A devotional by James Smith. I hope you are as encouraged by it as I have been.

 He Ever Lives!

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he ever lives to intercede for them!" Hebrews 7:25

He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. He ascended to Heaven to plead our cause with his Father, and he ever lives at the right hand of the Majesty on high. This is a most delightful fact. It is full of comfort. It should often engage our minds. It should fill us with peace and joy.

"He ever lives," and while he lives — he LOVES his redeemed people. He cannot but love his people. They are part of himself. They are dearer to his heart than all other created objects. He lives to love them, and he loves to live for them. He loves them every moment. He loves them with a love . . .

as vast as infinity,

stronger than death,

as changeless as his nature,

and as lasting as eternity.

"He ever lives." And while he lives — he CARES for us. His thoughts are filled with his people's concerns. He cares for them all — and for all that concerns them. His care is incessant. It is . . .

a father's care, for his beloved family;

a husband's care, for his chosen bride;

a shepherd's care, for his valued flock.

He cares for their bodies. He cares for their souls. He lives to care for them, and will care for them while he lives.

"He ever lives," and while he lives — he WATCHES over us. His eye is ever upon us. Nothing can divert it from us. He never loses sight of one of his people for a moment.

No refiner ever watched his gold, during the process of purification, with such interest.

No mother ever watched over a sick child with such tender affection.

No husband ever watched over the desire of his eyes, in the article of death, with half such affection or concern, as Jesus watches over his people.

His eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cries. He watches over them for good, to preserve, sanctify, and bless them.

"He ever lives," and while he lives — he PROVIDES for us. He knows our needs. He is well acquainted with all our circumstances. He is intensely interested in our welfare. He has the resources of time and eternity at his command. He is pledged to supply us. He never forgets his promises. He will not forfeit his Word. Our supplies are certain, for he lives to provide them, to impart them, and to bless them. Blessed thought! Jesus lives as Jehovah Jireh, as our constant, kind, and careful provider!

"He ever lives" and while he lives — he LISTENS to us. His ear and his heart are always open.

He hears . . .

the softest sigh,

the most suppressed groan, and

the silent breathings of the soul.

He catches every desire.

He knows every wish.

He bows to hear every prayer.

He loves to hear us call upon his name, and tell out our trials, troubles, and temptations unto him. Nothing delights him more, than to hear us pour out our hearts before him, plead his precious promises, and ask him in faith for the blessings we need.

"He ever lives" and while he lives — he INTERCEDES for us. This is his present employment. He uses all his influence for us. He pleads his precious blood — his perfect righteousness — his relationship to his Father — and the promises made to him in the everlasting covenant. What a mercy is this, that when our hearts are hard, our affections cold, and our spirits straitened — Jesus pleads for us. Yes, at this very moment, while the eye is passing over these lines — Jesus is presenting his nail-pierced hands, his opened side, and his thorn-crowned brow — for us!

In life, and all its trials;

in death, and its unknown sufferings;

in health, and its pleasures;

in sickness, with its weakness and pains;

in prosperity, with its allurements; and

in adversity, with its temptations —

Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us!

Precious pleader! I would put my entire cause into your hand, and leave all my affairs with you.

"He ever lives," and therefore we shall LIVE. His own words are, "Because I live — you shall live also" (John 14:19). He has united us with himself. We are really one with him. He is our life. He lives in us, and we live by him. Nothing can ever separate us from him. He is the vine — and we the branches. He is the head — and we are the members of his body. He has identified himself with us — and our concerns with his.

"He ever lives," and therefore we shall be JUSTIFIED. "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34).

Dying — he put away our sins.

Rising — he secured our release.

As Advocate — he carries our cause.

The sin he atoned for, is pardoned.

The righteousness he wrought, is imputed.

The people he represents, are justified.

Those justified by his obedience, are safe.

"He ever lives," and therefore we shall be SAVED. "For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10 ).

His death procured our release.

His resurrection, procured our justification.

His admission to Heaven, procured our acceptance with the Father.

His life of intercession secures our endless salvation.

He says of us, "They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand!" His heart is set upon their salvation, and nothing short of this will ever satisfy him. He travailed in death for us — he rejoiced in our new creation — he is pledged to be ever with us — and he will keep us unto his eternal kingdom and glory. "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied." He will present us to his Father at last, and say, "Here am I, Father, and the children which you have given me, not one of them is lost!"

Does Jesus ever live?

Then let your faith be strong.

Believe his Word.

Confide in his faithfulness.

Expect his blessing.

Look for his glorious appearing.

