Gems from June 2019

June 1

“The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”

(Ruth 2:12)

"He that planteth and He that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” 
(1 Corinthians 3:8)

To Him our weakness clings

Through tribulation sore,

And seeks the covert of His wings 

Till all be o’er;

And when we’ve run the race

And fought the faithful fight,

We then shall see Him face to face,

With saints in light.

(Mary Bowley)

N.J. Hiebert - 7470

June 2

“Take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”

(Isaiah 37:31)

Why is it that the mountain hemlocks can attain such stateliness in spite of fierce winter gales and crushing snows? If you look at one of them closely you will see that it has foliage almost as delicate as a fir, its dark needles being as dainty as fairy feathers.  Yet if you try to break a twig or a bough you will learn that therein lies the strength and the tenacious power of the hemlock.

It will bend and yield but it will not break.  Winds may whip and toss it this way and that, but they cannot break it—nor can elements, however fierce, pull its roots out of the ground.

For months it may have its graceful form held down by a mighty weight of snow, but when the warm breath of summer winds and the melting influence of summer’s sun relieve it of its burden it straightens up as proud and as noble as it was before.

Beautiful, wonderful hemlock of the mountains—what a lesson you bring to us!  Though we may be storm-tossed and bent by the winds of sorrow, we need not be crushed and broken if our souls are anchored to the Rock of Ages. 

(Dorothy Clark Wilson)    

N.J. Hiebert - 7471   

June 3

HEAVEN

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. . . .   Behold I make all things new.” 

(Revelation 21:4-5)

’Tis not the golden streets, 

'Tis not the pearly gates,

’Tis not the perfect rest

For weary heart that waits, 

’Tis not that we shall find

The joy earth has not given,

For which our souls have longed,

That makes it Heaven.

But ’tis because we know

our Saviour King is there

With all our loved and lost

In that blest land and fair;

That when to each of us

A place prepared is given,

His face and theirs we’ll see,

That makes it Heaven.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

N.J. Hiebert - 7472  

June 4

“. . . His going forth is prepared as the morning . . .”

(His coming is certain as the dawn - Arabic)

(Hosea 6:3)

I remember well when God was pleased to open my heart to this great truth that the Lord Jesus is coming again, and that He may come at any time!  What was the effect?

I had not a great many books, but it sent me to see if I could give a good account of all I had, and also of the contents of my wardrobe.  The result was that some of the books disappeared before long, and some of the clothing, too. It was an immense spiritual blessing to me.

When I come home from China and can make time to go through the house from attic to basement with my dear wife, to review our things in the light of His speedy return, we always find it a helpful spiritual exercise to see what we can do without.

It is profitable to remember that we are stewards who have to give account of everything that we retain, and unless we can give a good reason for the retention, shall we not be ashamed when the Master comes?

Since He may come any day, is it not well to be ready every day?

I do not know any thought that has been made a greater blessing to me through life than this.

(Hudson Taylor [1832-1905] - Founder of the China Inland Mission )

N.J. Hiebert - 7473 

June 5

FOR ME

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

When all, like sheep, had gone astray,

And sinned against the light of day,

That Justice might with Love agree,

The Friend of Sinners died for me.

Rejected, scourged, and spit upon,

Betrayed, forsaken, left alone

Accursed of God upon the Tree

The Man of Sorrows died for me.

Nor can the robes of glory hide

The wounds in hands and feet and side.

The scars are there that all may see

The Lord of Glory died for me.

If, ere my day of conflict close,

I must combat the last of foes,

Triumphant still my soul shall be,

The Prince of Life has died for me.

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

N.J. Hiebert - 7474 

June 6

“And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.”

(Matthew 17:16)

The Lord’s disciples had experienced a public failure in their inability to heal a demon possessed child. Afterwards they asked the Lord “Why could we not cast him out?” (v.19).

The Lord explained that it was because of their unbelief and that with faith, great things can happen. He went on to say “Howbeit, this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting” (v.21).

We may have known failure in our service and our confidence may have been undermined. Restoration and renewal come when unbelief is set aside and faith rekindled. It is also critical to recognize the importance of prayer in our service for God. 

(W. H. Burnett) 

Make me a channel of blessing today,

Make me a channel of blessing I pray.

(H. G. Smyth)

N.J. Hiebert - 7475

June 7

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

(2  Corinthians 12:9-10)

Who does not know that our most sorrowful days have been among our best?  When the face is wreathed in smiles and we trip lightly over meadows bespangled with spring flowers, the heart is often running to waste. 

