Gems from July 2023
"The words of the wise are as goads."
"Pray." But how? "Without ceasing."
"Rejoice." But when? "Evermore."
"Give thanks." For what? "In Everything." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
The Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall
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Once there was a farmer who desired the use of a piece of ground that lay conveniently near his own, but the owner refused to sell. After much persuasion he was content to lease it.
The farmer covenanted only to farm it for one crop. Now his bargain sealed, he planted his field with with acorns-- a crop that lasted not one year but three hundred!
So Satan seeks to to get possession of our souls by asking us to permit some small sin to enter, some one wrong that seems of no great account. But when once he has entered and planted the seeds and beginnings of evil, he holds his ground, and sins and evils amazingly multiply.
The dangerous thing about a little sin is that it won't stay little.
Each sin has its door of entrance.
Keep--that--door--closed!
Bolt it tight!
Just outside, the wild beast crouches
In the night.
Pin the bolt with a prayer,
God will fix it there. -- Mountain Trailways for Youth
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Daniel is coming under fire. His fame in the workplace had aroused some enemies, and they hatched a political plot to bring Daniel down. They engineered a situation whereby the king was made to sign a document which would place Daniel in an impossible situation, without the king being aware of what was being done either to him or to Daniel.
After the document was signed, Daniel was identified to the king as a non-conformist, as one who persisted in holding views and engaging in practices that were contrary to what the king had legislated. The king realized that he himself had been trapped and that he could do nothing about it, but to cast Daniel upon the mercy of God in the den of lions.
The Christian also runs the gauntlet of political intrigue in the business environment. Because the techniques and manoeuvrings employed by others are not available to him, he appears vulnerable. Let us never be tempted to retaliate in kind in such situations. Let us cast ourselves upon the mercy of God, and He will show that He is well able to take care of us in situations that seem impossible. Daniel - William Burnett
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2 Corinthians 2:14
The supreme witness for God in this world is the one whose life is Christlike in spirit and conduct. "To be like Christ, compared with that, every ambition is folly, and all lower achievement vain." (H. Drummond); Just as glass may be considered as brilliantly beautiful until we see the fascinating radiance of a diamond, so, when we behold our all-glorious Lord, we are ready to cry out with one of old: "He is altogether lovely". (Song of Solomon 5:16)
No mortal can with Him compare, among the sons of men;
Fairer is He than all the fair, that fill the heavenly train.
Long years ago the first Protestant missionary to Japan was once brought into touch with members of the royal house of that country. During his furlough in England, he was visited in his rooms one day by some members of the Emperor's family who were touring Europe. They chatted for perhaps an hour and then left. Later in the day another group of Japanese--officials--called. "Oh!" one of them exclaimed, "You have been entertaining royalty here today!"
"What makes you think so?" the missionary queried. Why, there is is a perfume manufactured in our country for the exclusive use of royalty. No one else is allowed to use it, and its fragrant odour is in evidence is in evidence in this apartment, so that we know you have had royal visitors to-day!"
Our King has promised not only to visit us, but also to abide with us (John 14:23). Is the fragrance of His presence diffused from us day by day? If so, we shall be following in the footsteps of Paul who said: "For to me to live is Christ." (Philippians 1:21)
Winsome Christianity - Henry Durbanville
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It is strange that any one should question the universality of the offer of mercy with a verse like that in the Bible. "Whosoever believeth hath"--any one in any circumstances or conditions who puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ enters into the present possession of eternal life. "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:15) Mark, it is "whosoever shall confess," not merely whosoever shall profess.
There are a great many people who profess that they believe Jesus is the Son of God but they have never trusted Him as such. You cannot confess Him as Son of God until He is your own Saviour. You confess the One in whom you have trusted. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).
But on the other hand, let us not forget that there is another very solemn "Whosoever," and that is also found in the writings of John, "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15) .Think of the solemnity of that declaration. It is the same word whosoever. "Whosoever believeth...hath everlasting life," therefore the believer's name is inscribed in the book of life.
