“I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Genesis 32:26 It is encouraging to the Lord’s people as they are from time to time placed in similar circumstances of trial, exercise, perplexity, sorrow or distress with Jacob, to see the blessed result of his wrestling with the angel. He crosses the ford of … Read more
“Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1 Where there is love to Jesus, there will be love to those who are his by redemption, his by regeneration, and his by personal possession. The more, too, that we see and the more that we know … Read more
“Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.” Nehemiah 9:20 When we are thoroughly emptied of ourselves—when our knowledge is shewn to be ignorance, our wisdom folly, our righteousness filthy rags, and our strength weakness—then we begin to long … Read more
“The substance of a diligent man is precious.” Proverbs 12:27 If the Lord has done anything for our souls by his Spirit and grace, and given us anything to taste, handle, realise, and enjoy for ourselves, we know there is a substance and reality in the things that we believe. Religion is our chief employment; … Read more
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 There can be no new thought in the mind of God. New thoughts, new feelings, new plans, new resolutions continually occur to our mind; for ours is but … Read more
“The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.” Psalm 20:1, 2 When the soul has to pass through the trying hour of temptation, it wants help from the sanctuary. And nothing but help … Read more
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16 There is a blessedness in obedience. It does not give us, but it manifests our interest in the finished work of the Son … Read more
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:20, 21 This, then, was Abraham’s faith. It was a firm credence in the promise of God made to him, … Read more
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Has not our path been one of tribulation, more or less, since the Lord was first pleased to turn our feet into the narrow way? But have we found, do we ever find, peace in Jesus? … Read more
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35 Be this never forgotten, that if we have ever been brought near to the Lord Jesus Christ by the actings of living faith, there never can be any final, actual separation from him. In the darkest moments, in the dreariest hours, under the most … Read more
“I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9 Wherever there is true prayer, there is importunity. Wherever the Lord brings trials upon the soul, he pours out upon it the spirit of grace and supplications. He thus … Read more
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me.” Psalm 25:5 What wonderful things does God sometimes shew us in his word! How our eyes sometimes seem to be anointed with eye-salve “to behold wondrous things out of God’s law!” (Psalm 119:18.) Sometimes in reading a chapter we see such beauty, such fulness, such sweetness, such … Read more