beside. He feeds them in the best green pasture, and leads them in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. O view Jesus as your Shepherd! Expect Him to lead you, feed you, fold you, and one day, soon, to present you to His Father with exceeding joy. Cleave to Him; let nothing tempt you to leave His feet, His flock, or His fold. He will never leave you, nor forsake you, just because you are His.

Jehovah is my Shepherd's name!
With Him no foe can make me fear;
The Shepherd’s voice each day I hear,
My filial love He has a claim;
In every danger He is nigh,
He does my every want supply.

4. Devotional: It Is I; Be Not Afraid

Devotional: It Is I; Be Not Afraid

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

It is I; be not afraid. (John 6:20)

    THE FEARS OF THE CHRISTIAN DISHONOUR HIS LORD. Fear is a denial of his faith, and a fruitful source of distress to his soul. All things are of God, He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will, and in every event He says to us, "It is I, be not afraid." If friends turn to foes and distress us, if death visits our dwellings and bereaves us, if sickness lays us aside and fills us with pain, He says, "It is I; be not afraid." If losses, crosses, and sore trials come upon us, and discourage, distress, and perplex us, He says, "It is I; be not afraid." If death approaches, and calls upon us to leave the body and close our eyes upon our beloved relations, friends, and connexions, He says, "It is I; be not afraid." Should we hear the pillars of heaven crack, and feel the strong foundation of the earth give way; should the heavens be rolled up like a scroll, and the great white throne appear; still, amidst the wreck of matter and the crash of worlds, He cries, "Be not afraid; it is I." Happy Christian! thy fears are groundless and thy brightest hopes well founded. Rejoice in Jesus!

O that I might so believe,
Steadfastly to Jesus cleave;
Only on His love rely,
Smile at the destroyer nigh:
Free from care and servile fear,
Feel the Saviour always near.

3. Devotional: The Obedience of Faith

Devotional: The Obedience of Faith

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

The obedience of faith. (Romans 16:26) 

    THE OBEDIENCE REQUIRED OF FAITH IS SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL. It is the submission of the intellect, the heart, and the life to God. The law of faith is the gospel: this requires us to believe that "God is love," that Christ died in the place of sinners; to embrace mercy as freely presented, and receive forgiveness as the gift of God; to accept of the righteousness of Jesus, to trust in it alone for acceptance before God, and to plead it at the throne of grace for all we need; to come daily to Jesus for all we want, and to expect to receive at His hands all He has promised; to live for God, to live to God, to live like God. It requires us, in one word, so to live that God may be all, and man nothing. God requires the obedience of a believing heart. We must believe what He says, expect what He has promised, and do what He bids. This is the life of faith and Satan will oppose it. The carnal mind will throw a thousand obstacles in the way. Everything that is of a worldly character will hinder us. But we must wrestle, strive, break through, and say, "I will believe my God. I will obey my Lord." That only is the way of faith. 

Spirit of faith, unfold Thy law, 
Thy quick'ning pow’r impart: 
My soul to sweet obedience draw, 
Fill and control my heart.