Whosoever refuses to believe, whosoever will not put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, "whosoever" is "not found written in the book of life," must be banished eternally from the presence of God. H. A. Ironside
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I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him.
You may search the depths of the deepest sea:
My sins are remembered no more;
At the judgment throne of eternity,
My sins are remembered no more.
They're blotted, forgiven, buried and gone;
My sins are remembered no more;
They're atoned and covered by God's dear Son:
My sins are remembered no more. Christian's Daily
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It is blessed to dwell on that divinely inspired word "perfect". The love that rests upon us is perfect love. Where known, it casts out fear. It takes away all that which is torment to the soul. It is the love of God which has reached us in Jesus. Everything divine is perfect. When Christ comes out on God's behalf in judgment in the coming day, it is perfect and unsparing judgment.
He who drank the bitter cup of wrath to its dregs in divine love on Calvary's cross is there seen in perfect and inflexible righteousness treading the winepress of the wrath of Almighty God. We, thank God, learn that spotless righteousness not from the way it acts towards us, but from the way it acted towards Christ on Calvary, when He was made sin for us.
Is there anything which causes fear or torment in your soul, Christian? God's love is perfect love, which would remove it all because He loves you, and which can remove it all because it is His love. Maybe something in your past history troubles you; because His love is perfect it reaches even to the removal of that from your heart. Go and tell Jesus.
He is the blessed vessel of God's grace, able to speak a word in secret to him that is weary, the divinely given answer to every need of man's heart.
It may be some great sorrow in the present that overwhelms; as to this, there is a simple word about John's disciple which is helpful. When all was dark with them, the one they followed having not only been imprisoned but finally beheaded, they took up his body and buried it, and "went and told Jesus." (Matthew 14:12). There all is perfect. H. D. Clarke.
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What a moment it must have been when the Lord stilled the wind on the Sea of Galilee! It must have been wondrous and beautiful to witness it; as it would be now, had we but hearts sensible of the glories of Christ, to think of it.
People may talk of the necessary force of principles, of the laws of nature, and the course of things; but surely it is the first law of nature to obey its Creator.
And here, in the twinkling of an eye, the Sea of Galilee felt the presence, and answered the word, of Him who at His pleasure transfigures the course of nature, or by a touch unhinges it all.
"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish?
And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
"And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him? (Mark 4:37-41)
The Son of God - J.G. Bellett
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In scripture, the yoke is a symbol of submission to the will of another. From the beginning to the end of His wonderful path through this world, the Lord, as the perfect Man, was here for the will of the Father. He could say, "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6:38). "For I do always those things that please Him" (John 8:29).
However painful our circumstances may be, we are exhorted to take the Lord's yoke by quietly submitting to what the Father allows. Moreover, the Lord says, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." He was not only meek and lowly in manner, but He was meek and lowly in heart. The right manner for men to see on the outside is comparatively easy to put on, but the right condition of heart that the Lord alone can see is only the result of turning to Him in prayer and submitting to the Father's will. We are not naturally meek or lowly.
Instead, we prefer to assert ourselves and seek self-importance. To correct these natural tendencies of the flesh, the Lord engages us with Himself and says, "Learn of Me." As we gaze upon Him and admire the lovely qualities we see in our Lord, we become changed into His image. We become like the One we admire.
The fact that often we are so little like Him tells only too plainly how little we have Him before our souls--how little we learn of Him. By taking His yoke and learning of Him, we shall find rest for our souls. Dwelling upon our circumstances will bring no rest. Instead, learn to submit to what the Father allows and catch the beautiful spirit of Christ in all His meekness and lowliness. Then we shall enjoy the rest of spirit that was ever the portion of the Lord in a world of unrest. Hamilton Smith
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A child in turning over the leaves of an old gardening book, read that if an apple tree did not bear fruit, a good plan was to drive a few iron nails into it. She told her father of this, and he tried it with a useless tree in his garden. Next year that tree bore prolific fruit. Seeing this tree, he, turned to His Lord and said---
- "Lord, is that the secret of my bareness?
