Gems from February 2004

February 1st

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption."
(Galatians 6:8)

"Whenever a child of God sets his affection on anything in this world, thereby relegating Jesus Christ to a secondary place in his heart, he is in for serious trouble. Do not tamper with God's laws." (L.S.)

N.J. Hiebert # 1782

February 2nd

"Search the scriptures." (John 5:39)

"Comparatively speaking, the Bible is a small book. How is it then that we know so little about it? I believe, because it is uniquely profound. And it must be read in dependence on God to be understood. Then, too, Satan does his best to prevent us because he knows its value.

"We are too apt to take what others think about the Word - to take it adulterated. If we are going to be happy, we must get the Word for ourselves. If we give it up, we shall certainly lose everything else. If the sap of a tree is gone, so is the health and fruit-bearing. Do we, then, buy up the opportunities that are given to us for the study of the Word? We may not be able to give hours to it at one time, but do we use up our minutes?" (W.T. P. Wolston)

Do you treat the Crown of writings As you treat no other book?
Just a paragraph disjointed, Just a crude, impatient look?
Try a worthier procedure, Try a broad and steady view,
You will kneel in humble rapture When you read the Bible through.

N.J. Hiebert # 1783

February 3rd

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

"If mutual intercession replaces mutual accusation then difficulties and differences between brethren will be overcome.

"God does not judge by what He hears, nor by what HE sees ..., HE KNOWS!" "He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: but with righteousness shall He judge..." (Isaiah 11:3,4) (Le Lien Fraternal 97 - M. Payette)

N.J. Hiebert # 1784

February 4th

"See that ye fall not out by the way." (Genesis 45:24)

"Why did Joseph utter this solemn warning to his brethren, so recently restored to full and happy fellowship? He knew their hearts and knew well the spirit of jealousy and pride which had motivated their treatment of him. In spite of their restoration, Joseph realized that that same wicked spirit - in spite of all their blessings - could break out against each other during the journey to Goshen.

A Sad History

- They had hated Joseph - but he loved them.
- They were jealous of him - he sought their welfare.
- They conspired to kill him - he spared their lives.
- They sold him as a slave - he freely restored their liberty, giving them food, money and clothing.
- They took from him the beautiful coat that his father had made for him - he gave them Goshen, the best of the land of Egypt.
- They sat down to eat and take their ease - he suffered thirst and grief in the pit and the prison.
- They lied to their father about their awful deed - he confessed them as his brethren before Pharaoh.
- The brothers took - Joseph gave.
- There could only be one appropriate response to such kindness - walking together in love and unity." (Taken from The Christian Shepherd - August 2001 - Doug Nicolet)

N.J. Hiebert # 1785

February 5th

"Every good gift and every [perfect act of giving] is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." (James 1:17)

"A lady applied for financial help for a needy orphan to the eminent philanthropist of Bristol, England, Richard Reynolds. After he had given liberally, she said, 'When he is old enough, I will teach him to be thankful to his benefactor.' 'Stop.' said Reynolds, 'you are mistaken. We do not thank the clouds for rain. Teach him to look higher, and thank Him who gives both the clouds and the rain.' " (J.B. Nicholson - Choice Gleanings)

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving has only begun. -- Annie Johnson Flint

N.J. Hiebert # 1786

February 6th

"JESUS, Himself drew near and went with them." (Luke 24:15)

Speak to me now of Christ! my soul is weary
Of fighting's, fears, and words that have no end;
Hungry and thirsty am I - yea, and longing
For sweet refreshment He alone can send.

Speak to me now of Christ! - not your opinion -
Comparing man to man but leads to strife;
Of JESUS let me hear - my soul's Beloved,
Whose words speak comfort, peace, eternal life!

Speak to me now of CHRIST, Who lowly suffered
Enduring spitting, scourging, grief and shame -
Who, when accused and cursed, He answered nothing -
He is my Saviour - let me hear His Name! (E.L.)

N.J. Hiebert # 1787

February 7th

Today the precious remains of Valerie House, a young wife, mother, daughter and friend will be laid to rest to await the "shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise..." (1 Thessalonians 4:16) Let's remember to pray for her husband Paul and the five children and "Weep with them that weep." (Romans 12:15)

"Absent from the body ...present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Just "absent from the body," But "present with the Lord";
Blest, divine reality, The purchase of His blood.
And thus our Father's calling Our loved ones from our side,
"His own Beloved" waiting - The Bridegroom, for His bride.