Wait patiently his time.

Does Jesus ever live? Then let your HOPE be lively. His Word is true. His heart is kind. His mercy is everlasting. His promises shall be fulfilled. Expect him . . .

to do as he has promised;

to give as you need;

to answer your prayers;

to guide you by his counsel, and

afterward receive you to glory.

Does Jesus ever live? Then let your COURAGE live. Hear him speak to his servant John, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hell!" (Revelation 1:17-18 ).

"He ever lives;" think of this truth!

In seasons of sorrow, it will console you;

under bereavements, it will support you;

in the prospect of death, it will animate you. 

(James Smith 1802-1862)

(found on the Grace Gems website)

Trust and rest, a poem by A. B. Simpson

I came across this poem in a devotional and quite like it so thought I would share, although I'm sure it won't be everyone's style. I'm so glad we can trust our Saviour; He's the only One who is always totally trustworthy. 

Trust and rest in Christ forever,

Lean thy head upon His breast;

Nothing from His love can sever

Those who simply trust and rest.

Trust and rest in hours of sorrow;

Every wrong shall be redressed,

In some happy, bright tomorrow,

If you only trust and rest.

Trust and rest when all around thee

Puts thy faith to sorest test;

Let no fear nor foe confound thee,

Wait for God and trust and rest.

Trust and rest with heart abiding,

Like a birdling in its nest,

Underneath His feathers hiding;

Fold thy wings and trust and rest.

Trust and rest till gentle fingers

Fold thy hands across thy breast,

While the echo softly lingers,

Everlasting trust and rest.

Trust and rest, trust and rest,

God is working for the best.

A. B. Simpson 

Some of John Macduff's thoughts on the topic of Grace

“Throne of Grace”

It is the work of the blessed Spirit to take of the things of Christ, and to show them to the soul; to reveal to us the precious benefits of redemption, and the riches of Divine grace--and to present them to us in such a transforming, and convincing, and penetrating form, as that they shall not only become sources of abiding comfort to the heart--but active, operating, influential principles of the life!

It is the work of the blessed Spirit to be the Comforter of the children of God. Yes . . .

wherever a believer is afflicted;

wherever he sheds a sorrowful tear;

wherever he is pained by some heart-rending grief;

wherever he is bowed beneath some oppressive burden--

there is the Comforter to cheer, to solace, to sustain; pointing him . . .

from the wound--to its balm,

from the grief--to its ultimate cure,

from present suffering--to eternal rest at God's right hand!

The Holy Spirit is not a traveler to sojourn for a season, but He is a Friend to abide and dwell with you--a spiritual mentor to be always near . . .

to guide you--in all seasons of perplexity,

to strengthen you--in all times of weakness,

when you are discouraged--to uphold you,

when you are wandering--to lead you back,

when you are nearly overcome in your spiritual conflict--to bring you more of His divine strength and grace.

"The Holy Spirit helps us in our distress." Romans 8:26

"By the grace of God--I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

This is the believer's eternal confession!

Grace found him a rebel against God--it leaves him a son of God! 

Grace found him wandering at the gates of Hell--it leaves him at the gates of Heaven! 

Grace devised the scheme of Redemption. 

Justice never would; reason never could. 

And it is grace which carries out that scheme. 

No sinner would ever have sought God--but "by grace." The thickets of Eden would have proved Adam's grave--had not grace called him out! Saul would have lived and died the haughty self-righteous persecutor--had not grace laid him low! The thief on the cross would have continued breathing out his blasphemies--had not grace arrested his tongue and tuned it for glory! 

"Out of the knottiest timber," says Rutherford, "God can make vessels of mercy for service in the high palace of glory!" 

"I came, I saw, I conquered!" may be inscribed by the Savior on every monument of His grace. "I came to the sinner; I looked upon him; and with a look of omnipotent love--I conquered him!"

Believer, you would have been this day a wandering star, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever! You would have been Christless, hopeless, and portionless; had not grace constrained you! And it is grace which, at this moment, "keeps" you. 

You have often been a Peter--forsaking your Lord--but brought back to Him again. Why have you not been a Demas or a Judas? "I have prayed for you--that your faith fail not!" Is not this your own comment and reflection on life's retrospect: "Yet not I--but the grace of God which was with me!" 

Seek to realize your dependence on this grace every moment. 

"More grace! more grace!" needs to be your continual cry. 

His infinite supply--is commensurate with your infinite need. 

The treasury of grace, though always emptying--is always full. 

The key of prayer which opens it--is always at hand! 