- Is that why I so often have failed in the day of testing?
- Is that why temptation has so easily conquered me?
- Is that why I have become the victim of those things which I know do not belong to the new life in Christ?
- Is that why so often I have failed in bearing fruit unto Thy glory?
- Is it because I have raised a protest against the nails being driven into this flesh-life, this wretched ego, this cursed self?
- Have I said, "No, Lord, I do not give consent to that crucifixion"?
- And is this the result of all this-- just barrenness?"
The Lord make us willing for the nails to be driven in, "for only as we are willing to die, can we bear fruit, and live the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus Christ." A Christian means C H R I ST and the remaining letters I A N 'I AM NOTHING. Only as this is really true do we discover what Paul calls the glory of the cross.
But do not let that mean to anyone, "I am nothing, so it is no use expecting me to conquer in the fight." That is self making weak excuses for Self. Take the words you know so well and count on their truth--I am nothing, but I am Christ's; therefore, "I can do all things [this thing that I feel impossible] through Christ which strengtheneth me." THOU GIVEST...THEY GATHER - Amy Carmichael
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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad". 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Saved souls need not fear or be troubled by this precious verse. It will be no place of eternal judgment for sin to any who have expressed "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21) for Christ has forever borne and put away the sins of each believer. This 'judgment seat' will be a place to 'receive' God's perfect reward for anything done in the life of a redeemed child, that pleased and honoured Him.
In view of this, the following simple thoughts expressed by a dear believer now home with the Lord are well worth considering. You won't be asked what kind of car you drove, but you will be asked how many people who didn't have transportation you drove to their destination. You won't be asked the square footage of your house or the brand name of your furniture, but you will be asked how many people you welcomed into the hospitality and comfort of your home.
You won't be asked about the clothes you wore or how many outfits you had in your closet, but you will be asked how many destitute you helped clothe. You won't be asked what your highest salary was, but you will be asked if you compromised your Christian character or undermined others in order to obtain it.
You won't be asked what your job title was, but you will be asked if you performed your job to the best of your ability--if you did it "to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31), if you did it "in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17), and if you did "it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). You won't be asked how many friends you had, but you will be asked how many people there were to whom you were a friend (Luke 11:5-8).
You won't be asked what kind of neighbourhood you lived in, but you will be asked how you treated your neighbours and what kind of testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ you gave to them.
Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.
T.C.S. - Doug Nicolet - October 2007
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Nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Daniel 3:27
When the three Hebrews came out of the fiery furnace, they had lost only the cords that bound them. When we come through God's testing properly, all we lose are the shackles that tied us up earlier--we have been set free!
And the smell of the smoke does not linger; there is no odour from the suffering. Instead, we have been purified and the perfume of a new holiness is soon detected.
There is no lamenting over our losses or boasting of our survival--only the sweetness of a chastened spirit, the glow of gold refined after dross has been removed. Have you emerged from the furnace with no scorch, no shackles, no smell of the smoke? ALL THE DAYS - VANCE HAVNER
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower. William Cowper 1779
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Nothing can touch the truth or weaken the force of this verse. It stands in all its blessed fullness, freeness, and preciousness before the eye of faith; its terms are clear and unmistakable. There is our warrant for coming together to pray for anything that may be laid on our hearts.
Do we mourn over the coldness, barrenness, and death around us? Are we discouraged by the little apparent fruit from the preaching of the gospel--the lack of power in the preaching itself, and the total absence of practical result?
Are our souls cast down by the barrenness, dullness, heaviness, and low tone of all our reunions, whether at the table of the Lord, before the mercy-seat, or around the fountain of Holy Scripture?
