Gems from July 2018

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

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

(Ephesians 3:19)

Blessed were we if we could make ourselves masters of that invaluable treasure, the love of Christ; or rather suffer ourselves to be mastered and subdued to Christ’s love, so as Christ were our all things, and all others things our nothings, and the refuse of our delights. 

O, let us be ready for shipping against the time our Lord’s 

wind and tide call for us.

There are infinite layers in His love that the 

saints will never get to unfold.

(Samuel Ruterford - 1600-1661)  

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June 30

Following Christ

“Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness.”

(Psalm 5:8)

All the way my Saviour leads me—O the fulness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,

This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way.

(The Treasures of Fanny Crosby)

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July 1

“Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

and when they looked, they saw that the stone was 

rolled away: for it was very great.”

(Mark 16:3-4)

Another translation states "And looking up they see”.

The sorrowful women were looking down as they walked.

We often do that in sorrow.

They were wondering who would roll away the stone.

They did not see till they looked up that it had been rolled away.

We do not always see the stones that are exceeding great 

rolled back the moment we look up.

“Cast not away therefore your confidence . . .”(Hebrews 10:35) 

you who are, as it seems, looking up in vain.

It “hath great recompense of reward.”  

Only be sure not to look down or even too much at the stone.

Look up.

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael)

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July 2

“I have . . . poured out my soul before the Lord . . . 

for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto." (1 Samuel 1:15-16)

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee,

and thou shalt glorify Me.”

(Psalm 50:15)

And when my heart melts within me and weakness takes control,

He gathers me in His arms; He soothes my heart and soul.

The great “I AM” is with me; my life is in His hand;

The Son of God—all my hope, it is in Him I stand.

- - - - 

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July 3

"Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad inour hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

But the pathway of trial has a very bright end. 

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”  
(1 Peter 1:7) 

Faith’s sphere is on earth, and God tries it.  He never gives faith that He does not prove it; and this brings forth the fruit that will appear by-and-by, when everything is made manifest, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

The trying “by fire,” is a beautiful allusion to the three Hebrew servants who were tried by fire, whom Nebuchadnezzar cast into the furnace (Daniel 3:12-30).  What was the effect of the fire in their case? It only burnt off their bonds, and set them free.  The Lord lets us get into the fire oftentimes, and the effect of it is to burn off the cords that bind us,—in our case often self-imposed cords—and we come out free. 

But what have we had in the fire?  A sense of the presence and company of the Lord, such as we never had before.  So with the Hebrew servants, one walked with them in the furnace, and the form of that One was “Like unto the Son of God."

“Whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not,

yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

(1 Peter 1:8)

(W. T. P. Wolston)  

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July 4

“How are the mighty fallen!”

(2 Samuel 1:27)

After serving his country for two decades as a helicopter pilot, James returned home to serve his community as a teacher.  But he missed helicopters, so he took a job flying medical evacuations for a local hospital.  He flew until late in his life.

Now it was time to say goodbye to him.  As friends, family, and uniformed co-workers stood vigil at the cemetery, a colleague called in one last mission over the radio.  Soon the distinctive sound of rotors beating the air could be heard.  A helicopter circled over  the memorial garden, hovered briefly to pay its respects, then headed back to the hospital.  Not even the military personnel who were present could hold back the tears.

When King Saul and his son Jonathan were killed in battle, 

David wrote an elegy for the ages called "the use (lament) of the bow” (2 Samuel 1:18).

“The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places:

How are the mighty fallen” (2 Samuel 1:19).  

Jonathan was David’s closest friend and brother-in-arms.  

And although David and Saul had been enemies, David honoured them both. “Weep over Saul . . .”  (v. 24).  “I and distressed for thee my brother Jonathan . . . “ (v. 26).

Even the best goodbyes are oh-so-difficult.  But for those who trust in the Lord, the memory is much more sweet than bitter, for it is never forever. How good it is when we can honour those who have served others! 

(Tim Gutstafson)

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Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2018) Grand Rapids, MI - Reprinted permission

July 5

“To every thing there is a season, 

and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Just as summer gives way to fall, then in turn autumn is superseded by winter, so in the life of God’s person there are succeeding steps by which we are led to follow Christ and pass from scene to scene in the grand pageantry of His purposes for us. 