And thus our hearts, with anguish, Find solace at His feet;
We murmur not, nor languish, But songs of praise repeat.
Our earthly treasures vanish Just from our sense of sight;
And heaven comes the nearer With faith's increasing light.

Our earthly ties are weakened; Our drooping hands hang down;
Our little circle's broken By loneliness profound.
Yet even this, "far better," Since Jesus fills the place,
And lights up all the darkness With His most blessed face. (C.E.H.)

N.J. Hiebert # 1788

February 8th

"Looking unto Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2)

"UNTO JESUS and not at our faith. The last device of the adversary, when he cannot make us look elsewhere, is to turn our eyes from our Saviour to our faith, and thus to discourage us if it is weak, to fill us with pride if it is strong: and either way to weaken us. For power does not come from the faith, but from the Saviour by faith. It is not looking at our look, it is 'looking unto Jesus.' " (Translated from the French of Theodore Monod by Helen Willis)

N.J. Hiebert # 1789

February 9th

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8)

"Mahatma Ghandi was visited by faithful missionaries while on one of his extended fasts. As they shared their faith, he asked them to sing a hymn showing the depth of their commitment. In a moment they sang Isaac Watts' great hymn: When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Lord of glory died - my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride." (Arnot P. McIntee)

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my heart, my life, my all. (Isaac Watts)

N.J. Hiebert # 1790

February 10th

"For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16)

"Astrologers turn heavenward their great telescopes, and they search the skies and examine this planet and that planet, and this universe and that universe. Why is it that with all their searching, they have never yet found another planet, another universe, another star, with an atmosphere in which human beings like you and me could live? Ah -- 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' God loved the world, and that is the only place in all that vast expanse where human beings could exist. He upholds all things by the word of His power, and everything here is for our good and blessing. The One who planned it all is the One who made purgation for our sins. What a wonderful Saviour we have!" (C.H. Brown)

N.J. Hiebert # 1791

February 11th

"We went through fire and through water: but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place." (Psalm 66:12)

"God could have kept Daniel out of the lion's den. He could have kept Paul and Silas out of jail. He could have kept the three Hebrew children out of the fiery furnace. But God never promised to keep us out of hard places. Yet He has promised to go with us through every hard place, and to bring us through victoriously!" (Christian Truth - Volume 22 - 1969)

N.J. Hiebert # 1792

February 12th

"I will guide thee with Mine eye." (Psalm 32:8)

"This, as we know, is the most tender, delicate, and affectionate description of guidance. We must be very intimate with a person and very near him in order to be guided by the movement of his eye. It is a far more refined and exquisite sort of guidance than the movement of the hand or the sound of the voice. I must be gazing directly into a person's face in order to catch the glance of his eye; and I must be intimately acquainted with his wishes and his ways in order to interpret the glance and act upon it." (C.H. Mackintosh)

N.J. Hiebert # 1793

February 13th

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." (Jeremiah 15:16)

"Have you ever been forced to 'eat your own words'? It is a very humiliating experience to admit we were all wrong and have to 'eat crow.'
"There are other words, however, which have exactly the opposite effect when they are eaten. It is the Word of God which when eaten and appropriated becomes 'unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.' Do you ever pray for a greater love for this Word? for a better understanding of the Bible? for a greater knowledge of the Scriptures? Before reading or studying the Bible, take time to ask God to illumine your understanding and see how much more you will get out of it. James says, 'Ye have not, because ye ask not.' To get the most out of your Bible reading - eat it with plenty of prayer.

"Jeremiah said, 'Thy words were found, and I did eat them.' But if you really want to get the maximum benefit, then in addition to studying it - and praying about it - begin to practice it. If you first learn it - then practice it - you will never forget it.

"In our chemistry class in college we were taught that a piece of metallic sodium when place in water would generate hydrogen so fast that the heat produced caused it to burst into flame. We read this in a book and probably would have forgotten all about it, except for one thing. We were told to go to the laboratory and try it. A small piece of sodium was dropped in a dish of water. It sizzled, popped, danced and spiraled - and then - poof, it burst into flame. It worked - I never forgot it. Put your knowledge of the Word to work. Practice it and you'll never forget it." (M.R.D.)

Our watchword in life's battle, Our chart on life's dark sea,
The precious Holy Bible, Shall e'er our teacher be. -- E.P. HOOD

"The man who only samples the Word of God occasionally never acquires a keen taste for it."
(Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (1962), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.)

N.J. Hiebert # 1794

February 14th

"Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." (Genesis 13:12-13)

"The Lord remained to commune with Abraham, and merely sent His angels to Sodom."
"It is a bitter thing to seek, in any wise to manage for ourselves; we are sure to make the most grievous mistakes."

