Gems from May 2008

May 1

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

Does faith come by reason, and reason by the word of man? It would seem that many think so, and that the rare and exquisite touches of the pen of inspiration must be tried by the clumsy rules of arithmetic, or the far more clumsy rules of the infidel's moral sense; and the precious sacrifice of the Son of God must be treated more as a subject for a doctor's case-book than as a holy mystery revealed in the pages of the Book of God.
May God preserve His saints in these perilous times! May He fill our hearts with a very deep sense of the solemnity of the present moment, and lead us to keep close to Himself and to His Word! Then shall we be safe from every hostile influence. Then shall we not regard the sneer of the skeptic or the arguments of the infidel. We shall know whence all such things come and whither they tend. Christ will be our enjoyed portion, His Word and Spirit our guide, His coming the hope of our hearts. (Christian Truth - Vol. 23 - November 1970)

N.J. Hiebert # 3325

May 2

"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:11)

Here lies the great moral safeguard for the soul in this dark and evil day. To have God's Word hidden in the heart is the divine secret of being preserved from all the snares of the enemy, and from all the evil influences which are at work around us. Satan and his agents can do absolutely nothing with a soul that reverently clings to Scripture. The man who has learned in the school of Christ the force and meaning of that one commanding sentence, "It is written," is proof against all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (C.H. Mackintosh)

N.J. Hiebert # 3326

May 3

"For so was it charged (commanded) me by the word of the Lord." (1 Kings 13:9)

An experiment with teenagers showed how they handle peer pressure. Groups of 10 adolescents were brought into a room and instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three charts. Nine of the people had been told ahead of time to vote for the second-longest line. But one person in the group had not been told.
The experiment began with nine teenagers voting for the wrong line. The tenth person would typically glance around, frown in confusion, and slip his hand up with the group because he lacked the courage to challenge them.
In 1 Kings 13, and unidentified man of God performed miraculous signs at the altar in Bethel (vv.1-6). But then, after this great victory, he took the word of another prophet to be the truth even though he knew it was contrary to what God had told him (vv.15-19). Because of his disobedience, he was killed by a lion (vv.20-24).
The story teaches us that God's Word is superior to anyone else's word and therefore should be obeyed. When we're tempted to buckle under pressure, it's then that we must stand firm. God's Word - the truth - can always be relied on. (Anne Cetas)

O help, us Lord, to heed Thy Word,
Its precepts to obey;
And may we fight the tendency
To walk in our own way. - Sper

God's Word is the compass that keeps us on course.

N.J. Hiebert # 3327

May 4

"I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me . . . My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." (Isaiah 46:9,10)

The wildest mistake which a man can possibly fall into is to act without taking God into his account. Sooner or later, the thought of God will force itself upon him, and then comes the awful crash of all his schemes and calculations. At best, everything that is undertaken independently of God, can last but for the present time. It cannot, by any possibility, stretch itself into eternity. All that is merely human, however solid, however brilliant, or however attractive, must fall into the cold grasp of death, and molder in the dark, silent tomb. The clod of the valley must cover man's highest excellencies and brightest glories; mortality is engraved upon his brow, and all his schemes are evanescent (passing away). On the contrary, that which is connected with and based upon God, shall endure forever. His name shall endure forever, and His memorial unto all generations (Exodus 3:15). (C.H. Mackintosh)

N.J. Hiebert # 3328

May 5

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

The Psalmist was "in distress" (verse 1), but by putting his trust "in the Lord" (verse 5), he could sleep "in peace" and live "in safety." We read of peace and safety together in only one other verse in the Bible - "When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them" (1 Thessalonians 5:3). What a contrast! Truly, "it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Which peace and safety are you counting on? (W.P.W. McVey)

He that hath made his refuge God,
Shall find a most secure abode;
Shall walk all day beneath His shade,
And there at night shall hide his head.

N.J. Hiebert # 3329

May 6

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
(Matthew 3:17)

Sin is directly opposed to the nature of God. The measure of this is the fact that the Son, in whom the Father was well pleased, was the Person whom Satan hated and whom his subjects maltreated and abused. His perfections appalled the evil one and repelled sinners. His obvious insight into the self-righteous heart, hit the mark and stirred up the wrath of men against Himself. Wonderfully that wrath was changed to glory and His death brought forgiveness and ushered us into an intimate relationship with God Himself. (Garry W. Seale)

Monarch of the smitten cheek,
Scorn of both the Jew and Greek,
Priest and King, divinely meek,
He shall bear the glory.
(William Blane)

