Gems from January 2017

January 1

“And she (Ruth) went, and came, 

and gleaned in the field after the reapers.”  

(Ruth 2:3)

In Ruth’s day, gleaning was to gather the grain left by the reapers (Leviticus 19:9-10).

In its figurative sense gleaning means to gather knowledge and wisdom bit by bit.

As a young believer, my Christian friends and I greeted each other by asking,

"Where are you gleaning today?”

We wanted to encourage each other to be in the Word. Daily reading of God’s Word 

often brings “choice gleanings”, golden surprises from God’s heart to ours.

As we start a NEW YEAR, glean from the Word of God daily.

(Robert Gentile)

The Word of God, a river of pleasure;

The Word of God, ’tis food for the mind;

The Word of God, its light faileth never,

The Word of God, what treasure we find.

The Word of God, a message of love,

The Word of God, it came from above.

(Arthur E. Smith)

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January 2

“Ebenezer . . . Hitherto hath the Lord heeled us.”

(1 Samuel 7:12)

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good;

because His mercy endureth forever.”

(Psalm 118:1)

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.

Another year of progress, another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,

Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,

Another year of training for holier work above.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

(Francis Ridley Havergal)

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January 3

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them 
that have no might He increaseth strength.”

(Isaiah 40:29)

“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

(Deuteronomy 33:25)

Not yesterday’s load we are called on to bear,

Nor the morrow’s uncertain and shadowy care;

Why should we look forward or back with dismay?

Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day;

One day at a time, and the day is His day;

He has numbered its hours, though they haste or delay;

His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;

As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

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January 4

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”

(1 John 4:2)

You were born into the world; you had no existence before you were born.

You began here on earth; you came into existence when you were born of your parents.

But that blessed One did not begin to be when He was born in the stable and cradled in the manger;

He came from heaven’s highest glory down into this world to be the Saviour of the world.

He who was higher than all of the angels, He, their Creator, became a little lower 

than these glorious beings in order that He, by the grace of God, 

might taste death for every man. The great truth is that: 

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”. 

(2 Corinthians 5:19)  

“Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”.

(1 Timothy 3:16) 

To think of Jesus as anyone else than God, the Creator become Man for our redemption,

is to deny the truth concerning Him revealed in this Book, 

and is the spirit of antichrist.

(H.A. Ironside)

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January 5

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16)

This is what Paul calls God’s unspeakable gift—2nd Corinthians 9:15; His all inclusive gift—Romans 8:32.

Of that wonderful verse—John 3:16 there you have the richest mercy—“God so loved”; 

The blackest object—“the world”; 

The costliest price—“He gave His only begotten Son”;

The widest reach—“that whosoever”;

The easiest terms—“believeth in Him”;

The most marvellous escape—“should not perish";

The wealthiest gift—“have everlasting life.” 

Before the one stupendous fact that the Son of God was crucified for men, 

All helplessness vanishes,

All doubts are silenced,

All murmurs die away.

On Calvary was expressed for all time a 

- love which is wide as the limits of the universe,

- Long as the ages of eternity, 

- Deep as the abyss from which it has redeemed us, 

- High as the throne of God.

(In Pastures Green - George Henderson)

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January 6

“The gospel . . . which also ye have received . . . by which also ye are saved, how that Christ died for our sins . . . He was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures . . ."  (1 Corinthians 13:1-4)

“Ye believe in God, believe also in Me . . . And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

"The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: 

A virgin's womb and an empty tomb. 

Jesus entered our world through 

a door marked ‘No Entrance’ 

and left through a door 

marked ‘No Exit.’” 

(Peter Larson - With thanks J.J.)

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January 7

“And (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and He said unto the sea peace be still.”  

(Mark 4:39)

PEACE - BE STILL!

Another year has gone. Our eyes are still fixed on that portion of the Divine Calendar so clearly marked as the era of Grace. God's clock moves steadily on. The saints alone enjoy peace.

Our Lord Jesus is in the boat and all is well. So long as Paul was in the ship all was well with the mixed crew. So it is today amidst all the terrible happenings, let us take courage. 

Nothing can possibly happen until the era of Grace has run its course. We need not be distressed even for the poor old world, for all will arrive safely on land, even though on perhaps just broken pieces of ship. He must eventually be All in all.

So, as we travel along the highway of another year of Grace, may we keep our minds stayed upon Him, and may we keep our eyes fixed upon that portion of the Divine Calendar which is so especially ours, the era of Grace. Let us talk of peace, and may His peace preside in our hearts.

