Gems from March 2014

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Hidden in the hollow of His pierced hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand.

Not a surge of worry, Not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry moves the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him fully all for us to do,

They who trust Him wholly  find Him wholly true.

Chorus:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest -

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest. 

(Francis Ridley Havergal  1836-1879)

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March 1

“For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal?”

(1 Corinthians 3:4)

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Galatians 6:14) 

We live in a day when society loves to lift up and adulate its stars and heroes.

When it comes to the church, it is a natural tendency to 

focus our loyalty and devotion on a leader we can see.

In fact, preacher loyalty is very common today.

But it is not spiritual.

Paul says it is of the flesh.

He exhorts us to be devoted to Christ.

Preachers are only servants; 

They will let us down.  He will never fail us.

(Donald L. Norbie)

He who died to set me free, 

He who lives and loveth me,

He who comes - whom I shall see, 

He shall bear the glory.

(W. Blane)

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March 2

“And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

(Luke 24:46-47)

Here we have the great and glorious commission - its basis, its authority, its sphere.  Christ has suffered.  This is the meritorious ground of remission of sins.

Without shedding of Blood there is no remission of sins; but by the shedding of blood, and by it alone, there is remission of sins - a remission as full and complete as the precious Blood of Christ is fitted to effect.

But where is the authority?  "It is written,” Blessed, indisputable authority!  Nothing can ever shake it.  I know, on the solid authority of the Word of God, that my sins are all forgiven, all blotted out, all gone for ever, all cast behind God’s back, so that they can never, by any possibility, rise against me.  (C.H. Mackintosh)

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March 3

”The Lord will be the hope [the place of repair] of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”

(Joel 3:16)

Soldiers may be wounded in battle and sent to the hospital.  A hospital isn’t a shelf; it is a place of repair.

A soldier on service in the spiritual army is never off his battlefield.  He is only removed to another part of the field when a wound interrupts what he meant to do, and sets him doing something else.

Is it not joy, pure joy, that there is no question of the shelf?  No soldier on service is ever “laid aside;” he is only given another commission to fight among the unseen forces of the field.  Never is he shelved as of no further use to his beloved Captain!

The soldier must let his Captain say when and for what He needs him most, and he must not cloud his mind with questions.  A wise master never wastes his servant’s time, nor a commander his soldiers’.

So let us settle it once and for all and find heart’s ease in doing so.  There is no discharge in warfare - no, not for a single day.  We may be called to serve on the visible field, going continually into the invisible both to renew our strength and to fight the kind of battle that can only be fought there.  Or, we may be called off the visible altogether for a while and drawn deep into the invisible.

That dreary word “laid aside” is never for us.  We are soldiers of the King!  (Springs in the Valley - Rose From Briar)

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March 4

“Wonder Working Power in the Blood"

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

(Psalm 51:7)  

But snow is whiter than anything else!  Especially if you saw it glittering in the sunshine on the top  of a high mountain, where no dust can ever reach it.  Mortal eyes have seen something as white as snow, for the raiment of the angel of the Resurrection was “white as snow”; and the shining raiment of the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration was “exceeding white as snow.”

But what can be made “whiter than snow”?  “Wash me and I shall be whiter that snow” if God washes me.  But water will not do this, and tears will not do it.  Only one thing can do it, but that does it surely and thoroughly.  (Opened Treasures - Frances Ridley Havergal)

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

This is the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness; 

and ever since the precious blood was shed, it has always been open.  

Would you be free from the burden of sin? 

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Would you o’er evil a victory win?

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter that snow?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Would you live daily His praises to sing?

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

There is power, power, wonder working power

In the blood of the Lamb;

There is power, power, wonder working power

In the precious blood of the Lamb.

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March 5

In our Day

“And as it was in the days of Noah . . . in the days of Lot . . . thus shall it be.”

(Luke 17:26,28,30.)

What were they doing then? 

