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Happy The Soul Whose Hope Is In God
What a blessing is inward composure of mind; how delightful an exercise is waiting upon the Lord! What a profitable privilege is prayer; how happy the soul whose hope is in God! These are all the sweet attendants upon and promoted by the grace of faith in Christ Jesus. While that grows strong in the soul, we are more lively and comfortable. Hence the disciple’s petition, ‘Lord, increase our faith,’ is daily needful. Then it is well with the soul when it is enabled to make this solemn appeal to its Saviour: Thou, Lord, knowest what I long for, what I wait for, even the spiritual blessings of thy kingdom, to be more inwardly transformed into thine image, to be more perfectly obedient to thy…
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Be Still And Know That I Am God
“Be Still And Know That I Am God.”—Psalm 46:10 Be still, gay heart, so heedless of thy state, Be still and know that thou wast born in sin; Regard thy ways before it is too late, Ere with thy soul eternity sets in. Be still, sad heart, and know His blood was shed, For those who feel their sins—a heavy load; ’Tis by His Spirit’s power that thou art led; Be still, sad heart, and know that He is God. Be still, lone heart, and know thy Friend above, Delights Himself to cheer thy weary days; His eye, His ear, His heart is full of love, How kind and merciful are all His ways!
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The Lord Going Before His People
There is a similar circumstance in these events in ancient Israel and the state of us as a church and as a nation today. First of all, it was a time of great sadness in Israel, and especially a time of sadness to Joshua to whom these words were spoken. Moses was about to die, and O what a terrible loss this was for God’s ancient people. He had ruled them, he had led them wisely. Most of them could not remember a time without him. But what were things going to be like when Moses was taken from them? So it was a time of crisis in Israel, and there must have been many thoughts among the people. There was the personal sadness, the…
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And The Lord Loved Him
What a privilege! What an inestimable privilege did Solomon have! He was loved by God. No doubt Solomon was loved by David, and no doubt he was loved by Bathsheba. But their love, at its best, was natural. When they passed on, as they did, and Solomon was bereft of his parents, their natural love died in the grave. But, this love never dies. It is from everlasting and it is to everlasting. David said in one of his psalms, anticipating the end of natural love and rejoicing in the abundant and continuing love of his Saviour: “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” When our loved ones are taken, we sometimes sing: “And if our dearest…
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The Lord Abiding With Us To Help And Strengthen
Surely this is one of the most beautiful chapters in the New Testament. "The Lord is risen indeed"; "Vain the stone, the watch, the seal"; and these precious appearances to these godly women and to these two on the road to Emmaus. Now beloved friends, on a number of occasions I have spoken to you from this chapter, and often I have tried to go through it and open it up. Often over the years it has been on Easter Sunday. But the way this word rests with me this evening, not so much on the truth of the resurrection, not even the glorious Person of the risen Saviour, and not these to whom He appeared, but ourselves, that this prayer might be our prayer,…
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Today Shalt Thou Be With Me In Paradise
Unbelief, how great its power, how strong its influence! It would for ever blind the eyes, and harden the heart against Jesus and his grace; but ‘he shall divide the spoil with the strong.’ The prophet’s prediction is here clearly fulfilled, the sovereignty of grace is fully displayed. Our Lord’s own doctrine is truly verified in these two thieves: ‘One shall be taken, and the other left.’ Matt. 24:40. Pride is the companion of unbelief. This keeps men in obstinacy; they will not see, they will not bow to God’s sovereignty. But this is a comfortable truth to self-abased souls: God’s power is their hope. But doth our Lord bring sinners to glory without faith, repentance and holiness? Doth he leave his people in their…