What are we to do? Fold our arms in cold indifference? Give up in despair? Or give vent to complaining, murmuring, fretfulness, or irritation? God forbid! What then? Come together "with one accord in one place"; get down on our faces before our God, and pour out our hearts as the heart of one man, pleading Matthew 18:19.
The simple fact is there is no excuse whatever--so long as Christ is at the right hand of God, so long as God the Holy Spirit is in our midst and in our hearts--so long as we have the Word of God in out hands--so long--as Matthew 18:19 shines before our eyes--there is, we repeat, no excuse for barrenness, deadness, coldness, and indifference--no excuse for heavy and unprofitable meetings--no excuse whatever for lack of freshness in our reunions or of fruitfulness in our service. Let us wait on God in holy concord, and the blessing is sure to come. C. H. Mackintosh
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Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me, wherewith the Lord has afflicted Me in the day of His fierce anger. Lamentations 1:12
This is what death meant to the Lord Jesus Christ: made a curse; visited with the wrath of God against sin; in darkness, forsaken, and alone, He died for us. As another has said, “Utterly solitary He died that none of us might have to face death alone.” Or as we often sing,
“Crowned with thorns upon the tree;
Silent in thine agony;
Dying crushed beneath the load,
Of the wrath and curse of God.”
This was the heart-breaking anguish of His death. God left Him alone in the hour of His deepest suffering. Never in his day had David seen the righteous forsaken. The sorrowing One of Psalm 22 pleaded, “Our fathers trusted in Thee: they trusted and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee and were delivered: they trusted in Thee and were not confounded. But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men and despised of the people.” (Psalm 22:4-6).
The One who was the most faithful and the most beloved was the first to know the bitter sorrow of being left alone by God in the hour of His deep distress.
The Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
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It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for WELL DOING, than for evil doing. 1 Peter 3:17
So is the will of God, that with WELL DOING ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1 Peter 2:15
Let us not be weary in WELL DOING: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9
In Thy presence we are happy;
In Thy presence we’re secure;
In Thy presence all afflictions
We can easily endure;
In Thy presence we can conquer,
We can suffer, we can die;
Wandering from Thee we are feeble;
Let Thy love, Lord keep us nigh. W. Williams
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But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5,6
This brings us to the Cross, where the Lord endured vicariously the judgment that our sins deserved in order that through His stripes we might be healed. There on the tree He was the great sin offering and the peace offering, too— there He “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).
Surely here is substitutionary atonement.
Sometimes people object to this on the ground that the word “substitution” is not found in the Bible, but when one is in the place of another, when one is taking what another deserves, that is substitution, and here we have the plain, definite statement, “He hath borne our griefs . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”
The chastisement whereby our peace was made fell upon Him with the result: “with His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:4,5) H. A. Ironside - Isaiah -
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Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:20
A striking example of good and bad fruit is seen in the following incident. An uncle and nephew were travelling with a large sum of money over a wild and very thinly populated prairie land of America.
Nightfall came on, and the travellers had to look for a shelter. They discovered a log cabin, and knocked at the door. An old man with long shaggy beard and unkept appearance answered their call.They asked for accommodation, which was willingly accorded. They were shown into a room where they could sleep on the floor.
It was arranged that the uncle should lie down to rest, and the nephew should sit up with loaded revolver to make sure that their treasure was safe. Presently the uncle saw the nephew preparing to sleep. He reminded him of the vigil he had promised to keep.
The nephew replied, “There is no need to sit up with loaded revolver. We are perfectly safe here. I looked through the key hole to see what the old man was doing. I saw him take a Bible down from the shelf, and read a chapter to his wife. I then heard him pray for the blessing of God to rest on the travellers under his roof.”
Why I Believe The Bible - A. J. Pollock
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FIRE!!! For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16,17)
If you have seen the recent images of the widespread forest fires raging largely uncontrolled in Northern Quebec and Ontario, your first reaction has probably been: I would not want to be anywhere near those fires!” And what about the poor people who actually live in the paths of those steadily advancing fires? They were being warned to leave their homes and their belongings in order to escape the fire and be evacuated to safer areas. They would have been very foolish to refuse that way of escape.