The soul which is always blithe and happy misses the deepest life.  It has its reward, and it is satisfied to its measure, though that measure is a very scanty one.  But the heart is dwarfed; and the nature, which is capable of the highest heights, the deepest depths, is undeveloped; and life presently burns down to its socket without having known the resonance of the deepest chords of joy. 

“Blessed are they that mourn.”  Stars shine brightest in the long dark night of winter. The gentian plants show their fairest bloom amid almost inaccessible heights of snow and ice.

God’s promises seem to wait for the pressure of pain to trample out their richest juice as in a wine-press. Only those who have sorrowed know how tender is the “Man of Sorrows”.

(Selected)

N.J. Hiebert - 7476 

June 8

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry,

and He shall say, Here I am . . .”

(Isaiah 58:9)

The summer of 1853 was unusually hot and dry, so that the pastures were scorched, and there seemed likely to be a total failure of the crops.  Under these circumstances, the congregation gathered one Lord’s day, as usual, when, though the sky was clear, the burden of Finney’s prayer was for rain.

In his prayer he deepened the cry of distress which went up from every heart by mentioning in detail the prolonged drought, in about these words:

“We do not presume, O Lord, to dictate to Thee what is best for us; yet Thou dost invite us to come to Thee as children to an earthly father, and tell Thee all our wants.  We want rain.  Our pastures  are dry.  The earth is gaping open for rain.  The cows are wandering about and lowing in search of water.  Even the squirrels in the woods are suffering from thirst. Unless Thou givest us rain, our cattle will die and our harvests will come to naught.

O Lord, send us rain, and send it now!  Although, to us, there is no sign of it, it is an easy thing for Thee to do. Send it now, Lord, for Christ’s sake.  Amen."

He took a text and began to preach; but in a few moments he had to stop for the noise of the rattle and roar of the storm. He paused, and said, ‘We would better stop and thank God for the rain.’ “ 

(Excerpt from the Life of Finney)

“Commit thy lot unto the Eternal, place in Him thy confidence and He will act.”

(Unknown) 

Nothing with God can be accidental.”

(H. L. Longfellow)

N.J. Hiebert - 7477     

June 9

“O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

(Psalm 31:23-24)

Each of us was created for the purpose of enjoying the fellowship of Almighty God. Our souls were made for eternity, not for this brief earthly pilgrimage alone.  The Christian life should be lived each day as thought we were already enjoying the blessings of heaven.

We deprive ourselves of one of life’s greatest treasurers when we lose this perspective and become bogged down with the trivialities of earthly living.  An intimate fellowship with our Lord should produce at least three basic differences in our living:

- More Humility-a greater realization of our finiteness and the need for dependence upon God.

- More happiness-a realization that this life has purpose and dignity as we represent God, as well as 

 a promised eternity in heaven with our Lord.

- More holiness-a greater desire to be a worthy representative for God and to live a life of absolute purity.

The author, Jane C. Bonar was the wife of Dr. Horatius Bonar, generally regarded as the greatest of evangelical Scottish preachers and hymn writers.  Jane, too, was a very gifted writer and Christian leader.  For more than forty years the Bonars shared life’s sorrows and joys together, in a rich ministry for God.  These devotional thoughts are still the sentiments of every spiritually mature follower of Christ.

Fade, fade, each earthly joy - Jesus is mine; break ev’ry tender tie - Jesus is mine.  Dark is the wilderness, earth has no resting place; Jesus alone can bless - Jesus is mine.

Tempt not my soul away - Jesus is mine; here would I ever stay - Jesus is mine.  Perishing things of clay, born but for one brief day, pass from my heart away - Jesus is mine.

Farewell, ye dreams of night - Jesus is mine; lost in this dawning bright - Jesus is mine.  All that my soul has tried left but a dismal void; Jesus has satisfied - Jesus is mine.

Farewell, mortality - Jesus is mine; welcome, eternity - Jesus is mine.  Welcome, O loved and blest, welcome, sweet scenes of rest; welcome, my Saviour’s breast - Jesus is mine.

N.J. Hiebert - 7478      

June 10

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings.”

(Proverbs 28:20)

The Blessings That Remain

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 ever 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 whereso’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—

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

(Annie Johnson Flint)

N.J. Hiebert - 7479  

June 11

“. . . whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctfieth the gold?” (Matthew 23:17)

A tourist bought an inexpensive amber necklace in a secondhand shop in Paris. He became curious when he had to pay heavy customs in New York.  He went to a jeweller to have it appraised and was offered $25,000.

