Gems from May 2015

“But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

(Luke 22:26)

A kind word of praise, of sympathy, of encouragement; it would not cost you much,  yet how often does pride, or envy, or indifference prevent you from speaking it? The cup of cold water, the barley loaves, the two farthings, how often are we too wretched and too self-absorbed to give even these !

And are we not to give them because we cannot endow hospitals, or write epics?

If we be in the least sincere, in the least earnest, let us be encouraged. The little gifts of our poverty, the small services of our insignificance, the barley loaves of the Galilean boy on the desert plain, the one talent of poor dull persons like ourselves, are despised by the world.

But they are also dear.     They are accepted.

They will be infinitely rewarded by Him who gives the conies their homes in the rocks, who knows every sparrow’s fall; who numbers the very hairs of our heads; who builds the vast continents by the toil of the coral insect, and by His grains of sand stays the raging of the sea.

(Frederic W. Farrar - 1895)

"It is so little I can do!  It is so little I can say!

Nay, but what God demands of you is just that little: Hear - obey.”

(J.L.M.W.)

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May 1

“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.”

(Psalm 103:13)

Several mothers of small children were sharing encouraging answers to prayer. Yet one woman said she felt selfish about troubling God with her personal needs. “Compared with the huge global needs God faces,” she explained, “my circumstances must seem trivial to Him.” Moments later, her little son pinched his fingers in a door and ran screaming to his mother.

She didn’t say, “How selfish of you to bother me with your throbbing fingers when I’m busy!” She showed him great compassion and tenderness. As Psalm 103:13 reminds us, this is the response of love, both human and divine.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? 

Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”

(Isaiah 49:15-16)

Such intimacy with God belongs to those who fear Him and who rely on Him rather than on themselves. As that child with throbbing fingers ran freely to his mother, so may we run to God with our daily problems. Our compassionate God doesn’t neglect others to respond to our concerns. He has limitless time and love for each of His children. No need is too trivial for Him.

(Joanie Yoder)

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________________________________________________________

“Our daily bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright 2014, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission. 

May 2

"In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and He shall direct thy paths.”

(Proverbs 3:6)

*Rationalism deprives us of the only perfect standard of truth,  and conducts us into a region of the most dreary uncertainty. It seeks to undermine the authority of the Book in which we can believe everything, and carries us into a field of speculation in which we can be sure of nothing. Under the dominion of rationalism the soul is like a vessel broken from its safe moorings in the haven of Divine revelation, to be tossed like a cork upon the wild, watery waste of universal scepticism.

“The Bible; its sufficiency and supremacy,”  should be engraved, in deep and broad characters, upon the tablet of our hearts.

(C.H. Macintosh)

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*The practice of treating reason as the ultimate authority.

May 3

“Give ear, O My people, to My law:  incline your ears to the words of My mouth.”  (Psalm 78:1)

Man lost spiritual life and communion with God by listening to the voice of the tempter, instead of the voice of God. The Word of God gives life.

“The words that I (Jesus) speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life”
(John 6:63).

So, what people need is - to incline their ear, and hear. It is a great thing when the preacher gets the ear of a congregation - I mean the inner ear, for a man has not only two ears in his head; 

He has what we may call the outer ear and the inner ear - the ear of the soul. You may speak to the outward ear, and not reach the ear of the soul at all. Many in these days are like the“foolish people”to whom the prophet Jeremiah spoke:

“O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not.” 

(Jeremiah 5:21)

   

“He that hath an ear, to hear, let him hear”(Revelation 3:6).

(D.L. Moody)

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May 4

“How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse!”

(Song of Solomon 4:10)

Were our meditations on the Lord’s appreciation of our love, more deep, earnest, and simple, we should be more undivided in heart for Him. Love begets love.

It is the fire I sit at that warms me.

The nearer the fire, the warmer I am.

The nearer I am to the heart of Christ, the warmer will be my own, and the more intense the flame of love to Him.

As well might I think of getting warmed by going out to the garden and looking at the snow, as getting more love to Christ by looking to myself, thinking of myself, and trying to increase my love for Him. 

But, somehow, many say, I do not grow in love to Him, and in appreciation of His love to me, and I do desire to feel more love to Him. If it is the fire I sit at that warms me, it is also the food I eat that satisfies me. 

Let thy soul then feed on Christ.

(Meditation on Song of Solomon - Andrew Miller)

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May 5

“Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). 
"Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God.“ (Ephesians 5:2). 