In the Bible, God speaks of a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Revelation 19:20), and describes it as everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).
Do not be deceived by the lies of Satan, the devil, as he tries to make you believe that: “There is no God”, or that “There is no such thing as Heaven or Hell”, or “There is no such thing as sin” and “The Bible is just a myth”. Satan knows that God will eventually have him thrown into that lake of fire to be tormented there forever! And Satan wants you to end up there with him.
That lake of fire is God’s punishment for sin. You and I, and Satan himself, deserve that punishment for all the sins we have committed. But God, in His great love and mercy toward you and me, has provided a way of escape from that punishment. Michael Payette - Vision 2020 Message
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He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
Yes, Jesus, God’s own Son, who could not sin and never did, suffered all the punishment of God for sin, on Himself, in three hours on the cross. He died and shed His blood, then He was raised back to life, and went back to Heaven.
Jesus did all that so that you and I, by simply believing in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, could have our sins forgiven, and live forever with Jesus in Heaven.
Remember, God prepared that lake of fire for Satan, not for you. God does not want you to go there. He wants you to be saved from that punishment. But if you refuse God’s way of escape, that lake of fire will be where you end up.
If you read the verses above in bold type, you will notice that one is not condemned for being a sinner but for not having believed on the name of the Son of God! Today, right now, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31) Vision 2020 in 2023
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But joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Do you want comfort? Nothing can give it so much as the thought of Christ’s coming. There may be sorrow in the night, but joy enough—fulness of joy—in that morning when we shall see Him as He is: fulness of joy in being like Him and with Him for evermore.
It is very blessed to see the different thoughts the mind of Christ has, in different epistles, in connection with His coming.
First, in (Ephesians, 5:27) He presents to Himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, as the bride.
Second, in (Philippians 3:21), poor things groaning in vile bodies—He will work in them, and change the body of humiliation into a glorious body.
Third, in (Colossians 3:3), life hid in Him, to be manifested with Him in glory. In a little while, He who is your life shall come forth, and you with Him.
Fourth, in (1 John 3)., the relationship, formed by Christ, of sons to the Father, and He will treat them as sons, they shall behold Him and be like Him, He will show Himself to them as He is. Gleanings From The Teaching of G. V. Wigram.
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And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And He touched his ear, and healed him. (Luke 22:50,51).
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him. (John 18:12)
THE LAST THING THE LORD JESUS DID BEFORE HIS HANDS WERE BOUND WAS TO HEAL.
Have you ever asked yourself, if I knew this was the last thing I should do, what would I do? I have never found the answer to that question.
There are so very, very many things that we would want to do for those whom we love, that I do not think we are likely to be able to find the chief one of all these. So the best thing is just to go on simply, doing each thing as it comes as well as we can.
Our Lord Jesus spent much time in healing sick people, and in the natural course of events it happened that the last thing He did with His kind hands was to heal a bad cut.
(I wonder how they could have the heart to bind His hands after that.) In this, as in everything, He left us an example that we should follow His steps . (1 Peter 2:21)
Do the things that this next minute, this next hour, brings you, faithfully and lovingly and patiently; and then the last thing you do, before power to do is taken from you (if that should be), will be only the continuation of all that went before.
Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael
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The Patience of God
And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation. (2 Peter 3:15)
When you are stuck in traffic, it does no good to blow your horn. It’s a test of patience. Same in Emergency when it’s overloaded. Not helpful to rant loudly about the failing system; instead exhibit patience. As the saying goes, What can’t be cured, must be endured.
True Patience - “The Lord is not slack concerning His promises as some men count slackness, but is long suffering (patient), not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
How long has God been showing His patience? It’s been more than 2,000 years since the gospel of the Grace of God was first proclaimed; and now the message has been spread throughout the world.