A second Jeweller offered $35,000.  When he asked why it was so valuable,  the jeweller put it under a magnifying glass.  The tourist read, “From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.” 

It was the name of Napoleon that made the necklace so valuable. The application should be clear.  In ourselves we are nothing and can do nothing. It is our association with the Lord and with His service that sets us apart in a special way. As someone has said, “Your connection with Calvary is the most wonderful thing about you.”

You may have an unusually brilliant mind.  That is something to be thankful for.  But remember this.   It is only as that mind is used for the Lord Jesus Christ that it ever reaches its highest destiny.  It is Christ that sanctifies your intellect.

You may have talents for which the world is willing to pay a high price.  You may even think that the Church is too insignificant for them.  But it is the Church that sanctifies your talents, and not your talents that sanctify the Church.

You may have bundles of money.  You can hoard it, spend it on self-indulgence, or use it for the Kingdom. The greatest use to which it can be put is to spend it in furthering the cause of Christ. It is the Kingdom that sanctifies your wealth, not vice versa.

("Truth to live by, one day at a time" - With thanks to Dan Hopkins)

N.J. Hiebert - 7480   

June 12

"Let us lay aside every weight . . .

and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

(Hebrews 12:1)

A contestant entering a race on a hot summer day with a woollen coat, work boots and a backpack would never win.  These burdens need to be removed if there is to be any chance at success.

This image of a weighed down runner is presented here as a lesson for the Christian life. We cannot have success if we are burdened down spiritually. Excess weight is anything that hinders our faith.

The Christian life is a race that requires discipline and endurance and weights like laziness, bitterness, fearfulness or other habitual sins will ruin the race for us.

By the Spirit, each of us know what weight needs to be removed in our life. Will you lay it aside?  

(Robert Gentile)

Poor is my best, and small: how could I dare divide?

Surely my Lord shall have it all, He shall not be denied.

(F. R. Havergal)  

N.J. Hiebert - 7481

June 13

THE  CROWNING  DAY

"The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy.”

(Revelation 4:10-11)

One year at a Bible school graduation, they sang the hymn “Is it the Crowning Day?”  Unfortunately, a typing error was made in preparing the program and the hymn appeared as  “Is it the crowing Day?”  Isn’t it great to know that when we adoringly bow before the Lord in that day of glory there will be no crowing? 

Christ will fill our gaze; His praises shall fill our lips; His worthiness shall fill our hearts. We will cast our crowns before Him, realizing that whatever service was done for Him upon earth was done through His grace and strength alone.

And yet the Word of God does set before us various crowns to be given to the saints: The incorruptible crown—1 Corinthians 9:24-27, The crown of joy—1 Thessalonians 2:19, The crown of righteousness—2 Timothy 4:8, The crown of life—James 1:12, The crown of glory—1 Peter 5:4.       

Let’s set our hearts upon gaining these crowns that we may cast them at His blessed feet.  And let ’s forget about doing any crowing now. We certainly won’t do any crowing then!

(The Lord is Near - Grant W. Steidl)

N.J. Hiebert - 7482

June 14

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling . . . according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

(2 Timothy 1:9)

Most gifts we receive from others are given to us during our lifetime. But the greatest gift ever offered to us was given to us in Christ before the world began.

That glorious fact speaks to us of the greatness of the gift and the love and commitment of the Giver. There is nothing we could do to earn or deserve it because the gift was given before we were even born.

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

(Ken Gross)

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul; 

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me,

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(S. & B. Sykes)

N.J. Hiebert - 7483

June 15

“. . . be pitiful, be courteous . . .”

(1 Peter 3:8)

The verse above, enjoins the apostle who seemingly had to learn it the hard way.  Our Lord was very pitiful, and always courteous.  There is the thought of offence latent “Pitiful,” “courteous”, in each of these words.

Pitiful is that condition of soul that considers the weakness, the infirmity, or ignorance of the offender,  and thus does not take offence.  This was always true of our Lord. There was compassion and mercy always in His heart. He considered the burden of others.

The story is told of Napoleon walking with a lady along a path that became so narrow that the lady had to walk ahead with the Emperor behind.  Approaching them was a workman with a heavy load on his back.

The lady kept to the path so the burdened workman would have to step aside. Napoleon gently took the lady by the shoulders and caused her to leave the path so the man with the load could continue on the walk.

