Gems from August 2020

"Then the spirit . . . said unto me, Go, shut thyself within."  Ezekiel 3:24 

'Tis good to be with Jesus from all the world apart,
Enjoying sweet communion, that blessed 'better part'.

Get a place, some familiar place, for being alone with God - and a time.  What time, it is not for me to say.  I would not have anybody to be bound by rules concerning times or anything else; but have a time - times if you will - but a time at least.

We shall all agree that, for the young, strong and healthy, there is no time like the morning.  Remember that God can do a wonderful amount of work in five minutes, if you can spare no more, but He can do nothing in five minutes if you can give Him sixty.  All this is between yourself and Him. Have a time, the time when the door is shut, the best loved on earth excluded, the soul brought face to face with God.

A Christian lad giving a testimony for Jesus, told his secret when he said that from the time of his conversion he trusted the Lord with his morning hour; and the way he spoke of it indicated the radiancy of the light that shone from him then.  Do you want a glad and rejoicing life?  Do you want  to live by the wells that never dry up or freeze?  There is no hour like that of the morning prime for fellowship with God.  The filling of that hour will overflow into all the hours that follow.  Mountain Trailways for Youth

"Do not have your concert first, then tune you instruments afterwards.  Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all, in harmony with Him."  J. Hudson Taylor.

"When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries,
Let Jesus Christ be praised!"   Edward Caswall

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August 1

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee.  Psalm 25:21

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.  Hebrews 13:18

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 2 Corinthians 8:21

Integrity means having the courage of your convictions.  This includes the capacity to cling to what you think is right, to go it alone when necessary, and speak out against what you know is wrong.

In the operating room of a great hospital a young nurse had her first day of full responsibility.  "You've removed eleven sponges, doctor," she said to the surgeon. "We used twelve."

"I've removed them all," the doctor declared.  "We'll close the incision now."

"No," the nurse objected.  "We used twelve."

"I'll take the responsibility,"  the surgeon said grimly.  "Suture!"

"You can't do that!" blazed the nurse."  "Think of the patient!"  The doctor smiled, lifted his foot, showed the nurse the twelfth sponge.  "You'll do," he said.  He had been testing her integrity - and she had it.

Integrity means having a conscience and listening to it.

"It is neither safe nor prudent," said Martin Luther, facing his enemies in the city where his death had been decreed, "To do aught against conscience.  Here I stand; God help me, I cannot do otherwise."    Arthur Gordon

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August 2

"Rebuke her (Ruth) not.  So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of  barley" Ruth 2:16-17).

The two disciples that went from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-36) on the day of resurrection were gleaners in the field until even: for they were talking together of all these things which had happened, and as they communed and reasoned together, Jesus drew near and went with them, and many handfuls did he spread out before them on that memorable journey.

May we, like the two privileged disciples on the way to Emmaus constrain Him, to "Abide with us: for it is toward evening."  (Luke 24:29).

Ruth knew at the close of her day's gleaning what she had got, for she had beaten it out, and she had an ephah of barley.

And the two disciples knew as they returned to Jerusalem that they had seen the Lord for they rested not until they had returned to tell others the blessed news, and when they were assembled together the Lord stood in their midst, and said "Peace be unto you" (Luke 24:36).

May we all be conscious of this peace, which only the presence of our Lord can give.  We may hear, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24:25).  But, as the Holy Spirit opens to us the scriptures and unfolds to us the glories of our Redeemer, we are no longer heard saying, "We trusted that it had been" this or that, but we gladly bow down in worship and adoration, by the Holy Spirit, offering up to Him the sacrifice of praise continually.  (Hebrews 13:15)
Meditations on the Book of Ruth - C.McKendrick

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August 3

And He (Jesus) said unto them . . . Why do thoughts arise in your hearts?  Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.  Luke 24:38-39

Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean.  Leviticus 11:36

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.  
Colossians 3:16

"When we think about Christ, it keeps bad thoughts out," said a young Christian.  He had proved the truth of this doctrine. By occupation of heart with Christ, the Christian grows like Him.

As a measure well filled with grain has no room for chaff, so a heart stored with Christ is preserved from evil.  (Selected)

When hearts are full of Christ, they long
Their glorious matter to declare!
Of Him they make their loftier song-
They cannot from His praise forbear;
Their ready tongues make hast to sing
The glories of the heavenly king.

Fairer than all the earth - born race,
Perfect in comeliness Thou art;
Replenished are Thy lips with grace,
And full of love Thy tender heart:
God ever blest! we bow the knee,
And own all fullness dwells in Thee.
Charles Wesley

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August 4

THE  LIGHT  OF  ETERNITY

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal"  2 Corinthians 4:18.

Faith should pierce through and see the things that are not seen: things get their true value in another world, and faith when vivid sees them there.

We shall sorrow at no sacrifice when we meet Him.

