‘Sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace’  (Romans 6:14)

What a precious promise. How many of the Lord’s people have been cheered and encouraged by it. Sin lives in us, works in us, fights in us, but it shall not reign. It may annoy, it shall not destroy. Its authority is destroyed by the Lord; its power is weakened by grace; it is warned to quit its old residence, and it will soon be ejected.

We are not under the condemning power of the law, it is not our rule of justification, but we are under favour; God deals with us as with children. He pardons, pities, and delivers us. He will not allow sin to hold us in perpetual bondage, or to condemn us at the last day; but He will set us at liberty, and justify us fully.

The flesh will lust against the Spirit, corruption will rise and fight; but we shall be strengthened, assisted, and counselled until we finally overcome. Grace shall reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. The law will be honoured in our endless blessedness, and Jesus will be glorified in us throughout eternity. By grace we are saved.

On such love, my soul, still ponder,
Love so great, so rich, so free!
Say, while lost in holy wonder,
Why, O Lord, such love to me
Hallelujah,
Grace shall reign eternally.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘DEC. I have been unwell, and my mind has been much exercised on the subject of death. I want to realize it as a blessing, to feel certain that all is right beyond it. I am not right, I know no what would make me so. All my hope is in Jesus. I rest on his finished work alone. I desire nothing so much as to be like him, and to be for ever with him. This is the only heaven I desire’.