N.J. Hiebert # 3330

May 7

"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (shuns) evil?" (Job 1:8)

It is not the amount of truth that any man knows, on which his state before God turns, but the using of it excellently. You will find men who know a great deal of truth utterly without principle; utterly without the fear of God. You will find men who know a great deal, and all they use it for is merely to exalt themselves. Sometimes for money, sometimes for a name. But all that is most hateful to God. Here we find a man (Job) that did not and could not know much in those days, but still he made the best use of it. He lived in the faith of it, in the faith of God Himself; and the result was there was none like him in the earth - a perfect man and an upright man, "one that feared God and eschewed evil." (W. Kelly)

N.J. Hiebert # 3331

May 8

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." (Acts 13:2)

Fasting and prayer is the way to obtain guidance from God. To be ready to receive instruction from Him one must be without distraction, a clean vessel waiting to be filled and used. Self judgment and especially self discipline could prove useful in future endeavors should the Lord require such trials. It is always good to live within our needs and not spend time in desiring our wants. The Lord provides amply for His own. (B.R. - Meditations in Acts)

N.J. Hiebert # 3332

May 9

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."
(Ephesians 6:10)

- In a world of constant change, you can trust in God's unchanging word.
- Once we've feasted on the goodness of God, nothing else will satisfy.
- Serving the Lord is an investment with eternal dividends.
- When a Christian hits rock bottom, he'll find that Christ is a firm foundation.
- The best way to renew our minds is to read God's Word daily.
- What you do with Jesus now determines what He will do with you later.
- Don't study the Bible to quote it; study it to obey it. (R.K. - Some Thoughts to Consider)

N.J. Hiebert # 3333

May 10

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephesians 4:14)

Some people are like rowboats: they have to be pulled wherever they go. Sometimes it is a struggle to keep them pointed in the right direction.

Others are like sailboats: they are inclined to follow every wind of emotion and popular sentiment.

Others, however, are like steamboats: they can drive against wind and storm and tide, and in the face of great difficulties can keep an even course because they have the power within. (Selected)

N.J. Hiebert # 3334

May 11

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that that ye are able;but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye maybe able to bear it."
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

We never have more than we can bear. The present hour we are always able to endure. As our day, so is our strength. If the trials of many years were gathered into one, they would overwhelm us; therefore, in pity to our little strength, He sends first one, then another, then removes both and lays on a third heavier, perhaps than either; but all is so wisely measured to our strength that the bruised reed is never broken. We do not enough look at our trials in this continuous and successive view. Each one is sent to teach us something, and, altogether, they have a lesson which is beyond the power of any to teach alone. (H.E. Manning)

We are never without help. We have no right to say of any good work, it is too hard for me to do; or of any sorrow, it is too hard for me to bear; or of any sinful habit, it is too hard for me to overcome. (E. Charles)

N.J. Hiebert # 3335

May 12

"It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." (Galatians 4:18)

A vexation arises, and our expressions of impatience hinder others from taking it patiently. Disappointment, ailment, or even weather depresses us, and our look or tone of depression hinders others from maintaining a cheerful and thankful spirit. We say an unkind thing, and another is hindered in learning the holy lesson of love that thinks no evil. We say a provoking thing, and our sister or brother is hindered in that day's effort to be meek. How sadly, too, we may hinder without word or act. For wrong feeling is more infectious than wrong doing; especially the various phases of ill-temper, - gloominess, touchiness, discontent, irritability, - do we not know how catching these are? (Francis Ridley Havergal)

N.J. Hiebert # 3336

May 13

"Because He hath set His love upon me . . . I will. . . ."
(Psalm 91:14)
"Thou . . . hast loved them, as Thou hast love Me." (John 17:23)

Psalm 91 reveals what the Father did for the Son that loved Him. He exalted Him, communed with Him, honoured Him, and satisfied Him. We were once incapable of loving Him and totally undeserving of His love. Yet, because of His Son, God chose to love us as He loved His Son. Not because we loved Him, but because He first loved us, we enjoy the benefits only the Son deserved. You know He has set His love upon you. Now we should love what He loves. Who (or what) have you set your love on today? (David J. Reed)

A heart in every thought renewed, and full of love divine;
Perfect, and right, and pure, and good, a copy, Lord, of Thine! (Charles Wesley)

N.J. Hiebert # 3337

May 14

"They hated me without a cause." (John 15:25)

There is a story told of an African chiefess who happened to visit a mission station. The missionary had a little mirror hung up on a tree outside his cabin. The chiefess happened to look into the mirror and saw herself reflected there in all her hideous paint and evil features. She gazed at her own ugly, grotesque countenance and she started back in horror and said, "Who is that horrible-looking person inside that tree?" "Oh," they said, "it is not in the tree; the glass is reflecting your own face." She could not believe it until she held that mirror in her hand. She said, "I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?" "Oh," he said, "I don't want to sell it."