Our Lord does not say that they were gambling, carousing.

They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 

buying and selling, planting and building.

Theses are normal and legitimate pursuits if carried on properly, 

but, if they engage all our time and interest, then it becomes worldliness.

Listen to most people talk and these things are the subjects of their conversation. If these things are their life then they are just as unready for our Lord’s return as are the immoral, indecent, and criminal brackets of society.

The people of Noah’s and Lot’s day knew not.  

So shall it be and so it is today. 

(All the days - Vance Havner)

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March 6

“David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies.”

(2 Samuel 22:1)

Music is God-given and it has power.

The very tune of many a hymn can soothe the soul or make the spirit soar.

Ephesians 5:19 charges us to sing and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord.

But we should not be so taken up with the valid emotion of a tune 

that we miss the verbal message of a hymn.

David spoke the words of the song to the Lord, 

indicating that he meant every word of praise he was singing.

Paul writes (1 Corinthians 14:15), 

“I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

Both are important.

(David J. Logan)

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of Life;

Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of Life.

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March 7

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

(Philippians 4:13)

When the kite sails with a loose string, it drops, because there is not enough opposition 

to keep it afloat; and when men have no odds against them in life, 

nothing to draw out their vital force of opposition, 

they also soon trail along the ground.

This is the meaning of temptation; it is discipline.  

We do not enter the world ready-made; we are engaged in a growing process, 

and in the process, temptation must needs play a tremendous part. 

(W.J. Dawson)

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March 8

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.”

(John 4:23)

God is seeking worshippers.

The one thing above all else that He desires of men is worship.

God desires obedience from men; He desires service; He desires prayer;

He desires thanksgiving; He desires praise.

But His supreme desire from men is worship.

It is said “We are saved that we may serve.”

It is true, but it is still more profoundly true that we are saved that we may worship.

The whole work of redemption finds its culmination and completion in a 

body of men and women being found fitted to worship God.

(R.A. Torrey)

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March 9

“Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.”

(Psalm 39:4)

How would you like to spend 2 years making phone calls to people who aren’t home?  Sound absurd?  According to one time management study, that’s how much time the average person spends trying to return calls to people who never seem to be in.

Not only that, we spend 6 months waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and another 8 months reading junk mail.

These unusual statistics should cause us to do time-use evaluation.  Once we recognize that simple “life maintenance” can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy ourselves "in vain” (Psalm 39:6).

Psalm 39 gives us some perspective.  In David’s complaint to God, he said, “Thou hast  made my days as an handbreadths; and my age is as nothing before Thee” (v.5).  He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief.

He doesn’t want us to waste it.  When we do, we throw away one of the most precious commodities He give us.  Each minute is an irretrievable gift - an unredeemable slice of eternity.

Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and we must wait at the light.  But what about the rest of our time?  Are we using it to advance the cause of Christ and to enhance our relationship with Him?  Is our time well spent?  (Selected)

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March 10

“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. . . .  Moreover by them is thy servant warned.”

(Psalm 19:9,11)

There are only two channels of testimony - the lip and the life. 

The lip should be but the expression of what has been first produced in the life.

What we should all desire is intense reality, to be possessed and controlled

by the truth we profess to hold,

and thus to shun the use of phrases and sentences 

which we have never eaten, digested and found true in our souls.

(Edward Dennett)

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March 11

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

(John 10:10)

Jascha Heifetz, the world-renowned violinist, described the difference between one who plays a "fiddle" and one who plays a "violin." He said the fiddler plays musical notes. The violinist interprets the notes and the spirit of the composer from his soul, and the result is beautiful music. 

It's the same in our spiritual life. God wants to make active in our daily lives the "intent and spirit of the Master Composer." This cannot be done by simply following a form of godliness and denying the power thereof. It is when we open our hearts to be filled to overflowing with HIS LIFE, surrendering our "worn-out instrument" into the hands of His masterful artistry. 