Speaking to the lady, Napoleon said, “Madame, consider the burden.”

 (Our Lord Jesus Christ - The Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake)

N.J. Hiebert - 7484  

June 16

"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)

Genuine faith in Christ weathers the storms of life,

for it is grounded in an eternal Saviour.

Our great High Priest has said, 

“I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32). 

This faith is displayed in prison cells, cancer wards, and impoverished houses. It moves great obstacles and yet trusts not human power or wisdom.

The fire only purges the dross, proving that the life our Lord offers, transcends every trial and lasts eternally.  Thankfully, difficult times reveal God’s glorious riches in His saints. 

(K. R. Keyser)

O God, we come with singing, because Thy great High Priest;

Our names to Thee is bringing, nor e’er forgets the least.

(M. B. Peters)

N.J. Hiebert - 7485

June 17

A Closer Walk With God

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)

- We never get on in divine things unless we are content to let self go. 

Any way or purpose in connection with ourselves is

only a barrier to divine blessing. 

- It is a positive barrier to blessing to trust to experience in the past.

- Christ is made unto us wisdom. . . . 

We have to travel through this word—wisdom we need; 

well, I thank God we shall never lack it.  Christ is our wisdom. . . .  

Whatever the case, there is unfailing wisdom for you in Christ at God’s right hand.

- If you are not a missionary of divine blessing, there must be 

something between your soul and God.

(E. P. Corrin)

N.J. Hiebert - 7486

June 18

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification . . .”

(1 Thessalonians 4:3)

People sometimes say they have committed a sin so bad 

that they cannot bring it to God, or that He cannot forgive and forget.

But there is no sin too great to bring 

to Jesus.  Those who come to Him, He will never cast out.

The first step is to come to 

Jesus and to turn away from sin, in His strength.

  Then we shall be cleansed and sanctified.

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

N.J. Hiebert - 7487

June 19

NOT  PROMISED  BUT  GIVEN

“The good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

(John 10:11)

Oh, wonderful gift! not promised, but given;  not to friends, but to enemies. Given without condition, without reserve, without return.

Himself unknown and unloved, His gift unsought and unasked, He gave His life for thee; a more than royal bounty—the greatest gift that Deity could devise. Oh, grandeur of love!  "I lay down My life for the sheep!"

And we for whom He gave it held back, and hesitated to give our lives, not even for Him (He has not asked us to do that), but to Him!

But that is past, and He has tenderly pardoned the unloving, ungrateful reserve, and has graciously accepted the poor little fleeting breath and speck of dust which was all we had to offer.  

And now His precious death and His glorious life are all "for thee.”

(Opened Treasures)

N.J. Hiebert - 7488

June 20

"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? . . .  And the woman said . . . ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, least ye die.  And the serpent said, ye shall not surely die. . . ."

(Genesis 3:1-4)

It is of the utmost importance to see that what really stamps man’s character and condition is his ignorance or knowlege of God.  This it is that marks his character here, and fixes his destiny hereafter.

Is he evil in his thoughts, evil in his words, evil in his actions,—
it is all the result of his being ignorant of God.

On the other hand, is he pure in thought, holy in conversation, gracious in action,— it is but the practical result of his knowledge of God.  

So also as to the future.

To know God, is the solid ground of endless bliss—everlasting glory:  

to know Him not, is "everlasting destruction.” 

Thus the knowledge of God is everything.  

It quickens the soul, purifies the heart, tranquilizes the conscience, elevates the affections, sanctifies the entire character and conduct. 

Need we wonder, therefore, that Satan’s grand design was to rob the creature of the true knowledge of the only true God?  He misrepresented the blessed God: he said He was not kind. This was the secret spring of all the mischief.  It matters not what shape sin has since taken—it matters not through what channel it has flowed, under what head it has ranged itself, or in what garb it has clothed itself; it is all to be traced to this one thing, namely, ignorance of God. 

(C. H. Mackintosh - Genesis) 

N.J. Hiebert - 7489

June 21

“Through faith he [Moses] kept the passover.”

(Hebrews 11:28)

- "By faith he kept the passover,”— not “they.”  It was between God and the mediator (Hebrews 11:28).  All the work of our salvation was done between God and Christ: we had no part in it.

 - I must have directly the sense of the Lord’s mind and word,
for what I do.

- We get light in seeing a thing in relation with Christ,—what suits Him.