What could more emphatically prove His love--than coming to this world of sorrow and sin to suffer and die for us, when we were His enemies? 

He left . . .

His habitation in glory--for the foul stable,

The homage of angels--for the insults of men,

The smile of His Father--for the temptations of the devil,

The raptures of Heaven--for the groans of Gethsemane,

The splendors of His heavenly throne--for the ignominy of the cruel cross, The brightness of the celestial glory--for the darkness of the tomb!

And why was this? 

It was love that prompted His sin-atoning sacrifice. Love to the undeserving, to the rebellious, to those who then crucified Him, and to those who now pierce Him by their sins! 

"To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,  that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” 

(Ephesians 3:19)

(Selected)

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May 6

“Peter . . .  was . . . in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

The crisis: Peter in prison.

The solution : prayer was made without ceasing by the church. They didn’t petition Herod, picket with placards in front of the palace, or try and get their candidate into office.

They took their case to the High Court in heaven. The sixteen soldiers, the shackles and the prison’s iron gate were no obstacle to a church committed to prayer. Let us pursue private prayer and encourage the local church’s prayer meeting. Great things will be done.

The prosperity of the assembly depends on it.

(Milton Haack)

What various hindrances we meet in coming to a mercy-seat!

Yet who, that knows the worth of prayer, but wishes to be often there?

(William Cowper)

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May 7

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” 
(Hebrews 12:2)

Unto Jesus and not at our defeats or victories.

If we look at our defeats we shall be cast down;

If we look at our victories we shall be puffed up.

And neither will help us to fight the good fight of faith.

“Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12).

Like all our blessings, the victory, with the faith which wins it,

Is the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

" But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

To Him is all the glory.

(Theodore Monod)

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May 8

“When he saw the wagons . . . the spirit of Jacob . . . revived.”

(Genesis 45:27)

A very simple sight: just some farm wagons laden with corn - food for the starving household. It was these wagons turning into the courtyard that raised the fast-falling hope of Jacob to expectancy. They remind me of other wagons laden and sent by another One greater than Joseph, even our Lord Jesus Christ.

Theses wagons of His are a great stimulus to our faith. They come unseen to us in our hours of darkness -

When things seem all against us -

When our faith is shaken -

When our hopes are dashed to the ground.

Yes, when we are in the awful grips of spiritual starvation, How blessed are these wagons as they are seen approaching! Lift up you eyes!

Look out for them!

When they come they will not be empty!  

You will be fed and nourished with the choicest of His stores.

(Springs in the Valley)

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May 9

“That ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.”

(Ephesians 1:18-19)  

Christians are not storage batteries.

How often we hear people praying, “O God, give me more power,” and you would think that we were a little bit like these ever-ready flashlights  that you can open up and put a battery in, then press a button and get a light. You would imagine that as Christians, the Lord puts a power battery into us, presses a button, and then we shine for Him.

Nothing of the kind!

We have power only as we are living in fellowship with Him who is the Source of all power, and as we are walking in fellowship with Him, the same power works in and through us that wrought in Christ when God raised Him from the dead. That was the fullest manifestation of divine power the world has ever known.

(H.A. Ironside)

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May 10

"My thoughts are not Your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

We look on the outward appearance;

So often we judge events by sight -

By what is outwardly visible to our natural understanding.

And thereby we fall so far short of communion with our God and 

His thoughts concerning the circumstances of life.

In fact, sometimes we completely misjudge Him and His thoughts of pure love towards us, And we attribute ill motives to Him who says He is working “all things” for good (Romans 8:28). 

(D.R. Macy)

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May 11

“A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when He saw him, he had compassion on him.”  (Luke 10:33)

The thief would say, “Thine is mine - I’ll take it!”

The priest and Levite would say, “Mine is mine - I’ll keep it!” 

But the Samaritan would say, Mine is thine - I’ll give it!” 

(Selected)

“Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”

(2 Corinthians 8:9)

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May 12

“When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them: and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

(John 2:22)

The believer’s heart is waiting for the Lord from heaven
(1 Thessalonians 1:10).

The believer’s eyes are watching for His appearing (Hebrews 10:25).

The believer’s hands are working, abounding in “every good work”
(2 Corinthians 9:8).

The believer’s feet  are walking - in love (Ephesians 5:2).

The believer’s ears are listening.  Jesus said, “Hear, and understand” (Matthew 15:10). 