And the Almighty Bestower of the blessings of grace--is always "waiting to be gracious." 

The recorded promise can never be cancelled or reversed: "My grace is sufficient for you." 

The grace of God is the source of lesser temporal blessings--as well as of higher spiritual blessings. Grace accounts for the crumb of daily bread--as well as for the crown of eternal glory! 

But even in regard to earthly mercies, never forget the CHANNEL of grace: "through Christ Jesus!" It is sweet thus to connect every blessing, even the smallest and humblest token of providential bounty--with Calvary's cross--to have the common blessings of life stamped with "the print of the nails!" It makes them doubly precious to think, "All this flows from Jesus!"

"By the grace of God--I am what I am!" 

Reader! seek to dwell much on this inexhaustible theme!"

Praise the Lord for His keeping grace! Without it I'd be totally lost!

Thank you to the friend who shared these with me! 

God's Storehouses, Today's excerpt from In Green Pastures

"Each step in the life of faith is toward richer blessing. Are you God's child? There is nothing before you in the unopened future but goodness. Every new experience, whether of joy or sorrow, will be a new storehouse of goodness for you. Even in the heart of disaster you will still find goodness infolded. Even your disappointments will disclose truer, richer blessing than if your own hopes had been realized. Here is a lens through which every true Christian may see his own path clear to the end - from goodness to richer goodness, from glory to glory, the last step through the opening door of heaven into the presence of the King."

Today's Tozer

Nothing Can Change His Tender Mercies

If we could remember that the divine mercy is not a temporary mood but an attribute of God's eternal being, we would no longer fear that it will someday cease to be. Mercy never began to be, but from eternity was; so it will never cease to be. It will never be more since it is in itself infinite; and it will never be less because the infinite cannot suffer diminution. Nothing that has occurred or will occur in heaven or earth or hell can change the tender mercies of our God. Forever His mercy stands, a boundless, overwhelming immensity of divine pity and compassion.

As judgment is God's justice confronting moral inequity, so mercy is the goodness of God confronting human suffering and guilt. Were there no guilt in the world, no pain and no tears, God would yet be infinitely merciful; but His mercy might well remain hidden in His heart, unknown to the created universe. No voice would be raised to celebrate the mercy of which none felt the need. It is human misery and sin that call forth the divine mercy.

"Kyrie eleison! Christe eleison!" the Church has pleaded through the centuries; but if I mistake not I hear in the voice of its pleading a note of sadness and despair. Its plaintive cry, so often repeated in that tone of resigned dejection, compels one to infer that it is praying for a boon it never actually expects to receive. It may go on dutifully to sing of the greatness of God and to recite the creed times beyond number, but its plea for mercy sounds like a forlorn hope and no more, as if mercy were a heavenly gift to be longed for but never really enjoyed.

Verse

For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, / and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."Romans 9:15

Thought

As judgment is God's justice confronting moral inequity, so mercy is the goodness of God confronting human suffering and guilt.

Prayer

How great You are, Father, and how great are Your mercies!

And while we're on the topic of feelings...

Hmmm... I think maybe the Lord is trying to tell me something... 3 or 4 times in 3 or 4 days, I've been reminded about not going by feelings. I love the Rutherford and Macduff quotes! Here's the Streams in the Desert devotional for 10th March.

"The just shall live by faith." (Heb. 10:38).

Seemings and feelings are often substituted for faith. Pleasurable emotions and deep satisfying experiences are part of the Christian life, but they are not all of it. Trials, conflicts, battles and testings lie along the way, and are not to be counted as misfortunes, but rather as part of our necessary discipline.

In all these varying experiences we are to reckon on Christ as dwelling in the heart, regardless of our feelings if we are walking obediently before Him. Here is where many get into trouble; they try to walk by feeling rather than faith.

One of the saints tells us that it seemed as though God had withdrawn Himself from her. His mercy seemed clean gone. For six weeks her desolation lasted, and then the Heavenly Lover seemed to say:
"Catherine, thou hast looked for Me without in the world of sense, but all the while I have been within waiting for thee; meet Me in the inner chamber of thy spirit, for I am there."

