Gems from April 2022
April 1
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
Faith is a condition of salvation and being a condition it must be our act. Saving faith is a choice and we are responsible for our actual choices. Many people pray for faith and quote Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: and conclude that faith is the gift of God." Instead of asking God for faith, it is their duty to believe.
When people say they cannot believe they utter a libel against God. A man in an enquiry room said to D. L. Moody, "I have no faith, I can't believe." Mr Moody said to him, "Who can't you believe? The man replied several times that he couldn't believe, Mr. Moody each time, asking, "Who?" Finally the man replied, "I can't believe myself." "Well," said Mr. Moody, "I don't want you to. Make yourself out a liar, but make God true."
Believe then for all God has promised. We cannot well go outside the promises of God. Prayer is pleading the promises. Faith is claiming them. There must be a "Thus saith the Lord," either expressed or implied for all we ask, and everything that God has promised is His will for us.
When your retire at night, you do not worry all night lest the bed break down. Neither do you hold on to something for fear of falling. Very little rest would you find in that way. No! you simply trust yourself to the bed and just rest.
Thus we should trust ourselves wholly to Jesus, and "Ceased from our own works." (Hebrews 4:10) We that believe do enter into rest. Why? Because someone else is going to do for us. God requires us to yield and trust in Him and His word. Trust for all you need. Trust with all your heart. Trust all the time. Streams in the Desert
`
N. J. Hiebert - 8803
Faith is a condition of salvation and being a condition it must be our act. Saving faith is a choice and we are responsible for our actual choices. Many people pray for faith and quote Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: and conclude that faith is the gift of God." Instead of asking God for faith, it is their duty to believe.
When people say they cannot believe they utter a libel against God. A man in an enquiry room said to D. L. Moody, "I have no faith, I can't believe." Mr Moody said to him, "Who can't you believe? The man replied several times that he couldn't believe, Mr. Moody each time, asking, "Who?" Finally the man replied, "I can't believe myself." "Well," said Mr. Moody, "I don't want you to. Make yourself out a liar, but make God true."
Believe then for all God has promised. We cannot well go outside the promises of God. Prayer is pleading the promises. Faith is claiming them. There must be a "Thus saith the Lord," either expressed or implied for all we ask, and everything that God has promised is His will for us.
When your retire at night, you do not worry all night lest the bed break down. Neither do you hold on to something for fear of falling. Very little rest would you find in that way. No! you simply trust yourself to the bed and just rest.
Thus we should trust ourselves wholly to Jesus, and "Ceased from our own works." (Hebrews 4:10) We that believe do enter into rest. Why? Because someone else is going to do for us. God requires us to yield and trust in Him and His word. Trust for all you need. Trust with all your heart. Trust all the time. Streams in the Desert
`
N. J. Hiebert - 8803
April 2
"Jesus saith unto him (John) . . . Follow thou me." John 21:22
Friends, He is a wonderful Lord you and I are called to follow. The Lord give you grace to follow Him. Who will start? But to find Him is one thing; to follow Him is another. You learn what it is to become "a living stone" (1 Peter 2:5) as you come in contact with Christ, and learn to follow Him when He eclipses everything else in your soul's vision. Possibly you say, If I were in different circumstances I would follow Christ. No, you would not. Your circumstances are the best if only you knew it.
You know what reins are for; you know what they are to the horse. They keep the creature in order, and so do your circumstances. They keep you in order. If the banks are broken down, out comes the river, and spoils everything. If the reins break, what happens? There is generally a smash. Do you see?
Do not you be troubled about your circumstances. You will find that the Lord will sustain you in any circumstances, and even make them the channels of His grace. Cleave to the Lord, and be devoted to the Lord. Give Him the right place in your heart here, and He will sustain you. "FOLLOW THOU ME" (John 21:22) would seem to be His last word to Peter. Has it no voice for you and me? Seekers for Light - Dr. W. T. P. Wolston, MD
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me, by grace I'll follow, no turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, and Christ before me, no turning back, No turning back. O take this old world but give me Jesus, I'll not go back, I'll not go back.
Sadhu Sundar Singh
N.J. Hiebert - 8804
Friends, He is a wonderful Lord you and I are called to follow. The Lord give you grace to follow Him. Who will start? But to find Him is one thing; to follow Him is another. You learn what it is to become "a living stone" (1 Peter 2:5) as you come in contact with Christ, and learn to follow Him when He eclipses everything else in your soul's vision. Possibly you say, If I were in different circumstances I would follow Christ. No, you would not. Your circumstances are the best if only you knew it.
You know what reins are for; you know what they are to the horse. They keep the creature in order, and so do your circumstances. They keep you in order. If the banks are broken down, out comes the river, and spoils everything. If the reins break, what happens? There is generally a smash. Do you see?
Do not you be troubled about your circumstances. You will find that the Lord will sustain you in any circumstances, and even make them the channels of His grace. Cleave to the Lord, and be devoted to the Lord. Give Him the right place in your heart here, and He will sustain you. "FOLLOW THOU ME" (John 21:22) would seem to be His last word to Peter. Has it no voice for you and me? Seekers for Light - Dr. W. T. P. Wolston, MD
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me, by grace I'll follow, no turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, and Christ before me, no turning back, No turning back. O take this old world but give me Jesus, I'll not go back, I'll not go back.
Sadhu Sundar Singh
N.J. Hiebert - 8804
April 3
HE GOES BEFORE YOU
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
He goes before you, O my heart! Fear not to follow where He leads; He knows the strength each task demands, He knows the grace each trial needs.
He's just a little farther on along the dark and lonely way, His bleeding footprints you may trace, He goes before you all the day.
He goes before you, O my heart! through deepest depth, o'er highest height; He knows where lurks the ambushed foe and what the battles you must fight;
He sees the pitfalls you will meet, the place where you may faint or fall; The weariness, the pain, the tears, He goes before, He knows it all.
He goes before you, O my heart! He does not ask that you shall bear A single pang He has not borne, a single grief He does not share;
He beckons on through toil and woe, through storm or calm or tempest blast. And you shall see Him as He said, for He shall lead you home at last.
He goes before you, O my heart! still follow on through gain or loss, And for the joy that's set before, despised the shame, endured the cross.
The path your faltering steps must take is one His nail-pierced feet have trod; Through Garden, Mount and riven Tomb He went before you He is God.
Flint's Best-Loved Poems
N.J. Hiebert - 8805
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
He goes before you, O my heart! Fear not to follow where He leads; He knows the strength each task demands, He knows the grace each trial needs.
He's just a little farther on along the dark and lonely way, His bleeding footprints you may trace, He goes before you all the day.
He goes before you, O my heart! through deepest depth, o'er highest height; He knows where lurks the ambushed foe and what the battles you must fight;
He sees the pitfalls you will meet, the place where you may faint or fall; The weariness, the pain, the tears, He goes before, He knows it all.
He goes before you, O my heart! He does not ask that you shall bear A single pang He has not borne, a single grief He does not share;
He beckons on through toil and woe, through storm or calm or tempest blast. And you shall see Him as He said, for He shall lead you home at last.
He goes before you, O my heart! still follow on through gain or loss, And for the joy that's set before, despised the shame, endured the cross.
The path your faltering steps must take is one His nail-pierced feet have trod; Through Garden, Mount and riven Tomb He went before you He is God.
Flint's Best-Loved Poems
N.J. Hiebert - 8805
April 4
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength but wisdom is profitable to direct. Ecclesiastes 10:10
Years ago in the Pacific Northwestern US, when logging was a very physically demanding job, a logging company advertised for strong, hard working men. An eager, muscular young man who was searching for work saw the ad. He immediately traveled to the location where the logging crew was felling trees. Arriving there and finding the foreman of the logging crew, he introduced himself and requested that he would be hired for the work. The foreman silently and carefully looked over the young man. After a few moments he said; "well son, hiring you depends on how you demonstrate your hard work".
Handing him an axe the foreman pointed to a large tree and continued; "Let me see you fell that tree". The young man eagerly stepped forward, took the axe, and over a remarkably short period of time, quite skillfully felled the great tree. Very impressed, the foreman said; "You can start working with us on Monday!" The happy young man showed up early the next Monday morning and eagerly began to work with the crew, felling trees. He did the same on Tuesday, on Wednesday, and on Thursday. When quitting time rolled around that Thursday the foreman stopped the young logger before he left work, saying; "You can pick up your pay cheque on the way out today."
The young man was surprised. He stammered; "But,--but, I thought we got paid on Fridays." "Yes we do," replied the foreman, "But I'm sorry, I have to let you go today. Our daily tree felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last place today." "But" objected the young man, "I've arrived here first every day, I leave last, and I've even worked through our rest breaks!" The foreman, who liked the young man and felt sorry for him, thought for a moment. Then he asked, "Have you been sharpening your axe?" After a long pause came the crestfallen answer, "I've been working so hard, I haven't taken the time". Smiling, the foreman told him, "then that will be the first thing you do tomorrow morning".
Doug Nicolet - T.C.S. - October 2015.
N.J. Hiebert - 8806
Years ago in the Pacific Northwestern US, when logging was a very physically demanding job, a logging company advertised for strong, hard working men. An eager, muscular young man who was searching for work saw the ad. He immediately traveled to the location where the logging crew was felling trees. Arriving there and finding the foreman of the logging crew, he introduced himself and requested that he would be hired for the work. The foreman silently and carefully looked over the young man. After a few moments he said; "well son, hiring you depends on how you demonstrate your hard work".
Handing him an axe the foreman pointed to a large tree and continued; "Let me see you fell that tree". The young man eagerly stepped forward, took the axe, and over a remarkably short period of time, quite skillfully felled the great tree. Very impressed, the foreman said; "You can start working with us on Monday!" The happy young man showed up early the next Monday morning and eagerly began to work with the crew, felling trees. He did the same on Tuesday, on Wednesday, and on Thursday. When quitting time rolled around that Thursday the foreman stopped the young logger before he left work, saying; "You can pick up your pay cheque on the way out today."