What is God Waiting For? - He has clearly stated in His Book, the Bible, that there will be an end to this preaching, marking the end of His patience. Matthew 24:44: “Therefore, be also ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man comes.” So, why has God’s patience been extended for so long? Perhaps, He’s waiting for one more soul to repent of their sins and believe on His Son, Jesus Christ, for permanent salvation. Could it be that God is waiting for you?
Come to Jesus - Agree with God that you are a hopeless, helpless sinner. Others cannot help you and on your own, you can do nothing to gain favour with God, except cry to the Lord Jesus for rescue. He will surely hear a sincere and desperate call to lift your soul out of that “dead end” situation.
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)”
Lorne Perry for Vision 2020 in 2023
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Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves.
(Romans 12:19)
There are seasons when to be still demands immeasurably higher strength than to act. Composure is often the highest result of power. To the vilest and most deadly charges Jesus responded with deep, unbroken silence, such as excited the wonder of the judge and the spectators.
To the grossest insults, the most violent ill-treatment and mockery that might well bring indignation into the feeblest heart, He responded with voiceless complacent calmness. Those who are unjustly accused, and causelessly ill-treated know what tremendous strength is necessary to keep silence to God.
"Men may misjudge thy aim, Think they have cause to blame,
Say, thou art wrong; Keep on thy quiet way,
Christ is the Judge, not they, Fear not be strong.”
Paul said, "None of these things move me." (Acts 20:24)
He did not say, none of these things hurt me. It is one thing to be hurt, and quite another to be moved. Paul had a very tender heart. We do not read of any apostle who cried as Paul did. It takes a strong man to cry. Jesus wept, and He was the manliest Man that ever lived. So it does not say, none of these things hurt me.
But the apostle had determined not to move from what he believed was right. He did not count as we are apt to count; he did not care for ease; he did not care for this mortal life. He cared for only one thing, and that was to be loyal to Christ, to have His smile. To Paul, his work was wages, his smile was Heaven. Margaret Bottome
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Thy name is as ointment poured forth. Song of Solomon 1:3
Have you ever tried to get something out of a bottle without taking the cork out first? Some people remind me of bottles with the cork in.There is something truly good inside but it is corked up. It cannot get out for the help of others. Do you feel sometimes like a corked up bottle?
It is a stuffy uncomfortable sort of feeling, but some manage to get on like that for months on end, to their great loss, and the loss, of all who have to do with them. Dear corked up bottles do go and get uncorked!
There is only one who can take out the cork of self-love, or shyness, or sleepiness, or whatever it is that that keeps you from pouring out for others all you have been given.
He Who was always sweetness poured (“Thy Name is as ointment poured forth”), He can uncork your bottle, and then all you are and have will be used in the joyful service of others. Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways
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They reel to and fro . . . and are at their wits end. Psalm 107:27
Are you standing at “Wits’ End Corner” Christian, with troubled brow? Are you thinking of what is before you, and all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you, and you in the battle alone? Remember—at “Wits’ End Corner” is just where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wits’ End Corner,“ your work before you spread, All begun, lying unfinished and pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it, stretching out trembling hands? Remember—at ‘Wits’ End Corner,“ the Burden-Bearer stands.
Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”, yearning for those you love, Longing, and praying, and watching, pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus, wond’ring if you’ve been true? He whispers at “Wits’ End Corner,” I’ll win them, as I won you!”
Are you standing at “Wits’ End Corner?” Then you’re just in the very spot, To learn the wondrous resources of Him who faileth not!
No doubt, to a brighter pathway your footsteps will soon be moved, But only at “Wits’ End Corner” is the “God who is able” proved!
Antoinette Wilson
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1 The Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, King of Israel; (Proverbs 1:1-4)
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtility to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
There are ten words used in this brief introductory portion.
“Every word of God is pure.” (30:5) so these terms throughout are employed with admirable precision.