Oh, the blessedness! when after all troubles and conflicts are over we shall "Awake in His likeness"  (Psalm 17:15).  Believers, is there nothing in this to quicken your joy in meeting Jesus?  Is there nothing in this to throw contempt upon the world and its unmeaning joys?

May the Lord's love and approbation be the things that govern us, and not the things that fade away.

There all's unsullied light;
Our hearts let in its rays;
And heavenly light
Makes all things bright,
Seen in that blissful gaze. 
J. N. Darby

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August 5

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.  Proverbs 10:5

The principle abides whether in relation to time or eternity.  The hour of opportunity if improved bespeaks wisdom; if neglected tells of present folly and future shame.

It is of the utmost importance that one set a proper value on the God-given present; "redeeming the time because the days are evil"  Ephesians 5:16.  Let the labourer in the harvest-fields of the Lord heed the word here given.

Now is the time to gather precious sheaves which will be cause for rejoicing in the day of the soon-coming "harvest home."  He who sleeps in the present reaping season will suffer shame and loss at the judgment-seat of Christ.

What an example of the diligent labourer is to be found in Paul, throughout his life of ceaseless activity and concern for a dying world.

Demas was one who, charmed by the love of the present world, went off to sleep and left the service for other hands. His shame abides to this day.  "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).  Notes on Proverbs - H. A. Ironside

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noon-tide and the dewy eves:
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze:
By and by the harvest, and the labour ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!   Knowles Shaw

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August 6

OUR  MOMENTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS

Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee.  
Isaiah 26:3.

Keep my moments and my days;
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

But even if we have gone so far as to say  "Take my moments," have we gone the step farther, and really let Him take them - really intrusted them to Him?  It is no good saying, "Take," when we do not let go.  How can another keep that which we are keeping hold of?

So let us, with full trust in His power, first commit these slippery moments to Him. Those moments when the devil comes all in a moment;  - an unguarded, unkept moment - we utter the hasty or exaggerated word, or think the unChristlike thought, or feel the unChristlike impatience or resentment.  Put them right into His hand - and then we may trustfully and happily say, "Lord keep them for me!"

But the sanctified and Christ-loving heart cannot be satisfied with only negative keeping.   We do not want only to be kept from displeasing Him, but to be kept always pleasing Him.

Every "kept from," should have its corresponding and still more blessed  "kept for." We do not want our moments to be simply kept from Satan's use, but kept for Christ's use; not only kept from sin, but kept for His praise.
Kept for the Master's Use -  Frances Ridley Havergal

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August 7

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.   
Psalm 3:6

EVENING.  "Felt much turmoil of spirit, in prospect of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and this teeming population, knocked on the head by savages tomorrow.  But I read that Jesus said: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations ... and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:18-20)  

It is the word of a Gentleman, of the strictest and most sacred honour.  So there's an end of it!  I will not cross furtively tonight as I intended.  Should such a man as I flee?  Nay, verily, I shall take observations for latitude and longitude tonight, though they may be the last.  I feel quite calm now, thank God!"     From the diary of David Livingstone

During the terrible days of the Boxer uprising in China, as one report followed another of mission stations destroyed and missionaries massacred, Hudson Taylor sat quietly at his desk singing softly the hymn he loved so dearly:

"Jesus I am resting, resting, In the joy of what Thou art.
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart."   J. S. Pigott

When our confidence is in God we may be superior to circumstances.  "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31  However impossible it may seem to the reasoning of the earthly-minded, it is nevertheless a blessed reality to the trustful child of God, that: "Faith can sing through days of sorrow: "All, ALL is well!"  Mary Bowley

"Though I was afraid of many things," said John Buchan, " the thing I feared most mortally was being afraid."  Selected.

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August 8

Gideon threshed wheat by the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour . . . and Gideon went in and made ready unleavened cakes.  Lo a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian.   
Judges 6:11-19, 7:13

The Midianite is in the land,
And Israel's hard bestead.
There's poverty on every hand,
And scarcity of bread:
But brawny Gideon beats at night
The threshing of his floor,
And by the winepress, out of sight,
Conceals his precious store.

How well his honest heart esteems
The food his God has given!
A plain unleavened cake he deems
Fit for a guest from heaven.
Here is a man whom God can tell,
'Go thou in this thy might.'
Yes, Midian's tents shall prove how well
A 'barley cake' can fight!

A lesson learn from Gideon's floor:
Nutritious food for you
Is in the Word; abundance more
Than ever Caanan grew.
And if you wish to serve the Lord
(For still his foes assail),
If you would learn to use the Sword,
First learn to use the Flail!    James M. S. Tait

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August 9

Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  Psalm 23:6

It would be difficult to find two other words to describe as accurately as do the two great words of our text, the two-fold provision which has been made by our God for believers of New Testament times.

Goodness - is for our need, and corresponds to what the priesthood of Christ provides (Hebrews 4:14-16);  Mercy - is for our failure, and well describes what is secured for us by the advocacy of Christ (1 John 2:1).

