Refreshment for the Savior's Flock Through Bible Verses/Part 6

by: James Smith, 1871

"Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only — deceiving your own selves!" James 1:22

The Lord requires not only faith in His promises — but obedience to His commands! Practical religion is the only true religion.

In vain, religion we profess,
While we reject the Lord's command.
Strangers to God and happiness,
We build our house upon the sand.

 

"He does not forget the cry of the humble!" Psalm 9:12

Humble souls are much in prayer — they live near the Lord! In every trouble they cry unto Him — and He never denies or forgets them!

 

"Lead me in Your truth and teach me — for You are the God of my salvation." Psalm 25:5

If the Lord leads us — He will teach us. And if He teaches us — we shall know the truth and practice it!

 

"I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands." Psalm 143:5

Meditation is a most profitable — though much neglected duty. No Christian should expect to thrive without prayer and meditation.

I love to think on mercies past,
And future good implore;
And all my cares and sorrows cast,
On Him whom I adore!

 

"Take heed, watch and pray; for you know not when the time is." Mark 13:33

Watchfulness will awaken a spirit of prayer — and by praying we obtain strength for watching.

The Savior bids us watch and pray.
For soon the hour will come,
That calls us from the earth away.
To our eternal home.

 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." Psalm 28:7

If we look to broken cisterns — we shall be disappointed; but if we look to the fountain of living waters — we are sure of a supply.

 

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." Job 5:17

Corrections are proofs of divine love; they are designed to improve and perfect our characters.

Affliction's furnace is designed,
The Christian's character to show;
By this his graces are refined,
And he is weaned from things below!

 

"What shall I do, Lord?" Acts 22:10

There is something for every Christian to do — and each one should go to the Lord with this inquiry — What shall I so, Lord?

To Him who on the fatal tree,
Poured out His blood, His life for me,
In grateful strains, my voice I'll raise,
And in His service, spend my days.
 

"The world and all its desires pass away." 1 John 2:17

The world is like a pageant, which, while we look at it — passes on and is gone! Let us therefore daily set our hearts on things beyond it, even on those things which are eternal.

Lord, from this world call off my love.
Set my affections right;
Bid me aspire to joys above,
And walk no more by sight!

 

"The Lord preserves the simple. I was brought low, and He helped me!" Psalm 116:6

The simple have no confidence in themselves — but they look to, trust in, and are preserved by, the Lord!

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen — but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary — but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:18

To fix our eyes is to aim at. The object of the Christian's aim is nothing visible — but the eternal glories of the invisible world. 

"My son, give Me your heart!" Proverbs 23:26

The Lord created the heart for Himself. He claims it. He will be satisfied with nothing less! It is robbery to keep it from Him.

Yes, you shall surely have my heart,
My soul, my strength, my all;
With life itself I'll freely part.
My Jesus, at Your call!

 

"Jesus wept! Then the Jews said: See how He loved him!" John 11:35, 88

The love of Jesus is as strong as omnipotence — and His sympathy is exquisitely tender; let us appeal to it in every distress.

Still His compassions are the same,
He knows the frailty of our frame;
Our heaviest burdens He sustains.
Shares in our sorrows and our pains!

 

"Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?" 1 Chronicles 29:5

It is well often to renew our consecration, to give ourselves afresh to the Lord, and to dedicate our talents to His service.

Fain would I now surrender make.
Of my whole self to you;
Jesus, the humble offering take.
Unworthy though it be.

"I will bless the Lord, who has given me counsel." Psalm 16:7

The Lord has counseled us in His Word, in reference to every subject of importance. Happy is the man who takes counsel of His God, and abides by it.

His counsels and upholding care
My safety and my comfort are:
And He shall guide me all my days.
Until glory crowns the work of grace!

 

"It is good for me to draw near to God." Psalm 73:28

It is not good to complain, or murmur, or give way to doubts and fears; but it is good to cast all our cares on our God — and leave them there.

"Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him." Psalm 42:11

However dark the prospect at present — it will soon brighten. However dreary the night — it will only make the day of deliverance more welcome.

 

"He who does not take His cross and follow after Me — is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:38

We must bear the cross after Jesus — if we would wear the crown. Now we follow Him in tears — soon we shall stand before Him with songs!

 

"Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies! I flee unto You to hide me." Psalm 143:9

In every time of danger, in every season of fear — we may look to the Lord for deliverance, and seek shelter and safety in Him.

Let me in Your name confide.
Let me in Your bosom hide;
There in safety would I stay
Until the storm has passed away!

 

"I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause." Job 5:8

In everything we should . . .
consult God's will,
apply at His throne, and
submit to His wise and holy providence.

 

"When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold!" Job 23:10

Every trial is limited. It has an end to accomplish, and when the end is answered, it will be immediately removed.

Saints indeed are sorely tried,
Troubles rise on every side;
Nor are they exempt within —
Nothing tries like inward sin!
 

"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?" Job 40:2

Few formally contend with God — but most of us do so in spirit. In this we display our folly, and pride, and ingratitude!

 

"I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction!" Isaiah 48:10

The Lord chose His people in eternity — but He makes them choice ones in the furnace of affliction; there He purges and makes them pure!

 

"Bearing His cross, He went forth into a place called Golgotha." John 19:17

What a sight for holy angels — the Creator of the universe, a condemned criminal, carrying His cross to the place of execution!

 

"He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might, He increases strength." Isaiah 40 29

Weak Christians are the special objects of the Lord's care; He is always near to strengthen and support them.

He gives the conquest to the weak.
Supports the sinking heart;
And courage in the evil hour,
His heavenly aids impart.

 

"Say to the righteous — that it shall be well with him." Isaiah 3:10

If we are righteous — there is no condemnation, no curse, no separation from Christ — but everything must ultimately issue in our welfare.

 

"Teach us to number our days — that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalm 90:12

As our days at best are few and uncertain — it should be our first concern to prepare for eternity, and spend our time for God's glory.

 

"The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me!" Isaiah 49:14

Our conclusions are often rash and unfounded — and we distress ourselves without the least reason for it.

 

"Let Him do to me as seems good unto Him." 2 Samuel 15:26

Never was David in a better frame — than when he thus put himself into the hands of the Lord, and left himself to His disposal.

Fill my heart with deep contrition,
Take away the heart of stone;
And may I, with true submission,
Meekly say, "Your will be done!"

"But just as He who called you is holy — so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:15

We are called by a holy God,
to believe a holy gospel,
to walk by a holy law,
and go to a holy Heaven!

 

"God is our refuge and strength — a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

To God as our refuge — we should repair,
in Him as our strength — we should trust, and
on Him as present — we should call in every trouble.

 

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer." Romans 12:12

Hope, patience, and prayer, should always be in exercise. We should . . .
hope in God,
patiently do the will of God,
and constantly call upon God.

If Providence our comforts shroud,
And dark distresses lower;
Hope prints its rainbow on the cloud,
And grace shines through the shower.