Gems from August 2007

August 1

"The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." 
(Romans 8:26.27)

- Prayer is a cry of distress, a plea for help, a hymn of praise.
- Prayer, in its simplest definition, is merely a desire turned God-ward.
- Prayer reaches out to a dying world and says, "I care."
- God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds to day.

Have you used one to say, "Thank you"? (A Collection of Wise Sayings - R.K.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3051

"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)

This is thought a strange thing now; but the Thessalonians were converted to this hope, for they belonged to a world which had rejected God's Son; therefore they had to turn from these idols "to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven." What I desire to press upon you all, and myself too, is the individual waiting for the Lord; not as a doctrine merely, but as a daily waiting for Himself. Whatever the Lord's will may be, I should like Him to find me doing so when He comes. But that is not the question. Am I waiting for Himself day by day? (The Young Christian)

N.J. Hiebert # 3052

August 2

"I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." (Isaiah 46:9,10)

If the telescope opens many a wonder to man, the microscope is not less impressive. They are both important instruments in the hand of man; and they are both intended, doubtless, in God's providence, to show man from the natural world a witness of divine power in what is above, and also in that which is beneath. But in all things, what ought to be gathered from it is not incense for man, but the wonders of God in what He has wrought.

A similar principle applies to the Word of God; for therein, if God displays Himself in what is vast, quite as much does He appear in ways whose minuteness might easily escape observation. Everywhere perfection is claimed for God, whether in what He has made, or, above all, in that which He has written; and in that which He has written, beyond that which He has wrought, because His mind and ways must transcend His outward works. For the Word of God is claimed the very highest place, as the expression of His wisdom - His inner wisdom. For that which is connected with matter must yield to what has to do with mind and the affections, and, above all, the display of the divine nature. (William Kelly)

N.J. Hiebert # 3053

August 3

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."
(Luke 17:26-27)

God has told us that the moral conditions that prevailed before the flood and before the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah will again be general when the Son of man comes in judgment. (Luke 17:26-30)

Now, what about the true Christian's attitude toward all this? Is he to accept the lowered and lowering standards around him? Is he to allow in himself, or sanction or condone in others, the customs of moral laxity that are prevalent? Is he to follow a course that leads in that direction? Most surely not. He is called to "holiness," "purity," and "virtue." "Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)

Christians who are in close contact with the world are in danger. Defiling influences are to be found in the schools, colleges, factories, and offices - in fact, anywhere where the world is met. May we seek to walk with God and guard against any allowance of the first steps of conduct unbecoming for a saint (holy one) of God; for God's standards of holiness have not changed, nor will He accommodate them to the falling standards of popular opinion. (P. Wilson)

"God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."
(1 Thessalonians 4:7)

N.J. Hiebert # 3054

August 4

"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, what is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And He said unto Him, thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbour?"
(Luke 10:25-29)

It is ever the way of man to want to be accredited for what he thinks himself to be. He would justify himself. And to do this, he would have the way of life to accommodate his convenience. He goes about to establish his own righteousness, not submitting himself to the righteousness of God; for the blessed thing is, God has a righteousness to render to man. (Job 33:26)

Yes, "Grace reign[s] through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." How honouring to God, for man weighed is found wanting. "There is none righteous, . . . there is none that seeketh after God. . . . There is none that doeth good, no, not one ." What a sweeping verdict!

Who can gainsay it, when this "is written" as God's own summing up?

Luke 10:25-37, we have man's valuation of himself rebuked, but oh, after the divine way, by showing the riches of grace meeting the reality of the need. (Sound Words)

N.J. Hiebert # 3055

August 5

"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." 
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

The world has a philosophy that the pleasure is in the chase, and not in the prize. How often has it been proved that the world's favors have vanished just as easily and as disappointingly as the wayfarer's mirage in the desert has fled from him when he was faint and famished. The alluring oasis with its promise of water and shade proved to be only a deception to mock him when the reality was most needed.