 Peace – be still!

Joseph A. Freeman - Unsearchable Riches  (Volume 30 - 1939) 

B.Lucas

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January 8

“The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament showeth His handiwork.”

(Psalm 19:1)

George Cryer was, until his decease, and English Member of Parliament.

One personal interest for him was the preservation of old railways in West Yorkshire.

On his death, a plaque was erected on a railway building which which simply said, 

“If your seek his memorial, look around.”

What he had accomplished was 

evident for all to see. 

Someday our opportunity to labour for the Lord will cease.

What wil we have to show, as to what we have done for the Lord?

(Brian Powlesland)

O let my life be given, my years for Thee be spent

World — fetters all be riven, and joy with suffering blent;

Thou goest Thyself for me; I give myself to Thee. 

(Francis Ridley Havergal)

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January 9

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, GENTLENESS, goodness, faith . . .”  (Galatians 5:22)

One day at an auction a man bought a vase of cheap earthenware for a few pennies.

He put into the vase a rich perfume—the attar of roses.

For a long time the vase held this perfume, and when it was empty it had been so soaked

through with the sweet perfume that the fragrance lingered.

One day the vase fell and was broken to pieces, but every fragment still smelled of the

attar of roses.

We are all common clay—plain earthenware, but if the love of Christ is kept in our hearts it 

will sweeten all our life, and we shall become loving as He.

That is the way the beloved disciples learned the lesson and grew into such lovingness.

John leaned on Christ’s breast, and Christ’s gentleness filled all his life. (John 13:23)

As John upon his dear Lord’s breast, 
so would I lean, so would I rest;

An empty shell in depths of sea, 
so would I sink, be filled with Thee.

Like singing bird in high blue air, 
so would I soar, and sing Thee there.

Nor rain, nor stormy wind can be, 
when all the air is full of Thee. 

And so, though daily duties crowd, 
and dust of earth be like a cloud,

Through noise of words, O Lord, my Rest, 
Thy John would lean upon Thy breast.

(Rose from Brier)

Save me from growing hard!

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January 10

HOW TO KEEP FRESH

“We preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord.”

(2 Corinthians 4:5)

MAKE JESUS CHRIST your theme! 

I have seen preachers espouse causes and champion movements,

and when the cause died and the movement collapsed, the preacher vanished too. 

But the man who glories in Christ never grows stale.

Jesus Christ is perennial and he who makes his boast in Him stays forever fresh.

He shall bring forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

How long it take us to learn that the issue is simply Jesus!

We read books and feel that the magic word is sure to appear on the next page, but it doesn’t.

We read biography, but we cannot live on second-hand experience.

We try to work up visions and ecstasies of our own, but even if we succeed the glory fades.

At last we arrive where we should have started, to learn that:

Once it was the blessing; 

Now it is the Lord.

It is all Jesus.  Why not start at the center and work out instead of starting on the circumference and working in?

“By Him all things consist.”

Stand at the Hub and all the spokes are yours!

(Day by Day with Vance Havner)

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January 11

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

(Proverbs 3:5)

When my way is hedged about me, hedged with thorns of care;

When the cross I loved so dearly, seems too hard to bear;

When my heart is bowed with sorrow, and no light I see—

Lord, Thy tender mercy pleading, let me lean on Thee.

(Fanny Crosby)

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January 12

Let me see your tongue! 

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:45)

If your religion does not sweeten your tongue—it has done nothing for you.

If the doctor wants to know the state of your health,
he says, "Let me see your tongue!"

There is no better test of the health of the soul, 

than to see what is on the tongue!

When it gets cankered with unkind words,

when it turns black with blasphemy,

when it is spotted with impurity—

there is something very bad inside the heart, 

you may be quite sure of that!

Let your lips be a fountain from which all streams that 

flow shall savour of grace and goodness.

(Charles Spurgeon) 

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

(Ephesians 4:29) 

“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, 

which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”   

(Ephesians 5:4)

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January 13

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

(Proverbs 25:11)

- The Word is not for you to handle, but to handle you. 

- The hardest stone we have to throw is grace.

- Joshua was to occupy himself with the Word of God,

and not with the enemy.

- What’s above us lifts us up.

(Hunt’s Sayings - K. M. Hammond)

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January 14

“A GARDEN enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a FOUNTAIN sealed. . . .  Thy plants are an ORCHARD . . . a fountain of GARDENS, a well of living waters.”