The young man was surprised. He stammered; "But,--but, I thought we got paid on Fridays." "Yes we do," replied the foreman, "But I'm sorry, I have to let you go today. Our daily tree felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last place today." "But" objected the young man, "I've arrived here first every day, I leave last, and I've even worked through our rest breaks!" The foreman, who liked the young man and felt sorry for him, thought for a moment. Then he asked, "Have you been sharpening your axe?" After a long pause came the crestfallen answer, "I've been working so hard, I haven't taken the time". Smiling, the foreman told him, "then that will be the first thing you do tomorrow morning".
Doug Nicolet - T.C.S. - October 2015.
N.J. Hiebert - 8806
April 5
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9
It is so easy to lose heart in doing good. That poor soul you helped out the other day, later proved to be a crook, and not in need at all, and you vowed you will not be taken in as easily again. No, no; let us not be discouraged; let us not give in to evil. Next time you may turn away somebody really in need: and "whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13)
Or that Sunday School class that is so noisy and unruly! It seems to be useless to try and go on with them. You are desperate. It's not worth trying any longer.
I once did that. I once had a desperately bad Sunday School, and at the advice of an older brother, I gave it up. About three weeks later I met one of the children on the street, and she said "Oh, why did you give up the Sunday School? I wanted so much to know I was saved. I think I would have found the Lord the very next Sunday: but I had to go somewhere else, and there I found the Lord."
Another time an old brother urged that I should give up some children's work that the Lord had opened up. I was much perplexed, and went for advice to another old brother: and to my amazement he said: "Take on more work of that kind; but never give up! All giving up is of the devil." That was more than fifty years ago, but how often have I thanked God for those words.
Dear Mr. Herbert Taylor, Mr. Hudson Taylor's eldest son, once told me that he was at one time so discouraged that he said to his father, "I'm going to give up." His father replied, "All discouragement is of the devil!" God is "the God of all comfort (encouragement)." (2 Corinthians 1:3). No, beloved, God's Word is clear. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Hid Treasures - G.C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8807
It is so easy to lose heart in doing good. That poor soul you helped out the other day, later proved to be a crook, and not in need at all, and you vowed you will not be taken in as easily again. No, no; let us not be discouraged; let us not give in to evil. Next time you may turn away somebody really in need: and "whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13)
Or that Sunday School class that is so noisy and unruly! It seems to be useless to try and go on with them. You are desperate. It's not worth trying any longer.
I once did that. I once had a desperately bad Sunday School, and at the advice of an older brother, I gave it up. About three weeks later I met one of the children on the street, and she said "Oh, why did you give up the Sunday School? I wanted so much to know I was saved. I think I would have found the Lord the very next Sunday: but I had to go somewhere else, and there I found the Lord."
Another time an old brother urged that I should give up some children's work that the Lord had opened up. I was much perplexed, and went for advice to another old brother: and to my amazement he said: "Take on more work of that kind; but never give up! All giving up is of the devil." That was more than fifty years ago, but how often have I thanked God for those words.
Dear Mr. Herbert Taylor, Mr. Hudson Taylor's eldest son, once told me that he was at one time so discouraged that he said to his father, "I'm going to give up." His father replied, "All discouragement is of the devil!" God is "the God of all comfort (encouragement)." (2 Corinthians 1:3). No, beloved, God's Word is clear. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Hid Treasures - G.C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8807
April 6
Them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." 1 Samuel 2:30
Learn from Daniel's experience never to be flattered by the selection processes of this world. They may carry unacceptable spiritual penalties with them, and one must carefully guard one's availability for God and His service above any other demands that the world might place upon us. God has already selected us for His service and His glory, and there could be no higher ambition than this.
Daniel and his companions were chosen for special pampering under the master of eunuchs. They were allocated a daily allowance of food and wine from the King's table. This food and wine had been first offered to the gods of Babylon before reaching the King's table, and furthermore it did not conform to the special prohibitions and preparations of the Levitical law.
Daniel and his companions were put on the spot at the very start of their new life in the palace. They were being asked to compromise their faithfulness to their God and to His law. Wisely, and courageously, Daniel and his companions refused the king's meat, and chose a vegetarian diet instead, distressing their handler.
The time to take a stand for God in any situation is right at the start. If this isn't done, it is unlikely that we will ever be able to resist the world's pressures, but will find ourselves succumbing to them. So it was with Daniel and his friends. They could do nothing about their selection, or the change of their names. All of that was outside their control, but they could resist when it came to their diet.
I can imagine some saying, "Daniel don't be a fool. Who cares about the Law now, and for that matter, who cares about God? After all, hasn't your God let you down by allowing you to be transported to Babylon? Isn't it a fact that the temple and the priesthood have gone? Why are you being so stubborn about things? When in Babylon do as the Babylonians do, and you'll find acceptance, and have a rosy future." Daniel - William Burnett
N.J. Hiebert - 8808
Learn from Daniel's experience never to be flattered by the selection processes of this world. They may carry unacceptable spiritual penalties with them, and one must carefully guard one's availability for God and His service above any other demands that the world might place upon us. God has already selected us for His service and His glory, and there could be no higher ambition than this.
Daniel and his companions were chosen for special pampering under the master of eunuchs. They were allocated a daily allowance of food and wine from the King's table. This food and wine had been first offered to the gods of Babylon before reaching the King's table, and furthermore it did not conform to the special prohibitions and preparations of the Levitical law.
Daniel and his companions were put on the spot at the very start of their new life in the palace. They were being asked to compromise their faithfulness to their God and to His law. Wisely, and courageously, Daniel and his companions refused the king's meat, and chose a vegetarian diet instead, distressing their handler.
The time to take a stand for God in any situation is right at the start. If this isn't done, it is unlikely that we will ever be able to resist the world's pressures, but will find ourselves succumbing to them. So it was with Daniel and his friends. They could do nothing about their selection, or the change of their names. All of that was outside their control, but they could resist when it came to their diet.
I can imagine some saying, "Daniel don't be a fool. Who cares about the Law now, and for that matter, who cares about God? After all, hasn't your God let you down by allowing you to be transported to Babylon? Isn't it a fact that the temple and the priesthood have gone? Why are you being so stubborn about things? When in Babylon do as the Babylonians do, and you'll find acceptance, and have a rosy future." Daniel - William Burnett
N.J. Hiebert - 8808
April 7
Remember the battle, do no more. Job 41:8
Some battles are more memorable than others whether won or lost. When fighting has been fierce and costly, the battle is vividly remembered by both winners and losers.
The greatest and most significant battle ever waged was at Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ, though sore wounded and trodden underfoot, was victorious over sin and death and hell. This was the battle of all battles and now that it is over there is nothing more to do than to remember it.
The victory was final and once for all. While there is nothing to add to the work of the cross we do remember the battle, its participants and our ensuing blessings.
Choice Gleanings - Roy Hill
On Calvary's brow my Saviour died, 'twas there my Lord was crucified: T'was on the cross He bled for me, and purchased there my pardon free.
'Mid rending rocks and darkening skies, My Saviour bows His head and dies; The opened vail reveals the way to heaven's joy and endless day.
O Jesus, Lord, how can it be, that Thou should give Thy life for me, To bear the cross and agony, in that dread hour on Calvary?
REFRAIN: O Calvary! dark Calvary! Where Jesus shed His blood for me; O Calvary! blest Calvary! 'Twas there my Saviour died for me. W. M. K. Darwood
N.J. Hiebert - 8809
Some battles are more memorable than others whether won or lost. When fighting has been fierce and costly, the battle is vividly remembered by both winners and losers.
The greatest and most significant battle ever waged was at Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ, though sore wounded and trodden underfoot, was victorious over sin and death and hell. This was the battle of all battles and now that it is over there is nothing more to do than to remember it.
The victory was final and once for all. While there is nothing to add to the work of the cross we do remember the battle, its participants and our ensuing blessings.
Choice Gleanings - Roy Hill
On Calvary's brow my Saviour died, 'twas there my Lord was crucified: T'was on the cross He bled for me, and purchased there my pardon free.
'Mid rending rocks and darkening skies, My Saviour bows His head and dies; The opened vail reveals the way to heaven's joy and endless day.
O Jesus, Lord, how can it be, that Thou should give Thy life for me, To bear the cross and agony, in that dread hour on Calvary?
REFRAIN: O Calvary! dark Calvary! Where Jesus shed His blood for me; O Calvary! blest Calvary! 'Twas there my Saviour died for me. W. M. K. Darwood
N.J. Hiebert - 8809
April 8
But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of men of whom thou art afraid. Jeremiah 39:17
He has for thee:
- A light for every shadow,
- A plan for each tomorrow,
- A key for every problem,
- A balm for every sorrow.
God never leaves us with only one line of comfort, there are many always at hand. There is one that I have not often heard mentioned, and yet there is help to be found in it. "Thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid." What is the thing that you most fear and most earnestly pray about, the thing of all other things that you dread?
If you love your Lord, and yet know your own weakness, is it not that something may happen to sweep you off your feet, or that your strength may be drained and you may yield and fall, and fail Him at the end? I have known many whose lives were shadowed by this fear.
Oh take comfort. The God who knew the heart of His servant Ebed-melech knows our hearts, too. He knows who the men are (what the forces of trial are) of whom we are afraid; and He assures us and reassures us, "Thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid."
There are times when in the multitude of our thoughts within us ("anxious thoughts," JND translation), nothing in all the world can do anything for us but the consolations of our God. These times can come even in the happy days of preparation for service, and in the service too. But the comforts of God come close to us. They love us, and loving us they soothe, gladden, delight, refresh. Amy Carmichael - Thou Givest...They Gather."