The world's history is strewn with examples of those who vainly sought for happiness only to find it vanish as quickly as a broken bubble. That this world has its glory is not to be denied; that it is a vain and fleeting glory which will not satisfy the heart of man, is likewise a weighty fact. Solomon was allowed to taste most of the glories and pleasures here, but he wrote after each and all of them, "vanity and vexation of spirit." Oh, why should anyone have to learn the disappointing lesson for himself? (Paul Wilson)N.J. Hiebert # 3056

August 6

"And when it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying . . . send the multitude away. . . but Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat." (Matthew 14:15-16)

What a striking contrast between "Send them away," and "Give ye them to eat." Thus it is ever. God's ways are not as our ways, and it is by looking at His ways that we learn to judge our ways - by looking at Him that we learn to judge our ways - by looking at Him that we learn to judge ourselves. Jesus, in this lovely scene, corrects the selfishness of the disciples - first, by making them the channels through which His grace may flow to the multitude - second, by making them gather up "twelve baskets full of the fragments" for themselves.

Nor is this all. Not merely is selfishness rebuked, but the heart is most blessedly instructed. Nature might say, "What need is there of the five loaves and two fishes at all? Surely the One who can feed such a multitude with, can as easily feed them without, such an instrumentality." Nature might argue thus; but Jesus teaches us that we are not to despise God's creatures. We are to use what we have, with God's blessing. This is a fine moral lesson for the heart. "What hast thou in the house?" is the question. It is just that and nothing else that God will use. It is easy to be liberal with what we have not; but the thing is to bring out what we have, and with God's blessing, apply it to the present need.

(C.H. Mackintosh)N.J. Hiebert # 3057

August 7

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." 
(James 1:27)

The caring for souls - the binding up of those that are broken in spirit - the interesting ourselves in the troubles and trials and difficulties of the saints of God - is of great price with Him; and this kind of ministering is, I am afraid, often sadly neglected today. (Christian Truth - Vol. 22 - 1969)N.J. Hiebert # 3058

August 8

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

An act may be unholy, though done with a good conscience, because "the truth," and not the conscience, is the rule of holiness. (Selected)N.J. Hiebert # 3059

August 9

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path." 
(Psalm 14:23)

There are times in our lives when our hearts are overwhelmed and we wonder how we can go on. It is at times like these that we need to be reminded that we are on the Rock who is higher than we are.

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2).

This elevation gives us a position of strength over our spiritual enemies; a position of perspective on our situation, in view of eternity - the big picture; and a position of closeness to the Most High God where we can rest in the calming comfort of His omnipotent presence. (David J. Logan)

On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
(Edward Mote)N.J. Hiebert # 3060

August 10

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. . ." (Isaiah 40:31)

I watched a bird upon a fragile stem;
It seemed it would surely break with him;
He did not seem to worry or to mind,
For all his swaying in the wind.
He sat erect and sang his lilting song,
He felt so very sure, so very strong.
FOR HE HAD WINGS!
(Selected)N.J. Hiebert # 3061

August 11

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 
(Matthew 11:28-30)

People do not end up in a counselor's office, nor do they become fanatical, judgmental, or self-righteous through carrying the yoke of Jesus! Taking on the yoke of Jesus means becoming His willing disciple, that is, a lifelong learner. It means totally trusting Him with our lives. It may mean difficulty; it may mean facing rejection; it may mean a great deal of hard work - but it will not burn you out. The yoke of Jesus also means rest, peace, and fulfillment in a life linked with His.

The first reason we don't become burned-out is because we are not acting contrary to our real identities. We are merely living out who we are: new creatures in Christ! "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) We have become, partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) We don't feel a conflict with the moving of the Spirit in our lives (though the flesh may resist). Our souls experience the greatest peace and harmony imaginable when we are responding to the urgings of God through the Holy Spirit.

The second reason that we don't burn out is because we are not producing the life on our own; Christ Himself is producing His life in and through us. "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:29) (Bob George)N.J. Hiebert # 3062

August 12

"Be ye also ready. . . ." (Matthew 24:44)

Not only ready for His coming or ready to die but ready for anything - ready to give an answer for the hope within us ". . . be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15), ready to preach the Gospel, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel." (Romans 1:15). The Christian should live in a state of constant readiness to live or die, to spend or be spent. Ready to die and therefore ready to live. Ready to live and therefore ready to die. Paul had only two days on his calendar, "TODAY" and "THAT DAY." The Christian who is right and rich and radiant is ready, come what may! (Vance Havner - All the Days)N.J. Hiebert # 3063

