TDR: 18 January Romans 7:21 continued

‘Evil is present with me’ (Romans 7:21) But what a mercy that evil does not reign in you and over you. It did once, and would now ! but for free and sovereign grace. If sin makes you groan, leads you to the throne to plead with God, and to the fountain of the Saviour’s…

‘When I want to do good’ (Romans 7:21) Every believer has experienced the renewing of the Holy Spirit; sin does not have dominion over them. They perceive the beauty of holiness, and loath themselves on account of sin. They would be internally holy, and externally conformed to the precepts of the Bible. They would pray…

‘Is it well with you?’ (2 Kings 4:26) Is Jesus precious to your soul? Are you mourning over sin or after the presence of your beloved Saviour? Are you strong in faith, giving glory to God? Are you desperate for communion with your heavenly Father? Is the world beneath your feet? Are you glowing with…

‘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…

‘Be very careful then, how you walk – not as unwise, but as wise’ (Ephesians 5:15) You are in an enemy’s land; surrounded by temptations, and have a heart that is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. To honour Jesus in your spirit, communications, and every action should be your constant aim. You are…

‘When he asks, he must believe and not doubt’ (James 1:6) The believer’s prayers should be regulated by God’s promises; he often fancies he wants what would only do him harm; and therefore, if he ask he is denied, not in anger but in love. God has promised all good, and only good, to His…

‘I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning’ (Psalm 38:6) But what is the cause of your mourning? There is nothing apart from Jesus worth mourning for, or beside sin worth mourning over. Is it because of the unevenness of your walk with God? Or on account of…

‘Come unto me’ (Matthew 11:28) Jesus calls you to His throne. He is there waiting to hear, relieve and bless you. You are to go to Him just as you are, and receive from Him all you need. He will give you wisdom, to direct your steps; peace, to keep your hearts; strength, to do…

‘I am a worm’ (PSALM 22:6) Man is naturally poor and proud, but grace strips him and humbles him in the dust. Here the highly favoured David, the man after God’s own heart, cries out, “I am a worm.” How little, how despicable he appeared in his own eyes. Every one that humbles themselves shall…

‘Gethsemane’ (MATTHEW 26:36) This was a garden at the foot of Mount Olivet. Here Jesus, as the SUBSTITUTE of His people, received the cup of wrath from the hand of His offended Father. It was the wrath of God, all we had deserved, the punishment we must have endured; the Son of God in our…

‘I will help you’ (ISAIAH 41:13) Wherever the Lord leads us, He will support us; nor shall the difficulties of the way, or the weakness we feel, be too much for us. His hand is stretched out to us, and it is for faith to lay hold and proceed, confident of assistance. The arm of…

‘Let him deny himself’ (MATTHEW 16:24) It is required by Jesus that every disciple should practise self-denial. We must deny and crucify the workings of self-righteousness, and venture alone upon His work and worth for our salvation. And we must mortify the pride of reason and intellect, and believe as His word reveals, and walk…

‘Do not be anxious about anything’ (PHILIPPIANS 4:6) The Lord cares for us. He knows our wants, and has promised to supply them; our foes, and He will deliver us from them; our fears, and He will make us ashamed of them. All creatures and things are in His hand and at His disposal. All…

and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their feark of death. Hebrews 2:15 All must die, but all do not die alike. Some are cut off suddenly, others by a lingering illness; some die only safe, others happy. Some fear death all their lives, others do not. But death must…

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…

A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. Galatians 3:20 God is and must be the eternal enemy of sin. He cannot be reconciled to it; it is the abominable thing which He hates. He cannot look upon it but with abhorrence. How then can God receive, bless, or commune with…

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 What cause to be thankful, what reason to be grateful have we! Surrounded by mercies, both temporal and spiritual. If we look back, we ought to rejoice that God has…

Turns to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22 A new year’s morning opens up for us, and we are still exposed to sorrow, Satan, and disappointment; sin still lives in us; and a thousand things are ready to distress us;…