‘Surely he loved the people’ (Deuteronomy 33:3)

Remember what the people whom God loved were like? – Poor, oppressed, rebellious, stiff-necked, hard-hearted, unworthy creatures. Similarly, such are His people by nature now. Such are we.

Yet God loves us; pities us; and distinguishes us from others around. He spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; and with Him, He will freely give us all things. Though He does not yet have all His people with Him, God does have His Son Jesus sitting at His right hand – and Jesus is their representative; the express image and exact likeness of His elect.

All the rays of His love centre in Him, who is the head of His body, the Church. All the streams of delight empty themselves into Him, and through Him flow down to every believer on earth. As He loves Christ, so He loves us. While He loves Jesus, He will love us; for Christ and we are one.

What is done to us, is done to Him; what is done to or bestowed upon Him, as man and Mediator, is done to and bestowed upon us. Oh, glorious mystery of infinite and eternal love! Oh, direct my heart into this love of God!

 O love of unexampled kind
That leaves all thought so far behind;
Where length, and breadth, and depth, and height,
Are lost to my astonished sight.
Lord, she abroad that love of Thine,
In this poor sinful heart of mine.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘Lord, make me an overcomer, enable me to strive lawfully, that I may be crowned right gloriously. In looking back at the past, I see that I have acted from principle, according to the light given me, with a view to God’s glory and the good of the church. I can see failings in my conduct, even when my motives were pure, my design good, and my intentions scriptural. O Lord, scatter thou the people that delight in contention and war! Give me peace always, by all means, for Jesus’ sake’.