August 13

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34)

No one was ever, on earth, so happy as Christ, because of His seeing everything in connection with God's purpose and God's will; and the greater the sorrow, the higher its wave broke over His heart, the more this is seen. There was always some expression of praise, some reference to the Father, showing the joy within untouched, as a spring of water hidden for refreshment. His was straitened till the Father's will was accomplished in the death upon the cross. (Gleanings From the Teaching of G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 3064

August 14

"Pray [continually] without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)


FOR OUR CHILDREN
Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.
Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them.
From the worldlings hollow gladness
From the sting of faithless sadnessHoly Father, save our children
Through life's troubled waters steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them.
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.
And wherever they may bide,
Lead them Home at eventide.
(Amy Carmichael)N.J. Hiebert # 3065

August 15

"And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you." (Acts 27:33,34)

Fourteen days is a long time to go without food! They had been so pre-occupied with the terrible storm, that they had not taken time to eat. Perhaps the storm, that has assailed your life has not allowed you the opportunity or the desire to feed on God's Word. But that is the very meat that you must have to regain your spiritual strength. Be sure to spend time every day, diligently feeding on the precious Word of God. It is for your health.

If your desire is to come back to the Lord, be encouraged! "There shall not an hair fall from your head." The Lord has promised that "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." (John 10:28,29) Though you may have suffered a ship-wreck, when there is repentance, God can and will bring you to another ship. Take heart and take meat! (D.N. - The Journey of Life)
N.J. Hiebert # 3066

August 16

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith in Christ. Faith is that act of the soul whereby it rests on Christ crucified for pardon and life, and that upon the warrant of the word. The person of Christ is the object of faith as justifying: secondly, Christ as crucified. First, the person of Christ, not any axiom or proposition in the word; - this is the object of assurance, not of faith. Assurance saith, I believe my sins are pardoned through Christ: faith's language is, I believe on Christ for the pardon of them. . . . Not every one that assents to the truth of what Scripture saith of Christ doth believe on Christ. This believing on Christ implies trusting decumbency (reclining) on Christ. It is no the sight of a man's arm stretched out to a man in the water will save him from drowning, but the taking hold of it. "Let him take hold of my strength." (Isaiah 27:5) (William Gurnall - The Christian in Complete Armour - 1665)N.J. Hiebert # 3067

August 17

"And He (Jesus) said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?" (Luke 11:5,6)

he story of the man who said, 'I have nothing to set before him', has been helping me this morning (not for the first time). It says so exactly what I so often feel. 'A friend of mine in his journey has come to me and I have nothing to set before him' - no, not even a crumb. I expect you also often feel like that. I can well understand how the devil will make you feel like that poor man who had nothing to give and went in the night to borrow three loaves. But the end of the story is very comforting, 'He will rise and give him as many as he needs.' As much as you need to do His will and help others, these travelers in life's difficult journey, will be given to you to give. There will be no shortage from the heavenly point of view. So meet the devil's depressing whisper, as I pray this morning that I may, with that dear word, 'As many as he needs', and be at peace. (Amy Carmichael - Candles in the Dark)

N.J. Hiebert # 3068

August 18

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." 
(2 Corinthians 2:11)

It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word (Bible) and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were of no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer; while the truth is in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying; for the less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray. (George Muller)

Satan has many ways of ensnaring God's children, but when he seeks to hinder our prayer life he attacks the very citadel of our spirituality and power. Here therefore let us most resolutely repel him, and at his every approach resort more earnestly to prayer. Prayer itself is the very best protection to the spirit of prayer. "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." (Matthew 26:41)

N.J. Hiebert # 3069

August 19

"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer . . . and a certain man lame . . . (asked) alms of them that entered into the temple . . And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us."(Acts 3:1-9)

The human race is a race of cripples, maimed in body, mind, and spirit. Even those who seem, apart from saving grace, to be hale and hearty are best described by Isaiah as without soundness but with wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. Sin is a grievous affliction, and we are lame in our souls from birth to death unless we are born again. The crutches are not always visible, and sick souls try to laugh sin off, drink it off, pretend its non-existence, but God knows about it and so do we in better moments.