N.J. Hiebert - 8810
He has for thee:
- A light for every shadow,
- A plan for each tomorrow,
- A key for every problem,
- A balm for every sorrow.
God never leaves us with only one line of comfort, there are many always at hand. There is one that I have not often heard mentioned, and yet there is help to be found in it. "Thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid." What is the thing that you most fear and most earnestly pray about, the thing of all other things that you dread?
If you love your Lord, and yet know your own weakness, is it not that something may happen to sweep you off your feet, or that your strength may be drained and you may yield and fall, and fail Him at the end? I have known many whose lives were shadowed by this fear.
Oh take comfort. The God who knew the heart of His servant Ebed-melech knows our hearts, too. He knows who the men are (what the forces of trial are) of whom we are afraid; and He assures us and reassures us, "Thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid."
There are times when in the multitude of our thoughts within us ("anxious thoughts," JND translation), nothing in all the world can do anything for us but the consolations of our God. These times can come even in the happy days of preparation for service, and in the service too. But the comforts of God come close to us. They love us, and loving us they soothe, gladden, delight, refresh. Amy Carmichael - Thou Givest...They Gather."
N.J. Hiebert - 8810
April 9
I LOOK NOT BACK
Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14.
Looking unto Jesus. Hebrews 12:2
I look not back; God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets.
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And graciously forgives, and then forgets.
I look not forward; God sees all the future,
The road that, short or long, will lead me home,
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burdens that may come.
I look not round me; then would fears assail me,
So wild the tumult of earth's restless seas,
So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort and of ease.
I look not inward; that would make me wretched;
For I have naught on which to stay my trust.
Nothing I see save failures and shortcomings,
And weak endeavours, crumbling into dust.
But I look up--into the face of Jesus,
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.
Annie Johnson Flint
N.J. Hiebert - 8811
Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14.
Looking unto Jesus. Hebrews 12:2
I look not back; God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets.
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And graciously forgives, and then forgets.
I look not forward; God sees all the future,
The road that, short or long, will lead me home,
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burdens that may come.
I look not round me; then would fears assail me,
So wild the tumult of earth's restless seas,
So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort and of ease.
I look not inward; that would make me wretched;
For I have naught on which to stay my trust.
Nothing I see save failures and shortcomings,
And weak endeavours, crumbling into dust.
But I look up--into the face of Jesus,
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled;
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.
Annie Johnson Flint
N.J. Hiebert - 8811
April 10
There was a man...whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Job 1:1
When we turn to this ancient book in our Bibles, we find that God searched the world over, not for the worst man, but for the best, and He tells us Job's strangely pathetic story and shows how that good man was brought to repentance that thus "every mouth may be stopped" (Romans 3:19), and all the world of men might be brought in guilty before Him. For if a man of Job's character must repent, what shall be said of me, and of you, who come so far behind him in righteousness and integrity and have sinned so deplorably and come so far short of the glory of God? Can you not see the wisdom of Jehovah in selecting such a man to show the need that all men should repent?
Consider the case of Job. A wealthy Oriental sheik, apparently, he lived in the days before the knowledge of God had been lost. Romans 1 shows us men turned from the living and true God to vain idols, and "for this cause God gave them up" (Romans 1:26) to all sorts of unclean practices. Job had escaped all this. He was perfect in his behaviour, upright in all his ways, one who reverenced God and detested iniquity. In chapters 1 and 2, we get a remarkable revelation of things in the unseen world. Job is the subject of a conversation between God and Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10) who accuses them before God day and night.
The Lord challenges Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth...one that feareth God, and escheweth [shuns] evil?" (Job 1:8). Note Job was all that God said he was--a man of faith, a true child of God. This book give us, then, not the repentance of a sinner, but the repentance of a saint. Satan denies the truthfulness of the divine estimate of Job and particularly declares that Job does not love and reverence the Lord for what He is in Himself, but for what Job received at His hand. To prove the contrary, the devil is permitted to wrest from the patriarch all that He possessed. Instead of renouncing God, Job exclaims, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Unless You Repent-H. A. Ironside
N.J. Hiebert - 8812
When we turn to this ancient book in our Bibles, we find that God searched the world over, not for the worst man, but for the best, and He tells us Job's strangely pathetic story and shows how that good man was brought to repentance that thus "every mouth may be stopped" (Romans 3:19), and all the world of men might be brought in guilty before Him. For if a man of Job's character must repent, what shall be said of me, and of you, who come so far behind him in righteousness and integrity and have sinned so deplorably and come so far short of the glory of God? Can you not see the wisdom of Jehovah in selecting such a man to show the need that all men should repent?
Consider the case of Job. A wealthy Oriental sheik, apparently, he lived in the days before the knowledge of God had been lost. Romans 1 shows us men turned from the living and true God to vain idols, and "for this cause God gave them up" (Romans 1:26) to all sorts of unclean practices. Job had escaped all this. He was perfect in his behaviour, upright in all his ways, one who reverenced God and detested iniquity. In chapters 1 and 2, we get a remarkable revelation of things in the unseen world. Job is the subject of a conversation between God and Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10) who accuses them before God day and night.
The Lord challenges Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth...one that feareth God, and escheweth [shuns] evil?" (Job 1:8). Note Job was all that God said he was--a man of faith, a true child of God. This book give us, then, not the repentance of a sinner, but the repentance of a saint. Satan denies the truthfulness of the divine estimate of Job and particularly declares that Job does not love and reverence the Lord for what He is in Himself, but for what Job received at His hand. To prove the contrary, the devil is permitted to wrest from the patriarch all that He possessed. Instead of renouncing God, Job exclaims, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Unless You Repent-H. A. Ironside
N.J. Hiebert - 8812
April 11
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9
"Let us not lose heart in doing the right."
It is a different word from the "good things" we read of in verse 6. It is often translated "beautiful." These truly are good things--beautiful things, noble things, honourable things; these are the things every one of us may do every day. We call them little things very often; perhaps giving a drink of cold water to someone who is thirsty. But that deed will get its reward; It will have a harvest.
Most of our lives are filled up with little things--often we think useless little things that are of little profit, but, have to be done--meals have to be cooked, dishes have to be washed, children have to be cared for, our business or our daily job has to be done, and often we long for for something "bigger and better," as we suppose, to do for our Lord. Brother, sister, these little, daily duties may be the good, the noble, the honourable thing, "the right thing" for you to be doing.
The Lord says to you two things: Do not lose heart; do not relax. We first lose heart, it seems to be so useless. Perhaps you teach a Sunday school class, but the children are not converted. Do not lose heart, do not relax; in its own time you shall reap. It is God's own promise, and it must be true.
The word "relax" is what happens to a bow string if it becomes loose; and then the bow is useless. The bow is only useful while the string is tight. So if I relax in my work for the Lord, I become useless also; and remember in "its own time" (and that may be a long time, for seeds do not all grow quickly), in "its own time" we shall reap if we do not relax. Meditations on Galatians - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8813
"Let us not lose heart in doing the right."
It is a different word from the "good things" we read of in verse 6. It is often translated "beautiful." These truly are good things--beautiful things, noble things, honourable things; these are the things every one of us may do every day. We call them little things very often; perhaps giving a drink of cold water to someone who is thirsty. But that deed will get its reward; It will have a harvest.
Most of our lives are filled up with little things--often we think useless little things that are of little profit, but, have to be done--meals have to be cooked, dishes have to be washed, children have to be cared for, our business or our daily job has to be done, and often we long for for something "bigger and better," as we suppose, to do for our Lord. Brother, sister, these little, daily duties may be the good, the noble, the honourable thing, "the right thing" for you to be doing.
The Lord says to you two things: Do not lose heart; do not relax. We first lose heart, it seems to be so useless. Perhaps you teach a Sunday school class, but the children are not converted. Do not lose heart, do not relax; in its own time you shall reap. It is God's own promise, and it must be true.
The word "relax" is what happens to a bow string if it becomes loose; and then the bow is useless. The bow is only useful while the string is tight. So if I relax in my work for the Lord, I become useless also; and remember in "its own time" (and that may be a long time, for seeds do not all grow quickly), in "its own time" we shall reap if we do not relax. Meditations on Galatians - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8813
April 12
And Judah said, what shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants!" Genesis 44:16
Joseph's brothers no longer attempt to justify themselves as to the present, they do not attempt to clear themselves as to the past. They are convicted sinners "found out" by God; and they entirely submit to Joseph, "We are my lord's servants," (V.16) they say. This indeed is excellent, but these are words and may be but empty profession. Words must be proved by deeds.
Judah, therefore, comes forward on behalf of the brethren, and proves the reality of their words by what they are prepared to do. He can say, "Let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren."(V.33). Moreover; the pleading love that breathes throughout Judah's touching appeal proves how deep the repentance that has been wrought in their souls.
The heart of stone has indeed been changed into a heart of flesh. As a son he pleads for Jacob. He is our father, he is an old man, he loves Benjamin (v.20), "his life is bound up in the lad's life" (v.30). How can "I see the evil that shall come on my father?" (34) As a true brother he pleads for Benjamin. He is "a lad," "a little one" (v.20), "Our youngest brother."
But this appeal to Joseph shows that not only repentance has been wrought but confidence has been in measure won. A beautiful picture of that "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21) which always accompanies a true work of grace.
Joseph - Hamilton Smith
N.J. Hiebert - 8814
Joseph's brothers no longer attempt to justify themselves as to the present, they do not attempt to clear themselves as to the past. They are convicted sinners "found out" by God; and they entirely submit to Joseph, "We are my lord's servants," (V.16) they say. This indeed is excellent, but these are words and may be but empty profession. Words must be proved by deeds.