- It needs known responsibility, according to His revelation of Himself, to walk “before God”: but communion, to walk with God.

- All our paths, devious as they may be, have not turned aside His love.

(Hunt’s Sayings)

N.J. Hiebert - 7490 

June 22

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

(Matthew 11:29)

It is one thing to own Christ as the One who can give rest, and another thing to walk with Christ under the yoke, so that we find rest ourselves when all is against us; to walk with Him in everything, saying, I have got nothing to do, save to please my Master; and I have to walk so that, whatever turns up, I can say,”I thank Thee, O Father.”

This is not the case with us.  We have ways and plans of our own, and we don’t like Christ to pass us through them under His yoke.

He would have His light so to shine in us as to bring out all that is in us, and that we should so walk according to the light that the world should reject us even as it rejected Him. 

The more closely I am bound up with Him, the more I shall feel the contrast between His ways and my own. If I am under His yoke, do you suppose He will allow self-will— “I like, and I don’t like”? If Christ has given me rest, and yoked me up with Himself,  He does not let me go my own way, but His way.

(G. V. Wigram - Gleanings)

N.J. Hiebert - 7491     

June 23

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

How many times have we stood at the graveside of a saint and rejoiced that they have gone home! The Bible’s words of hope and promise bring comfort to our hearts and reflect the spiritual reality of the life and death of the departed one.

It is interesting how a funeral seems to  bring utter clarity to our lives.

For the lost, a great gulf has been fixed; for the saved,

it is a transition to glory.

A believer’s grave brings to mind the basics of life and makes so clear to us the utter blessing and joy it is to be saved.

(Mark Fen)

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind—sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come.

(Charlotte Elliott)

N.J. Hiebert - 7492 

June 24

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

(Ephesians 4:3)

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man 

have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity (love), which is the bond of 

perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the

which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

(Colossians 3:13-15)

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; giving diligence; earnestly striving to maintain.

Each translation emphasizes not the ease of keeping in vital unity, but the difficulty. It is not a natural thing for people to live so.  It is supernatural, heavenly.

So it is assaulted on all sides by the prince of this world, sometimes covertly with a horrible subtlety, sometimes openly.

The underground operations of the devil are more dangerous than the obvious attacks. But Paul never contemplates defeat or any surrender whatever of the position, as Colossians 3:13-15 makes clear.
Nor need we.

(Amy Carmichael)

N.J. Hiebert - 7493

June 25

“For the Lord, is a great God . . . He is our God . . .”

(Psalm 95:3,7)

In 1897, one year before Mr. Mueller died (in his ninety-third year), he wrote, "I have been a lover of the Word of God for sixty-eight years and three months—and that uninterruptedly.   

During this time I have read considerably more than one hundred times through the whole of the Old and New Testaments with prayer and meditation."

"My great love for the Word of God and my deep conviction of the need of it being spread far and wide, have led me to pray to God to use me as an instrument to do this, and to supply me with means for it; and He has condescended to enable me to circulate the Scriptures in all parts of the earth, and in various languages; and has been pleased thus simply through the reading of the Scriptures to bring thousands of precious souls to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.” 

Through prayer and faith, Mr. Mueller provided and cared 

for 10,000 orphans at Ashley Down, Bristol, England.

God cause us to be conservative in our faith

and radical in its application.  

(Traveling Toward Sunrise)

N.J. Hiebert - 7494

June 26

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

(Acts 16:25)

In the summer of 1963, after an all-night bus ride, US civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and six other black passengers stopped to eat at a diner in Winona, Mississippi.

After law enforcement officers forced them to leave, they were arrested and jailed. But the humiliation wouldn’t end with unlawful arrest.  All received severe beatings, but Fannie’s was the worst.  After a brutal attack that left her near death she burst out in song;   “Paul and Silas was bound in jail, let my people go.”  And she didn’t sing alone. Other prisoners, restrained in body but not in soul, joined her in worship.

According to Acts 16, Paul and Silas found themselves in a difficult place when they were imprisoned for telling others about Jesus.  But discomfort didn’t dampen their faith.  Their bold worship (as quoted in the Scripture above) created the opportunity to continue to talk about Jesus.

“And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in the house” (v. 32).

Most of us will not likely face the extreme circumstances encountered by Paul, Silas, or Fannie, but each of us will face uncomfortable situations.  When that happens, our strength comes from our faithful God.  May there be a song in our hearts that will  honour Him and give us boldness to speak for Him—even in the midst of trouble.

