Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:20

The Lord’s people are all poor. They see and feel that sin has stripped them of every excellence, and has left them wretched and miserable and poor, and blind and naked. They can do nothing of themselves, they can procure nothing; but free grace has made ample provision for them, and the gospel informs them that Jesus has everything they want, and all He has is for them.

When they look at, or into themselves, they are discouraged; but when they look at Jesus they rejoice. He has riches of grace and riches of glory, and He says: “Every one that asks, receives.” He gives liberally and does not rebuke.

Here then is the present blessedness of the Lord’s poor – Jesus has all they need. He is their Friend; and they that seek Him shall not want for any good thing. Am I poor? If so, Jesus bids me come to Him and buy gold, clothing, wine and milk; all that is necessary to comfort and support in time, and render me happy through eternity.

Poor in self, rich in Jesus. Poor at present, rich by and by, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “All things are yours, you are Christ’s, and Christ’s is God’s.” “All things are for your sakes.”

What want shall not our God supply,

From His redundant stores?

What streams of mercy from on high

An arm almighty pours!

Daily Remembrancer by James Smith

Journal Jottings

‘The Holy Spirit brought home with sweetness and power to my soul, this passage, “Yes, he is altogether lovely.” And the beauty, loveliness, excellency and glory which I saw in the Lord Jesus, I can never describe. For about two hours, I was as if I had been caught up into the third heavens. My heart was ravished with his beauties and excellencies, for he appeared to me as the sum and substance, the centre and the circumference, of all that is desirable. All my desires met in him, my soul flowed out to him, and I could, and did, say with Luther, “I had rather be in hell with Christ, than in heaven without him.”

It was too much for my poor body, which soon felt the effects of such a ravishing manifestation. I felt constrained to exclaim, “O what a condescending Lord, what boundless love he displays to an unworthy worm!’

AUTOBIOGRAPHY, p.89-90