GOODNESS.  At the present moment, therefore, "He now appears in the presence of God for us."  (Hebrews 9:24); and, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us, (7:25), we are enjoined to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (4:16).  David, in common with ourselves, knew what it was to grow weary in the fight: "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" Psalm 27:13.

MERCY - But suppose we fail to avail ourselves of the high-priestly provision which has been made for us - what happens then?  Does He cast us off forever?  That is what we would deserve, no doubt; but that is not what He does.  "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous."  (1 John 2:1).

Thus "goodness" is manifested in the provision of One Who ever lives to intercede; while "mercy" follows us to remove entirely all traces of those sad footprints which we make when, through un-watchfulness, we go astray.

An artist was asked if he could paint a picture of an Eastern shepherd. "And can you paint the sheep which follow the shepherd?"  "Yes," he replied.  "And can you paint the goodness and mercy which follow the sheep?" To which the artist had to reply that, that was quite beyond him.  G. Henderson     

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August 10

JEWELS,  GEMS  AND  PRECIOUS  STONES 

And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My Jewels.  Malachi 3:17

These three terms refer to rare and costly stones, which when cut and faceted, are very beautiful.  One of them was chosen as the title of this series; reflecting the "mining" and meditating upon God's Word.

This applied to Israel, but we can extend it to include every true believer today. Every miner of precious stones needs to be trained and equipped for the work. So each of us must accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour, before we can "mine" the Word and be led by His Spirit to rightly interpret what we read.

Precious stones, when dug out of the rock, are unattractive except to the discerning eye of the skilled miner.  So Isaiah 53 says of the Lord Jesus that "there is no beauty that we should desire Him".  We must first get to know Him and value His complete work of salvation.

It is the skillful cutting, faceting and polishing that makes attractive jewels.  This reminds us of what the Lord went through (rejection, false charges, suffering and death) to bring us redemption by His shed blood.

A final thought; in the pitch dark, any valuable jewel is simply a pebble.  It takes light to impart it's sparkle.  We too can shine as jewels, recognizing it is only the light of God reflected in us that gives testimony to the great salvation that has been granted to us.  Lorne Perry

When He cometh, when He cometh, to make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own.
Like the stars of the morning, His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in His beauty, bright Gems for His crown.  William Cushing, 1856

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August 11

WHEN  WORDS  FAIL

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.  Matthew 6:7-8

Sometimes we cannot find words.  We are not always meant to find them.  I have been greatly comforted in the word that says we are not heard for our much speaking.  We are not pledged to pour out words for half an hour.  Words fail us at times.

When Peter said, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles," he seems to have spoken in sort of hurry of spirit, "for he wist not what to say."  And the answer to that rush of words was, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him."   Mark 9:5-7

So do not be afraid of silence in your prayer time.  It may be that you are meant to listen, not to speak.  So wait before the Lord.  Wait in stillness. Wait as David waited when he "sat before the Lord."  (2 Samuel 7:18)  And in that stillness, assurance will come to you.

You will know that you are heard; you will know that your Lord ponders the voice of your humble desires; (Psalm 86:6); you will hear quiet words spoken to you yourself, perhaps to your grateful surprise and refreshment.  And you will know that the power of your Lord will be great, "According as Thou hast spoken."  Numbers 14:17
Amy Carmichael

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August 12

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.   Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  (Psalm 19:1-3)
God . . .  made the world and all things therein.  
(Acts 17:24) 

In spite of all the ruin and pollution that sin has brought into the world, it retains the magnificent marks of its Creator.  Forests, majestic mountains, and crashing waves are just a few of the earth's glories that we as Christians can and should enjoy.  They declare the glory of our God and show His handiwork.  They "even reveal His eternal power and Godhead". (Romans 1:20)

Imagine going through life without considering the lilies of the field, the clumsy freedom of a seagull or the beauty of falling snow!  Those Christians who take time to enjoy creation will be rewarded with godly pleasure and recreation.  More important, they will gain an increased appreciation of their Father as the God of creation.

However, the physical world does not belong to people (Christian or otherwise) in any absolute sense.  We must not squander its resources in a selfish and irresponsible way.

Recognizing that the present order of things is temporary, we will want to concentrate most of our time and effort on laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.  "We brought nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:7)  As those who trust in the living God who has given us richly all things to enjoy, we need not trust in uncertain riches.

We can thankfully receive material things as from the Lord, hold them as His stewards, and count them as transient.  We will find eternal gain and present fulfillment in using what we possess of the world for the good of others and the furtherance of God's kingdom.   Grant W. Steidl 

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August 13

As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.  
1 Corinthians  11:26

When we partake of the Lord's supper, as every true believer in Christ is privileged to do, it presents to us a backward look at "The Lord's death" and a forward look for His appearing, for we "eat this bread, and drink this cup till He come." It also gives us an inward look, for "let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup " 1 Corinthians 11:26-28.

