All Through the Journey of Life!

The following is an excerpt from the diary of James Smith:

June 29, 1857.
Through this month, I have been much employed in preaching the Word, and endeavoring to spread the fame of Jesus. O to exalt His dear name more and more!

I have been much tried by the instability of some from whom I expected better things. One thing is certain--the Lord will overrule all for His own glory, and the good of His cause. O to look away from the creature--to the Lord Jesus Christ alone!

May I seek all my happiness in Christ--and all my supplies from Christ. May I . . .
  look to Him,
  lean on Him,
  and walk with Him--
all through the journey of life! Then, when my journey ends, may I pass the Jordan under a sense of His love, and enter into the promised land!

O for more grace!
O for more conformity to Jesus!
O for more fellowship with Jesus!

I find more and more, that it does not do to look to creatures at all. I must . . .
  look to Christ,
  expect from Christ, and
  seek in all things to honor Christ.
May I labor for Christ alone, and expect my reward from His blessed hands.

As Jesus lived for me--so I would live for Him!
As Jesus suffered for me--so I would suffer for Him!
As Jesus died for me--so I am willing to die for Him, if He required it at my hands.

"For to me, to live is Christ--and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21

(James Smith's autobiography, "Marvelous Mercy!" 1862)

Cut it off!

"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin--cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled--than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!" Matthew 18:8

Our life is so full of temptation and peril--that even its best things may become stumbling-blocks. Our very qualities of strength--may become fatal forces driving us to eternal ruin.

Human beauty is a blessing from God--and yet beauty has proved a snare to many a woman, drawing her away from God.

Ability to make money is a perilous gift--which has led many a man to spiritual ruin. It is better to altogether throw away the money-making ability, and go poor through life with the talent wasted and shriveled, and reach Heaven--than to exercise the ability and grow rich, and be lost forever! These are illustrations of our Lord's meaning when He speaks of 'cutting off' the hand or the foot which causes us to sin.

The appetites, desires, and affections--are part of the glory of humanity; and yet, when they are unbridled--they have whirled many a noble life to eternal destruction!

A steam-boat came into port which had long been out on the sea. An accident had happened which caused delay. The coal gave out; then all that would burn--cargo, stores, furniture--had to be burned up, in order to bring the vessel home. At last she gained the shore--but stripped of everything of value. Yet it was better to burn up all her cargo and stores--than perish at sea.

Just so, some men can get to Heaven--only by sacrificing every earthly pleasure and crucifying every sinful desire; but who will say that the prize is not worth the sacrifice? The hand would be better chopped off--than steal or strike down another. The foot would be better cut off--than carry one into crime or sin. The eye would be better plucked-out--than by its lustful gazing set the soul on fire. A man on a wrecked vessel had better throw his bags of gold into the sea and have his life saved--than hold on to the gold and sink into the waves!

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)