Judah, therefore, comes forward on behalf of the brethren, and proves the reality of their words by what they are prepared to do. He can say, "Let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren."(V.33). Moreover; the pleading love that breathes throughout Judah's touching appeal proves how deep the repentance that has been wrought in their souls.
The heart of stone has indeed been changed into a heart of flesh. As a son he pleads for Jacob. He is our father, he is an old man, he loves Benjamin (v.20), "his life is bound up in the lad's life" (v.30). How can "I see the evil that shall come on my father?" (34) As a true brother he pleads for Benjamin. He is "a lad," "a little one" (v.20), "Our youngest brother."
But this appeal to Joseph shows that not only repentance has been wrought but confidence has been in measure won. A beautiful picture of that "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21) which always accompanies a true work of grace.
Joseph - Hamilton Smith
N.J. Hiebert - 8814
April 13
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
In one respect, law and grace are alike, for both set before us a very exalted standard. In all other respects they are exact opposites. At mount Sinai, the law of Moses was given (Exodus 19-20). God explicitly laid down His righteous and holy demands. If men obeyed, they were blessed; if they disobeyed, they came under the law's solemn curse. Grace, on the other hand, means that all of God's righteous and holy demands have been met in Christ's death and resurrection.
To all who believe, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit are granted, so there may be power to conform to the standard, which under grace is nothing short of Christ Himself. The very essence of law, then, is demand; the very essence of grace is supply. Under law, God stands before us saying, "Give! Render to Me your love and dutiful obedience." Under grace, He stands with hands outstretched, saying, "Take! Receive of My love and saving power." Law says, "Do and live." grace says, "Live and do."
Believers are not under law but under grace. In Galatians 4:4-5, we find how this change has come about: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." The change, then, is found in one word: REDEMPTION. and that involved the death of the Redeemer.
He was made a curse for us by dying on the tree (Galatians 3:13), and therefore the believer is entitled to regard himself as "dead to the law" (Romans 7:4). The law did not die; Jesus died beneath its curse, but now God suspends His wrath and proclaims grace available to all. The believer died to the law in the Person of his great Representative. Now he is controlled by another power, and that power is in a Person--the risen Son of God. F. B. Hole
N.J. Hiebert - 8815
In one respect, law and grace are alike, for both set before us a very exalted standard. In all other respects they are exact opposites. At mount Sinai, the law of Moses was given (Exodus 19-20). God explicitly laid down His righteous and holy demands. If men obeyed, they were blessed; if they disobeyed, they came under the law's solemn curse. Grace, on the other hand, means that all of God's righteous and holy demands have been met in Christ's death and resurrection.
To all who believe, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit are granted, so there may be power to conform to the standard, which under grace is nothing short of Christ Himself. The very essence of law, then, is demand; the very essence of grace is supply. Under law, God stands before us saying, "Give! Render to Me your love and dutiful obedience." Under grace, He stands with hands outstretched, saying, "Take! Receive of My love and saving power." Law says, "Do and live." grace says, "Live and do."
Believers are not under law but under grace. In Galatians 4:4-5, we find how this change has come about: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." The change, then, is found in one word: REDEMPTION. and that involved the death of the Redeemer.
He was made a curse for us by dying on the tree (Galatians 3:13), and therefore the believer is entitled to regard himself as "dead to the law" (Romans 7:4). The law did not die; Jesus died beneath its curse, but now God suspends His wrath and proclaims grace available to all. The believer died to the law in the Person of his great Representative. Now he is controlled by another power, and that power is in a Person--the risen Son of God. F. B. Hole
N.J. Hiebert - 8815
April 14
Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.
1 Peter 2:7
Peter gives us an excellent example of the sanctifying and life changing grace of God. On one occasion Peter denied his Lord with an oath and said, "I do not know the man" (Matthew 26:72). But now the Spirit has transformed him and he writes, "He is precious."
To those who believe, O how precious He is! He is "God's unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15) and eternity will not be enough time to display all His beauties. Time spent at His feet now, basking in the sunshine of His love will convince us with Peter that, "He is precious." Let us worship Him today! Milton Haack
"Glory to God on high! peace upon earth and joy,
Good will to man." We who God's blessing prove
His name all names above, Sing now the Saviour's love,
Too vast to scan.
Mercy and truth unite, Oh! 'tis a wondrous sight,
All sights above! Jesus the curse sustains!
Guilt's bitter cup He drains! nothing for us remains--
Nothing but love.
Love that no tongue can teach, love that no thought can reach,
No love like His. God is its blessèd source,
Death ne'er can stop its course, Nothing can stay its force;
Matchless it is .
Blest in this love, we sing; to God our praises bring;
All sins forgiven. Jesus, our Lord, to Thee
Honour and majesty, now and forever be,
Here and in heaven. T. Kelly
N.J. Hiebert - 8816
Peter gives us an excellent example of the sanctifying and life changing grace of God. On one occasion Peter denied his Lord with an oath and said, "I do not know the man" (Matthew 26:72). But now the Spirit has transformed him and he writes, "He is precious."
To those who believe, O how precious He is! He is "God's unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15) and eternity will not be enough time to display all His beauties. Time spent at His feet now, basking in the sunshine of His love will convince us with Peter that, "He is precious." Let us worship Him today! Milton Haack
"Glory to God on high! peace upon earth and joy,
Good will to man." We who God's blessing prove
His name all names above, Sing now the Saviour's love,
Too vast to scan.
Mercy and truth unite, Oh! 'tis a wondrous sight,
All sights above! Jesus the curse sustains!
Guilt's bitter cup He drains! nothing for us remains--
Nothing but love.
Love that no tongue can teach, love that no thought can reach,
No love like His. God is its blessèd source,
Death ne'er can stop its course, Nothing can stay its force;
Matchless it is .
Blest in this love, we sing; to God our praises bring;
All sins forgiven. Jesus, our Lord, to Thee
Honour and majesty, now and forever be,
Here and in heaven. T. Kelly
N.J. Hiebert - 8816
April 15
And they say into Him, we have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, bring them hither to Me. Matthew 14:17,18
Jesus had told His disciples to feed the hungry multitude. But their resources seemed utterly inadequate to the demand--and the command.
Has the Lord commissioned you to a task for which you have not the wherewithal? As with the man in the parable, have your friends come to you in their journey (Luke 11:5,6) and you have nothing to set before them?
Are you wondering how in the world to stretch your loaves and fishes to feed so many hungry mouths? Your family, your lifework, your Bible class--you look at your pitiful resources and sigh, "What are they among so many?" "Bring them hither to Me."
Little is much when He takes over. "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:16) "Our sufficiency is of God." (2 Corinthians 3:5) But all our efficiency, without His sufficiency, is only a deficiency There were basketfuls left over. God always gives over-flowing measure, "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over." (Luke 6:38)
He giveth liberally, exceedingly abundantly, above all that we can ask or think. He will turn your scarcity into a surplus. Bring it to Him.
Day by Day with Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 8817
Jesus had told His disciples to feed the hungry multitude. But their resources seemed utterly inadequate to the demand--and the command.
Has the Lord commissioned you to a task for which you have not the wherewithal? As with the man in the parable, have your friends come to you in their journey (Luke 11:5,6) and you have nothing to set before them?
Are you wondering how in the world to stretch your loaves and fishes to feed so many hungry mouths? Your family, your lifework, your Bible class--you look at your pitiful resources and sigh, "What are they among so many?" "Bring them hither to Me."
Little is much when He takes over. "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:16) "Our sufficiency is of God." (2 Corinthians 3:5) But all our efficiency, without His sufficiency, is only a deficiency There were basketfuls left over. God always gives over-flowing measure, "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over." (Luke 6:38)
He giveth liberally, exceedingly abundantly, above all that we can ask or think. He will turn your scarcity into a surplus. Bring it to Him.
Day by Day with Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 8817
April 16
Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body what ye shall put on. Luke 12:22
That sublime passage is the chart by which, if we sail, we shall not worry. For it is inconceivable that He who died for our sins, will leave us to struggle with the burdens and difficulties of life, and come to our aid only when at last, wearied in spirit and body, we lay ourselves down to die.
It is a complete and inclusive utterance as set out in Luke 12:22-23. Illustrates (vv 24-28) and appeals (vv 29-34). Here the Master unveils some of His most wonderful teaching. He points to the little birds of the air which pour forth their profuse strains of unpremeditated art, and shows that God knows and cares for even the most worthless of them. He takes up the flower of the field with its simple natural adorning, and shows that its glory outshines that of the greatest of earth's potentates.
"I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these". (vv 12:27) And from the fact that God feeds the sparrow and clothes the lily, our Lord goes on to assure us that our heavenly Father is intimately acquainted with our needs, and to urge us to banish from our hearts all abrasive, corroding care.
God is great in great things, but very great in little things. A party stood on the Matterhorn admiring the sublimity of the scene, when, a gentleman produced a pocket microscope, and having caught a fly placed it under the glass. He reminded us that the legs of the household fly in England were naked, then called attention to the legs of this little fly, which were thickly covered wth hair, thus showing that the same God Who made the lofty Swiss mountains attended to the comfort of His tiniest creatures, even providing socks and mittens for the little fly whose home these mountains were. This God is our God. Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care - George Henderson
N.J. Hiebert - 8818
That sublime passage is the chart by which, if we sail, we shall not worry. For it is inconceivable that He who died for our sins, will leave us to struggle with the burdens and difficulties of life, and come to our aid only when at last, wearied in spirit and body, we lay ourselves down to die.
It is a complete and inclusive utterance as set out in Luke 12:22-23. Illustrates (vv 24-28) and appeals (vv 29-34). Here the Master unveils some of His most wonderful teaching. He points to the little birds of the air which pour forth their profuse strains of unpremeditated art, and shows that God knows and cares for even the most worthless of them. He takes up the flower of the field with its simple natural adorning, and shows that its glory outshines that of the greatest of earth's potentates.