There is nothing either miraculous or mysterious about the Lord's supper.  It "shows," that is, by it we "declare," we "preach" we "speak of" His  "death till He come." It is a simple continuation of what our Lord did on the night before the cross, when He "took bread, and blessed it, and break it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body."

And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matthew 26:26-28

We take the Lord's supper, not because it has merit, but because we love Him who said, "This do in remembrance of Me." Luke 22:19.

We look back and remember that "the Son of God loved me, and gave Himself for me," Galatians 2:20 we look ahead to the time when "we shall see Him as He is," 1 John 3:2 and we look into our hearts and pray, "Examine me, O Lord . . .  try my reins  and my heart." Psalm 26:2 

We gather around His table to remember His work for us;
We look forward to His coming, And back to His work on the cross.
Comfort of Scriptures - B.T.P

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August 14

PLOD  ON!

Have not I sent thee?   Judges 6:14

God loves to use people the world might overlook.  William Carey was raised in a tiny village in the 1700s and had little formal education.  He had limited success in his chosen trade and lived in poverty.  But God gave Him a passion for sharing the good news and called him to be a missionary.  Carey learned Greek, Hebrew, and Latin and eventually translated the first New Testament into the Bengali language.  Today he is regarded as a "father of modern missions," but in a letter to his nephew he offered this humble assessment of his abilities: "I can plod. I can persevere." 

When God calls us to a task, He also gives us strength to accomplish it regardless of our limitations.  In Judges 6:12 the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."  

The angel then told him to rescue Israel from the Midianites who were raiding their towns and crops.  But Gideon, who hadn't earned the title of "mighty man of valour," humbly responded, "O my Lord wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." (v.15).  Still, God used Gideon to set His people free.

The key to Gideon's success was in the words, "The Lord is with thee" (v. 12).  As we humbly walk with our Saviour and rely on His strength, He will empower us to accomplish what's only possible through Him.
James Banks

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Our Daily Bread RBC Ministries, Copyright (2020), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.

August 15

Then the same day at even . . . came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side.  John 20:19-20

When Jesus came forth from the tomb the print of the nails was there.  When John saw Him many years after in vision up there in glory, he saw a Lamb as it had been slain.  (Revelation 5:6), and when we get home to heaven we will never make any mistake in identifying Him.  We will have only eyes for the Lamb upon whose body will be for all eternity the marks that tell of our redemption.

The Lamb in the very glory of God will have through all eternity the marks of death upon His glorified body!  What a sight that will be for God's beloved people - when we look upon His face, feel His gentle touch, behold the print of the nails in His hands and feet, and see the mark left by the Roman
spear in His side! 

"I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
As redeemed by His side I shall stand;
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand."

Do you know this blessed Lamb of God?  Are you acquainted with Him?  Is He your own Saviour?  Have you cast yourself on His mercies?  H. A, Ironside

The coming of the Lord draweth night.  James 4:8

For the Lord 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.

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August 16

GOD'S  LOVE  MOST  REALIZED  IN  TRIAL

As it is written, for Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.   Romans 8:36-37 

Love does not spare us even the very worst - for the greatest ills that can come are enumerated in Romans 8.  Yet not any of them singly, nor all of them together, can separate us from the love of Christ, nor from the love of God, in Him.  On the contrary, it is when we are undergoing these trials love is at its best - nearest and sweetest.

Those three Hebrew youths in Babylon (Daniel 3) were not spared the furnace, but Christ was nearer to them in that welter of fire than ever before.  Could they have had His company amidst luxury and ease as they had it amid scorching heat?  Not only was there the miracle of deliverance, but theirs was the blessedness of companionship and communion.  The furnace with Him was to be preferred to the highest station without Him.

We can imagine what ineffable calm would steal into the soul of Daniel when confronting the lions, and what a sense of the Divine presence he would have as he realized the restraining power that was upon them. That den of lions must have been to him a wonderful experience, having God's presence with him. (Daniel 6).

Could he have had one experience without the other?  Both Daniel and his companions were "more than conquerors" through Him that loved them.  To have been spared the suffering would have been to lose the blessing and the triumph.
Angels in White - Russell Elliott.

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August 17

ALONE,  YET   NOT  ALONE

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.   John 16:32

Blessed paradox of the Saviour and the Saint!  Our Lord was a solitary soul, yet not alone. And the Christian who presses into the deeper things of God will often be lonely but never alone.  Paul was lonely in the Roman prison: "All men forsook me."  But he was not alone: "The Lord stood with me."

"He that sent me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone."  Jacob may fancy himself alone in a strange land, with a stone for a pillow, but he will make a discovery: "Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not."  

Live as though He were with you, for He is.  You have His word for it and you can be confidant of His promise, though you may not be conscious of His presence.