(Song of Solomon 4:12-15)

The words “enclosed,” “shut up,” “sealed,” forcibly suggest the thought of the believer’s entire and well-defined separation from the world—like a piece of ground that has been reclaimed; from the common around; well fenced, well planted, well cared for; and kept for the owner’s special use and pleasure.

Though in the world, the Christian is not of the world.  As Christ Himself says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

He is there as the servant of Christ, and should learn to do all things for Him. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:17) 

No matter what it is, from the smallest thing to the greatest, he is to do all as service to Christ.Will this be service to Christ? is the question.  Not, merely, what harm is there in doing this or that? and then doing our own will in place of the Master’s.

(Meditations on the S. of S. - Andrew Miller)

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January 15

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.”

(Psalm 5:1)

How is my daily prayer life?  This psalm is a pattern. Prayer takes thought and is never hurried.  Prayer is hallowed.

Remember you are in communion with the Highest. Mornings are best for placing the unknowns of the coming day into His hands (vs 3).

As to place and length, we can know His presence anywhere and He is not looking for long speeches, just sincerity in what we say (vs 7). 

Come with expectation and steadfastness and His Spirit will bear you up. Be Thou my guide and companion all the way O Lord.

(Les Rainey) 

O how praying rests the weary!  Prayer will change the night to day; So when life seems dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray.

(Mary A. Kidder)

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January 16

“Joseph was the governor over the land . . . Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him— Joseph saw His brethren, and he knew them . . . 
Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not. . . 
Joseph REMEMBERED the dreams . . . they said one to another we are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us . . .”   (Genesis 42:6-9, 21)

Memory is one of the most wonderful processes of our nature.  

It is the faculty that enables us to record and recall the past.

If it were not for this power the mind would remain for ever in the blank condition of childhood, and all that had ever passed before it would leave no more impression than images do upon the plain surface of a reflecting mirror.

This, however, is the one fact of interest to us—that the mind has universal retentiveness.

Nothing has ever passed across it that has not left a record.

It is important, however, to distinguish between memory and recollection. 

We remember all things; there is a record of everything that ever we saw or did, somewhere in the archives of memory; but we cannot always recollect an incident, or recall it at the required moment.

Supposing you were never to burn your letters, but kept them all in one huge box—that would resemble memory; but supposing you were never to index or classify them, so as to be unable readily to lay your hands on the one required—that would be like failure of recollection; while a ready recollection would find its analogy in the ease with which you could produce a required letter at a given time.

. . . our memory really retains everything; and though sometimes our recollection is bad, yet a very trivial thing may excite it and enable it to fetch up things long past from the deep compartment of memory into which they have been cast, and in which they have been unceasingly held.

This was the case with Joseph’s brethren.

(Joseph Beloved—Hated—Exalted  -  F.B. Meyer 1847-1929) 

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January 17

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

(Psalm 46:1) 

 He is our refuge—let us hide in Him. 

 He is our strength—let us array ourselves with Him. 

 He is our help—let us lean upon Him. 

 He is our ever-present help—let us rest in Him NOW.

(Charles Spurgeon)

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January 18

Sometimes it is a help to remember that we are not the only people who have been tempted to be cast down.

“Let mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved (I fall).”

(Psalm 13:4)

This is as true now as ever it was.  But look at the words that follow.

“But I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.”

(Psalm 13:5-6)

That is where we are meant to live, and where we can live we will live. There is no provision in the whole Bible for a despondent Christian.

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. . . “

(2 Corinthians 2:14)

That is the word for us all.

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael)

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January 19

"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.”

(Psalm 73:24-25)

The author and composer of “God Leads Us Along” was an obscure preacher and carpenter who spent a lifetime humbly serving God in small rural areas.  Often the salary was meagre and life was difficult for his family.  Through it all, however, George A. Young and his wife never wavered in their loyalty to God and His service.

The story is told that after much struggle and effort, the George Young family was finally able to move into their own small home, which they had built themselves.  Their joy seemed complete.  But then, while Young was away holding meetings in another area, hoodlums who disliked the preacher’s gospel  message set fire to the house, leaving nothing but a heap of ashes.

It is thought that out of that tragic experience, George Young completed this hymn, which reaffirms so well the words of Job 35:10:  “God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night.”  The words of this hymn have since been a source of great comfort and encouragement to countless numbers of God’s people as they experienced the “night” times of their lives. 

In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along;

where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet, God leads His dear children along.    

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along;

sometimes in the valley, in the darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.