The believer’s mouth is glorifying God.  “With one mind and one mouth glorify God” (Romans 15:6).

(Norman Berry)

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May 13

“And Joseph said . . . think on me when it shall be well with thee and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house . . . . yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.”

(Genesis 40:14, 23)

“And he (malefactor) said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

(Luke 23:42-43)

The cry,“remember me,”reminds us of the prayer of the dying thief to our Lord,  as he was entering into the thick darkness. But how different the reply!

The promise was quickly made and swiftly kept. And as the sun was setting over the western hills, the believing penitent had entered the city which is never bathed in sunset glory, and had learnt what it is to be in Paradise with Christ.

Far otherwise it was with Joseph.

Hope deferred must have made his heart sick.

But he kept steadfast.

If he was disappointed in man, he clung the more tenaciously to God.

“My soul,  wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. 

 He only is my rock and my salvation.”

(Psalm 62:5-6)

Nor did he trust in vain; for, by a chain of wonderful providences, God brought him out of prison, and did better for him than could have been done by the chief butler of Pharaoh’s court.

(F.B. Meyer)

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May 14

“And bring forth fruit with patience.”

(Luke 8:15)

The first meaning is the one of which we have often thought; but the words of our Lord are rich, and another meaning came out of these words.

We are all continually being given chances to bring forth fruit with patience. Those who are ill long to be fit and in full work; and yet to long impatiently only hinders and depresses, whereas in patience is continued fruitfulness.

All soul-winners and soul-tenders are given the same opportunity as they give themselves to help others, for souls cannot be hustled. When you feel as if you had come to the end of your patience do not scourge yourself. Patience never came that way.

Go to the One Who is the God of patience and consolation, and 

He will renew you in patience. (Romans 15:5)

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmicahel)

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May 15

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.”

(2 Peter 1:3)

Only worship that is in spirit and in truth is right worship. Such worship must come from the overflow of grateful hearts, as we gaze upon our Lord Jesus Christ in all His loveliness and beauty, and as we ponder His love that passeth knowledge. Right worship is not obtained by magnificent cathedrals or beautiful music, or by any outward forms or ceremonies.

Rules and regulations can never fill our cup, far less make it run over; and it is only as our hearts are filled with Christ, by gazing upon Him, that our hearts will overflow, and give forth Right Worship to Him and to His Father.

(G. Christopher Willis - Hid Treasures)

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May 16

Whose Is the Battle?

"Be still and know that I”Be still and know that I am God

"Be still and know that I am God.”

(Psalm 46:10)

“Be still...” That is not saying to stop talking, necessarily; it is saying to stop striving.

“And know...” If I insist on taking matters always into my own hands, how will I ever see what God can do?

“That I am God...” I am not God – He is. There are so many accounts in the Bible where God promised 

He would bring deliverance if the people just trusted and waited on Him; 

He delivered, even when the odds were stacked against God's people.

“The battle is the Lord's” (1 Samuel 17:47).

“The battle is not yours but God's” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Let's not fly into the fray; let's turn to the Lord, cast all our care on Him and trust Him.

 The battle indeed is His. Vengeance is His. 

Let's be careful not to take the power out of His most capable hands.

(LIFElines - F.P.)

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May 17

“That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory.”

(Ephesians 3:16)

You may come to God in prayer for anything,

and realize that since you have such a marvellous endowment as that,

you do not need to fear to present your petitions to God.

You cannot ask too much.

You remember the man who came to a king asking for something,

and the king gave to him out of his abundant treasure until the suppliant said, "Your Majesty, that is too much!”

The king smiled and said, “It may seem too much for you to take, but it is not too much for me to give.”

And so our blessed God gives out of His abundance.

“Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:14). 

He does not say, as we sometimes think, “Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.” For we could be like little children asking for the moon, but He says that He does for us “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

When we come to Him in the name of Jesus, bringing our petitions, 

there is more in that great endowment fund that we can ever exhaust.

(H.A. Ironside)

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May 18

“Wait on the Lord and He shall save thee.”

(Proverbs 20:22)

I have never seen a soul living in its experiences and occupied with itself,

with whom the “ I “ had not a place, without the person’s being aware of it.

We do not become acquainted with ourselves by thinking about ourselves: for while we think of Him the “ I “ disappears: one is in the light, where one is not occupied with oneself.

(Pilgrims Portions for the Day of Rest - JND)

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May 19

“But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

(2 Corinthians 3:18)

There is a need-be for each pain

And He one day will make it plain

That earthly loss is heavenly gain.