Even through the Valley of Death's Shadow, "I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."  Alone yet not alone! 
Day By Day with Vance Havner 

How many times discouraged we sink beside the way;
About us all is darkness, we hardly e'en can pray;
Then from the mists and shadows, the sweetest voice e'er known, Says, "Child, am I not with thee, never to leave thee alone?"

Take courage, wayworn pilgrim though mists and shadows hide The face of Him thou lovest, He's ever at thy side; Reach out thy hand and trust Him, and lo, the clouds have flown;
He smiles on thee who promised never to leave thee alone.  Eben E. Rexford

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August 18

ASSURANCE

"[Jesus said] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.  I and My Father are one" (John 10:27-30).

In the state of Michigan there is an airport terminal named "Tri-City Airport".  The airline terminal location is placed between three cities that are situated in close proximity to each other - Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland.

A recent daily commuter flight from Detroit to Tri-City Airport carried a flight attendant who was obviously quite unfamiliar with airports in Michigan.  No doubt the passengers on this regular flight from Detroit to Tri-City Airport must also have found themselves more than confused after the flight attendant began her standard greeting.

In a very friendly voice she welcomed everyone warmly, stating that the destination of 'this flight will be Midland'.  This concerned a few regular passengers enough to alert her of her mistake.  The attendant quickly corrected herself, saying their flight destination was Tri-City and Bay City.  Chuckles rippled along the aisle, but the plucky flight attendant was not ready to give up.  Bravely, she tried one more time.  Apologizing for her further mistake, she confidently informed her passengers that their destination was Saginaw.

Amidst the laughter that broke out an authoritative voice came over the  intercom both assuring the passengers and rescuing the flight attendant from further embarrassment. It made a simple announcement: "I'm your pilot, folks.  Don't worry -- I know where we're going."

I am the LORD thy God . . .  which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go" (Isaiah 48:17).  The Christian Shepherd - July 2010 

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August 19

A  Model  Prayer

"Declare unto us this parable!"  Matthew 15:15

This petition falls from Peter's lips, as he hears the Lord discourse in this chapter on that which surpassed his comprehension.  It is truly a model prayer, the style of which we might all well imitate.

Montgomery has well said:  "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered, or unexpressed."

Peter sincerely desired to understand the parable, and in the simplest language sought it.  For brevity and directness this prayer, for such it is, cannot be surpassed, though it reminds one us of the prophet's prayer, "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see"  2 Kings 6:17.

Both Elisha and Peter remember to Whom they are speaking, and waste no words.  They know exactly what thy want, and they each say just that to the Lord, and stop.  This is real prayer.  Any more would be mere verbiage.

In the closet, where no eye sees, and no ear hears but God's, there would appear to be no restriction in Scripture.  There is a remarkable word from the pen of Solomon which bears on this subject, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God. . . . be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2).

Peter was heading this counsel as he simply says to the Lord, "Declare unto us this parable."  How refreshing is brevity and directness of his prayer.  Observe, too, that he gets his request straightway.   
Simon Peter - W. T. P Wolston

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August 20

My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.  Mark 14:34.

When He, their Lord, was praying more earnestly in Gethsemane because of the coming cross with all its terror, He said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch."  If ever He desired the sympathy of loving human hearts, it was then.  "His sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground."  But when He came from prayer, the three favoured disciples were asleep.

"What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation,"  He warned them.  He went away and prayed again.  When He returned to them, they were asleep again.  Then He said, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

At Calvary, when our Lord suffered the repeated abuse and mortification of the shame men heaped on Him, He said, "Father, forgive then; for they know not what they do."  (Luke 23:34).  He was suffering the cruel, heartless infliction of crucifixion; yet He could remember their ignorance and plead it to His Father for their forgiveness.  How wonderful that His spirit never soured.  The fountain of His heart's love could not be stopped.
A Plant of Renown - Leonard  Sheldrake

How wondrous the glories that meet in Jesus, and from His face shine, His love is eternal and sweet, 'Tis human, 'tis also divine!

His glory - not only God's Son - in manhood He had His full part -
And the union of both joined in one form the fountain of love in His heart.

The merits and worth of His blood have freed us from hell and from fear, That we, as the blest son's of God, may make His good pleasure our care.

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August 21

LOVE  WEEPING

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother.  Genesis 42:21
The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.  Romans 2:4
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

But all this awakening of conscience, while so far good, is only among themselves.  It must all come out before Joseph if they are ever to be happy in the presence of Joseph.   Hence Joseph will keep his hand upon them.
Simeon is bound before their eyes, but it is love that binds the cords round Simeon, for even as he does so he turns aside to weep.  The cords that bound him were cords of love.

Moreover, he commanded that their sacks be filled with corn.  He is not unmindful of their needs and thus grants a measure of relief; nonetheless Simeon is held in bondage. And in the way Joseph meets their needs he is still leading his brethren a further stage in their restoration, for while supplying them with corn he returns every man his money.  Had they eyes to see they would learn in this that Joseph was a giver.  But in their condition gifts bestowed only aroused deeper fear.  Their hearts failed them at the discovery of their money.