"I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these". (vv 12:27) And from the fact that God feeds the sparrow and clothes the lily, our Lord goes on to assure us that our heavenly Father is intimately acquainted with our needs, and to urge us to banish from our hearts all abrasive, corroding care.
God is great in great things, but very great in little things. A party stood on the Matterhorn admiring the sublimity of the scene, when, a gentleman produced a pocket microscope, and having caught a fly placed it under the glass. He reminded us that the legs of the household fly in England were naked, then called attention to the legs of this little fly, which were thickly covered wth hair, thus showing that the same God Who made the lofty Swiss mountains attended to the comfort of His tiniest creatures, even providing socks and mittens for the little fly whose home these mountains were. This God is our God. Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care - George Henderson
N.J. Hiebert - 8818
April 17
As my Father hath sent me, even so so send I you. John 20:21
From the glory and the gladness, from His secret place,
From the rapture of His presence, from the radiance of His face, Christ, the Son of God, hath sent me through the midnight lands; Mine the mighty ordination of the pierced hands.
You must be in present dependence in preaching. There is no power unless we are receiving while we speak. What you need is a living connection with the heart of God, and then what flows out of the heart of God into your heart will come with power to the hearts of those you speak to.
To hold ourselves at the Lord's disposal secures for us open doors when He has work for us to do. We are left here to display Christ; if we are not doing this we are no use to Him or to the world. The qualification for service is a deeper acquaintance with the heart of Christ.
The more you honour God by keeping man in the background the more blessing you will have in the work. The Holy Spirit is always ready to work when we exalt Christ, "He shall glorify me." (John 16:14) The great danger is the presentation of any truth apart from Christ. What will become of those cut flowers to-morrow? They will fade. So truth that is separated from Christ will fade away.
Nothing can justify a lack of tenderness in the presentation of the truth. We have to labour in faith, and in proportion to our confidence in God will be our expectation of blessing. Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennet
N.J. Hiebert - 8819
From the glory and the gladness, from His secret place,
From the rapture of His presence, from the radiance of His face, Christ, the Son of God, hath sent me through the midnight lands; Mine the mighty ordination of the pierced hands.
You must be in present dependence in preaching. There is no power unless we are receiving while we speak. What you need is a living connection with the heart of God, and then what flows out of the heart of God into your heart will come with power to the hearts of those you speak to.
To hold ourselves at the Lord's disposal secures for us open doors when He has work for us to do. We are left here to display Christ; if we are not doing this we are no use to Him or to the world. The qualification for service is a deeper acquaintance with the heart of Christ.
The more you honour God by keeping man in the background the more blessing you will have in the work. The Holy Spirit is always ready to work when we exalt Christ, "He shall glorify me." (John 16:14) The great danger is the presentation of any truth apart from Christ. What will become of those cut flowers to-morrow? They will fade. So truth that is separated from Christ will fade away.
Nothing can justify a lack of tenderness in the presentation of the truth. We have to labour in faith, and in proportion to our confidence in God will be our expectation of blessing. Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennet
N.J. Hiebert - 8819
April 18
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6,7
How it would quicken the sense of dependence, and make me see that praying without ceasing is indeed the one need of my life,--and unceasing waiting, moment by moment, on the God Who hath united me to Christ, to perfect His own Divine work, to work in me both "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13)
And what a motive this would be for the highest activity in the maintenance of a fruitful branch-life! Motives are mighty powers; it is of infinite importance to have them high and clear. Here surely is the highest: "you are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works:" (Ephesians 2:10) grafted by Him into Christ, unto the bringing forth of much fruit. Whatever God creates is exquisitely suited to its end. He created the sun to give light: how perfectly it does its work! He created the eye to see: how beautifully it fulfils its object! He created the new man unto good works: how admirably it is fitted for its purpose.
Of God I am in Christ: created anew, made a branch of the Vine, fitted for fruit bearing. Would God that believers would cease looking most at their old nature, and complaining of their weakness, as if God called them to what they were unfitted for!
Would that they would believingly and joyfully accept the wondrous revelation of how God, in uniting them to Christ, has made Himself chargeable for their spiritual growth and fruitfulness! How all sickly hesitancy and sloth would disappear, and under the influence of this mighty motive--the faith in the faithfulness of Him of whom they are in Christ--their new nature would rise to accept and fulfil their glorious destiny!
Abide in Christ - Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8820
How it would quicken the sense of dependence, and make me see that praying without ceasing is indeed the one need of my life,--and unceasing waiting, moment by moment, on the God Who hath united me to Christ, to perfect His own Divine work, to work in me both "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13)
And what a motive this would be for the highest activity in the maintenance of a fruitful branch-life! Motives are mighty powers; it is of infinite importance to have them high and clear. Here surely is the highest: "you are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works:" (Ephesians 2:10) grafted by Him into Christ, unto the bringing forth of much fruit. Whatever God creates is exquisitely suited to its end. He created the sun to give light: how perfectly it does its work! He created the eye to see: how beautifully it fulfils its object! He created the new man unto good works: how admirably it is fitted for its purpose.
Of God I am in Christ: created anew, made a branch of the Vine, fitted for fruit bearing. Would God that believers would cease looking most at their old nature, and complaining of their weakness, as if God called them to what they were unfitted for!
Would that they would believingly and joyfully accept the wondrous revelation of how God, in uniting them to Christ, has made Himself chargeable for their spiritual growth and fruitfulness! How all sickly hesitancy and sloth would disappear, and under the influence of this mighty motive--the faith in the faithfulness of Him of whom they are in Christ--their new nature would rise to accept and fulfil their glorious destiny!
Abide in Christ - Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8820
April 19
He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6.
Today I have found something fresh in this--"He Which hath begun a good work . . . will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ." will go on to perform it in preparation for the Day of Christ.
So often some fervent loving prayer for another has not seen its hopes fulfilled. But "He Which hath begun . . ."; may it not be that there has been a beginning, deep in that soul, unknown perhaps to itself?
I have often found later on that it has been so. Even though we never know, it does not matter. Of one thing we are sure: prayer is heard; prayer is answered; forces are set in motion by prayer in the Name of our Lord Jesus which will not cease, but will continue until that which has been begun is perfected.
Love will perfect that which it begins. It will not forsake the work of its own hands. (Psalm 138:8)
Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael
Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded in agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing, and think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? though when you first presented this one petition at the Father's throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking so urgent was your heart to make it known
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere.
F. G. Burrough
N.J. Hiebert - 8821
Today I have found something fresh in this--"He Which hath begun a good work . . . will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ." will go on to perform it in preparation for the Day of Christ.
So often some fervent loving prayer for another has not seen its hopes fulfilled. But "He Which hath begun . . ."; may it not be that there has been a beginning, deep in that soul, unknown perhaps to itself?
I have often found later on that it has been so. Even though we never know, it does not matter. Of one thing we are sure: prayer is heard; prayer is answered; forces are set in motion by prayer in the Name of our Lord Jesus which will not cease, but will continue until that which has been begun is perfected.
Love will perfect that which it begins. It will not forsake the work of its own hands. (Psalm 138:8)
Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael
Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded in agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing, and think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? though when you first presented this one petition at the Father's throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking so urgent was your heart to make it known
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere.
F. G. Burrough
N.J. Hiebert - 8821
April 20
JESUS CHRIST, PERFECT GOD AND PERFECT MAN
". . . When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, . . . He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied . . ." (Isaiah 53:10,11)
It is true that He emptied Himself. He laid aside the outward appearance of Deity. His Godhead was veiled. But it was there! Again and again His Godhead shows itself. As man, He slept in the boat. As God, He calmed the waves. As man, He wept. As God, He cried, "Lazarus, come forth!" (John 11:43) As man, He was laid in the tomb--as God, He arose! A. E. Hughes.
Calvary has no date. "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)
Oh, the love that drew salvations's plan,
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man,
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary!
Mercy there was great, and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty, At Calvary! (W. R. Newell)
"Calvary stills all questions."
The cross spells two stories: one in black--ugly black--the story of sin. Sin carpentered the Cross, and wove the thorns, and drove the nails--our sin! And a story too, in red--bright-flowing red--the story of LOVE, HIS LOVE that yielded to the cross and nails and shame for us! And only the passion of His love burning within will make us hate sin, as only HIS BLOOD can wash it out.
The hill of the Cross is the highest hill on earth in its significance. There hate's worst and love's best met. "AND LOVE WON." Dr. S. D. Gordon
N.J. Hiebert - 8822
". . . When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, . . . He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied . . ." (Isaiah 53:10,11)
It is true that He emptied Himself. He laid aside the outward appearance of Deity. His Godhead was veiled. But it was there! Again and again His Godhead shows itself. As man, He slept in the boat. As God, He calmed the waves. As man, He wept. As God, He cried, "Lazarus, come forth!" (John 11:43) As man, He was laid in the tomb--as God, He arose! A. E. Hughes.
Calvary has no date. "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)
Oh, the love that drew salvations's plan,
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man,
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary!
Mercy there was great, and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty, At Calvary! (W. R. Newell)
"Calvary stills all questions."
The cross spells two stories: one in black--ugly black--the story of sin. Sin carpentered the Cross, and wove the thorns, and drove the nails--our sin! And a story too, in red--bright-flowing red--the story of LOVE, HIS LOVE that yielded to the cross and nails and shame for us! And only the passion of His love burning within will make us hate sin, as only HIS BLOOD can wash it out.
The hill of the Cross is the highest hill on earth in its significance. There hate's worst and love's best met. "AND LOVE WON." Dr. S. D. Gordon
N.J. Hiebert - 8822
April 21
"BUT HE ROSE AGAIN"
He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. . . .
He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. . . .