Distinguish between the fact of God's presence, and the emotion of the fact. It is a happy thing when the soul seems desolate and deserted, if our faith can say, "I see Thee not. I feel Thee not, but Thou art certainly and graciously here, where I am as I am." Say it again and again: "Thou art here: though the bush does not seem to burn with fire, it does burn. I will take the shoes from off my feet, for the place on which I stand is holy ground." --London Christian

"Believe God's word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea." --Samuel Rutherford

"Keep your eye steadily fixed on the infinite grandeur of Christ's finished work and righteousness. Look to Jesus and believe, look to Jesus and live!" Nay, more; as you look to him, hoist your sails and buffet manfully the sea of life. Do not remain in the haven of distrust, or sleeping on your shadows in inactive repose, or suffering your frames and feelings to pitch and toss on one another like vessels idly moored in a harbor. The religious life is not a brooding over emotions, grazing the keel of faith in the shallows, or dragging the anchor of hope through the oozy tide mud as if afraid of encountering the healthy breeze. Away! With your canvas spread to the gale, trusting in Him, who rules the raging of the waters. The safety of the tinted bird is to be on the wing. If its haunt be near the ground--if it fly low--it exposes itself to the fowler's net or snare. If we remain grovelling on the low ground of feeling and emotion, we shall find ourselves entangled in a thousand meshes of doubt and despondency, temptation and unbelief. "But surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of THAT WHICH HATH A WING" (marginal reading Prov. 1:17). Hope thou in God. --J. R. Macduff

When I cannot enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence. Matthew Henry

February 5th Streams in the Desert by Mrs C. Cowman.

So, it's a day early, but I loved this poem.
" Ye shall not go out with haste (Isaiah 52:12).
I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvellous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry--we must be doing--so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, "Stand still," or "Sit still," or "Be still," unless He is going to do something. This is our trouble in regard to our Christian life; we want to do something to be Christians when we need to let Him work in us.
Do you know how still you have to be when your likeness is being taken? Now God has one eternal purpose concerning us, and that is that we should be like His Son; and in order that this may be so, we must be passive. We hear so much about activity, may be we need to know what it is to be quiet.
--Crumbs
Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor deem these days--these waiting days--as ill!
The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
And, if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove
To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Thou longest much to know thy dear Lord's will!
While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way
Corrodingly within, because of His delay
Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest
That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor move one step, not even one, until
His way hath opened. Then, ah then, how sweet!
How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet
Thy inner being then, ah then, how strong!
And waiting days not counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?
'Tis hard! ah yes! But choicest things must cost!
For lack of losing all how much is lost!
'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then--He giveth grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.
--J. D. Smith"

Abridgement from H. L. Gee's book "The Cheerful Day"

"Lord, I am going to bed.
Not any fool, Lord, can go rightly to bed. Please help me. When I wash myself, make it a solemn sacrament that it may cleanse the inward man, removing my grievances against Jones, and swilling off my anger against that ridiculous Miss Q. And as I am so tired, would You pitch my weariness through the window and gather up all this day's good under my pillow. Teach me to go to sleep with a lovely thought in my mind, that it may grow in the dark and blossom in the dawn, so that I may get up in the morning with its fragrance everywhere about me."

Great quote I read the other day...

found in the A.W. Tozer devotional, "Renewed day by day".

Tozer quote and Amy Carmichael devotionals

"Following Christ is both easy and hard. It is hard because the ways of God and the ways of man are not equal. Man has his philosophies, techniques and methodologies and is directly opposed to the ways of God. It is easy because Jesus Christ has prevailed and is worthy to rule from the throne. (AMEN!!) If we serve God in man's way, we will make a mess of it..."  Tozer.

Job 22:29 "When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, "There is a lifting up."
Eliphaz the Temanite said many unkind and untrue things. But he sometimes spoke truly, and this is a beautiful word of his: "When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is a lifting up". The people of God never should be cast down, never need be, and yet our Father knows that sometimes we are badly tempted in this way, "for He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." I have noticed that in every age He has appointed some to say, There is a lifting up. Their lives say it. They are not bound and hindered by the things of time, they are not brought under the power of any of these things. They live in the world, buffeted by the winds of the world, and yet not cast down by them. Their very presence, the light in their eyes, the tone of their voice says, There is a lifting up. God make us all like that.

Psalm 28:9 Save... bless...feed...lift up...
What an inclusive prayer! nothing is left out. The word that speaks to me specially is "feed". I do not think there is anything from the beginning of our Christian life to the end that is so keenly attacked as our quiet with God, for it is in quietness that we are fed. Sometimes it is not possible to get long uninterrupted quiet, but even if it be only ten minutes, "hem it with quietness". Enclose it in quietness; do not spend the time in thinking how little time you have. Be quiet. If you are interrupted, as soon as the interruption ceases, sink back into quietness again without fuss or worry of spirit. Those who know this secret and practise it, are lifted up. They go out from that time with their Lord, be it long or short, so refreshed, so peaceful, that wherever they go they unconsciously say to others, who are perhaps cast down and weary, There is a lifting up.