HE will transform the redundant notes of our life into an abundant life in Christ. Then, and only then, will we know what it truly means to be "IN CHRIST.”  (Adapted)

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March 12

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”

(Psalm 56:3)

“I will trust and not be afraid.”

(Isaiah 12:2)  

I will trust Him, yea, I will trust, for He never hath failed me yet;

And never a day nor an hour, but mine uttermost need is met.

Though I dwell in the midst of foes, yet there is my table spread,

And His presence wraps me round and His wings are over my head.

Father and Infinite God, my Refuge and Fortress Rock,

Where I hide from the tempest’s wrath, and feel not the earthquake shock.

So I bide with a soul serene and a heart that is undismayed.  

He is my Strength and my Shield; of whom shall I be afraid. 

(Annie Johnson Flint) 

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March 13

Faith and a Good Conscience

“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.”

(1 Timothy 1:19)

Wouldst thou preserve thy faith, look to thy conscience.  

A good conscience is the bottom faith sails in; if the conscience be wrecked, how can it be thought that faith should be safe?

If faith be the jewel, a good conscience is the cabinet in which it is kept;

and if the cabinet be broken, the jewel must needs be in danger of losing.

(The Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall - 1665) 

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March 14

“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.”

(Luke 1:53)

Faith must pass through the furnace - it will not do to say that we trust in the Lord, we must prove that that we do, and that too when everything is against us.

Let us . . . in all our difficulties, 

honour the Lord by bringing Him into them.  

His power can reach the greatest.  

His love will stoop to the smallest.

Let but faith address the mercy-seat, and the most astounding results will follow.

“If ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it.” 

Oh! we have but little idea of what our God would do for us did we only honour Him.

(C.H. Mackintosh)

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March 15

The Love That Never Fails

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

(Jeremiah 31:3)

An unknown author described God’s love as a stream that never freezes, a fountain that never runs dry, and a sun that never sets.  Failure to recognize the unchanging love of God has driven many people to despair.

D.L. Moody once commented, “I know of no truth in the whole Bible that ought to come home to us with such power and tenderness as that of the love of God.  Satan constantly tries to persuade men and women that the Lord does not love them.  He succeeded in making our first parents believe that lie, and too often he succeeds with us.”

Moody continued, “Because your child is fretful or has committed some act of disobedience, you do not cast him out as though he did not belong to you.  So too, when we go astray, it does not follow that God despises us.  It’s the sin that He hates.”

What Jeremiah wrote to Israel about the everlasting love of God is just as true for His people today.  He never lets us go, and His compassion never disappoints us.

No matter how unsettling our circumstances, life is still worth living when we take God’s reassuring words to heart: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”  (Henry Bosch)

How wonderful to know that He who watches from above,

Will always keep us sheltered in His ever-present love.

(King)

Man’s love has limits; God’s love is limitless.

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Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, (Copyright 2003), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.      

March 16

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

(1 John 5:13)

What is written in the Bible cannot be changed.

Feelings and emotions can change.

Christians are not always on the mountain top.

Act on the Word, and teach others to do so.

John says, “These things have I written.”

Why did he write?

“. . . that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”

(This Day is the Lord’s - Corrie Ten Boom)

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March 17

“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me. . . . My cup runneth over.”

(Psalm 23:4-5) 

There is a greater death than ours to hearts that know the Lord.  Surely it is the the shadow of His death, the death of Psalm 22, that lies upon the whole scene of this world.  The world in which our Lord was crucified is the valley of the shadow of death.

Oh! for hearts to be more affected by His death.  How far has the whole scene here closed for us, enwrapped in the shadow of that greatest death of all?

What is there then left for us?  “THOU art with me.”  It is the Shepherd Himself proved more to the heart than all His precious care.  He is more than all He can give.  When the soul reaches this in its growth, shut up to Himself in a world closed to it by His cross, it is not merely that “I shall not want,” but “MY CUP runneth over.”  