(Arthur Jackson)  

N.J. Hiebert - 7495

“Our Daily Bread” RBC Ministries,  Copyright (2019), Grand Rapids, MI.  Reprinted permission.

June 27

ALL THINGS

“Having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

(2 Corinthians 6:10)

Paul had suffered the loss of all things, yet he says, “All things are yours” and of course that means all things were his, too.

Here is the paradox of having both nothing and everything.

We may suffer the actual loss of all things as Paul did or be “as though”

we had nothing  (1 Corinthians  7:29-31).

It amounts to the same thing.

In ourselves we have nothing; in Christ we have everything.

We may be actually poor or have abundance, yet be poor in spirit.

Then we are above the tyranny of things and we triumph over them.

(All the Days - Vance Havner)

N.J. Hiebert - 7496

June 28

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of 

my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD,

my strength, and my redeemer.”

(Psalm 19:14)

A soul in meditation is on his way to prayer.

It is impossible for a naughty heart to think well of an afflicting God.

The great talkers of religion are oft the least doers.

Does thy heavenly Father keep so starved a house that the devil’s scraps will go down with thee?

No truth but has some error next door.

(William Gurnall - 1617 - 1679)

N.J. Hiebert - 7497

June 29

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

(Ephesians 5:15-16)

This incisive expression—“redeeming the time”—occurs also in Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

  

The Greek word for “redeem” means to "buy back,” to “ransom,” or even to "rescue.”  That is, time is a very valuable asset, in danger of being lost forever unless it is rescued or redeemed.

Time is just about the most valuable asset we have.   If we squander our money or lose our health, there is always the possibility of earning more money or being restored to health, but wasted time is gone forever.

Those who are wise redeem the time, whereas those who are fools waste or misuse it. The word in the original for “circumspectly" is translated “diligently” (Matthew 2:7). The text thus indicates that those who redeem the time are walking diligently; Colossians 4:5 says they are walking in wisdom.  The time God gives us, therefore, should be used both carefully and diligently.

Moses prayed to the Lord, “Teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” 

 (Psalm 90:12)

(With thanks - R. Lucas)

N.J. Hiebert - 7498  

June 30

RETURN OF CHRIST

“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 4:17)

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise

To meet Him in clouds of the sky,

His perfect salvation, His wonderful love

I’ll shout with the millions on high.

~~~~~

"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,

shall so come in like manner as ye have seen 

Him go into heaven.”

(Acts 1:11) 

He is coming, the “Man of Sorrows,”

Now exalted on high;

He is coming with loud hosannas,

In the clouds of the sky.

(Fanny Crosby)

N.J. Hiebert - 7499  

July 1

THE  MIDNIGHT  TALK

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night . . . Jesus . . . said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

(John 3:1-3)

The midnight talk with the Son of God as recorded in John 3, evidently left its impress upon his soul, for we find him later pleading His cause before the Council in John 7:50, and bringing down upon his own head the contempt of his fellows.

But he was not yet prepared to throw in his lot with the Nazarene, and to share the reproach and shame that came upon Him from day to day. Thank God, Nicodemus shone out brightly at the finish.

When all others had fled, boastful Peter doing worse still, Nicodemus proffered his assistance to Joseph of Arimathia for the burial of his Lord.  His righteous soul was stung to the quick by the unrighteousness that he had witnessed.

Delay was no longer possible; timidity was thrown to the winds; and he allowed it to be seen by all that he loved and honoured the outcast Son of God. Truly, “the last shall be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16).

(W. W. Fereday)

N.J. Hiebert - 7500

July 2

“. . . the praise of His glory . . . the riches of the glory . . . 

the praise of the glory of His grace . . . the exceeding riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 6-14)

How did the work of the old creation proceed?

One thing after another was created in its beauty, and man came at the last.  He was put in the garden; and what was his condition there?  He was at home there; but when the cattle were brought up to be named by him, he was not only at home in his own proper place, but he gets the lordship of every thing before him.
He was in his dominions.  Was that all? 

There remained a thing behind, and that thing was the chiefest.  He had everything before he got the woman. It was the last thing revealed, and the tip-top of his happiness. 

It opened his lips, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).  

Adam was happy before, but he was not abounding.  When the woman was given to him, it was the height of his joy. So we ought to be prepared for the church waiting for the ministry of Paul.  I should be prepared for the last ministry bringing out the richest thing in the counsels of God.

(J. G. Bellett)

N.J. Hiebert - 7501

July 3