Summer is not fall.  Nor is the autumn winter.  Each is a season to itself.  Each has a special splendour of its own. But likewise each has the fallout of wasted opportunities, squandered time, wrong choices, and willful waywardness that mar the memories of our better moments.

From time to time these demand a drastic change.  There has to be a cleanup of the clutter, a renewal of the soul, a cleansing of the conscience, a fresh radiance of Christ’s life from above.

(Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller)

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July 6

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

(Romans 10:17)

Salvation is of grace; and faith is but the medium through which grace confers its gifts.

Hence, notwithstanding the consequences which are attached to it, there is nothing unreasonable in the conclusion—nay, it is a conclusion to which the Scriptures shut us up—that faith is one of the simplest exercises of which the mind is capable. 

When we pause to enquire how faith comes into existence we find that the answer is clear and plain.

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”  

(Romans 10:17). 

“I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able”  

(2 Timothy 1:12).

.

“Your faith growth exceedingly” 

(2 Thessalonians 1:3).

From these Scriptures we learn that faith comes by acceptance of the testimony of God; that its value is determined by the trustworthiness of the One in whom it is reposed; and that, since it is a living thing, it is capable of indefinite expansion and development.  

(George Henderson)

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July 7

“And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.”

(Numbers 27:5)

We are often brought into situations where a dispute is in process, and are asked to help. Never were the words “slow to speak” more needful.

The patriarch Job was surrounded by opinion,
but none mattered but his Lord’s.

Conflict resolution requires the utmost in humility and brokenness, brought about by tearful acknowledgment 

of the Lord’s  presence. 

If I am unbroken when two believers are at odds,

the second best thing I can do for 

them is say nothing.

The best thing I can do is to pray, pray, and pray some more.

(Rick Morse)

When your heart was filled with anger, did you think to pray?

Did you plead for grace my brother?

That you might forgive another, 

Who had crossed your way.

(M. A. Kidder)

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July 8

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed 

thereto according to Thy Word.”

(Psalm 119:9)

Linnaeus once said of the unfolding of a blossom: I saw God in His glory pass near me, and bowed my head in worship.”

I SAW GOD WASH THE WORLD

I saw God wash the world last night with His sweet showers on high;

And then when morning came I saw Him hang it out to dry.

He washed each tiny blade of grass and every trembling tree;

He flung His showers against the hills and swept the billowy sea.

The white rose is a cleaner white; the red a richer red

Since God washed every fragrant face and put them all to bed.

There’s not a bird, there’s not a bee that wings along the way,

But is a cleaner bird or bee than it was yesterday.

I saw God wash the world last night; Ah, would He had washed me

As clean of all my dust and dirt as that old white birch tree!

(Dr. W. L.Stidger)

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

(1 John 1:7)

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July 9

“All power is given unto Me.”

(Matthew 28:18)

“Behold, I give unto you power . . . over all the power of the enemy.”

(Luke 10:19)

"God has been glorified in Man; Man sits at God’s right hand:

Obedient in the race He ran, Can now all power command.”

We are not to be occupied with evil, or be in any way terrified with the adversary, as if the Lord had not the upper hand.  He has overcome and is leading on to a full blessing, when the enemy will be bound.

We must go on in the confidence that power belongs to Him and is in His hands.

In every case it is where God would have us to be that we find His precious blessing.

Without Him we can do nothing.  When He works in His grace, how

happy one is to be the instrument of His power and goodness!

The exercises of our hearts even, in the difficulties of the work, lead us to Him, and everything that does this is in blessing for us.

There is power in Christ, there is sufficiency in Christ 

for all He would have you to do or be. 

(J. N Darby)

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July 10

THANKS FOR VICTORY

"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory 

through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Corinthians 15:57)

Observe the source of our victory— “Thanks be unto God.”

The Blesser is greater than the blessing.

Consider the nature of our victory—“which giveth us the victory.”  

It is the gift of God.  "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable

  gift.”  And behold the means of our victory—

"through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

It is total victory over sin, death, and the grave.  