He has brought us into the reality and blessedness of His own experience!  He Himself, who once as Man on earth could say: “The Lord is the portion of My cup,” now fills that cup to overflowing for us.  (A.J. Pollock)

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March 18

“And sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.”

(James 1:15)

Sin is a word not heard much these days, even in evangelical circles.

Many say it is demeaning and harmful to call anyone a sinner.

Others will use it in a Gospel message as there it is 

directed towards the lost who need a Saviour.

But, to speak of sin in the context of believers is resisted.

Christian liberty is cited and God’s grace.

But the Scriptures reveal that sin always has consequences and it 

almost always touches more than just the one who sins.

Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, reminds them that they have been 

chosen to be holy and without blame.

The secret to such a life is found in the words of the hymn below.

(C. Tempest)

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His word.

(W. Longstaff)

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March 19

“Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39).

That is the precept; and the Book itself indicates that there are two ways in which this should be done.  It should be done daily (Proverbs 8:34).  The Bereans “received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

It should be done diligently (1 Peter 1:10-11).  These ancient men of God enquired diligently, searching for the deeper meanings of the words which the Spirit of God inspired them to pen.  Failure to do these things - to search the Scriptures daily and diligently - will leave us spiritually poor, and ignorant, and desolate.

It is a fact that the original owners of Mount Morgan in Queensland toiled for years on its barren slopes, and all the time, under their feet, lay gold and wealth beyond all reckoning. 

There died in South Africa some years ago, Mrs. Susana Goosen, widow of the owner, at one time of numerous diamondiferous properties, out of which huge fortunes have been made.  Mrs. Goosen died in poverty, her possessions at the time consisting of three goats and a bag of meal; while millions of dollars worth of diamonds have been extracted from the farm on which she lived.

These things are parables.  The unsearchable riches are there - in the Book; and the things which correspond to the hard work that the miner puts in to win the gold and diamonds from the earth are represented by four words:

SEEK - Proverbs 2:1-5;

SEARCH - John 5:39 

COMPARE - 1 Corinthians 2:13;

STUDY - 2 Timothy 2:15.

“Lord, Thou art true; and oh the joy to turn from other words to Thine;

To dig the gold without alloy, from Truth’s unfathomable mine.”

(The wonderful Word - George Henderson)

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March 20

“He (Zacchaeus) sought to see Jesus.”

(Luke 19:3)

There were difficulties, hindrances in him and around; but faith perseveres in spite of opposition.  As the blind man (Luke 18:39) was bent on his object, so was the rich publican set on seeing Jesus.

This marks the working of God’s Spirit, the apprehension of the worth of the object.  We want it and more of it, we know enough to want more.

It is an appetite produced by the Holy Spirit.  It is a terrible thing if we as Christians have not this craving, this hungering and thirsting after a greater enjoyment of God, for where this is not, deadness and apathy of soul have come in.  (J.N. Darby)

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March 21

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing  and making making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)

Do we sing enough?  Are we a singing company?  It is written that the singers of the Lord’s house were to have their portion given them every day.  God takes great care of His singers. 

The singers did common work, they were over the business of the house of God.  “For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day” (Nehemiah 11:23). 

Singing people are fed, they “feed on faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3).  They are strong and glad and always have something to give to others.  The world is full of sadness.  Let us be a singing company even though we grieve with those who are grieving.  

It would be a happy thing if, among all the sounds that rise from this poor world just now, our joy might be like the joy of Jerusalem that was heard even afar off - afar off among the people about us - afar off, even up to the gates of Heaven (Ezra 3:11-13).  (Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael)

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March 22

“Herod . . . heard of the fame of Jesus . . . he said (John the Baptist) is risen from the dead . . . for he had sent and beheaded John in the prison.”

(Matthew 14:1,2,10)

Herod’s experience is awfully significant of the state of man’s heart.  We read of him:  “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said unto his servants, this is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.”       