Matthew 28:6
I was going down a street in Chicago, when in a window I saw a very moving picture of the crucifixion. As I gazed spellbound at the vividly pictured story, I suddenly became conscious that at my side stood a street urchin. He, too, was gazing, and his tense expression made me know that "The Crucifixion" had really gripped his little soul.
Touching him on the shoulder, I said, "Sonny, what does it mean?" "Doncha know?" he asked, his face full of marvel at my ignorance. "That there man is Jesus, and them others is Roman soldiers, and the woman that's cryin' is His mother, and," he added, "they killed Him."
I was loathe to leave that window, but I could not tarry always at the world's tragedy, so I turned and walked quietly down the street. In a moment I heard pattering footsteps at my heels, and there stood my little street urchin. "Say, Mister," he breathlessly announced, I fergot to tell yer, He rose again!"
The sign of our faith is an empty Cross, and empty tomb--He is not here: for He is risen!
REDEMPTION
A mother and her Child; a wondrous Boy, a dead man raised to life; A few poor fishermen, an Upper Room, a feast, a garden and a judgment hall.
A crown of thorns, a scourge, a bitter cross; a great stone rolled away and tears;
A springtime morning and an empty tomb; a feast a Blessing and a Risen Christ.
Mary Winter Ware
Oh, let me live as If He died but yestertide;
And I myself had seen and touched His pierced side.
N.J. Hiebert - 8823
I was going down a street in Chicago, when in a window I saw a very moving picture of the crucifixion. As I gazed spellbound at the vividly pictured story, I suddenly became conscious that at my side stood a street urchin. He, too, was gazing, and his tense expression made me know that "The Crucifixion" had really gripped his little soul.
Touching him on the shoulder, I said, "Sonny, what does it mean?" "Doncha know?" he asked, his face full of marvel at my ignorance. "That there man is Jesus, and them others is Roman soldiers, and the woman that's cryin' is His mother, and," he added, "they killed Him."
I was loathe to leave that window, but I could not tarry always at the world's tragedy, so I turned and walked quietly down the street. In a moment I heard pattering footsteps at my heels, and there stood my little street urchin. "Say, Mister," he breathlessly announced, I fergot to tell yer, He rose again!"
The sign of our faith is an empty Cross, and empty tomb--He is not here: for He is risen!
REDEMPTION
A mother and her Child; a wondrous Boy, a dead man raised to life; A few poor fishermen, an Upper Room, a feast, a garden and a judgment hall.
A crown of thorns, a scourge, a bitter cross; a great stone rolled away and tears;
A springtime morning and an empty tomb; a feast a Blessing and a Risen Christ.
Mary Winter Ware
Oh, let me live as If He died but yestertide;
And I myself had seen and touched His pierced side.
N.J. Hiebert - 8823
April 22
REDEEMED (Being set free - Bought Back)
Your redemption draweth nigh. . . . Luke 21:28
REDEMPTION FROM SIN has been accomplished already. All who avail themselves of what was wrought on Calvary have been bought in the market, bought out of the market, never again to be on sale in the market.
The redemption of our bodies awaits the resurrection when all who have been redeemed through faith in Christ shall be transformed and take their new bodies fashioned like His glorious body. Then follows the redemption of all creation.
When the saints rule over the earth set free from the blight of decay and death, man and beast will be at peace. God has set His face to redeem man and nature from the havoc wrought by the devil. "Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh!" All The Days - Vance Havner
Redeemed-how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me doth continually dwell.
I think of my bless-ed Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long; I sing, for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty The King in whose word I delight; Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps, and giveth me songs in the night.
Chorus: Redeemed, . . Redeemed, . . Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, . . redeemed, . . His child, and forever I am. Fanny J. Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 8824
Your redemption draweth nigh. . . . Luke 21:28
REDEMPTION FROM SIN has been accomplished already. All who avail themselves of what was wrought on Calvary have been bought in the market, bought out of the market, never again to be on sale in the market.
The redemption of our bodies awaits the resurrection when all who have been redeemed through faith in Christ shall be transformed and take their new bodies fashioned like His glorious body. Then follows the redemption of all creation.
When the saints rule over the earth set free from the blight of decay and death, man and beast will be at peace. God has set His face to redeem man and nature from the havoc wrought by the devil. "Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh!" All The Days - Vance Havner
Redeemed-how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me doth continually dwell.
I think of my bless-ed Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long; I sing, for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty The King in whose word I delight; Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps, and giveth me songs in the night.
Chorus: Redeemed, . . Redeemed, . . Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, . . redeemed, . . His child, and forever I am. Fanny J. Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 8824
April 23
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee. . . 2 Timothy 1:6
Having expressed his love for and confidence in Timothy, Paul passes on to exhortation, encouragement and instruction. First, he exhorts him to stir up "the gift of God" which had been imparted to him for the service of the Lord.
In the presence of difficulties, dangers and general unfaithfulness, when there would appear to be little result from the ministry, there is the danger of thinking it is almost useless to exercise gift. Therefore we need the warning against letting the gift fall into disuse. We are to stir it up; and, in a day of ruin, to be all the more insistent in its use. A little later the Apostle can say, "Preach the word; be instant (urgent) in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2).
Having spoken of gifts that are special to the individual, the Apostle passes on to remind Timothy of the gift that is common to all believers. To some God gives a special gift for the ministry of the word, to all His people He gives the spirit of power, and of love, and of wise discretion. It is the state and spirit of the believer that is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit and therefore partakes of the character of the Spirit, as the Lord said, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)
By nature Timothy may have been timid, and retiring in disposition, but the Holy Spirit does not produce the spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. In the natural man we may find power without love, or love degenerating into mere sentiment. With the Christian, under the control of the Spirit, power is combined with love, and love expressed with a wise discretion. Thus, however difficult the day, the believer is well equipped with power to do the will of God, to express the love of God, and to exercise a sober judgment in the midst of the ruin.
Hamilton Smith - Expository Outline of Second Timothy
N.J. Hiebert - 8825
Having expressed his love for and confidence in Timothy, Paul passes on to exhortation, encouragement and instruction. First, he exhorts him to stir up "the gift of God" which had been imparted to him for the service of the Lord.
In the presence of difficulties, dangers and general unfaithfulness, when there would appear to be little result from the ministry, there is the danger of thinking it is almost useless to exercise gift. Therefore we need the warning against letting the gift fall into disuse. We are to stir it up; and, in a day of ruin, to be all the more insistent in its use. A little later the Apostle can say, "Preach the word; be instant (urgent) in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2).
Having spoken of gifts that are special to the individual, the Apostle passes on to remind Timothy of the gift that is common to all believers. To some God gives a special gift for the ministry of the word, to all His people He gives the spirit of power, and of love, and of wise discretion. It is the state and spirit of the believer that is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit and therefore partakes of the character of the Spirit, as the Lord said, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)
By nature Timothy may have been timid, and retiring in disposition, but the Holy Spirit does not produce the spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. In the natural man we may find power without love, or love degenerating into mere sentiment. With the Christian, under the control of the Spirit, power is combined with love, and love expressed with a wise discretion. Thus, however difficult the day, the believer is well equipped with power to do the will of God, to express the love of God, and to exercise a sober judgment in the midst of the ruin.
Hamilton Smith - Expository Outline of Second Timothy
N.J. Hiebert - 8825
April 24
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Do you know the One who says this? In the same epistle there is a verse, which precedes the one we are considering, and must precede it, too, in our own experience. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18) This deals with the sin question, which must be dealt with before the care question.
But the latter is not overlooked, for what we are invited to do when we are brought to God is to cast all our care upon Him. If God has laid your sins upon Christ, you may lay all your care upon God. And the reason is given why we may: "For He careth for you." Christ once suffered for your sins and bore them, and He now wants you to let Him bear your care.
Here, then, is the answer to the unbelief that thinks God allows the world to drift on, and has left it to take care of itself. This is as untrue as every other lie of which Satan is the source. Those words, "He careth;" that invitation to "cast all our care upon Him," come to us with the very stamp of truth. It would be fiendish to mock us with such words. Ah! mockery cannot coin such words as those. They tell their own tale, that behind them there is a heart we may well trust.
They are words, too, that appeal to all, for who does not know care? Recently we had the opportunity of watching the faces of people in a crowded London thoroughfare. Hundreds passed us, among them different classes, and creeds, and nationalities; but in one respect they were all alike--there was more or less of care depicted in every countenance.
Their cares were not alike, yet there was one remedy for all. How many knew that they might have the peace of God, which passeth all understanding? How many could look up and say, "He careth for me?" Angels in White - Russell Elliott.
N.J. Hiebert - 8826
Do you know the One who says this? In the same epistle there is a verse, which precedes the one we are considering, and must precede it, too, in our own experience. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18) This deals with the sin question, which must be dealt with before the care question.
But the latter is not overlooked, for what we are invited to do when we are brought to God is to cast all our care upon Him. If God has laid your sins upon Christ, you may lay all your care upon God. And the reason is given why we may: "For He careth for you." Christ once suffered for your sins and bore them, and He now wants you to let Him bear your care.
Here, then, is the answer to the unbelief that thinks God allows the world to drift on, and has left it to take care of itself. This is as untrue as every other lie of which Satan is the source. Those words, "He careth;" that invitation to "cast all our care upon Him," come to us with the very stamp of truth. It would be fiendish to mock us with such words. Ah! mockery cannot coin such words as those. They tell their own tale, that behind them there is a heart we may well trust.
They are words, too, that appeal to all, for who does not know care? Recently we had the opportunity of watching the faces of people in a crowded London thoroughfare. Hundreds passed us, among them different classes, and creeds, and nationalities; but in one respect they were all alike--there was more or less of care depicted in every countenance.
Their cares were not alike, yet there was one remedy for all. How many knew that they might have the peace of God, which passeth all understanding? How many could look up and say, "He careth for me?" Angels in White - Russell Elliott.
