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Food for the Soul
From Timeless Grace Gems
James Smith, 1867
From Timeless Grace Gems
James Smith, 1867
PREFACE
The soul needs food as well as the body not only in set seasons, or in public ordinances but frequently and privately. Here then, is spiritual food in small portions with which the soul may be fed, and the time not be missed.
Every portion leads to Jesus or brings something from Jesus; for the author has leaned in the school of experience, that Jesus alone will satisfy and sanctify the believer's heart. The more we have to do with Jesus the better for us, and the more glorifying to God.
Gracious Lord, honor this little book by making it the means of honoring your beloved Son, and feeding the souls of your beloved people.
Oh, to exalt the Lord Jesus more and more! Oh, to be made more like Jesus from day to day! Sacred Spirit, use this little book to so great and glorious a purpose!
"Your heavenly Father knows!" Matthew 6:32
Yes, believer, your heavenly Father knows . . .
the thoughts that trouble you,
the needs that oppress you,
the sins that grieve you,
the enemies that oppose you,
the domestic trials that distress you,
the financial troubles that bewilder you,
the shattered nerves which alarm you, and
the complicated sorrows that cast you down.
He knows for He is God.
Knowing, He sympathizes with you for He is your Father.
Being full of paternal sympathy, He will . . .
strengthen you,
comfort you, and
ultimately deliver you!
"When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold!" Job 23:10
The Lord puts all of His people into His furnace! Some are long in melting and refining and with others the work is quick. But long or short, the Lord will keep His people in the fire until they are purified! A genuine Christian loses nothing in the furnace, but his dross. He comes forth bettered, purified, refined. He is more humble, his faith is more simple, and his life more spiritual. He shines like molten gold, and reflects the image of the great Refiner.
"He will sit as a Refiner and Purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." Malachi 3:3
"We are the children of God!" Romans 8:16
Never let us forget or lose sight of this but let us live, walk, and act under the impression that, "I am God's child!"
He knows me and knows all about me.
He loves me and loves me with the same love with which He loves His only-begotten Son.
He cares for me and so cares for me that I ought not to be anxious about anything.
He is with me and will never for one moment trust me out of His sight, or out of the reach of His hand.
He appoints my daily lot and will overrule everything for my eternal welfare!
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!" John 10:28
Jesus here speaks . . .
of His sheep,
of those whom the Father had given Him,
of those whom the Father drew unto Him,
of those for whom He died,
of those who sit at His feet to learn of Him.
Jesus loves His sheep.
Jesus laid down His life for His sheep.
Jesus lives to take care of His sheep.
Jesus will never, on any account, part with His sheep.
He can guard them, and He will surely keep them.
Whoever may perish they never shall.
His Father will not permit it.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit will prevent it.
The love, power, and honor of Jesus combine to render it impossible!
"Men ought always to pray!" Luke 18:1
We have always something to pray for. We may always gain something by praying. The Lord loves to hear us pray and Satan tries to prevent us. The flesh is a great hindrance unto us.
Yet the throne of grace is always open unto us. In any place, in any frame, under any circumstances we may pray, we ought to pray. Importunity in prayer pleases God, and prevails with God. Then let us not faint, let us not be weary, let us not give up praying. If God is not weary of listening to us then we ought not to be weary of asking of Him!
"You shall be free indeed!" John 8:36
That is really, truly, perfectly free!
Yes, Jesus will free me from the power, guilt, and indwelling of sin.
He will deliver me from this present evil world.
He will raise me above the craft, subtlety, and designs of Satan.
He will . . .
introduce me to His Father,
free me from every fetter, and
I shall serve Him day and night in Heaven!
What a blessed freedom, will freedom from sin be! What a glorious freedom will freedom to serve God without weariness, and without imperfection or interruption be! As Jesus is free so shall I soon be!
"He determined to go to Jerusalem!" Luke 9:53
And Jesus well knew the sufferings which would befall Him there! But such was His zeal for God, and such His love to us that He was willing to go anywhere, suffer anything, or do anything that would honor God or do us good.
He went to Jerusalem that we might not go to Hell.
He was condemned that we might be justified.
He was punished that we might go free.
He died that we might have eternal life.
Precious Lord Jesus, may I ever be willing . . .
to go anywhere for You,
to do anything for You, or
to suffer anything in Your cause.
"He shall never see death!" John 8:51
Believer, you have nothing to do with death for you can never die! For you, Jesus has abolished death, by dying for you, and in your stead. You are in Him, and in Him you may fall asleep but you shall never die! Death can have no dominion over you.
As to . . .
when you shall physically die,
where you shall die,
or how you shall die
you have no more to do, than you had with when, where, and how you would be born!
Life is your business not death!
Your only concerns are . . .
living on Christ;
living for Christ;
living like Christ; and then,
living forever with Christ!
"Abide with us!" Luke 24:29
So said the disciples when Jesus was about to leave them and so shall we say, if we know the sweetness of His presence. When Jesus comes and manifests Himself, when He draws out our souls into sweet communion with Himself then . . .
we enjoy a Heaven on earth,
our hearts glow with gratitude and burn with love,
we are filled with joy, and
dread nothing so much as His leaving us!
Then we cry, "Abide with us!"
Precious Lord Jesus . . .
come and visit my soul,
reveal Your glory,
shed abroad Your love in my heart, and
draw me into the closest, sweetest communion with Yourself!
"My eyes have seen your salvation!" Luke 2:30
So said Simeon when he saw the child Jesus. Yes, Jesus is God's salvation, and everything necessary to save a sinner is to be found in Him!
His blood atones for our sins.
His righteousness justifies our persons.
His Spirit sanctifies our natures.
His precepts direct our steps.
His promises comfort our hearts.
His peace keeps our minds.
His intercession secures our lives.
His power subdues our foes.
His providence supplies our needs.
His beauty feasts our souls.
Jesus is enough. Jesus is all. Happy sinner, wait on the Lord until you see God's salvation Jesus!
"Now he is comforted!" Luke 16:25
Poor suffering Lazarus had little comfort on earth but he has plenty in Heaven. The discomfort he suffered here must make his comfort there tenfold more sweet!
As it was with him, so will it be with us we shall not lack comfort for long. We have much to comfort us now, even in our worst seasons but the best is yet to come! The God of all comfort, who sends down drops of comfort now will soon call us up to enter into the torrents of the fullness of His joy forever! Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. Soon our sufferings and sorrows will be forever ended!
"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!" Revelation 21:4
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