The “wisdom” of verse 2 is “skilfulness”—the ability to use knowledge aright.
“Instruction” is to teach by discipline.
“Understanding” (intelligence) learning through the unhappy experiences of others or of oneself. “Wisdom” (righteousness) “right behaviour.” “judgment” to try the things that differ. “Equity” uprightness, or moral integrity.
“Subtility” (prudence), “craftiness”. “Wise as serpents” answers to it in the New Testament. “Knowledge” is information of a sound character. “Discretion” is thoughtfulness, a characteristic in which the young are generally lacking, but which becomes manifest in one who feeds upon the Word of God.
In these words we have the description of a well-rounded character, and it is important to remember that the study and practice of God’s truth alone can produce it. To the young man this part of Holy Scripture especially appeals therefore, giving him needed furnishing for his path through the world. Proverbs - H. A. Ironside
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Wherefore God also hath highly 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. Philippians 2:9-11
“Every knee should bow.” I write in a land, where all around are those who put another name above the Name JESUS: nor will they bow to that worthy Name, for they will not acknowledge Him as GOD. But the day is coming when every one of them shall in virtue of the Name JESUS bow his knees. And those who hate that precious Name, whether dead or living, each one of them will also bow.
And those knees that have only bowed to idols will, in the coming day, bow to that Name supreme-above every name.
Yes, and the infidels and the scoffers, it matters not how bold they are now: and “the fearful”, those who do not now bow for fear of the laugh of a fellow-mortal: each one of these shall surely bow. Notice, it does not bunch them together, and say “all the knees shall bow.” It looks at them each individually, ”every knee shall bow.” Sacrifices Of Joy - Philippians G. Christopher Willis
N.J.Hiebert - 9285
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28
The above passage does not allow for the kind of self-examination which is really based upon a system of doubts and fears and has no warrant whatsoever in the Word of God. This self-judgment is a sacred Christian exercise of the most salutary character. It is based upon the most unclouded confidence as to our salvation and acceptance in Christ. The Christian is to judge self because he is, and not to see if he is a Christian. This makes all the difference.
Were I to examine myself for a thousand years, I should never find myself to be anything other than a ruined, vile thing which God has set aside and which I am called to reckon as “dead”. How could I ever expect to get any comfortable evidence by any such examination? Impossible!
The Christian’s evidences are not to be found in his ruined self, but in the risen Christ; and the more he can get done with self and occupied with Christ, the happier and holier he will be.
The Christian judges himself, his ways, his habits, his thoughts, his words, and his actions, because he believes he is a Christian, not because he doubts it. If he doubts, he is not fit to judge anything.
It is as knowing and enjoying the eternal stability of God’s grace, the divine efficacy of the blood of Jesus, and the all-prevailing power of his advocacy, that the true believer judges himself. The human idea of self-examination is founded upon unbelief. The divine idea of self-judgment is founded upon confidence in Christ.
C. H. Mackintosh -
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Ye shall fear (reverence) every man his mother.
Leviticus 19:3
No one can adequately estimate a mother’s influence in the household and over her children either for good or ill. The first book every child reads, and the last to be laid aside, is the conduct of his or her mother.
A godly mother will feel her need of private prayer that God may give her daily wisdom, so that by her words, by example, and by the whole current of her life she may be a model of what she would wish her children to be.
Nor will she fail to arrange the affairs of the household that the reading of the Scriptures and family prayers will not fall through for want of time. Even where there is great pressure a little effort can do much. A few minutes spent together in the sanctuary of God’s presence may yield gracious help all day.
A wise mother will be careful not to give her children thoughtless commands, but when a command is given she will kindly but firmly insist on prompt obedience. She will not hastily threaten, but first ask herself whether she intends to carry out her threat if disobeyed. If not, she will see it to be much better not to threaten at all.