N.J. Hiebert - 8826
April 25
He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life. John 5:24.
Not surprisingly, heaven's words come only from heaven. You could get the fragrance of roses from a dungeon, if first the lovely flowers were carried there. This fragrant knowledge of a God of love could never have been told except by the lips of the One who came from His Father in heaven. He alone could speak words of eternal life. In almost every chapter of John's inspiring Gospel, these words of eternal life are found.
A learned rabbi hears them at night from an object lesson of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14). An ignorant and licentious, though religious Samaritan woman hears them from "a prophet" who sits on Sychar's well (4:14). A hopeless paralytic, waiting thirty eight-years at Bethesda's pool, hears them also, and so did those that day who accused the Mighty Healer of making a man whole on the Sabbath day.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you: He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life (5:24). There were words of eternal life when He fed the hungry multitudes with five loaves and two small fishes, "I am the Bread of Life: He that cometh to Me shall shall never hunger and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (6:35).
Hear His words about the living water when the unsatisfied crowd at Jerusalem kept the feast of Tabernacles: "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (7:37). Read words about eternal life when He opened the eyes of the blind in chapter 9, words about Himself as the resurrection and the life, when He wept with others at the grave of Lazarus. These words of eternal life took deep root in the hearts of His disciples, and when the cross blasted their superficial expectations, His resurrection raised them again to a living hope, for "they remembered His words" (Luke 24:8) Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J. Hiebert - 8227
Not surprisingly, heaven's words come only from heaven. You could get the fragrance of roses from a dungeon, if first the lovely flowers were carried there. This fragrant knowledge of a God of love could never have been told except by the lips of the One who came from His Father in heaven. He alone could speak words of eternal life. In almost every chapter of John's inspiring Gospel, these words of eternal life are found.
A learned rabbi hears them at night from an object lesson of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14). An ignorant and licentious, though religious Samaritan woman hears them from "a prophet" who sits on Sychar's well (4:14). A hopeless paralytic, waiting thirty eight-years at Bethesda's pool, hears them also, and so did those that day who accused the Mighty Healer of making a man whole on the Sabbath day.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you: He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life (5:24). There were words of eternal life when He fed the hungry multitudes with five loaves and two small fishes, "I am the Bread of Life: He that cometh to Me shall shall never hunger and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (6:35).
Hear His words about the living water when the unsatisfied crowd at Jerusalem kept the feast of Tabernacles: "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (7:37). Read words about eternal life when He opened the eyes of the blind in chapter 9, words about Himself as the resurrection and the life, when He wept with others at the grave of Lazarus. These words of eternal life took deep root in the hearts of His disciples, and when the cross blasted their superficial expectations, His resurrection raised them again to a living hope, for "they remembered His words" (Luke 24:8) Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J. Hiebert - 8227
April 26
"Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report" Philippians 4:8
Whatsoever things are lovely, or lovable. Oh, that we might have our minds occupied with such things! Oh, that we might meditate on the gracious, winsome things in the saints, and in others about us! Oh, that we might put the most favourable construction on every report we hear.
Love thinketh no evil. Love believeth all things: not the evil things, but the good ones: and where it cannot actually believe all the good it would like, it at least hopeth all things: it hopes the good report is true, and the evil one false.
Notice there is not the slightest suggestion we should meditate on the evil report: but only on the good. A scripture that might go well with this part of our verse is 1 Peter 4:8: Above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins." With the sins and evil reports covered by love, we will be free to meditate on whatsoever things are of good report.
This does not, of course, mean that we are to make light of evil, or go on with it. But evil that is dealt with in true love, will win the erring one again, instead of driving him further away. Meditations on Philippians - G Christopher Willis
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter.
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.
Fanny Crosby
Whatsoever things are lovely, or lovable. Oh, that we might have our minds occupied with such things! Oh, that we might meditate on the gracious, winsome things in the saints, and in others about us! Oh, that we might put the most favourable construction on every report we hear.
Love thinketh no evil. Love believeth all things: not the evil things, but the good ones: and where it cannot actually believe all the good it would like, it at least hopeth all things: it hopes the good report is true, and the evil one false.
Notice there is not the slightest suggestion we should meditate on the evil report: but only on the good. A scripture that might go well with this part of our verse is 1 Peter 4:8: Above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins." With the sins and evil reports covered by love, we will be free to meditate on whatsoever things are of good report.
This does not, of course, mean that we are to make light of evil, or go on with it. But evil that is dealt with in true love, will win the erring one again, instead of driving him further away. Meditations on Philippians - G Christopher Willis
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter.
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more.
Fanny Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 8228
April 27
He is not here, but is risen...And they remembered His words. Luke 24:6,8
Joey was a severely disabled student with a terminal disease who attended a Christian school. Spring had come and Easter was near. The teacher spent time teaching her class about the resurrection of Jesus from among the dead. Then she gave each of her students a large plastic egg.
"Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Nelson!" The children responded enthusiastically--all except for Joey. He just listened intently, his eyes never leaving her face. Miss Nelson wondered if he had understood what she had said about the Lord Jesus' death and resurrection? Perhaps she should call his parents that evening and explain the assignment to them. But in the busyness of her day she forgot about phoning Joey's parents.
The next morning, 19 excited children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Nelson's desk. Soon it was time to open the eggs and in the first egg, she found a flower. Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here."
The next egg contained a realistic plastic butterfly. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that is new life, too."
Next was a rock with green moss on it. She explained that moss, too, showed life.
The fourth egg--Joey's egg--was empty. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Joey spoke up; "Miss Nelson, aren't you going talk about my egg?" She stammered, "Joey...your egg is empty". But tears filled her eyes as she listened to Joey's explanation. He said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too. Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up to life!"
Three months later, Joey died. On the top of his casket were 19 empty plastic eggs.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). T.C.S. (Doug Nicolet - 2008
N.J. Hiebert - 8829
Joey was a severely disabled student with a terminal disease who attended a Christian school. Spring had come and Easter was near. The teacher spent time teaching her class about the resurrection of Jesus from among the dead. Then she gave each of her students a large plastic egg.
"Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Nelson!" The children responded enthusiastically--all except for Joey. He just listened intently, his eyes never leaving her face. Miss Nelson wondered if he had understood what she had said about the Lord Jesus' death and resurrection? Perhaps she should call his parents that evening and explain the assignment to them. But in the busyness of her day she forgot about phoning Joey's parents.
The next morning, 19 excited children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Nelson's desk. Soon it was time to open the eggs and in the first egg, she found a flower. Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here."
The next egg contained a realistic plastic butterfly. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that is new life, too."
Next was a rock with green moss on it. She explained that moss, too, showed life.
The fourth egg--Joey's egg--was empty. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Joey spoke up; "Miss Nelson, aren't you going talk about my egg?" She stammered, "Joey...your egg is empty". But tears filled her eyes as she listened to Joey's explanation. He said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too. Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up to life!"
Three months later, Joey died. On the top of his casket were 19 empty plastic eggs.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). T.C.S. (Doug Nicolet - 2008
N.J. Hiebert - 8829
April 28
He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3
O what cruelties men inflicted upon God's Son. They bound Him with cords; they crowned Him with thorns; they lashed Him with a scourge: they beat Him with a rod; they mocked Him with a scarlet robe; they burdened Him with a cross; they pierced Him with nails; and finally, when He had expired, they wounded Him with a spear. It was all for you and me.
"Man of sorrows," what a name for the Son of God who came Ruined sinners to reclaim Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood; Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Guilty, vile and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God was He; "Full atonement!" can it be? Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Lifted up was He to die, "It is finished," was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high; Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
When He comes, our glorious King, all His ransomed home to bring, Then anew this song we'll sing: Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
P. P. Bliss
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
N.J. Hiebert - 8830
O what cruelties men inflicted upon God's Son. They bound Him with cords; they crowned Him with thorns; they lashed Him with a scourge: they beat Him with a rod; they mocked Him with a scarlet robe; they burdened Him with a cross; they pierced Him with nails; and finally, when He had expired, they wounded Him with a spear. It was all for you and me.
"Man of sorrows," what a name for the Son of God who came Ruined sinners to reclaim Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood; Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Guilty, vile and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God was He; "Full atonement!" can it be? Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Lifted up was He to die, "It is finished," was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high; Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
When He comes, our glorious King, all His ransomed home to bring, Then anew this song we'll sing: Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
P. P. Bliss
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
N.J. Hiebert - 8830
April 29
When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments . . .and they were smitten.
2 Chronicles 20:22
Oh, that we could reason less about our troubles, and sing and praise more! There are thousands of things that we wear as shackles which we might use as instruments with music in them, if we only knew how.
Those men that ponder, and meditate, and weigh the affairs of life, and study the mysterious developments of God's providence, and wonder why they should be burdened and thwarted and hampered--how different and how much more joyful would be their lives, if, instead of forever indulging in self-revolving and inward thinking, they would take their experiences, day by day, and lift them up, and praise God for them.
We can sing our cares away easier than we can reason them away. Sing in the morning. The birds are the earliest to sing, and birds are more without care than anything else that I know of.
Sing at evening. Singing is the last thing that robins do. When they have done their daily work; when they have flown their last flight, and picked up their last morsel of food, then on a topmost twig, they sing one song of praise.
Oh, that we might sing morning, and evening, and let song touch song all the way through. Selected
Don't let the song go out of your life though it chance sometimes to flow In a minor strain; it will blend again with the major tone you know.
What though shadows rise to obscure life's skies, and hide for a time the sun, The sooner they'll lift and reveal the rift, if you let the melody run.
Don't let the song go out of your life; though the voice may have lost its trill, Though the the tremulous note may die in your throat, let it sing in your spirit still.
Don't let he song go out of your life; let it ring in the soul while here; And when you go hence, "twill follow you thence, if redeemed, in that heavenly sphere.