It is daily victory.  Every heart ought to be a “victory garden.”  And it is final victory.

“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,”

It does not explain the world, nor endure it, nor enjoy it—it overcomes the world. But not just any kind of faith.  It must be faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, for our victory is through Him. 

Every day is V-Day when our faith is in Him.

And every day is Thanksgiving Day for the victory through Him.

(Vance Havner)

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July 11

“That I may win Christ, and be found in Him.”

(Philippians 3:8,9)

“In Christ it is we stand.”  He is our righteousness.

He Himself, the crucified, risen, exalted, glorified Christ.

Yes; He is our righteousness.  To be found in Him is proper Christian standing.

It is not Judaism, Catholicism, nor any other ism.  

It is not being a member of this church,

 that church, or the other church.

It is to be in Christ.

This is the great foundation of true practical Christianity.

In a word, this is the standing of the Christian.

(C. H. Mackintosh)

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July 12

MY REDEEMER

My Redeemer  ”In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence." 
(Ephesians 1:7-8).

The text for “My Redeemer,” though a joyfulnote of praise, was found in the wreckage of a train accident which had just claimed the life of its author, Philip P. Bliss. 

George Stebbins, also a noted gospel songwriter of this time, once paid Bliss this tribute: “There has been no writer of verse since his time who has shown such a grasp of the fundamental truths of the gospel,

or such a gift for putting them into poetic and singable form.”

Yet at the age of thirty-eight, at the very height of his fruitful music ministry, Bliss’s life was suddenly ended in a tragic train accident.  He had visited his mother at his childhood home in Rome, Pennsylvania, during the Christmas season of 1876 and was returning by train to Chicago on December 29 with his wife Lucy when a railroad bridge near Ashtabula, Ohio, collapsed.

Their train plunged into a ravine sixty feet below and caught fire.  One hundred passengers perished miserably. Bliss survived the fall and escaped through a window but frantically returned to the wreckage in an attempt to rescue his wife.  As a result, he perished with her in the fire. 

Neither body was ever recovered.

Quite miraculously, however, among Bliss’s belongings in the train wreckage was found a manuscript on which Bliss had been working.  It contained these significant words.

I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me;

on the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me free.

I will tell the wondrous story, how my lost estate to save,

in His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell,

how the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell.

Chorus:  Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me; on the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

(Kenneth W. Osbeck)

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July 13

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die . . . and Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died  . . . and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”

(Genesis 50:24-26)

Faith still looks beyond the valley of the shadow of death, to the home of God’s eternal purpose. In the presence of death faith, as of old, still rests on the God of resurrection,but with yet clearer vision, for we see Christ risen from among the dead seated at God’s right hand of power, holding in His hand the keys of death and the grave.

As our faith looks up to the risen Man in the glory, may the passing glories of this dying world become small in our esteem, so that, forgetting the things that are behind, we reach out to the things that are before, while waiting for the moment when the Lord will surely visit His people—when He—

“Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)        

Thus while to  sight all may seem to end in a coffin in Egypt, faith has in view that glorious moment when we shall be caught up together to be forever with the Lord.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:18) 

(Hamilton Smith)

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July 14

“And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This Man 

receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

(Luke 15:2)

They did not know they were declaring a wonderful truth when they said that. Jesus does receive sinners, and takes them into fellowship and communion with Himself.

Thank God, this has been true all through the centuries since.

Is it not wonderful grace that He receives all who will come, and He delivers them from their sins?

Sing it o’er and o’er again; Christ receiveth sinful men.   

If these words come before any who have been in doubt as to whether or not the Lord Jesus Christ will accept you, oh, let me tell you, 

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!”

(1 Timothy 1:15)

He is interested in you; He is interested in me.  I came as a sinner, 

and He did not turn me away.  He received me and saved me, 

and He will do the same for you if you will come to Him. 

(H. A. Ironside)

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July 15

OUR LOVE KEPT FOR JESUS

"Lovest thou me?”

(John 21:15)

Keep my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store. 

