‘God is with us’ (Isaiah 8:10)

The Lord’s people are never alone; therefore they should not feel lonely. God is with them as an OBSERVER – He notices every thought, word and action; every trial, every foe, and every danger. He is with them as a FATHER – loving and holding communion with them.

He is with them as LORD OF HOSTS – having all the armies of earth and heaven under His direction to befriend them. He is with them as a GUIDE – to lead them; as a COUNSELLOR -to plead their cause; as a FRIEND – to supply and comfort them; as a SAVIOUR – to deliver and exalt them; and as a holy, sin-hating God.

He is present with them to try them, to reprove them, to humble them, to preserve them, to comfort them, and to save them with an everlasting salvation.

Dear friends, let us remember that God is with us, everywhere and always. This will check flippancy; prevent impatience; make us honest; encourage prayerfulness; inspire with resilience; and produce diligence. If God is for us, who can be against us? But do we walk, as evident in our conduct, to say: “GOD IS WITH US”?

Be it my only wisdom here,
To serve the Lord, with filial fear,
With loving gratitude;
Superior sense may I display,
By shunning every evil way,
And walking in the good.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘I have been looking over what additions I have been the means of making to the church of Christ, and I find that I have no perfect list of all I added to the church in Bethel, yet I baptised about 253. In Salem I added 474. In Park Street I have added 110, in two years: so that I have not laboured in vain nor spent my strength for nought.’