The sorrows befall us and Satan oppose, God leads His dear children along;

thru grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along.

Chorus: Some thru the waters, some thru the flood, some thru the fire, but all thru the blood;

some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long.

(Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotion - Kenneth W. Osbeck)

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January 20

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

(Philippians 4:13)

The context of this well-loved verse is actually a paragraph on the subject of contentment.

Paul is writing from a prison cell and says he has learned how to be content,

no matter what his circumstances.

What is the secret to contentment?

It is not about having all our plans in order, assurance of our next paycheque, etc.

It is facing and accepting life’s hard times and good times through Christ’s strength.

Our circumstances are immaterial.

He is all in all.

We need Him for every detail of life.

(Dennis Easton)

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

(Karolina W. Sandell-Berg)

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January 21

THE NEW BIRTH

"No man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”  

(John 10:29)

If you are regenerate, you will remain regenerate.  It seems to me that this is absolutely inevitable because regeneration is the work of God. 

Yet there are those who seem to think that people can be born again as the result of believing the truth, and then if they backslide or fall into sin or deny the truth, they lose their regeneration, but if they come back again and believe again, then they are regenerate again—as if one can be born again and die and be born again and die an endless number of times! 

How important doctrine is! How important it is that we should be clear as to what the Scripture teaches about these things! 

It tells us that regeneration is the work of God Himself in the depths of the soul and that He does it in such a way that it is permanent. 

“No man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” 

(John 10:29). 

(Martyn Lloyd Jones)

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January 22

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee:

He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

(Psalm 55:22)

 The Burden - Bearer

A man had a vision in which he saw a multitude of people bearing burdens, which greatly afflicted him to behold. Strong men were bowed down under heavy loads, fragile women were staggering under burdens, even children were weighed down.

All classes of people were represented, toiling and staggering under heavy burdens.

In the vision the dreamer thought he saw the Lord, and to his utter amazement 

He was busily employed in increasing the burdens.

Still the burdened ones toed on, ready to drop—but not quite.

Still the Lord aded to their burdens again and again,

till at last the man’s curiosity and surprise

could be restrained no longer.

He enquired of the Lord why He was adding to the burdens and distress of those he saw.

The reply was:

“I am adding to their burden till they cannot do without Me any longer, and THEN I WILL CARRY BOTH THEM AND THEIR BURDENS.”     

(Comforted of God - A.J. Pollock)

Days are filled with sorrow and care, hearts are lonely and drear .

Burdens are lifted at Calvary.  Jesus is very near.

Cast your care on Jesus today, leave your worry and fear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.

Troubled soul, the Saviour can feel every heartache and tear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.

(John M. Moore)

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January 23

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: 

I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”

(Psalm 50:15)

“I will deliver thee.”  I WILL," not “I may,” not “perhaps.”

It is definite, certain— “I will deliver thee.”

Mark, it does not say when.  We often fix a time; it must be immediately, and so we get disappointed.

It does not say how.  We would like deliverance brought about in a way of our own; and because it does not appear to be coming in our way we are tempted to rebel.

Nor does it say what form the deliverance will take. We have already made up our minds, perhaps, what form we would prefer; but it may be God has something better for us.

Let us leave the form of the deliverance—the how and when—all to Him, resting only in the certainty of the fact,

“I will deliver thee.”

(Angels in White - Russell Elliot)

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January 24

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

(Genesis 3:21)

We have here, in figure, the great doctrine of divine righteousness set forth.

The robe which God provided was an effectual covering, because HE provided it; just as the apron was an ineffectual covering, because man had provided it. Moreover, God’s coat was founded upon blood-shedding; Adam’s apron was not.

So also now, God’s righteousness is set forth in the cross; man’s righteousness is set forth in the works—the sin-stained works—of his own hands. When Adam stood clothed in the coat of skin he could not say he was naked, nor had he any occasion to hide himself.

The sinner may feel perfectly at rest when, by faith, he knows that God has clothed him; but to feel at rest till then, can only be the result of presumption or ignorance.

To know that the dress I wear, and in which I appear before God, is of His own providing, must set my heart at  perfect rest.

There can be no true, permanent rest in aught else.

(Genesis - C. H. Macintosh)

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Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? 

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? 

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you wash’d in the blood in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you wash’d in the blood of the Lamb?

(E.A. Hoffman) 

January 25

“For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16:7)

If our value to society was measured by the size of our house
or our bank account, many would have little influence.