Not as a mere echo from the morning-gilded shore of Tiberias but as an ever-new, ever sounding note of divinest power come the familiar words to each of us, “Lovest thou Me?” 

He says it who has loved us with an everlasting love.  He says it who has died for us.

He says it who has washed us from our sins in His own blood.

He says it who has waited for our love, waited 

patiently all though our coldness.

And if by His grace we have said, “Take my love,” which of us has not felt that part of His very answer has been to make us see how little there was to take and how little of that little has been kept for Him?

And yet we do love Him!  He knows that.

The very mourning and longing to love Him more

proves it.  But we want more than that and so does our Lord.

(Frances Ridley Havergal)

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July 16

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Isaiah 40:31)

We have here a threefold experience of the Christian life—mounting up, running, walking; and the strength required for each is obtained by waiting upon the Lord.

How much seems implied in that word “wait.”  It means prayer, but it means more. There seems the added thought of waiting in order to receive something.

Our Lord told His disciples to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).

Do we thus wait upon the Lord? tarrying in His presence—to learn His mind, to hear His message, or to receive His strength?

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew (change) their strength.” 

(Angels in White - Russell Elliott)

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July 17

It is But a Little Sin

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for 

we are not ignorant of his devices.”

(2 Corinthians 2:11)

"Ah!” says Satan, “it is but a little sin—a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc. 

You may commit it without any danger to you soul.

It is but a little one; you may commit it,

and yet your soul shall live.”

Consider, that there is a great danger, yes, many times most danger—in the smallest sins. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump!” 

(1 Corinthians 5:6)

If the serpent sneaks in his head—he will draw in his whole body after him.

Greater sins sooner startle the soul, and awaken and rouse up the soul to repentance, than lesser sins do. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and indiscernibly in the soul, until they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul!   

Many are undone by the "little sins", as they call them, that are nourished in their own bosoms. 

A little hole in the ship, sinks it.   A small breach in a dyke, caries away all before it.

A little stab at the heart, kills a man.   A little sin, without a great deal of mercy, will condemn a man. 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9)

(Thomas Brooks - Precious Remedies Agains Satan’s Devices)

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July 18

“I will be as the dew” (Hosea 14:5).

Hosea leads us to the source of the dew-drenched life.    It is from Him that this priceless gift comes. Those who spend much time with the Master come forth with the dew of blessing upon their lives.

The dew falls in the still night when all nature is hushed to rest. What is true in nature holds true in spiritual things; in this we have the key reason why so many of God’s people are living dew-less lives.  They are restless, anxious, impatient, fussy, busy, with not time at all to be still before the Lord.

The finer things are being sacrificed for the coarser; the things of value for the worthless. In Job 38:28 the question is asked, “Who hath begotten the drops of dew?”  It is one of God’s secrets.  It comes quietly, and yet works so mightily.  We cannot produce it, but we may receive it and live, moment by moment, in that atmosphere where the Holy Spirit may continually drench us with His presence.

(W. Mallis)  

But the sensitive dew and the stillness are friends,

In the storm, it is true that it never descends.

Let me fuss not, nor pine, but on God cast my care,

And the dew shall be mine in the quiet of prayer.

Let Him hush the sad riot of temper and will,

Till rested and quiet the cleansed heart is still.

When the atmosphere’s so, ’tis attractive to dew,

And the first thing you know ’twill be falling on you.

(Mamie Payne Ferguson)

God feeds the wild flowers on the lonely mountain side without help of any man, and they are fresh and lovely as those that are daily watched over in our gardens.  So God can feed His own planted ones without the help of man, by the sweet falling dew on his spirit.

(McCheyne)

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July 19

BIBLICAL DIVISIONS OF TIME

INNOCENCE - "The Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

   

CONSCIENCE - “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” (Romans 2:14-15).   

LAW - “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came byJesus Christ” (John 1:17). “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). 

GRACE - The death of the Redeemer met the claims of the throne of God in righteousness, and the needs of the hearts of men in grace; and grace now reigns: “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21).

This era was formally introduced by the ascent of Christ (Acts 1) and the descent of the Spirit (Acts 2).