But she insisted and begged, till finally he thought it might be best to sell it to her to avoid trouble. So he named the price and she took it. Then as she said, " I will never have it making faces at me again," she threw it down and broke it to pieces. That is the way people treat the Bible and Jesus Christ. The Word of God shows up men's wickedness. They say, "Down with Christ! We don't want your Bible and we don't want your Christ." (H.A, Ironside - Gospel of John - 1942)

N.J. Hiebert # 3338

May 15

"That we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15)

Even in earthly things men look for guidance to the stars. A man lost on the prairie may find his way home by the stars. In navigation, sailors look to the stars, especially to the North Star. In an important survey, we always run our base-lines by the stars, particularly the North Star: and so keep them from becoming crooked and distorted. Thus these 'luminaries', these 'heavenly lights' in this dark world, need to remember that those who walk in darkness have their eyes upon them: but just as other stars point to the North Star, let us ever have our eye fixed on the 'The Bright and Morning Star,' and then our path will not be crooked, and we shall not lead astray those watching us. It was a star which led the wise men to the Saviour at Bethlehem when He was a Babe. How good if we too can be like that! (G.Christopher Willis - Sacrifices of Joy)

N.J. Hiebert # 3339

May 16

"For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10)

Little masteries achieved,
Little wants with care relieved,
Little words in love expressed
Little wrongs at once confessed,
Little graces meekly worn,
Little sights with patience borne,
These are treasures that shall rise
Far beyond the shining skies. (Unknown)

It is the little words you speak, the little thoughts you think, the little things you do or leave undone, the little moments you waste or use wisely, the little temptations which you yield to or overcome - the little things of every day that are making or marring your future life. (Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)

Be not dismayed what're betide,God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,God will take care of you. (Civilla D. Martin)

All through the Bible there is a wonderful care of little things. God noticing them and bringing them to perfectness of meaning. "He putteth my tears in His bottle"; that is condescension. "None of His steps shall slide," as if He numbered step by step all the going of His people. One of those people said, "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising," and "Thou hast beset me behind and before." (Joseph Parker) If the firefly's lamp and the cricket's chirp and the sparrow's fall are of interest to Thee, help us to learn from these, Thy creatures, their lesson of trust and service. (Unknown)

N.J. Hiebert # 3340

May 17

"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity." (Psalm 37:1)

The first exhortation is to peacefulness of spirit, and it is general and applies to the state of the mind. "Fret not thyself." When self-will and the desire of present satisfaction mingles itself with the love of righteousness, when one desires righteousness (and partly sometimes, through fear of the power of evil), and is selfish through peace-loving interests, one is apt to fret oneself because evil has its way. All this is the same spirit of unbelief with other desires. But it is unbelief and self-will. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.

We are neither to fret, which is distrust, nor be envious, which is even worse and self-interest. Then comes the positive direction in what spirit we are to walk. What is the resource against the power of evil? "Trust in the Lord and do good." You will reap the fruit of it according to promise. (J.N. Darby - Practical Reflections on the Psalms)

N.J. Hiebert # 3341

May 18

"And I will give him the morning star." (Revelation 2:28)

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16)

"The morning star" is the symbol of the church's hope. There is beauty in this thought, derived as it is in the verses noted above. The characteristics of the morning star are brilliancy and solitariness. It glitters beautifully, off in its distant sphere, but it is all alone. It does not command the notice of the world as the sun does. It is only the watchman that sees it. The season for its appearing is quite its own - it is neither night nor day. It fills a moment that is quite its own, and it is only the watchman, or the child of the morning, the one that is up before the sun, that has to do with it. Is there not a voice in this, dear Christian? Does it not tell your inmost soul of a coming, that is to precede the sunrise - of the coming of One, Who does not belong to the world, for a redeemed people who wait for their Saviour. (TCN)

N.J. Hiebert # 3342

May 19

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)

Seven Salvation Superlatives

1. Jesus gives us not only life, but life more abundantly! (John 10:10)

2. My cup of blessing is not only full, but it runs over! (Psalm 23:5)

3. God not only saves, but He saves to the uttermost! (Hebrews 7:25)

4. God not only gives joy, but joy unspeakable! (1 Peter 1:8)

5. God not only supplies our needs, but gives exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20)

6. We not only win the battle, but we are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37)

7. We are not only "children of God" but heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:17) (C.M.A.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3343