A sensible mother will never correct her child until she is sure the child deserves correction. The child’s story will first be heard—the whole of it—and if scolding is needed, it will be given, but not in the presence of others if it can be helped. Nor should a child ever be deceived, and when a promise is made it should be faithfully kept.
There are many worries, cares and anxieties in a mother’s life that are not always sufficiently considered, and which even the husband and father may know nothing of. But a little sympathy or an appreciative word by her husband will do wonders. The Lord is Near - 1995
N.J.Hiebert - 9287
“Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him, and led Him away.”
(John 18:12)
Thus was it, so far, with the Lord. And as we still follow Him, we still trace the way of the Son of God, the Lord from heaven. Whether we listen to Him with the officers, or with the high priest, or before Pilate, it is still in the same tone of holy distance from all that was around Him. They may do to Him whatsoever they list—He is as a stranger to it. He is not careful to answer them in their matters. He would pass through all in loneliness.
The daughters of Jerusalem do not here either yield Him their sympathy, or receive His; nor does a dying thief share that hour with Him. He is the lonely One all through that dreary way. Peter is found in the way of the ungodly, warming himself among them, as one who had only the resources which they had. Another (perhaps John himself) takes his place as the acquaintance of the high priest, and gets his advantage as such.
But all this was a sinking down into mere nature, and leaving the Son of God alone—as He had said to them, “Ye . . . shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” (John 16:32) J. G. Bellett
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Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness.”
Hebrews 12:12-14
In verse 12 we are exhorted not to let our hands hang down. There is no reason why it should be so.
Though you are under the scourge there is not one single reason why your hands should hang down or your knees be feeble; for the Spirit has shown you yourself first in company with Christ and then with your Father who loves you. Is there any reason why you should travel as if you did not know the road? This is a beautiful conclusion.
We all know how the hands will hang down; but I set my seal to every word of this and say, “Truth, Lord.” There is no reason that we should be faint-hearted. Then having come to that he looks round. Do not let your own hands hang down; and in connection with others follow peace—in connection with God follow holiness.
“What communion hath light with darkness—what concord hath Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Musings on the Epistle to the Hebrews - J. G. Bellett
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WEATHER WATCHERS
He that observeth the winds shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4
If a farmer waited until he was sure of the weather he would never raise a crop. He has to reckon with the weather and contend with it, but he cannot be sure of it. So every year he makes a venture of faith.
We cannot let the wind and clouds of circumstance determine our course. We cannot grow a harvest for God with one eye on the weather. Just as with the farmer, circumstances are to be considered, and we shall not foolishly disregard them. But we must not let them be the main factors in making our decisions.
Too many saints live fearfully from one “weather report” to another, scanning the skies and watching the clouds, conscious of “conditions“ rather than of Christ. Faith goes ahead in fair weather and foul. It breaks up the fallow ground, sows the seed, cultivates the crop, and gathers the harvest.
There may be pests and floods and droughts, but the Lord of the Harvest will see to it that our labour is not in vain. Day by Day with Vance Havner
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Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends.
John 15:13,14
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O, what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a Friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness—Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour, still our refuge,—take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.
Joseph M. Scriven (1819—1886)
N.J.Hiebert - 9291
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. 1 John 3:14
Sorrows and trials are not only like the sand and grit that polish a stone, but I shall be made to taste, through the trouble, what Christ is to me.
If an angel from heaven were to come to my bedside, and tell me that Christ was occupied with me, as a member of His body, should I be more certain of that love than I am?
It is no delusion but a fact, that Christ loves me, and will love me right on to the end; and He will not cease making me know it till He gets me into the Father’s house to be eternally in the full fruition of it.
What a happy people we should be if we were mirrors reflecting Christ, in the perfect consciousness of our weakness, but looking at Christ in heaven, bearing up amidst all the evil that is coming in like a flood, because He is up there!
Gleanings From the Teaching of - G. V. Wigram
N.J.Hiebert - 9292
posted by soundwords at
July 01, 2023
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