"We cannot profit by the world, and, at the same time, bear effectual testimony against its wickedness."
"It is vain to speak of approaching judgment, while finding our place, our portion, and our enjoyment in the very scene which is to be judged."
(Taken from Food for the Desert)

N.J. Hiebert # 1795

February 15th

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him." (Luke 23:33)

The ultimate crime! The supreme blasphemy! The vilest obscenity! The grossest stupidity! They did that to Him! Sinners, perverted, defiled, and dead to God, actually nailed Him to the wood! He, the loveliest Man who ever walked the dust of earth, who healed their brokenhearted, dried their tears, and blessed their little children. He fed their hungry, and set their captives free. He brought the Word of heaven to their hearts and would open heaven to their souls. Who were those criminals? Our human race!" (J. Boyd Nicholson)

N.J. Hiebert # 1796

February 16th

"Ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven." (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10)

"Many may say, I have no head for prophecy. Perhaps not, but have you a heart for Christ? Surely, if you love Christ you will love His appearing, though you may have no capacity for prophetic investigation. An affectionate wife may not have a head to enter into her husbands affairs, but she has a heart for her husband's return; - she might not be able to understand his ledger and day-book, but she knows his footstep and recognizes His voice. The most unlettered saint, if only he has affection for the Person of the Lord Jesus, can entertain the most intense desire to see Him; and this is the Church's hope." (C.H. Macintosh)

N.J. Hiebert # 1797

February 17th

"And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete." (Acts 27:13)

"Those with Paul in the centurion's boat thought that they had gained their purpose, because of the initially pleasant atmosphere. All was calm, quiet, and lovely. Much nicer and more pleasant than the boring, dull harbor at Fair Havens. They even stayed close to land - close by Crete, and in doing so, no doubt felt very safe as well.

"The word Crete means 'fleshy'. And this - seeking to satisfy the flesh - is the very thing that will bring disaster in your life's journey. If you know Christ as Saviour, then know that the flesh (which can never please God - Romans 8:8) was put to death at the cross. 'I am crucified with Christ...In my flesh dwelleth no good thing.' (See also Romans 7:5). But the flesh still demands satisfaction if we do not daily reckon it to be where God has place it - dead and in the grave. It will always demand that your life be charted close to - so it can always be fed and sustained. Don't listen!

"The Word of God tells us to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Sin in all of its corrupting ways, is not to reign in our mortal body. But if Christ is not really the Master and Owner of your ship, then every day of your life's journey will be spent seeking to satisfy the cravings of the wicked and hopeless flesh in you - leaving you in the end, empty, unsatisfied and shipwrecked." (The Journey of Life - Douglas Nicolet)

N.J. Hiebert # 1798

February 18th

"This do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)

" 'This do in remembrance of me,' said the Lord. It is reported that an invitation from a royal person is looked upon as a command, and must be obeyed. What Christian would do otherwise than accept the gracious invitation of the Son of God?" (Christian Truth Vol. 19 - May 1966)

N.J. Hiebert # 1799

February 19th

"Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears..."
(Acts 20:19)

"Let us never be discouraged because things are not going as smoothly as they might. Let us rather retreat into our closets, and get on out knees and cry to God for wisdom and help through the trial. I have witnessed situations, deadlocked impasses that it seemed nothing could break, and yet God came in in answer to deep, earnest, longing prayer. I have seen such sad circumstances clear up, dissipate, and disappear; and the saints were again in happy harmony. Oh, let us remember that we have a living God in heaven who is interested in the welfare of His people. Don't give up. Seek grace from God to have such resolved. He can do it." (C.H. Brown)

N.J. Hiebert # 1800

February 20th

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God." (1 Peter 5:6)

"Humility alone can save us getting out of one ditch into another.
"Deliverance is only found when there is the full conviction of our incapacity and want of power, as well as of our sin." (J.N. Darby)

N.J. Hiebert # 1801

February 21st

"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till HE come." (1 Corinthians 11:26)

Thy broken body, gracious Lord, Is shadowed by this broken bread;
The wine which in this cup is poured points to the blood which Thou hast shed.
And while we meet together thus, We show that we are one in Thee;
Thy precious blood was shed for us - Thy death, O Lord, has set us free.

