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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.

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J.R. Miller

November 30. The Crucifixion

"They crucified Him." Mark 15:25 Here we come to the mount of our Redeemer's sufferings, and we should bow our heads in holy reverence as we stand in the silence of astonished love — and gaze upon Him on His cross. Many thoughts will come to us as we contemplate this scene. What a terrible thing sin... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 4. Divine Protection

"Holy Father, keep through your own name, those whom you have given me — that they that they may be one, as we are." John 17:11 There is matchless tenderness in the picture which these words in our Lord's intercessory prayer suggest. We think of a dying mother about to leave her children behind her ... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 5. Life Worth Living

"I do not pray that you should take them out of the world." John 17:15 It would be a great deal safer, in one sense, for believers to be taken at once to Heaven — as soon as they are saved. They would then have no temptations, no enemies to fight, no conflicts and struggles to pass through. But who ... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 6. Our Great Intercessor

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message" John 17:20 Thus in this wonderful intercessory prayer, our Lord reached out beyond the little circle of imperiled disciples who stood around Him that night, and gathered in His arms — all those who ... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 7. Songs in the Night

"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." Matthew 26:30 This is the only record of our Lord's singing when He was on the earth. It is worthy of special notice, that it was just as He was starting out to Gethsemane, that He sang a hymn with His disciples. It would not h... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 8. The Baffled Tempter

"Satan has desired to have you — that he may sift you as wheat." Luke 22:31 Peter was put through Satan's winnowing; but only the chaff in him was blown out. He was a smaller man after the winnowing, just as the bulk of the wheat pile is reduced when the chaff is blown out; but he was a better man. ... Read More
J.R. Miller

November 9. Strength out of Weakness

"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32 Peter was not to be lost in the terrible experience through which he was to pass. Christ had made intercession for him, and he would come again from the trial humbled... Read More
J.R. Miller

Numbering Our Days

What is it to number our days? One way is to keep careful record of them. That is a mathematical numbering. We say we are so many years old. We note our birthdays. But that is not the numbering which is meant in the old Bible prayer, "Teach us to number our days." Mere adding of days--is not living.... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 1. Household Duties

"Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served" John 12:2 There are certain Bible people that we never fail to recognize. We know Martha by her busy serving. Each time we meet her — we find her engaged in active duties. She represents those whose love for Christ takes the practical form. So... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 10. Let Him Take All

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37 We are to notice, first, that it is love God wants. We may give Him our life's highest honor — but He is not satisfied with honor. We ought to obey Him. He is our God and our King, and w... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 11. The Widow's Mite

"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others!" Mark 12:43 It is good to have here our Lord's estimate of earth's gifts. We know that as He saw the offerings that day, and spoke of their worth, so He always beholds how we give, and always weighs our gifts ... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 12. Behold the Lamb of God

"We want to see Jesus!" John 12:21 These men had heard of Jesus — but they wanted to see Him for themselves. It does not do for us to see Jesus only through other people's eyes. No matter how vividly they may portray His beauty before us — this is not the seeing which blesses us and prints His image... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 13. Two Ways of Living

"The man who loves his life — will lose it; while the man who hates his life in this world — will keep it for eternal life." John 12:25 We have two options. We may live for SELF, take good care of our lives, not exposing them to danger, not making sacrifices, looking out for our own interests — and ... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 14. A Savior for All

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth — will draw all men to Myself." John 12:32 As we read the gospel story we are surprised to see how few people were really drawn to Christ during His life. Crowds followed Him — many from curiosity — but very few were savingly drawn to Him in heart and life.... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 15. Be on guard!

"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come Mark 13:33 These words refer to the time of our Lord's coming again. He is surely coming; but when, no one can know. He will come suddenly, without warning. Since, then, we cannot know what moment the Lord may appear, we must "Be on gu... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 16. Mysterious Providence

"You do not realize now what I am doing — but afterward you will understand." John 13:7 Like many other words of Christ, this saying of His has a much wider application, than its primary reference to Peter's perplexity. It furnishes the key to many of the painful or mysterious providences of our liv... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 17. Washing Other's Feet

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet — you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14 Are we to take this literally? Some have understood it in this way. No, say others — He would teach us to do lowly service for one another. Yes; but what kind of service? What did Christ'... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 18. Leaning on Jesus

"One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was leaning on Jesus' bosom." John 13:23 We are not told the name of this disciple — but we know him by his place and posture. What were the traits in John's character which made him the beloved disciple? One was his humility; another was his love — artis... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 19. The Last Supper

"Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat." Matthew 26:26 There was a meaning in every act. The bread itself is an appropriate emblem of Christ's body. Bread is food; Christ is food for our souls. Something may be learned from the manner in wh... Read More
J.R. Miller

October 2. At His Feet

"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." John 12:3 We see Mary three times in the gospel, and each time she is in the same posture, "at Jesus' feet." Wh... Read More

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