May 20

"He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30)

The Lord Jesus made it clear that He was on His way to the cross. Even to one who asked to follow Him, He responded, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay (Gk., klino) His head." Foxes live in holes on earth, but there was nowhere on earth to lay His head. Birds live in nests in the heavens, but there was nowhere for Jesus to lay His head. Only there, on the cross, between heaven and earth, was found the place where the Lord Jesus bowed (Gk., klimo) His head for you, for me. (Rex Trogdon)

N.J. Hiebert # 3344

May 21

"Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? . . . Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?
(2 Samuel 9:1,3)

King Saul had not been kind to David, but all that is forgotten. David remembers the one lovely thing that came from that house. "Whatsoever things are . . . lovely . . . think on these things" (Philippians 4:8); leave the rest - forget them - that is the word that shines forth here.

Would it not be good to get into the way of looking out for chances to show kindness over and above duties? These words might be well written up, if not on the walls of our rooms, then on the walls of our hearts. "is there any that I might show him kindness? Is there any that I might show the kindness of God unto him?" (Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)

N.J. Hiebert # 3345

May 22

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)

Until a man is lost he cannot be found. Christ died for sinners, and one must first be a sinner before he can be saved. One would suppose that Jesus would call unto Himself "good" people. But then He would not have come to this world, for when He came unto this world there were no "good" people in it. All were sinners, all were lost, all were under condemnation. David says about all of us, "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Psalm 14:3) Have you seen yourself as a lost sinner?

The great George Whitfield had a wayward brother who one night heard the evangelist preach and came under deep conviction. Meeting with some friends for lunch after the service, he burst out in tears, and unable to eat or drink cried out, I am a lost man." A Christian lady at the table replied, "What did you say?" "I said I am a lost man!" "I am so glad of that," replied the lady," I am so glad you are lost!" Amazed and surprised, the miserable man cried, "How can you be so cruel, so heartless to say you are glad I'm lost?" But she replied, "Yes, I'm so happy you are lost, I'm so happy about it for the Bible says, 'The Son of man is come to save that which was lost' " (Matthew 18:11). With tears streaming down his cheeks he saw the light and cried out, "then He came to save me - for I am that lost one." And then and there he received Christ and was saved. An hour later he was dead - but not until after he had been found.

If you have never done so - then take your place as a sinner NOW - and trust Christ to save you. (Selected)

N.J. Hiebert # 3346

May 23

"For with Thee is the fountain of life." (Psalm 36:9)

What God taught me when I was in the concentration camp, He is also willing to teach you. What did I learn? I learned how futile the things of the world are and how to conquer the things of the world in us. I learned to know the source of strength, and that this source is not in us, but in God. (Corrie Ten Boom - This Day is the Lord's)

N.J. Hiebert # 3347

May 24

"They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13)

Philosophers have descanted on the immeasurable greatness of God, and on the infinitesimal littleness of man; and have scorned the idea that friendship or fellowship can exist between the two. But in God's Word, where alone we can learn anything about these matters, we are told that He Who tells the number of the stars, heals the broken in heart (Psalm 147:3,4,); that He Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and weighs the mountains in scales, feeds His flock like a shepherd and gathers the lambs in His arm (Isaiah 40:11); that the One Who brought the universe into being, and Who guides the planets in their lonely way, is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and comforts those that mourn (Hebrews 1:2,3; 4:15; Isaiah 61:2). His hand is as manifest in the feathers of a butterfly's wing, in the eye of an insect, in the folding and packing of a blossom, in the curious aqueducts by which a leaf is nourished, as in the creation of a world and in the laws by which planets move. (George Henderson - Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care)

N.J. Hiebert # 3348

May 25

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)

My way led up a hill, and right at the foot I saw a boy on a bicycle. He was pedaling up hill against the wind, and evidently found it a tremendously hard work. Just as he was working most strenuously and doing his best painfully, there came a trolley car going in the same direction - up the hill. It was not going too fast for the boy to get behind it, and with one hand to lay hold of the bar at the back. Then you know what happened. He went up that hill like a bird. Then it flashed upon me: "Why, I am like that boy on the bicycle in my weariness and weakness. I am pedaling up hill against all kinds of opposition, and am almost worn out with the task. But here at hand is a great available power, the strength of the Lord Jesus. "I have only to get in touch with him and to maintain communication with Him, though it may be only one little finger of faith, and that will be enough to make His power mine for the doing of this bit of service that just now seems too much for me." And I was helped to dismiss my weariness and to realize this truth. (The life of Fuller Purpose)