Oh, that we could reason less about our troubles, and sing and praise more! There are thousands of things that we wear as shackles which we might use as instruments with music in them, if we only knew how.
Those men that ponder, and meditate, and weigh the affairs of life, and study the mysterious developments of God's providence, and wonder why they should be burdened and thwarted and hampered--how different and how much more joyful would be their lives, if, instead of forever indulging in self-revolving and inward thinking, they would take their experiences, day by day, and lift them up, and praise God for them.
We can sing our cares away easier than we can reason them away. Sing in the morning. The birds are the earliest to sing, and birds are more without care than anything else that I know of.
Sing at evening. Singing is the last thing that robins do. When they have done their daily work; when they have flown their last flight, and picked up their last morsel of food, then on a topmost twig, they sing one song of praise.
Oh, that we might sing morning, and evening, and let song touch song all the way through. Selected
Don't let the song go out of your life though it chance sometimes to flow In a minor strain; it will blend again with the major tone you know.
What though shadows rise to obscure life's skies, and hide for a time the sun, The sooner they'll lift and reveal the rift, if you let the melody run.
Don't let the song go out of your life; though the voice may have lost its trill, Though the the tremulous note may die in your throat, let it sing in your spirit still.
Don't let he song go out of your life; let it ring in the soul while here; And when you go hence, "twill follow you thence, if redeemed, in that heavenly sphere.
N.J. Hiebert - 8831
April 30
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:3) For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him" (Colossians 1:16).
When this perfect creation was ruined by the entrance of sin, when man fell and all creation on account of that fall was brought into the bondage of corruption, the work of redemption became a necessity. No creature of God was fitted or fit to do this. Only the Son of God, the Creator Himself, could undertake this mighty work and accomplish it to the Praise and Glory of God. To do this great work, He had to appear on this earth in the form of man.
This work of the Son of God has a threefold aspect. It is a past work, a present work and beyond the present there is His future work. His work and service will terminate when He delivers up the kingdom, so that God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15: 24-28). It has a special meaning for the church. "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it." (Ephesians 5:25-27) This is His past work.
Since then He is sanctifying the the church by the washing of water by the Word, and in the future He will present it to Himself, a glorious church. In virtue of this threefold work of our Lord, believers are saved, are being saved, and will be saved. A. C. Gabelein - The Work of Christ.
N.J. Hiebert - 8832
When this perfect creation was ruined by the entrance of sin, when man fell and all creation on account of that fall was brought into the bondage of corruption, the work of redemption became a necessity. No creature of God was fitted or fit to do this. Only the Son of God, the Creator Himself, could undertake this mighty work and accomplish it to the Praise and Glory of God. To do this great work, He had to appear on this earth in the form of man.
This work of the Son of God has a threefold aspect. It is a past work, a present work and beyond the present there is His future work. His work and service will terminate when He delivers up the kingdom, so that God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15: 24-28). It has a special meaning for the church. "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it." (Ephesians 5:25-27) This is His past work.
Since then He is sanctifying the the church by the washing of water by the Word, and in the future He will present it to Himself, a glorious church. In virtue of this threefold work of our Lord, believers are saved, are being saved, and will be saved. A. C. Gabelein - The Work of Christ.
N.J. Hiebert - 8832
May 1
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. 2 Peter 1:10
Diligence: constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken. The characteristics of diligence are: (1) a destination or objective, (2) the power to get there, and (3) the purpose of heart to continue in spite of whatever looms up to discourage.
If you look up "diligence" in either an English or French dictionary, one of the meanings is "a stage-coach". Diligence was the term applied in Quebec in the days before trains, to a "coach" that ran between towns on a schedule. This was an appropriate use of the word given the characteristics listed earlier.
(1) A destination or objective: Certainly the reason for taking the coach down the bumpy roads of early Quebec was to get to a desired destination town. Each believer has the objective of living out the new life that is in us through the work of Christ; that is, making our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). Not that we are responsible for the fact that it is "sure", but making that fact assured in our own hearts and then demonstrating it to others.
(2) The power to get there: The passenger on a "diligence" had no direct power to get it over the road to their destination. That power resided in sturdy horses, commanding coachman and reliable coach. So for the believer; the power to be diligent in spiritual things does not come from us, it comes from the Lord by His Spirit working within us. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
(3) The purpose of heart to continue: There was no point in getting off the coach midway in the wilderness. The journey once begun needed to be completed, even if the road was boggy and slow, or the cold penetrated the unheated coach, or highwaymen threatened. For the believer, we need to "Continue thou in the things which thou has learned." (2 Timothy 3:14) Whatever comes our way, it is important to continue thus all the way to our ultimate destination, heaven.
Our coachman is the Lord. He knows the way; He knows the dangers, and HE WILL bring us safely to the end of our journey. Meanwhile, trust Him, to keep us safely on course, while we diligently seek to remain assured of our relationship with Him, and diligently demonstrate this to others by our love, our patience and our words.
Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 8833
Diligence: constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken. The characteristics of diligence are: (1) a destination or objective, (2) the power to get there, and (3) the purpose of heart to continue in spite of whatever looms up to discourage.
If you look up "diligence" in either an English or French dictionary, one of the meanings is "a stage-coach". Diligence was the term applied in Quebec in the days before trains, to a "coach" that ran between towns on a schedule. This was an appropriate use of the word given the characteristics listed earlier.
(1) A destination or objective: Certainly the reason for taking the coach down the bumpy roads of early Quebec was to get to a desired destination town. Each believer has the objective of living out the new life that is in us through the work of Christ; that is, making our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). Not that we are responsible for the fact that it is "sure", but making that fact assured in our own hearts and then demonstrating it to others.
(2) The power to get there: The passenger on a "diligence" had no direct power to get it over the road to their destination. That power resided in sturdy horses, commanding coachman and reliable coach. So for the believer; the power to be diligent in spiritual things does not come from us, it comes from the Lord by His Spirit working within us. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
(3) The purpose of heart to continue: There was no point in getting off the coach midway in the wilderness. The journey once begun needed to be completed, even if the road was boggy and slow, or the cold penetrated the unheated coach, or highwaymen threatened. For the believer, we need to "Continue thou in the things which thou has learned." (2 Timothy 3:14) Whatever comes our way, it is important to continue thus all the way to our ultimate destination, heaven.
Our coachman is the Lord. He knows the way; He knows the dangers, and HE WILL bring us safely to the end of our journey. Meanwhile, trust Him, to keep us safely on course, while we diligently seek to remain assured of our relationship with Him, and diligently demonstrate this to others by our love, our patience and our words.
Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 8833
May 2
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
As we meditate on this first chapter of Jonah, and follow the disobedient servant of Jehovah along his pathway from his home in Gath-Hepher, down, down, down, till he reaches the belly of the fish, and thus saves the heathen sailors, we may realize that all this pathway is a picture of the perfect, obedient Servant of Jehovah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
He went down, down, down--down from His home in the glory, down to the manger, and from thence down to the cross, and down into the grave, and so saves us poor sinners. How marvellously is that pathway traced for us in Philippians.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8
Little wonder that the Spirit of God should then burst forth: "Wherefore God also hath exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Lessons From Jonah - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8834
As we meditate on this first chapter of Jonah, and follow the disobedient servant of Jehovah along his pathway from his home in Gath-Hepher, down, down, down, till he reaches the belly of the fish, and thus saves the heathen sailors, we may realize that all this pathway is a picture of the perfect, obedient Servant of Jehovah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
He went down, down, down--down from His home in the glory, down to the manger, and from thence down to the cross, and down into the grave, and so saves us poor sinners. How marvellously is that pathway traced for us in Philippians.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8
Little wonder that the Spirit of God should then burst forth: "Wherefore God also hath exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Lessons From Jonah - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8834
May 3
NOW OR NEVER
They that were ready went in . . . and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door . . . he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not. (Luke 13:25)
There are plenty of things besides immediate death which may just as effectually prevent your ever coming to Christ at all, if you do not come now. This might be your last free hour for coming.
Tomorrow the call may be less urgent, and the other things entering in may deaden it, and the grieved Spirit may withdraw and cease to give you even your present inclination to listen to it, and so you may drift on and on, farther and farther from the haven of safety (into which you may enter NOW if you will), till it is out of sight on the horizon.
And then it may be too late to turn the helm, and the current may be too strong; and when the storm of mortal illness at last comes, you may find that you are too weak mentally or physically to rouse yourself even to hear, much less to come. What can one do when fever or exhaustion are triumphing over mind and body? Do not risk it. Come now! and "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) .
What will you do without Him, in the long and dreary day
Of trouble and perplexity, when you do not know the way,
And no one else can help you, and no one guides you right,
And hope comes not with morning, and rest comes not with night.
Opened Treasures - Frances Ridley Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 8835
They that were ready went in . . . and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door . . . he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not. (Luke 13:25)
There are plenty of things besides immediate death which may just as effectually prevent your ever coming to Christ at all, if you do not come now. This might be your last free hour for coming.
Tomorrow the call may be less urgent, and the other things entering in may deaden it, and the grieved Spirit may withdraw and cease to give you even your present inclination to listen to it, and so you may drift on and on, farther and farther from the haven of safety (into which you may enter NOW if you will), till it is out of sight on the horizon.
And then it may be too late to turn the helm, and the current may be too strong; and when the storm of mortal illness at last comes, you may find that you are too weak mentally or physically to rouse yourself even to hear, much less to come. What can one do when fever or exhaustion are triumphing over mind and body? Do not risk it. Come now! and "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) .
What will you do without Him, in the long and dreary day
Of trouble and perplexity, when you do not know the way,
And no one else can help you, and no one guides you right,
And hope comes not with morning, and rest comes not with night.
Opened Treasures - Frances Ridley Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 8835
May 4
posted by soundwords at
April 01, 2022
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