A bad conscience is a very lively, stirring inmate of the human bosom; a good one is calm and noiseless.  A bad conscience is apt to act hastily, taking alarm at any thing and every thing, fearing where no fear is.  It was that which, in Joseph’s brethren, called up guilt to remembrance, in a day of innocency and false accusation.  (J.G. Bellett)

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March 23

"Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

(Psalm 32:7)

“He that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.”

(Psalm 32:10)

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.”

(Psalm 34:7)

It’s a very disheartening thing to be in hostile territory and 

realize you’re surrounded by the enemy.

But we can rejoice in a far greater power.

This very day we are compassed about with songs 

of deliverance, abundant mercy and the angel of the Lord.

Would we wish to be anywhere else?

(William H. Gustafson)

Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand.

Sheltered o’er, sheltered o’er, with His love forevermore.

(Mildred L. Dillon)

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March 24

“It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.  And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.”  (Genesis 37:33-34) 

We need hardly wonder that Jacob “refused to be comforted” by such comforters, but in the presence of, what to him was the actual death of his son, his faith seems to have grown exceeding dim.

How different the behaviour of David in the presence of the death of his son.  Jacob says, “I will go down into the grave unto my son in mourning;”  but of David we read he “arose . . . and came into the house of the Lord and worshipped.”  

Both men are in the presence of the death of a child, but one says, “I will go down into the grave mourning,” the other, “I will go up to the house of the Lord and worship.”  Yet both were true saints, but one looked no further than death and the grave, the other looked beyond death to resurrection, into a scene where there is “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying nor pain.”  (Hamilton Smith)

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March 25

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

(Genesis 6:5)

The more thoroughly we know the worthlessness of the flesh, the more shall we appreciate the worthiness of Christ, and the better shall we understand the work of the Holy Spirit.  

When the total depravity of human nature is not a settled reality in the soul, there will ever be confusion in our experience, as to the vain pretensions of the flesh, and the divine operations of the Spirit. 

There is nothing good whatever in our carnal nature.  The most advanced in the divine life has said, “In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.”  How sweeping!  “No good thing.”

But can it not be improved by diligence in prayer and watchfulness?  No, never: it is wholly incurable. 

Long, long ago, this was affirmed by the God of truth.  Note Genesis 6:5 quoted above.  (Andrew Miller)

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March 26

“Cast Thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

(Psalm 55:22)

When He was here on earth, the question was put to Him by anxious men and women: 

“Lord, dost Thou not care?" (Luke 10:40; Mark 4:38); 

and of Him, although He now lives amid the dazzling  splendours of the throne, it is affirmed that He does care for us.

“Casting all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

We are assured that He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities; 

that He ever lives in the presence of God to make intercession for us. 

(Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s Care)

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; 

but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." 

(Hebrews 4:15)

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, 

which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself,

now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

(Hebrews 9:24)

Wherefore He is able also to  save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

(Hebrews 7:25) 

In consequence of these things:

“There is no sorrow that He will not share, 

No cross, no burden, for our hearts to bear

Without His help; no care of ours too small 

To cast on Jesus.  Therefore let us tell him all -

Lay at His feet the story of our woes, 

And in His sympathy find sweet repose."   

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March 27

“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”

(Mark 9:41)

It seems wonderful indeed that God should keep note of such a little thing as the giving of a cup of water to a thirsty Christian.  It shows how dear to Him are His people, since the smallest things done to one of them He accepts, remembers and rewards.

The mention here of the giving of a cup of water suggests that this promise is for little, commonplace acts, rather than for great deeds.  We are too stingy with our helpfulness.  God has put His gifts of love into our hearts that they may be given out.

We would call a man selfish who should refuse a cup of water to one who was thirsty.  Yet many of us do this continually: it is the heart that thirsts, and the water we refuse to give is human kindness.

