For those who love the Lord His command is all the motivation they need to keep His precepts, but they also know there is a reward in doing so–“Then shall I not be ashamed..”. Because of their respect for God’s commands they are rewarded with a clear conscience—and that is no small thing. Joanna Baillie, 1762-1851, wrote:

I can bear scorpion’s stings, tread fields of fire,

In frozen gulfs of cold eternal lie;

Be tossed aloft through tracts of endless void,

But cannot live in shame.

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him.”Proverbs 3:6

Beloved we are the Lord’s, the creatures of His power, the purchase of His blood, the subjects of His grace. He has set His love upon us, employed His wisdom for us, and is deeply interested in all that concerns us. Every thing we do, should be done with a view to His glory; and in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we should let our requests be made known unto Him. Every thing should be mentioned at His throne. His presence, direction, and blessing, should be sought in reference to every circumstance of our lives. Our misery can never exceed His mercy, or our application at His throne find His ear pre-occupied. He is our Father, and as such ought to be honoured. We should ask of Him, and ask with the whole heart: for he that withdraws his heart in asking, will find God withdraw His hand in giving. Acknowledging God in all things will produce a steady peace of mind; preserve us from many temptations; and strengthen our faith in Him. He that always acknowledges God, will find that God always acknowledges him.–James Smith, 1840

Stretch o’er my head Thy guardian wings,
Secure my soul, O King of kings!
My shield and refuge be;
Thy grace and mercy, Lord, display
Through Christ the Life, the Truth, the Way,
That I may come to Thee!

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”–Ecclesiastes 12:1

Yesterday was Memorial Day and our thoughts had to do with those who have died–many at a young age. Now our attention is turned to the living and the need of making the best use of the time we have left. The following comments from the Baptist Bible Hour helps us with this:

“It is inevitable, young person, that you will eventually come to a time—perhaps even years—when you are not even able to enjoy the pleasures of this life anymore. As unthinkable as it may seem right now, you will not always be strong, free of pain, able to eat anything you want (that day is actually coming soon!), or even perhaps able to get out of bed.

Why does Solomon remind us of this fact? Is he just trying to burst our bubble or make us depressed? No. He is writing this admonition so that we will begin now to pour our hearts and lives into pleasures that even old age cannot take away.

Remember now your Creator! Don’t wait until every distraction is taken away from you and God is the only person left to talk to. Serve Him now, even in the middle of a thousand immediate pleasures that may be tempting you away from Him. Because even now He is greater than any of these pleasures.

The truth is that, in your Creator, there are “pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). He is not reprimanding us for enjoying the earthly pleasures of eating, music, painlessness, or sunsets — your Creator is the one who made these things also. But He is warning us against seeking these niceties as an end in themselves, while we are still able to enjoy them, and forgetting about the greater pleasures that never go away or diminish.

In the presence of God is fullness of joy. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied with anything less than full joy.”

We are predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image. But now we groan, being burdened with sin. Now we are grieved, because . . .
our tempers are so unlovely,
our feelings are so carnal,
our minds are so wandering, and
our hearts are so depraved.

“But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him — for we shall see Him as He is!” 1 John 3:2. We shall be exactly like Him — in every sentiment, feeling, and design! Then selfishness will be forever done away. There will be no more . . .
rebellion in the will,
hardness in the heart,
wandering in the affections,
guilt in the conscience, or
blindness in the understanding;
but every faculty will be perfect in holiness — and the whole soul filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be perfect in knowledge! “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be perfect in love! We shall love God perfectly and supremely. We shall love all who love Christ, even as we love ourselves.

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be perfect in happiness! Every wish will be gratified, every desire fulfilled, every prayer answered.

We shall be like Him! Then we shall be glorious!
Is Jesus enthroned? We shall sit with Him on His throne.
Is Jesus crowned? He will give unto us an unfading crown of glory!

“But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him — for we shall see Him as He is!”– James Smith