Like as a piece of tapestry

Viewed from the back appears to be

Naught but threads tangled hopelessly;

But in the front a picture fair

Rewards the worker for his care,

Proving his skill and patience rare.

Thou art the Workman, I the frame.

Lord, for the glory of Thy Name,

Perfect Thine image on the same.

(Selected - with thanks - Michaeal O’Brien)

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May 20

“By night on my bed I sought Him, whom my soul loveth: I sought Him but I found Him not.”

(Song of Solomon 3:1)

How much of our time is thus spent in seeking the Lord.

We are at ease or in self-indulgence, conscious of being in circumstances where we cannot have  Him with us, and we long for the satisfaction and comfort which are possible only in His company; Bid we seek His company without giving up the circumstances which exclude Him,contenting ourselves with the mere longing, for the time, and perhaps soothing ourselves with the idea of having sought Him, but this sort of seeking, if we are really exercised,

only leads to trouble.  

(J.B. Jackson - 1912)

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May 21

“But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:3)

“To go from the presence of the Lord.”  That was the object of going down into the boat. A terrible confession it is, and how futile! The very next verse tells us:

“But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea,

and there was a mighty tempest in the sea,

so that the ship was like to be broken.”

(Jonah 1:4) 

Instead of succeeding in fleeing from the presence of the LORD by going down into that ship, the ship bore him into the midst of that tempest, where amidst the storm and the waves, alone on the vast deep,

Jonah was to meet the Lord, and find himself in the very presence of the One from whom he was seeking to escape.

(G.C. Willis)

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May 22

The Blessings That Remain

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us . . .”

(Ephesians 1:3)

There are loved ones who are missing from the fireside and the feast;

There are faces that have vanished there are voices that have ceased;

But we know they passed forever from our mortal grief and pain,

And we thank Thee, O our Father, for the blessings that remain.

Thanksgiving, oh, thanksgiving, that their love once blessed us here,

That so long they walked beside us sharing every smile and tear;

For the joy the past has brought us but can never take away,

For the sweet and gracious memories growing dearer every day,

For the faith that keeps us patient looking at the things unseen,

Knowing Spring shall follow Winter and the earth again be green,

For the hope of that glad meeting far from mortal grief and pain -

We thank Thee, O our Father - for the blessings that remain.

For the love that still is left us, for the friends who hold us dear,

For the lives that yet may need us for their guidance and their cheer,

For the work that waits our doing, for the help we can bestow, 

For the care that watches o’er us wheresoe’er our steps may go,

For the simple joys of living, for the sunshine and the breeze,

for the beauty of the flowers and the laden orchard trees,

For the night and for the starlight, for the rainbow and the rain -

Thnksgiving, O our Father, for the blessings that remain.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

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May 23

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.”

(Psalms 84:12)

We can count on Him for everything.

He is good; nothing good will He withhold from those who walk before Him. The soul closes in the conscious feeling  —

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.” 

And how true it is! 

Nothing can disturb, nothing is beyond His power —

Nothing of which His love cannot take charge for us —

Nothing which His wisdom does not know how to deal with for blessing.

And the heart knows His love to count on it,

And that blessed is the man that puts his trust in Him.

(Comforted of God - A.J. Pollock)

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May 24

“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” (Leviticus 6:13)

Thus may we abide in union with each other and the Lord,

And possess in sweet communion, joys which earth can ne’er afford.”

(J. Newton)

Whether it was the brazen altar of salvation, or the golden altar of communion, the fire could never go out. We too have altars in our life that should never go out.

Our daily devotions that put our heart in tune with the music of heaven.

The "family altar”, where our children hear of God’s grace and get a foretaste of heaven. These fires must not go out or grow dim.

They need to be a steady glow, to warm the heart and light the way. The sacred oil of the Holy Spirit, poured on the live coals of Scripture, will keep the fire burning brightly,  for the glory of God and for out spiritual wellbeing.

(Milton Haack)

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May 25

TO SEEM OR TO BE

 “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. . . . “

(Revelation 3:1)

THE OLD MOTTO  Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem) needs to be reactivated in these times. A prominent minister said, “The more we seem to be what we are not,  the smaller our chance of becoming what we might be.” 

The church at Sardis had a name to be alive, not to be dead, and, if it had such a reputation, there must have been a lot of activity to build up and maintain that illusion. 