"What is this that God hath done unto us?" (v.28).  They had recalled their sin, now they see that God is dealing with them.   The fear of God is arising in their souls.  Not indeed that holy fear that marked Joseph. They feared because they were offenders; he feared lest he should offend,  So again when they returned to Jacob, and each finds his money in his sack, "they were afraid." (v.35) The goodness of Joseph should have gladdened their hearts, but they are miserable and afraid in the presence of a goodness that their guilty consciences tell them that they do not deserve.  Joseph  - Hamilton Smith

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August 22

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 of us all.  Isaiah 53:6

The word "all" is the first word in this verse and also the last.  All is a small word but large in its meaning.  The first "all" presents our condition without Christ and reminds us that everyone of us is a sinner and guilty before God.

The second "all" reminds us that Christ has died for everyone.  His work is sufficient to save all who accept Him as Saviour and substitute.  All our sins on Him were laid.  Come to Him and receive salvation today.      
Robert Gentile   

All the way my Saviour leads me--what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who thru life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know what'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me--cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread. Though my weary steps may falter and my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me, lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me--Oh the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father's house above. When my spirit, clothed immoral, wings its flight to realms of day, This my song thru endless ages: Jesus led me all the way.
Fanny J. Crosby

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August 23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.  Proverbs 4:23

How than can I (Joseph) do this great wickedness, and sin against God?  Genesis 39:9

The strength of a temptation lies in the response of our nature to its suggestions.  It is because our hearts are so desperately wicked that we need to stand in constant watchfulness.

There is no sin in having certain tendencies, appetites and desires; else there would be sin in hunger, and drowsiness leading to soft sleep.

We should always carefully distinguish between the appetites and desires which are natural to us; and those which we have acquired by evil habit.  About the later we need have no hesitation.  They must be cut up root and branch; as weeds from garden soil are thrown upon the bank, that the sun might scorch out their life.

But the former need careful watching; because though in themselves they are natural and beautiful, yet they are always liable to demand excessive gratification in directions which are unnatural and forbidden.  We must never expect the time to arrive, on this side of death, when these natural tendencies will be rooted out; and so long as they remain in us, they will constitute a breeding place in which the germs of temptation may sow themselves, and fruit.

No thoughtful man, who knows his own weakness, can ever dare to affirm his immunity from temptation, or the impossibility of his yielding.  If he stands it is only by the grace of God.   Joseph - F. B. Meyer

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August 24

WALKING  IN  THE  LIGHT

Blessed is the people . . . they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.  In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted.  Psalm 89:15-16

Most of us have never learned the humble though powerful practice of concentrating on Christ.  Outside, walking alone, away from the usual surroundings which remind us of our feverish workaday world, we can give our hearts a chance to center their interest and affection on Him.

It is a simple, humble habit.  Perhaps it is too ordinary for most people.  But to walk with God means just that--daily.

This in essence is the secret of rest. It is the time of waiting, of communing with God the Father, of coming to Christ, of being inwardly conscience of the Holy Spirit's gentle voice entreating me to lift up my soul to Him who, when He was among us, said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"  (Matthew 11:28).  And having come, I will be refreshed and fitted for new growth in God during future days.   
Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip  Keller

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide!
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus' side!
Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me, to the secret place I go.

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow; this shall then be your reward;
And when e'er you leave the silence of that happy meeting-place,
By the Spirit bear the image of the Master in your face. (Ellen Goreh)

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August 25

These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.    John 16:33

Paganini, the great violinist, came out before his audience one day and made the discovery just as they ended their applause that there was something wrong with his violin.  He looked at it a second and then saw that it was not his famous and valuable one.

He felt paralyzed for a moment, then turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin.  He stepped back behind the curtain thinking that it was still where he had left it, but discovered that someone had stolen his and left that old second-hand one in its place.  He remained back of the curtain a moment, then came out before his audience and said: "Ladies and Gentlemen: I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul."

He played as he had never played before. Out of that second-hand instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enraptured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building, because the man had revealed to them that music was not in the machine but in his own soul.

It is your mission, tested and tried one to walk out on the stage of this world and reveal to all earth and Heaven that the music is not in conditions, not in the things, not in externals, but the music of life is in your own soul.

If peace be in the heart,
The wildest winter storm is full of solemn beauty,
The midnight flash but shows the path of duty,
Each living creature tells some new and joyous story,
The very trees and stones all catch a ray of glory,
If peace be in the heart.    Charles Richardson

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August 26

FIRST  THINGS  FIRST

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to what he hath not.  2 Corinthians 8:12

It is important to remember that there is no much or little in God's sight, except as relatively to our means and willingness.

He knows what we have not, as well as what we have.  He knows all about the low wages in one sphere, and the small allowance, or the fixed income with rising prices in another.

