‘Our sufficiency is from God’ (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Let us think of this, whenever we are cast down on account of our weakness, or the difficulties we meet with through life. We are weak, but Jesus is strong; and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He has given us His word, that He will work in us to will and to do, of His own good pleasure.

He speaks, and it is done. The word of the Lord knows no obstacles or difficulties; all things must obey Him. When He sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said: “Certainly I will be with you” and the Lord’s presence was his strength. He acts just like that for us: His fullness is our sufficiency and competency; it is opened to us in Jesus, and we receive from it according to our wants, weakness and faith.

“Through God”, said David, “I will do valiantly!” Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Do not look, then, at your own emptiness or weakness; but look at what God is to His people, and what He has promised to give them; and sing, “OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD!”; “God is our refuge and strength, and as our days so shall our strength be”. “His grace is sufficient for us; His strength is made perfect in weakness”.

When we cannot see our way,
We should trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go,
Will instruct the way to know.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘O for gratitude, humility, love! My soul is frequently bowed down, and I am at times tempted to despond, for I find upon examination, that I am as fond of myself as ever, only not in the same form. Now it is religious self, preaching self, and useful self. Self in one or more of these forms is often very pleasant in my eyes, then I get the rod and my soul sinks down in gloom. Eternity and the things of it have appeared to me in a very awful light of late. O that I may review them, as to correct that levity of my disposition, and the forgetfulness of my mind, for these are evils under which I often groan’.