(James Smith, “Gleams of Grace” 1860)
“Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need!” Hebrews 4:16
Let us have sincere daily dealings with Christ, bringing . . .
our sins to Him — that He may pardon them;
and our duties to Him — that He may purify, perfume, and present them to His Father;
our hearts to Him — that He may cleanse them, soften them, and sanctify them;
and our troubles, trials, and temptations to Him so that He may give us strength to bear them, grace to sanctify them, and that He may make them all work for our eternal good.
We must come to Christ . . .
for all that we need,
with all that troubles us, and
through all that opposes our progress.
We must make Jesus our strength, as well as our righteousness, and look to Him as a fountain to supply us, as well as a foundation to support us.
Absolute dependence on Jesus — to be utterly helpless, is a blessed state! Then we are safe, for we dare not . . .
look to self,
depend on self, or
rest in any religious observances.
We must . . .
look to Jesus,
cleave to Jesus,
live on Jesus.
Then all boasting is prevented, and all confidence in the flesh is destroyed.
Our strength arises from a sense of our weakness,
and our safety arises from a sense of our danger, and
our wealth arises from a sense of our poverty.
Weak in self — we are strong in Christ.
Exposed to danger in self — we are safe in Christ.
Poor in self — we are wealthy in Christ!
The life we live must be a life of simple, active, and absolute dependence on Jesus!