’Tis a little thing

To give a cup of water, yet its draught

Of cool refreshment drained by fevered lips

May give a shock of pleasure to the frame

More exquisite than when nectarean juice

Renews the life of joy in happiest hours.

It is a little thing to speak a phrase 

Of common comfort, which by daily use

Has almost lost its sense, yet on the ear

Of Hin who thought to die unmourned

’Twill fall like choicest music.  

“Kindness is just the word for these small acts.  Kindness is love flowing out in little gentlenesses.  We ought to carry our lives so that they will be perpetual benedictions wherever we go.

All we need for such a ministry is a heart full of love for Christ; for if we truly love Christ we shall also love our fellow-men, and love will always find ways of helping.  A heart filled with gentleness cannot be miserly of its benedictions.”  (J.R. Miller  )  

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March 28

"O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.”  (Psalms 105:1)

“Seek the LORD, and His strength: seek His face evermore.  Remember His marvellous works that He hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.”

(Psalms 105:4-6)

When calling on the Lord, do we remember to give thanks and 

to meditate on His marvellous works?

To call upon Him with our requests, without including these other acknowledgements is to see Him as a mere dispenser of blessings and misses the point 

of what having a relationship with Him means. 

(Tom Steere)

Lord, accept our adoration, for our sins Thou once wast slain;

Through Thy blood we have salvation; soon shall share Thine endless reign!

(S.P. Tregelles)

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March 29

“. . . He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

(Luke 14:11)

Watch out, Christian brothers and sisters, for the danger of arrogance, in assuming that you are somebody, indeed! God will never let you high-hat somebody else if you are a Christian.  He loves you far too much to let you get away with that.

You may ask: “What will the Lord do, then, if I get arrogant and presumptuous, full of pride over my victories and successes?”

Well, the Lord will remind you of His own example, and will rebuke and chasten you in His own way. Our Lord Jesus Christ would not allow any success or temporary honour to lead Him astray.

The Lord had no servants.  He bossed no one around.  He was the Lord, but He never took the tyrannical attitude toward anyone.

I think it is very good spiritual advice that we should never tie ourselves up to public opinion and never consider any honours we may receive as being due us because of our superior gifts.

In that day of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the crowd acclaimed Him and cried, “Hosanna!” but on the very next Friday they joined in the shout, “Crucify Him!”

Humility is a blessed thing if you can find it.  Early church fathers wrote that if a man feels that he is getting somewhere in the kingdom of God, that’s pride - and until that dies, he is getting nowhere!  (Renewed Day By Day - A.W. Tozer)

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March 30

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” 

(Colossians 3:5-6)

For anything to grow, something else has to die. The principle is universal.  For acres of corn or wheat to grow, 

trees and prairie grass had to die.  For cities to grow, fields and farmlands had to give way to concrete and steel.  

For people to grow, animals and plants must give up life.

For believers in Christ to grow spiritually, the old habits and desires and ways of thinking have to die.  

As we “put to death . . . fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness” 

(Colossians 3:5), we allow the Holy Spirit to create purity, 

holy desires, contentment, and Christlike virtues in our lives.

Is there room in our lives for the spiritual qualities of Christ to grow?  

What destructive attitudes and actions do we need to kill off with the help of the Sprit so that we can grow in Christ? 

(Selected)

“Search me, O God, my heart discern;

Try me, my inmost thoughts to learn.

Help me to keep from sin, I pray,

Guarding my mind throughout this day."

(Anon.)

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March 31

“In the night His song shall be with me.”

(Psalm 42:8)

Nature, of course, shrinks from suffering:

still, when it comes, if we are with God, strength and joy are there.

I have found in the little difficulties I have had much more trial in expecting trial than when it was there,

When there, I was calm and quiet and in no way uneasy,

whereas, I was, when expecting it.

Out of it, if it threatens, you are thinking of it.

In it, you are looking out of it to the Lord.

(Pilgrim Portions for the Day of Rest)

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