N.J. Hiebert # 3349

May 26

"The fiery darts of the wicked." (Ephesians 6:16)

Be not surprised if doubts and fears assail you. They are to be expected like evil thoughts or disease germs. You cannot avoid being attacked and, if you are sore beset, remember that the Bible, the Word of God, has told you they will come. It is not wrong to be the target of their onslaughts, but you need not be overcome by them. It means that you are in real conflict and dangerous enough to the devil to bring in his hostility. If you wonder why they seem to increase as you go on and grow older, it is because the fight gets hotter as you grow in grace and it never lets up. But greater is He that is in you than all your adversaries. You are pressed by many a foe so that you may be all the more helpful to others who are not shadow boxing but are in the thick of the fight." (Vance Havner - All the Days)

N.J. Hiebert # 3350

May 27

"Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent me." (John 12:44,45)

In these words our Lord Jesus Christ seeks to turn the attention of the people away from His mere humanity. He would not have men and women simply occupied with that, blessed as it is. If Jesus is only a man, it is impossible that He should be the Saviour of sinners. He did become true Man; the title that He delighted to use was "The Son of Man," and as Son of Man He came to seek and to save that which was lost, but He could not have saved the lost if He had not been more than Son of Man. He was true Man and true God. In Psalms 146:3 it is written, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom is no help." Even though He were the best of men, if Jesus were not more than man He would be powerless to save sinners. (H.A. Ironside - Gospel of John)

N.J. Hiebert # 3351

May 28

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Satan will use any approach to keep us from experiencing the full measure of God's riches. Any error, no matter how small or great, will do. He works through the current world philosophies, through Bible verses taken out of context, through charismatic personalities who "sound" so right and sincere. No method is overlooked in Satan's attempt to mislead the chosen of God.

- Satan says: Seek success at any price. God says: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

- Satan says: Seek riches at any cost. God says: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19,20)

- Satan says: Be popular; push ahead. God says: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)

- Satan says: If you don't look after yourself, no one else will. God helps those who help themselves. God says "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:3,4)

- Satan says: I can't be happy unless I'm married (or: I can't be happy unless I'm single). God says: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11)

- Satan says: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. God says: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

- Satan says: If it feels good, do it. The Lord said: "Not My will, but Thine be done." (Luke 22:42)

- Satan says: Everything is relative. God says: "Thy word is truth." (John 17:17)

We must have a plumb line (perfect standard) of Scripture against which we can examine the philosophies, premises, and suggestions that we run into every day. We must look at the Word of God as the plumb line by which everything is measured. A lie is nothing but a lie against the truth. Without the plumb line of Scripture, we have no way of knowing what is truth and what is error. (Bob George)

N.J. Hiebert # 3352

May 29

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
(Psalm 16:11)

In His hand for salvation - Isaiah 59:1-2
In His hand for security - John 10:29
In His hand for succor - Ezra 8:31
In His hand for submission - 1 Peter 5:6
In His hand for service - Isaiah 49:1-4
In His hand for sustenance - Psalm 145:14-16
In His hand for severity - Hebrews 10:30-31
In His hand for supremacy - Acts 5:30-31

N.J. Hiebert # 3353

May 30

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

There is nothing in which the narrowness of the human heart is so manifested as in its apprehension of divine grace. Legalism is that to which we are most prone, because it gives self a place, and makes it something. Now this is the very thing which God will not allow. "No flesh shall glory in His presence," is a decree which can never be reversed. God must be all, fill all, and give all.

When the psalmist inquired, "What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits?" (Psalm 116:12) the answer is "I will take the cup of salvation." (Psalm 116:13) The way to "render" to God is to "take" yet more largely from His bounteous hand. To be a thankful, unquestioning recipient of grace glorifies God far more than all we could render unto Him. (C.H. Mackintosh)

N.J. Hiebert # 3354

May 31

"And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while." (Genesis 46:29)

How this resembles the meeting of every saint with Christ. We acknowledge His being alive, the proof of His participation and acceptance of our salvation, His presence and power now with us, for us and in us. We are led forth with praise as we enter into His presence into a land of plenty and provision. We are all given the task to look after one another, to encourage growth and guidance among ourselves. We can see how this flies in the face of the world and its ways being selfish in nature, thought and action. (B.R. - Meditations in Genesis)

N.J. Hiebert # 3355