Brethren in Thee, in union sweet - Forever be Thy grace adored -
'Tis in Thy name, that now we meet, And know Thou'rt with us, gracious Lord.
We have one hope - That Thou wilt come; Thee in the air we wait to see,
When Thou wilt take Thy people home, And we shall ever reign with Thee. (Anon)

N.J. Hiebert # 1802

February 22nd

"(Since) ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments (basic principles) of the world , why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances... after the commandments and doctrines of men." (Colossians 2:20,22)

"It is a terrible thing to disturb God's people. They are like a flock of sheep, feeding in the good pastures of the Word of God. But, alas, there are many today who, instead of feeding the sheep, are disturbing them. There are those who pass for good shepherds of God's flock, who are very often preaching the law, like the false teachers at Galatia, instead of feeding the sheep with the true grace of God. There are many who would not preach the Ten Commandments, either for salvation, or as a 'rule of life,' but who are continuing telling the saints of God. 'Touch not! Taste not! Handle not!' (Colossians 2:21). 'We have such-and-such-a-rule'; 'You must not do this'; 'you must not do that.' The principle is the same. It is law instead of grace; and it disturbs the flock, but does not feed them. Those who disturb God's sheep will have to bear God's judgment, whoever they may be, for this is the work of the enemy." (G.C. Willis - Meditations on Galatians)

N.J. Hiebert # 1803

February 23rd

"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Romans 11:29)
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." 
(Colossians 3:23)
"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6)

"It is necessary in this world to have some profession, some occupation. No doubt; and the rule is to abide in your calling with God. The calling is for this life, and will end with this life. The question is: What is your fixed purpose? Is it that of the man (Saul) who was converted on the road to Damascus, and had but one object before him in all his daily work - one Object, brighter than the noonday sun? If so, the thing for you is to carry it out in dependence upon the Lord, by the power of the Holy Ghost." (E.L.B. - Help for the Poor of the Flock - Vol. 3)
N.J. Hiebert # 1804

February 24th

"My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up." (Psalm 5:3)

"I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o'clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says: 'Early will I seek Thee'; 'Thou shalt early hear my voice.' Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness, and I can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed. Then when in secret prayer the soul is often out of tune. I feel it is far better to begin with God - to see His face first, to get my soul near Him before it is near another." (Robert Murray McCheyne)

N.J. Hiebert # 1805

February 25th

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Christ left a will when He went away. He had something in rich measure when He was here, which He definitely stated He would leave with us and give unto us.


"That was His PEACE. It is said lawyers can break almost any will, but not this one - not the will of Christ. He was willed it, and it shall be so. He made His will, and left His PEACE with us.

"Christ alone is the One who can rightfully promise to impart PEACE, for He is the PRINCE of PEACE. Many centuries before His birth, he was prophetically called this by the prophet Isaiah.
"At His birth, the angels said, 'PEACE on earth.'
"To the troubled sea, He spoke and said, 'PEACE, be still!' And today, in life's troubled sea, 'He is our PEACE,' 'And came and preached peace.' (Ephesians 2:17)' " 
(Zelma Argue - Garments of Strength)

N.J. Hiebert # 1806

February 26th

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17)

"In these days men have left off faith. The spirit of the martyrs is not in them. Opinions have taken the place of convictions; and the result is a liberality which is the offspring, not of humility and love, but of indifference or doubt. Opinions are our own, and should not be too firmly held. Truth is Divine, and is worth living for and dying for." (Sir Robert Anderson - The Gospel and its Ministry)

N.J. Hiebert # 1807

February 27th

"Sanctify them through thy truth: Thy word is truth." (John 17:17)

"Spiritual intelligence is, as the rule, inseparable from a right condition of the soul with the Lord. It is very possible that the man may have bright thoughts, as indeed commonly is the case with the enemy, who contrives with positive heresy to mix up not a little which sounds plausible and like truth. There may even be attention drawn to neglected truth; but then it is not a truth that sanctifies, but the truth. A truth misused may be the means of the greatest injury and danger to the soul. The truth is found in Christ only, and therefore it is the possession of Christ before us which alone secures both the glory of God and the blessing of man." (William Kelly)

N.J. Hiebert # 1808

February 28th

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

"There is no greater contrast than light and darkness; men who are born again in the Spirit and have life from God and men who still persist in unbelief and reject Jesus Christ, the Saviour. That is why an unbeliever cannot understand a believer. Anyone who professes to have become a child of God and have forgiveness of sins is looked upon as crazy.

"Someone has expressed it like this, - a learned man can understand an ignorant man for he was also once ignorant; even so a believer can understand an unbeliever for he was once an unbeliever. But an unbeliever cannot understand a believer because he has never had faith." (Taken from an old calendar page - anon)

N.J. Hiebert # 1809