And it is not a question of paying to God what can be squeezed out of these, but of giving Him all, and then holding all at His disposal, and taking His orders about the disposal of all.

Oh, let me give
Out of the gifts Thou freely givest;
Oh, let me live
With life abundantly because Thou livest;
Oh, make me shine
In darkest places, for Thy light is mine;
Oh, let me be
A faithful witness for Thy truth and Thee..
Opened Treasures - Frances R. Havergal

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August 27

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1  The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.  John 1:14.

These sublime words take us back into a timeless, dateless past.  It establishes the eternality, equality, and deity of the Son of God.

The Word became flesh is an amazing mystery and Paul was caught up in the wonder of it.  "Great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh"  (1 Timothy 3:16).  There is nothing that will consecrate the believer to yield to this blessed person than the realization of the majesty, glory, and power of Him whom they have trusted.   Jim Paul

Thou art the everlasting Word, the Father's only Son;
God manifest, God seen and heard, the heaven's bèloved One;

Refrain: Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

In Thee most perfectly expressed, the Father's self doth shine; Fulness of Godhead, too: the Blessed, eternally divine.

Image of th' Infinite Unseen, whose being none can know;
Brightness of light no eye hath seen, God's love revealed below.

The higher mysteries of Thy fame the creature's grasp transcend; The Father only Thy blest name of Son can comprehend.

Yet loving Thee, on whom His love ineffable doth rest,
The worshippers, O Lord, above, as one with Thee, are blest.

Of the vast universe of bliss, the centre Thou, and Sun;
Th' eternal theme of praise is this, to heaven's belovèd One   Josiah Condor

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August 28

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.   Proverbs 3:13-17. 

Men will brave untold dangers and exhaust human ingenuity in their search for precious metals and sparkling jewels; but in following Wisdom's ways treasures are to be found which all the costly gems of earth could never equal in value.

Length of days, riches and honour she offers to those who find her; and coupled with these, she gives what earthly stores detract from: peace and quietness of soul.  The ways of Wisdom are the ways that be in Christ; the ways into which the word of God would guide the feet of the subject soul. Such ways are indeed "ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." 
Notes on Proverbs by H. A. Ironside

A little girl sat by her mother's cottage door, with the Bible upon her knees.  An infidel passing by asked her what she was so diligently reading. "I am reading the word of God, that I may be wise and good."  The child's words, so simply expressed, touched his heart, and he was humbled by the conviction that this little one was wiser than he. He began to search the Scriptures from that day; and the more he read them the more he loved them.  He found the Pearl of great price, and Christ became to him better than rubies.
Stories Illustrative of the Book of Proverbs - J. L. Nye

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August 29

It came to pass . . .   Genesis 22:1

This introductory expression occurs many times in the Bible.  It usually means, It happened this way....   What did happen afterwards was either good or bad, as is always the case in scripture, what God scheduled to happen, did in fact happen.  In the case of Abraham and Isaac, what looked to Abraham like a terrible prospect, turned for good; there was a substitute for Isaac.

It also seems appropriate to place a comma after the first two words, thus: It came, to pass... That alteration gives the thought; that whatever bad thing is going to follow, it will, in due course, pass away.  From that we take courage.  Obviously the whole world is going through a bad patch right now, having the effect of forcing wars, natural and man-made disasters off the news.   But, if we look at Covid-19 as something that has indeed come, but which, in time, is going to fade away, we can lift our eyes to better days.

For the believer in the finished work of our Lord Jesus at the cross, we realize that for Him, there was no substitute.  As a result, we can look at the world scene and see it as something God has allowed, but will pass from being front and center in our gaze.  When the Lord calls us to join Him in the clouds, we will instead fix our gaze on His lovely face, and keep it there for eternity.  It is important to remember that, right now, we can have as much of Christ as we want; there is no limit.  The more we have Him before us as our daily support and as the object of our affection, the less what has come to pass in this world will loom large.    Lorne Perry

For the Lord 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 

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August 30

KINDNESS

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . gentleness (kindness)    Galatians 5:22

Kindness comes from a lovely Greek word, "Chreestos."  Christ in Greek is "Christos."  The sound is almost the same.  In the old days, the people used to say that "Christians" (from the name Christ which we bear) were also  "Chreestians" (from Chreestos, meaning kind), because the Christians were known for their kindness to others.

This is just as it should be; and I hope that every one of us may be "Chreestians", as well as Christians.  This is the word, translated "easy", used by our Lord to describe His yoke.  "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."  Matthew 11:30.  We use "easy" in this sense for the comfort of and old, well-fitting shoe, that does not hurt the foot in any part; so should the Christian be to those with whom he has to do.  Meditations on Galatians - G. C. Willis

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of KINDNESS,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve:
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing, in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze:
By and by, the harvest and the labour ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!

