Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
J.R. Miller

J.R. Miller

J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)

Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.

J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.

      James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

      In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.

      J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.

      Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.

... Show more
J.R. Miller

November 12. May Your Will Be Done

"O My Father, if it is possible — may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will — but as you will." Matthew 26:39 Among other lessons which we learn from our Lord's prayer in Gethsemane is this: that all our crying to God — should close in acquiescence to the Divine will. It is right to plead ear... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 13. Watch unto Prayer

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41 We must learn both to watch and pray. It is good to watch. There is danger everywhere. An army in an enemy's country never rests a moment without its encircling line of sentinels, k... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 14. Lost Opportunities

"Returning the third time, he said to them: Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners!" Mark 14:41 The time for watching is past. Jesus had now passed through His agony, and on His face was the radiance of peace. He no l... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 15. Never Despair

"Rise up, let us go!" Mark 14:42 There seems to be a voice of hope in this call. The disciples had sadly failed in one great duty: they had slept — when the Master wanted them to watch with Him. He had just told them that they might as well sleep on, so far as that service was concerned, for the tim... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 16. Pray Without Ceasing

"Jesus often resorted there with his disciples." John 18:2 These words give us a glimpse of Jesus' devotional habits. The deep quiet of the Olive garden was His prayer closet. Here He had been accustomed to go for seasons of prayer. There were other places, too, which were sacred resorts to Him. The... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 17. The Traitor!

"Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons!" John 18:2-3 Every new line in t... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 18. The Traitor's Kiss!

"Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Greetings, Master!' and kissed him!" Matthew 26:49 The very reading of the words makes us shudder! A kiss has always been the token of affection, and the seal and pledge of fidelity. Judas' going up to Christ and kissing Him, was a solemn protestation of sincere... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 19. God's Will is Best

"The cup which my Father has given me — shall I not drink it?" John 18:11 The "cup" is our portion, embracing all the experiences of our earthly lives. Our Father gives us the cup — therefore it must be the very best that the wisest love can provide. When death enters a Christian home — there is swe... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 2. The Comforter

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7 Why did the coming of the Comforter depend on Christ's going away? We may say, for one thing, that the Comforter could not come —... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 20. Peter's Fall

"As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." John 18:25 For our own sakes, we should mark the steps which led to Peter's fall. 1. One was his self-confidence. When forewarned, he resented the Master's foretelling,... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 21. The Great Denial

"Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee,' she said. But he denied it before them all. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he said." Matthew 26:69-70 One thing that made Peter's denial so peculiarly sad, was that he had r... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 22. A Lamb without Blemish

"So Pilate came out to them and asked: What charges are you bringing against this man?" John 18:29 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" Matthew 27:23 That was a fair question. The Jews wanted Pilate to put Jesus to death; but Pilate had a ... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 23. Pilate's Indecision

"Then said Pilate unto them: Take him, and judge him according to your law." John 18:31 Pilate wanted to evade the responsibility of trying and sentencing Jesus. But instead of honestly refusing to have anything to do with His condemnation, Pilate sought by evasion simply to get clear of the case. H... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 24. Christ Our King

"Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied." Matthew 27:11 Jesus did not look much like a king as He stood there — His hands bound, a cord about His neck. Pilate's question sounds like ridicule. Yet J... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 25. Behold the Man!

"Pilate said unto them, Behold the man!" John 19:5 We cannot do better than obey Pilate's word, "Behold the Man!" and fix our eyes in loving gaze upon Jesus as He is led out from the palace and stands before the multitude. On His head He wears a crown of thorns; around His bleeding body is thrown a ... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 26. Power Belongs to God

"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me — if it were not given to you from above." John 19:10-11 Authority is one of the entrusted talents. Men talk very boastfully of their p... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 27. Fatal Decision

"Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified." John 19:16 So we see the sad and terrible end of Pilate's weak struggles with his conscience and his sense of right. He first tried every way to avoid the issue; then he temporized, hoping in some manner to get free from responsibility. At la... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 28. Take up Your Cross

"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)." John 19:17 At first there was no one to help Jesus to bear His cross; though fainting from loss of rest and from the gashing and laceration of His body by the scourge, and still more from the untol... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 29. The Perfect Sufferer

"There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it." Matthew 27:34 The offer was kindly meant. There was an association of women at Jerusalem, a compassionate sisterhood, whose work was to provide such stupefying draughts for those who were crucifi... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 3. Life-Giving Knowledge

"And this is life eternal, that they might know you — the only true God; and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" John 17:3 Anyone, therefore, who truly knows God — has eternal life. Knowing God, however, is more than knowing about Him. One may have all the doctrinal knowledge of God's character, attri... Read More

Group of Brands