Peter and John bade the lame man, "Look on us." (verse 4) Deliverance lay in a look. Peter and John were not magnifying themselves; with them stood One whom the lame man and the onlookers couldn't see. There stood one among them whom they knew not. . . .

Peter took the lame man by the hand and lifted him up. The look was followed by the lift. There is plenty of uplifting these days, but much of it is old Adam trying to lift old Adam. The true Christian, filled with the Spirit of the living Christ has life in his lift. It was so with this man and he leaped. He may have come limping but he went away leaping. (Vance Havner - Don't Miss Your Miracle)

N.J. Hiebert # 3070

August 20

"And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." (John 1:46)

After all, we do not gain much by discussion. Let objectors or inquirers only get one personal interview with the Son of God, and that will scatter all their darkness, all their prejudice, and all their unbelief. The moment that Philip succeeded in getting Nathanael to Christ, the work was done. (D.L. Moody)N.J. Hiebert # 3071

August 21

"And he (Andrew) brought him (Simon Peter) to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, 'Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone'."
(John 1:42)

Cephas, the evangelist tells us, means "a stone." There was about to be a new thing commenced in the earth - the Church of God; and Peter was, through grace, to have a place therein. Let us note carefully his own words as to this - "To whom coming, as unto a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:4-5). Thus the Church of God is a spiritual structure, composed of persons who, like Peter, have come to Christ, and who, in virtue of the divine gift of eternal life, have been constituted living stones.

Men's churches, Papal, National and non conformist alike, may contain many adherents who have never been in contact with Christ; the Church which Christ is building consists exclusively of those who have followed in the footsteps of Andrew and Peter, and who thus have life eternal in the Son of God. That no reader may misunderstand, let it be distinctly stated that that which Christ calls "My Church" in Matthew 16:18 is the aggregate of believing souls (of whatever name) from the day of Pentecost downwards. (W.W. Fereday - Peter the Apostle)N.J. Hiebert # 3072

August 22

"Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand." 
(Psalm 73:23)

Excerpt of an Address to Young People

Yes, dear child of God, that is the One you have, the Lord. Do not worry about the prosperity of the ungodly; you have THE LORD. What intimacy, love, consideration, confidence that comes to you, and the preciousness of the Lord right by your side! That is the only way to be happy in this world - companionship with Christ - and you can have that. But let me tell you, if you want to enter upon a certain pathway of sorrow, just attempt to get your enjoyment the way the ungodly are getting it; and I promise you, you will have a full cup of bitterness before the end comes. You have heard too much truth, have had too much blessed ministry, you know too much of the way, to ever find your portion of happiness in the pathway of the ungodly in this world. True joy and happiness are found in companionship with Christ. (From The Young Christian)N.J. Hiebert # 3073

August 23

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:5,6)

Note the little word "only." It is very searching. It will not do to say we are trusting in God, while the eye is all the while askance upon the creature. It is much to be feared that we frequently talk about looking to the Lord, while in reality we are expecting our fellow man to help us.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:9,10)

How needful to have the heart's deepest motive springs judged in the presence of God! We are so apt to deceive ourselves by the use of certain phrases which, so far as we are concerned, have no force, no value, no truth whatever. The language of faith is on our lips, but the heart is full of creature confidence. We talk to men about our faith in God, in order that they may help us out of our difficulties.

Let us be honest. Let us walk in the clear light of God's presence, where everything is seen as it really is. Let us not rob God of His glory, and our own souls of abundant blessing, by an empty profession of dependence on Him, while the heart is secretly going out after some creature stream. Let us not miss the deep joy, peace and blessing, the strength, stability and victory, that faith ever finds in the living God, in the living Christ of God, and in the living Word of God. Let us "Have faith in God." (C.H. Mackintosh)N.J. Hiebert # 3074

August 24

"I will make of thee (Abram) a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed."
(Genesis 12:2,3)

When Abraham tarried at Charran, God waited for him.
When Abraham went down into Egypt, He restored him.
When Abraham needed guidance, He guided him.
When there was a strife and a separation (from Lot), He took care of him.
(Food for the Desert)N.J. Hiebert # 3075

August 25

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have FAITH in God. . . . What things soever ye desire, when ye PRAY, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-26)

1) Faith - the "faith in God," that is, faith that takes its character and strength from God as its object - faith that brings God into the difficulty. There is a mountain to be removed. God only can lift a mountain up and throw it into the sea. But He is greater than the mountain; and if you can bring Him into the matter, the mountain must go.