The misfit and those who are limited would be overlooked as insignificant. But in the sight of the Lord, these are often the real heroes of faith.

God the Creator, wisely teaches and trains each one of His children for service here below and later in heaven above.

His ultimate goal is to have us conformed to the image of His Son.  Are we like Him?

(E. Dyck)

"And is it so! I shall be like Thy Son,  
Is this the grace which He for me has won?

Father of glory, thought beyond all thought, 
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought.

(J.N. Darby) 

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January 26

“The Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.”

(Exodus 15:25)

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

The cross! The cross! Oh that’s our gain,

Because on that the Lamb was slain;

’Twas there the Lord was crucified;

’Twas there for us the Saviour died.

(Miss C. Taylor, 1742)

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January 27

“Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.”

(Hebrews 12:6)

Pride and stoical resistance to sorrow will not do.

That does not draw the soul to God, but effectually

. . .keeps it from Him. 

. . . Sorrow, when it is complete and helpless, 

gives intimacy with Him who is willing and 

able to help, and this is now with God.

The time will come when all our sorrow will be over,

but our Friend will remain.

He is our tried an true Friend.

He has entered into the deepest woes of our 

heart, and will make us the sharers of His joy forever.

(Pilgrim Portions for the Day of Rest -J.N.Darby)

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January 28

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

(1 Peter 5:10)

Oh, what a place has the saint got, in the call of God, and not only in the call of God,

 but in that invigorating power which He makes 

His people to know all along the way!  

Himself who has called you shall make you perfect.

What have we not in God?

Have we not everything which encourages our hearts, 

strengthens them, comforts them, sustains them?

God’s purpose, God’s call, God’s sustaining grace all along the way, bring us at last into His glory.

(W.T.P. Wolston)

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January 29

In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.  (Judges 21:25)

First, “There was no king in Israel.” This reminds us that there was no authority, 

 no one to hold them accountable, no bottom line. 

We often hear this today, there are no absolutes, there is no authority. 

This is what happens when you lay aside the Word of God and ignore its teachings!

 Proverbs 29:18 reminds us “Where there is no revelation, 

the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” 

This is the result of ignoring the Word of God; soon there is no fresh revelation, no “What does the Bible say?”  Then anything goes and restraint is cast off! We see this in 1 Samuel 3:1-4,  which was written during or following the time of the Judges.

There we see the moral condition: the Word of the Lord was rare in those days; 

— there was no widespread revelation; — the high priest was lying down; — his eyes were dim, 

so he could barely see; — the lamp of God was about to go out.

Even though the moral conditions may be dark around us and many may ignore the Word of God, God will not leave Himself without a witness! He will not let the lamp of testimony go out. 

He is looking for those who would return to their first love.

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5).

(Tim Hadley, Sr.- with thanks D.H.)

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January 30

“For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:3)

There are times in one’s life when all the world seems to turn against us.

Our motives are misunderstood, our words misconstrued.

A malicious smile or an unkind word reveals to us 

the unfriendly feelings of others.

Our advances are repulsed or met with icy coldness;

a dry refusal arrests on our lips the offer of help. 

Courage, patience, poor disconsolate one!

God is making a furrow in your heart, 

where He will surely sow His grace. 

It is rare when injustice, or slights patiently borne, do not leave the heart at the close of the day filled with marvellous joy and peace.

It is the seed God has sown, springing up and bearing fruit.

A disappointment, a contradiction, a harsh word received and endured as in His presence, is worth more than a long prayer.

(Traveling Toward Sunrise)

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January 31

"To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,

that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

(Ephesians 3:19)

O Lord! Thy rich, Thy boundless love no thought can reach, no tongue declare;

Oh give our hearts its depths to prove, and reign without a rival there.

From Thee, O Lord, we all receive, Thine, wholly Thine, alone we’d live.

(Gerhardt) 

“Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

(1 John 1:3)

Fellowship with the Father is to be filled with His thoughts,

 His desires, His objects and His affections.

It is also so with fellowship with the Son. . . . It is our privilege to be taken out  

of ourselves altogether—to be lost in the affections and aims of the Father and the Son! . . . 

Self disappears before such a blessed possibility.

Shall I cling to my own thoughts and purposes when 

I may be occupied with those of the Father and the Son? 

Shall I have my own affections when I may be possessed with

those that fill the heart of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ?

Far be the thought!

Rather let me be lost in this illimitable sea of 

bliss opened out before me in the marvellous grace of God.  

(Divine Possibility -  Edward Dennett - with thanks - F.P.)

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