But it kept them so busy that they never had time to become what they might have been. The Pharisees spent their time seeming, they were play-actors, hypocrites, phonies.

Seeming involves more than just striking a pose. It takes dedication and hard work to be a successful poser! And it keeps us from becoming what we might have been.

(Vance Havner)

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May 26

“And [Jesus] put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when He marked how they chose out the chief rooms.”

(Luke 14:7)

It is just the place that nature likes.

The world which has no relations with God delights in exalting self and shutting Him out. Self gets for self what it likes, and forgets God.

Man is always setting up self, pushing for self against God.

He does not think so, for he says he is only using his faculties.

But so Adam did to hide himself from God.

Do not we use our faculties to please ourselves rather than for God?

While the master is away the servants go on their own way and do their own will.

A man is naturally hurt when he is put down in a corner and despised. Flesh does not relish being thrust aside, but this seeking for a place is to seek for it where Christ had none.  

(The Man of Sorrows - JND)

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May 27

“The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.” (John 1:18)

I am sure that I dread reasonings where affections should animate us, and the withdrawing from the place of living power into anything like a region of notions or theories.  

But the mysteries of God are all of the highest practical value, in either strengthening for service, comforting under trial, or enlarging the soul’s communion. The apostle speaks of himself and others as 'ministers of Christ’ and also as ’stewards of the mysteries of God.’  

And so we, in our measure, are to be ministers (that is, servants), in all practical,  personal readiness and devotedness; patient, diligent, and serviceable in labours; in all of which some of us may know how little we are in comparison with others.

(The Son of God - J.G. Bellett)

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May 28

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . . .” (Daniel 1:8)

A noble heart-purpose is the strongest watchman over external conduct. It is the purposeless life that has no defences. An ocean liner, with engine power, and helm, and compass, and destination, can cut her way through the most tumultuous seas. A liner, destitute of helm, and compass, and errand, is at the mercy of every fierce and unfriendly sea. Daniel had the mighty safeguard of “a purpose true,”

and every time an unfriendly circumstance beset him he held firmly to his course.

The apostle Paul, too, had a purpose which dominated everything:

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

That sovereign ambition was always on the throne.

In every moment Christ must be honoured!

In every issue Christ must be glorified!

The body must do nothing which will impair its fine fitness as a servant of Christ. The mind must entertain no suggestion which will make it a less holy temple for Christ. The heart must allow no sentiment or desire to sit at its table which would be an affront to Christ. The apostle led everything up to this pure and lofty purpose, and by it everything was accepted or condemned.

Standing by a purpose true, heading God’s command,

Honour them, the faithful few!  All hail to Daniel’s band!

Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone.

Dare to have a purpose firm!  Dare to make it known."

(Mountain Trailways for Youth)

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May 29

“For he that is not against us, is on our part [is for us].”

(Mark 9:40)

Take the narrowest ground with yourself and the widest possible ground with others.

(J.N. Darby - adapted from a letter)

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May 30

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

(Hebrews 12:2)  

UNTO JESUS and not at our doubts.

The more we look at them the larger they appear,

until they can swallow up all our faith, 

our strength, and our joy.

But if we look away from them to our Lord Jesus,

Who is the truth (John 14:6) the doubts will scatter 

in the light of His presence like clouds before the sun.

(Theodore Monod - 1874 

Translated from French by Helen Willis)

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May 31

“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

(1 Corinthians 11:30-32)

The self-judgment to which I would call attention is a sacred Christian exercise of the most salutary character.  It is based upon the most unclouded confidence as to our salvation and acceptance in Christ. The Christian is called to judge self, because he is, and not to see if he is, a Christian. This makes all the difference.

Were I to examine self for a thousand years, I should never find it to be aught else than a worthless,

ruined, vile thing — a thing which God has set aside, and which I am called to reckon as “dead.”

The Christian judges himself, judges his habits, judges his thoughts, words,  and actions, because he is a Christian, not because he doubts it. 

If he doubts, he is not fit to judge anything. It is as knowing and enjoying the eternal stability of God’s grace, 

the divine efficacy of the blood of Jesus, the all-prevailing power of His advocacy, the unalterable authority of the Word, the divine security of the very feebleness of Christ’s sheep — it is as entering, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, into these priceless realities, that the true believer judges himself.

The human idea of self-examination is founded upon unbelief.

The divine idea of self-judgment is founded upon confidence.

(C.H. Mackintosh)

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