The Creature Must Be Nothing, That The SAVIOR May Be ALL In All!

I shall sin no more!
(The following is an excerpt from the diary 
of James Smith, written in 1860 when Smith was 58)

I am weary of myself, ashamed 
of myself, and often turn with 
disgust from myself! 

And yet I find a great deal 
of self-love, self-esteem, and 
self-pity working within me! 

I sometimes get into such a state 
of confusion, into such misery and 
wretchedness, that I cry out, 

"Oh, what a wretched man I am! 
Who will free me from this life that 
is dominated by sin and death!" 
Romans 7:24

I feel that I am too carnal--
too much like the generality 
of professors. I do not follow 
the LORD fully. I am not wholly set 
apart for GOD. But I am ashamed 
of complaining, I have done so--
so often, and it has ended there. 

I need more life, more savor, 
more love in my religion; 
and to be more energetic 
and self-denying in my 
ministry. I need--
alas, what do I not need? 

I am only a mere skeleton 
of a Christian. I can keep up 
the outward form pretty well, 
but the power--
the power is what I need! 

I want to be like JESUS. 
O for a CHRIST-like spirit, 
temper, and course of conduct! 

I am obliged to renounce self entirely--
all that I do, all that I feel, and all that I say--
and build on JESUS CHRIST, and on HIM alone. 

This is very mortifying to 
poor, proud human nature--
but so it must be. 
The creature must be nothing--
that the SAVIOR may be all in all!

How swift-footed is time! 

Soon, very soon--
it will land me on 
the shores of eternity! 

Well, to die will be gain. 
I shall then be with CHRIST--
with CHRIST forever! 

Then all my trials will be ended, 
all my sorrows will cease--
and I shall sin no more! 

If I could but live without sin--
I would not care how long I lived. 
Nothing grieves me like sin--
and yet I sin daily. I grieve 
the loving heart of JESUS, 
and wound the tender bosom 
on which I lean. What a pleasant 
thing perfect holiness will be!

     ~  ~  ~  ~  ~


GraceGems has posted Horatius Bonar's helpful article, 
"The Family Discipline".