2) Prayer is our proper attitude - what expresses our dependence on God - but the prayer of faith only is effectual.

3) There is a condition; that is, this prayer of faith is conditional on a certain state in us, and that is the spirit of forgiveness. (A.H. Rule)

N.J. Hiebert # 3076

August 26

"For me to live is Christ." (Philippians 1:21)

Christian, see carefully to it, that your are not only saved by Christ, but also living on Him. Make Him the daily portion of your soul. Seek Him "early," seek Him "only." When anything solicits your attention, ask the question, "Will this bring Christ to my heart? Will it unfold Him to my affections, or draw me near to His Person?" If not, reject it at once. (Christian Truth - Vol. 21 - October 1968)

N.J. Hiebert # 3077August 27

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (Proverbs 11:25)

Pain's dreary vigils keep with me
When jest and mirth are flown;
In silence let me weep with thee
When thou dost grieve alone;
Thy darker moments share with me
When pleasure fails thy need;
The burden let me bear with thee
And crown me friend indeed.
(Submitted by a reader of the "Gems" - Christian Daily - August 7, 2007)
N.J. Hiebert # 3078

August 28

"In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you." (John 14:2)

In the New Testament there are three outstanding illustrations that are used to portray for us the world beyond. It is spoken of as a country (Hebrews 11:16); as a city (Hebrews 11:10); and as a home (John 14:2). There is, however, not anywhere else in the Bible, a view of the heavenly world so clear and so full, and yet so brief and so simple, as is contained in the words of John 14:2.

There are mansions there; mansions - not made with human hands - changeless and eternal. Three things are suggested by the word: permanence, spaciousness, variety. There are many mansions, infinitely large in number, each suited to the inhabitant. It is a house of many mansions: unity presides over all variety. It is a Father's house - a great paternal dwelling-place where brothers and sisters form one family, abiding under His eye and hand.

"Oh think! To step ashore and that shore Heaven;
To breathe new air, and that celestial air;
To feel refreshed and know 'tis immortality.
Oh think! To pass from storm and stress
To one unbroken calm; to wake and find it Glory."

God will be there in His fulness; Christ in His majesty; redeemed humanity in the rapture and radiance of its everlasting bliss. Into that Home all the ransomed from every tribe of the peopled earth, and from every age of the history of man, shall enter, and there abide forever. When visiting a certain home, one was asked to sign his name in the guest-book. Before he did so his hostess drew his attention to these lines, which she had written on the opening page:

"When the great Guest-Book in the house above,
Lies spread before us in the Home of Love,
One record only waits the writer's name:
No record of departure; only 'came'."

In the earthly Eden there was a way out, but not in (Genesis 3:24); in our heavenly dwelling-place there is a way in, but not out (Revelation 3:12). (Henry Durbanville - His last Words - 1954)N.J. Hiebert # 3079

August 29

"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)

His love broke my heart to make room for Christ, and I know it was love that did it. Till then I never knew either the creature's need of Christ, nor Christ's sufficiency for a broken heart. (G.V. Wigram)N.J. Hiebert # 3080

August 30

"Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." (Hebrews 10:37)

In His eternal presence, how shall we feel that all our little sorrows and separations were but little drops by the way, to make us feel that we were not with Him, and when with Him what it is to be there. (J.N. Darby)N.J. Hiebert # 3081

August 31


"And a certain woman said . . . if I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. (She) fell down before Him (Jesus) and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole." (Mark 5:25-34)

FAITH is a divine plant that only grows out of the soil of a broken will. (Edward Dennett)N.J. Hiebert # 3082

"Occupy till I come." (Luke 19:13)

I am never really in the spirit of service if I do not remember that Christ is an absent and rejected Lord. I am . . . a servant who has to recognize the sorrowful fact that his Master has been rejected and insulted here. Is it not a tender thought that the very sorrows and insults which have been heaped upon Him here are so many fresh claims on one's affections? (J.G. Bellett)N.J. Hiebert # 3083