The message now is to every creature which is under heaven.  God is today calling out from all kindreds and nations and races and tongues a people for His name (Acts 15:14-17); that company which, in the Epistles, is called “The Church”.  

At the second coming of our Lord, this innumerable company of redeemed ones will be translated to the heavenly land, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15.  The difference between “law” and “grace” is well illustrated in John  Bunyan’s quaint words:

Run, John, run, the Law commands, but gives me neither legs nor hands;

Far grander news the Gospel brings, it bids me fly, and gives me wings.” 

(The Wonderful Word - George Henderson)

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July 20

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

(Psalm 46:10)

It is difficult to be still.  When we are under pressure, worried or irritated 

we want to be getting on with things. 

We may wonder why God does not move faster. He often takes His time and in these circumstances we must learn to wait quietly and patiently.

His way is best, and His timing is best too. We must learn to trust in Him whose way is perfect and having committed the problem to Him, to be still and allow Him to move at the right time.

To do otherwise is perhaps to delay or jeopardize His plan.

He is on our side and He will  bring us through in His own good time.

(Roy Hill)

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side, bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide, in every change, He faithful will remain.

(Kathrina von Schlegal)

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July 21

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

(1 Timothy 6:6)

Oh! to walk humbly with our God! 

to be content with His will, to be satisfied to fill a very humble niche,

and to do the most unpretending work!  This is true dignity, and true happiness.

If we are to be governed by the rule of God’s kingdom, we

shall find that the only way to get up is to go down.

Nothing is more sad than to witness a 

pushing, bustling, forward, self-confident spirit and style in 

those who profess to be followers of Him who was meek and lowly in heart.

(Food for the Desert) 

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July 22

The Unclean Birds

“The screech-owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: There shall the vultures also be gathered every one with her mate.”

(Isaiah 34:14-15)

‘EACH one her mate!’  Alas, it is too true,

Each sin allowed within the heart to rest

Brings its companion-sin, and thus with new

And yet more foul pollution fills the breast.

Nor is there any end: for constantly

(As owls their loathsome broods industrious rear)

Sin hatches sin, a a hateful progeny,

Increasing day by day and year by year.  

(Bells and Pomegranates - J.M.S.Tait)

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

(1 John 1:7)

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July 23

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”

(Psalm 91:1-2)

Imagine a father who often travels and works long hours while at home.  He seldom sees his ten-year-old son. But the boy’s birthday is coming so the father leaves a note: 
“Will be in Far East on your birthday, but back Saturday with gift.
”What would you like—video game, bike, stereo?  

Circle the one you want.”

The father can afford about anything the boy could ever want.

Late that night, the dad sees what his son has circled—“Saturday.” 

The boy could have chosen any plaything he wanted, but most of all he wanted to know his father. That’s the heart of this familiar song .  “Just a closer walk with Thee,” that’s all we ask. As Paul said, “I count all thing but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). 

We don’t have an “absentee” heavenly Father.  He is there for us and will grant this request. He is happy to walk with us, to share our burdens, to guide us safely to the shore of His kingdom.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee.

I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Through this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.  

When my feeble life is o’er, time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o’er to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Chorus:  Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily, walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

(Author unknown)

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July 24

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

"What is the difference between lowliness (or, lowly-mindedness) and meekness?”

Lowly-mindedness will never give offence.  

Meekness will never take offence.

Oh, that we each had more of these two qualities!

How much strife and contention would be avoided!

(G. Christopher Willis)

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July 25

“His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”

(Psalm 112:7)

In heavenly Love abiding, no change my heart shall fear,

And safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here.

The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,

But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

(A. Waring)

His way is ever perfect, and it only needs that, with the knowledge of His love, we should repose in Him with unshaken confidence in all circumstances. 

It is ever a fatal mistake when we measure the difficulties of service by what we are. The question is what God is; and the difficulties that appear as mountains, looming through the mists of our unbelief, are nothing to Him but the occasion for the display of His omnipotent power.

Faith deals with things not seen, and hence seldom agrees with the conclusions that are drawn from providential events and circumstances. 

(Edward Dennett)

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July 26

“I will take my rest, and I will consider my dwelling place.”

