‘But you remain the same, and your years never end’ (Psalm 102:27)

Everything below is liable to change; health may give place to sickness, pleasure to pain, plenty to poverty, love to enmity, honour to disgrace, strength to weakness, and life to death.

Remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. But though all our circumstances and friends should change, there is One who never changes. He is in one mind, and none can turn Him. With Him there is no variableness. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And He is our best friend, our nearest relation, our gracious Saviour.

Yesterday, His name was Jesus; His nature was love; His purpose was to do us good with his whole heart and soul. Today, He is the same; we cannot expect too much from Him, or be too confident in Him, if we are walking humbly with Him. He will be our God and we shall be His people.

Let us cultivate intimacy with Him, dependence upon Him, concern to please Him, fear to offend Him, zeal to glorify Him; and it must be well with us in health and sickness, plenty and poverty, life and death; for He is the same and will never turn away from doing us good, but remain the fountain of love and holiness forever. Praise ye the Lord!

This God is the God we adore,
Our faithful – unchangeable Friend,
Whose love is as large as His power,
And neither knows measure nor end.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘I have lately felt guilt on my conscience and have been enabled to apply at once to the blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin, and have felt its efficacy in the removal of guilt. O what a mercy to have an Advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous!

I feel my own weakness in a peculiar manner, so that from my heart I can say, “Weaker than a bruised reed, Help I every moment need.”

What virtue there is in the blood of Jesus, what peace it imparts when sprinkled on the soul, and how sweetly it speaks of reconciliation with God. O to feel it daily!’