Go then ever weeping, sowing for the Master,
Tho' the loss sustained our spirit often grieves:
When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves.  Knowles Shaw

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August 31

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God.  Psalm 42:11

George Muller, the great man of prayer and faith, had placed his hope and trust in God for sixty-eight years when he made the declaration that he had read considerably more than one hundred times through the entire Bible with prayer and meditation.  Through faith and prayer, Mr Muller provided and cared for 10,000 orphans, at Ashley Down, Bristol, England.  He was once asked how he could manage this. He replied with great confidence, "I hope in God!"

What is hope?  Webster says, "Hope is desire, accompanied by expectation."  The Apostle Paul says, "Hope that is  seen is not hope; for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for?" (Romans 8:24).  George Muller said that whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and even though to all appearances help is impossible, it is still our business to hope in God. "There is never a time when we may not hope in God."

Hope placed in men and conditions may be thwarted or disappointing, but hope placed in God will never be disappointing.  God has never let one down who hopes in Him.  In the Lord's own time help does come!  "Oh, the hundreds, yea the thousands of times that I have found it thus within the past seventy years and four months!" testifies George Muller.  When it seemed impossible that help could come, help did come from God and His own resources may be counted by hundreds, by thousands.  He is not confined to this thing or that thing, or to twenty things; in ten thousand different ways, and at ten thousand different times, God may help us.   Selected

"Assured hope keeps the heart young," someone said.  "Life is ever at the dawn.  Life is continuously at a beginning.  It is always morn.  Morning is the daughter of night.  One cannot be discouraged no matter how long, or hard, or wearisome the way; one keeps right on climbing -- for he knows the path leads not only somewhere, but to Everywhere.  He knows he shall arrive."

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September 1

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Titus 2:13

Would you not have your hope strong?  Then keep thy conscience pure.  Thou canst not defile one, without weakening the other.  Living godly in this present world, and looking for the blessed hope laid  up for us in the other, are both conjoined.    Can a bird fly, when one of its wings is broken?  Faith and a good conscience are hope's two wings; if, therefore, thou hast wounded thy conscience by any sin, repent, that so thou mayest exercise faith for the pardon of it, and redeem thy hope. 

If a Jew had pawned his bedclothes, God provided mercifully, that it should be restored before night; "For that is his covering; wherein shall he sleep?"  (Exodus 22:27).  Truly, hope is the saint's covering, wherein he wraps himself, when he lays his body down to sleep in the grave: "My flesh also shall rest in hope" (Psalm 16:9).  A sad going to the grave he hath, who hath no hope of a resurrection to life.

Hope is the handkerchief that God puts into His people's hands, to wipe the tears from their eyes, which their present troubles, and long stay of expected mercies, draw from them "Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.  And there is hope in thine end." (Jeremiah 31:16-17).

"The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:5).  It is a way you will never find, a work you will never be able to do of yourselves thus to wait patiently till Christ come, "The Lord" therefore, "direct your heart's" into it.  Love Him, and you will wait for Him. "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 21. 
The Christian in complete armour - William Gurnall  (1617-1679)   

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September 2

We love Him, because He first loved us.  1 John 4:19

The spiritual depth of "My Jesus I Love Thee" is made all the more remarkable by the knowledge that it was written by a teenager.  William Ralph Featherstone of Montreal, Canada, is thought to have written these lines of heart felt gratitude to Christ at the time of his conversion when only sixteen.  He sent the poem to his aunt in Los Angeles, who then sent it to England, where it appeared in The London Hymnbook of 1864.  How marvellous are the workings of God in bringing together expressions such as these, providing a hymn that has been used in a remarkable way for more than a century to direct Christians to a deeper relationship with their Lord.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine -
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer my Saviour art Thou:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou givest me breath;
And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,
"If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now."

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
"If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus, 'tis now."
William Ralph Featherstone  (1846-1873)

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September 3

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

No words are more glorious than these, "Christ came"  (Romans 9:5).  "Christ both died, and rose, and revived"  (Romans 14:9).  This is the grandest proclamation that ever has been made in human language.  These stupendous facts will be the wonder of all holy intelligences forever.

- That the great God should become a man,
- Should be charged  with the dreadful sins of men,
- Should take on Himself not merely the matter of the results of sins, but even those sins themselves.

This is the foundation and the fullness of the gospel.  "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." 

- May His cross be our glory.
- May His precious blood be our confidence and joy.
- May His conscious presence be our most coveted possession.
- May His Word strengthen our faith.
- May His coming again be our daily hope and expectation. 

"Calvary, O Calvary!  Mercy's vast unfathomed sea;
Love, eternal love to me; Saviour, we adore Thee."  

The death of Christ was the great revelation of God.  The work of the cross infinitely transcends even the whole work of creation.  Calvary was the master stroke of victory, assuring defeat both final and forever to all the mighty projects of Satan and his kingdom of darkness.  The blood of Christ brings peace to our souls, and it will eventually bring peace founded upon righteousness in heaven and on earth.    Our Lord Jesus Christ a Plant of Renown 

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September 4