(Isaiah 18:4)

Jesus beheld His disciples toiling at the oars through the stormy night;

and watched though unseen, the successive steps of the anguish of 

Bethany, when Lazarus slowly passed through the stages 

of mortal sickness, until he succumbed and 

was borne to the rocky tomb.

But He was only waiting the moment when He could interpose most effectually. Is He still to Thee?  He is not unobservant; He is beholding all things; He has His finger on thy pulse, keenly sensitive to all its fluctuations.

He will come to save thee when the precise moment has arrived.

Whatever His questions or His reticences, we may be absolutely sure of an unperplexed and undismayed Saviour.

(Streams in the Desert) 

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July 27

“. . . who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:16)

“. . . our sufficiency is of God”. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

It is not my ability, but my response to His ability, that counts.

It is not what happens to me that matters, but what I do with what happens to me.

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

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July 28

“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.  I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

(Revelation 22:16)

The Lord knows what the hearts of His people want here—

it is Himself, His own blessed person.

Ah! is the Lord Jesus looked for by us as the bright and morning star?

It is not the glory, but Himself that is set forth. 

“I am the bright and morning star;” and, oh, it is Himself that I want.

What would glory be to me without my Lord?

(G. V. Wigram)

~ ~  ~ ~ ~

When all my labours and trials are o’er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore,

Just to be near the dear Lord I adore will through the ages be glory for me.

When by the gift of His infinite grace I am accorded in heaven a place.

Just to be there and to look on His face will through the ages be glory for me.

Chorus:

O that will be glory for me . . . when by His grace I shall look on His face.

That will be glory, be glory for me!

(Charles H. Gabriel - 1900)

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July 29

“And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:11-12)

Why are men dull and heavy in the service of God?

Truly because their hopes are so.  Hopeless and lifeless go together.

No wonder the work goes hardly off hand, when men have no hope to be well paid for their labour. He that thinks he works for a song, will not sing at his work—I mean forward it.

The best customer is sure to be served best and first; and him we count the best customer whom we we hope will be the best paymaster.  If God be thought so, we will leave all to do His business.

Nothing better to clear the soul of sloth and listlessness of spirit in the service of God than hope well improved and strengthened.  It is the very physic which the apostles prescribe for this disease - "that ye be not slothful."

(The Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall - 1617 - 1679)

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July 30

 "A man who hath friends must (first) show himself friendly.”

(Proverbs 18:24)

I began fellowshipping in a local assembly and felt that everyone was 

friendly to one another, but not to me.

Reading in the Proverbs, I discovered it is my responsibility to 

demonstrate a friendly manner first. 

How?  Not by comments that may be insincere,

but through praying, serving and caring for others.

When I did this, I began to form friendships that have lasted over the years.

(Bob Cretney) 

Others, Lord yes others, let this my motto be.

Help me to live for others, that I might live like Thee.

(Charles D. Meigs)

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July 31

"Jonah . . . arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” 

(Jonah 1:1-2) 

“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.”

(Jonah 3:1-2) 

The message is a little more peremptory, without the explanation of the reason for the warning, as given at first.  The prophet had shown himself unworthy of that intimacy of communion that the first command contained. 

The first message told of God’s “ways” and gave the reason for His “acts”.  The second time, there was no such explanation given, and simple, implicit obedience is what is called for.  This was right. 

 It was in simple, implicit obedience that the prophet had failed: and the second opportunity offered to him is a test of whether he would obey, without being told the reason.

How important for us are the last words of that first verse: "Preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” 

How often those of us who preach are tempted to preach what we like.  Perhaps the Lord has in the past blessed certain subjects, and we like to preach from these, instead of listening to hear what He may bid us preach.

There are those who have certain subjects that they use over and over again: it saves that exercise of soul, perhaps, that new subjects would require.  There are others who make it a boast that they never preach the same sermon twice.

How different from Jonah, who only had one sermon, and preached it over and over again for days on end.

“The preaching that I bid thee” sums it all up for every preacher today.  May the Lord give us that quiet, hearing ear that is ready listening for His bidding as to the subject, as well as His bidding as to the place!

(G. C. Willis)

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