Yesterday's Streams in the desert devotional

I read this last night and I found it very encouraging and challenging.
I hope you are equally encouraged.

Still upward be thine onward course:
For this I pray today;
Still upward as the years go by,
And seasons pass away.

Still upward in this coming year,
Thy path is all untried;
Still upward may'st thou journey on,
Close by thy Saviour's side.

Still upward e'en though sorrow come,
And trials crush thine heart;
Still upward may they draw thy soul,
With Christ to walk apart.

Still upward till the day shall break,
And shadows all have flown;
Still upward till in Heaven you wake,
And stand before the throne.

We ought not to rest content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. How pure are the dews of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live like men in coal mines, who see not the sun. Tears mar their faces when they might anoint them with celestial oil. Satisfied I am that many a believer pines in a dungeon when he might walk on the palace roof, and view the goodly land and Lebanon. Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition! Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ. Make Him the source, the centre, and the circumference of all thy soul's range of delight. Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God!
--Spurgeon

Today's devotional from Tozer

TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Fri, November 06, 2015
Unclean By Comparison
Whenever the living God revealed Himself in some way to humankind in the Old Testament, terror and amazement were the reactions. People saw themselves as guilty and unclean by comparison! In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John describes the overwhelming nature of his encounter with the Lord of glory. Although a believer and an apostle, John sank down in abject humility and fear when the risen, glorified Lord Jesus appeared before him on Patmos. Our glorified Lord did not condemn John. He knew that John’s weakness was the reaction to revealed divine strength. He knew that John’s sense of unworthiness was the instant reaction to absolute holiness. Along with John, every redeemed human being needs the humility of spirit that can only be brought about by the manifest presence of God. Jesus at once reassured John, stooping to place a nail-pierced hand on the prostrate apostle, and saying, “Do not be afraid. I am the Living One. I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and hades” (Revelation 1:18).

Verse
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
Revelation 1:17

Thought
Our glorified Lord did not condemn John. He knew that John’s weakness was the reaction to revealed divine strength.

Prayer
Lord, I am undone in Your presence; I depend solely on Your robe of righteousness to clothe me and make me presentable to You! Thank You for such a wonderful provision!

found here: https://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer

I thought this was too good not to share!

Tozer devotional

I came across this last night, and thought it was well worth sharing.

"GOD'S HIGHEST WILL

Let us consider three simple things reinforced in the Word of God for those who would discern God's highest will. First, be willing to put away known sin! Second, separate yourself from all of the attractions of the world, the flesh and the devil! Finally, offer yourself to your God and Saviour in believing faith! God has never yet turned away an honest, sincere person who has come to know the eternal value of the atonement and the peace that is promised through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The only person who will never be cleansed and made whole is the one who insists he or she needs no remedy. The person who comes in faith to God and confesses, "I am unclean; I am sin-sick; I am blind," will find mercy and righteousness and life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour, the Cleanser. He is the Purifier, the Healer. He is the Sight-giver and the Life-giver. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life!"

Found at https://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer?id=173

"Let us go on to know Him and to love Him more dearly; not for His gifts and benefits but for the pure joy of His presence. Thus we will fulfil the purpose for which He created us and redeemed us!"
Found at https://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer?id=175

He with us; we with Him. Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook.

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon

---

June 22

He with Us; We with Him

The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27)

There is no doubt about it. The fear of the Lord leads to virtuous habits, and these prevent that waste of life which comes of sin and vice. The holy rest which springs out of faith in the Lord Jesus also greatly helps a man when he is ill. Every physician rejoices to have a patient whose mind is fully at ease. Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine.

We have therefore all the arrangements for long life, and if it be really for our good, we shall see a good old age and come to our graves as shocks of corn in their season. Let us not be overcome with sudden expectation of death the moment we have a finger-ache, but let us rather expect that we may have to work on through a considerable length of days.

And what if we should soon be called to the higher sphere? Certainly there would be nothing to deplore in such a summons but everything to rejoice in. Living or dying we are the Lord's. If we live, Jesus will be with us; if we die, we shall be with Jesus.

The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day.

(http://www.spurgeon.org/fcb/fcb.cgi)

I thought this was a good reminder. I love the phrase: "If we live, Jesus will be with us; if we die, we shall be with Jesus." What a glorious certainty for believers. I hope you're as blessed by that thought as I am.