Gems from June 2024
June 1
“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6
Some thoughts to consider as prepared by Ralph Klassen.
- To lead others to Jesus, you must first learn to follow Him.
- There are no dead ends on the road of obedience to God.
- Spiritual growth requires the solid food of God’s Word.
- Some people go through life standing at the complaint counter.
- What we know of God encourages us to trust Him in all we don’t know.
N.J.Hiebert — 9596
“Remember them which have the rule (leaders) over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God… Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls… Salute all them that have the rule over you.
(Hebrews 13:7,17,24)
It is a fatal mistake to speak against the very feeblest and humblest of God’s servants. If the servant does wrong — if he is in error, if he has failed in everything — the Lord Himself will deal with him; but let the fellow-servants beware how they attempt to take the matter into their hands, lest they be found like Miriam (Numbers 12:1), meddling to their own hurt.
If we have not been able to discover the good thing in our brother and fellow-servant; if our eye has only detected the crooked thing; if we have not succeeded in finding the vital spark amid the ashes — the precious gem among the surrounding rubbish; if we have only seen what was of mere nature, why, then let us with a loving and delicate hand, draw the curtain of silence around our brother, or speak of him only at the throne of grace. “Speak evil of no man” (Titus 3:2) (Food for the Desert)
N.J.Hiebert - 9597
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”
(1 Timothy 4:6)
The seducing spirits, of which the Holy Spirit speaks, sought to exalt man with the sense of religious importance and sanctity. The true servant seeks to exalt Christ by ministering the truth.
To be a good servant of Jesus Christ, it is not enough to know the truth, and hold the truth; we need to be nourished by the truth, and, in practice, to follow up fully the truth. Our own souls must be fed if we are to feed others.
We must be nourished, not simply in the words of teachers, however true, but “with with the words of the faith” which convey to us “the good teaching” of Christianity and, if followed up, will produce a practical effect in our lives, preserving us from the evils of the latter times. (Hamilton Smith)
N.J.Hiebert - 9598
"And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them
(Exodus 3:7,8)
"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."
(John 3:16)
One thing that is brought before us in Exodus 3 is the compassionate love of God. We find Him coming down; and what has brought Him down? Oh, He has heard some sighs, some groans; He has looked upon some burdened ones, and He has been moved with pity, and has come down to deliver. Well, we know how fully that is seen in God coming down to this poor world- sin-stricken and under the burden and bondage of corruption, where there is a continual groaning going on. We know what led Him to come down; that is, it was the compassion of His love - "God so loved." (W. Potter)
N.J.Hiebert — 9599
"Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:3)
A young boy became excessively fearful during the great New York blackout of 1977. When his parents questioned him, he confessed that at the exact moment the lights went out he had kicked a powerline pole. As darkness engulfed the city, he thought he was to blame and would be punished
That kind of cause-effect thinking must have triggered the disciple's question about the man who had been born blind."Who sinned?" they asked. "This man or his parents?" Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
All sickness, of course, originated when sin entered the world. But our Lord's response reveals that not all disabilities and sicknesses are due to moral failure in a person's life. Sometimes excesses and abuses lead to a breakdown of one's health. But when the cause is not obvious and we have confessed and forsaken our sins, we must accept our situation and ask God to work through it for our good.
God can be glorified in sickness just as He can through a miracle of healing. When we suffer, it's always wise to take spiritual inventory. But when God gives us no answers, we can still trust Him because we know that He is good. - DJD
My prayer is a simple one, Lord:
Whatever is best for me, do;
In sickness and health I desire
What brings the most glory to You. - Fasick
God's love for us cannot be measured by the degree of our health.
"Our Daily Bread, BC Ministries, copyright 1993, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.
N.J.Hiebert — 9600
"Who His Own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
(1 Peter 2:24)
The cross is a low place, a thing that strains all the pride of man. Have you ever known what it is to be brought down to death's door from conflict? I have known what it is - passing week after week and never closing the eyes, simply because
I wanted to do something, and Christ had done it all.
Peace came to me in that cross, God saying, "My Son bore all your sin in His own body on that tree." What a thought! that the anointed Saviour, (two thousand years ago), suffered everything for me, and that it was only my own horrid self-will, wanting to do something, which kept me from getting peace in Him.
It was not the suffering earth gave Him, not the nails, the spear - but something deeper far; the wrath of God was born by Him, nailed to that cross, when He cried out, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" You cannot find the cross itself on earth now, but the record of it is in heaven. God is constantly reminded of it, by the presence of the Lamb that was slain, at His right hand. (G.V. Wgram)
N.J.Hiebert — 9601
"Let us pass over unto the other side." (Mark 4:35)
Even when we go forth at Christ's command, we need not expect to escape storms; for these disciples were going forth at Christ's command, yet they encountered the fiercest storm and were in great danger of being overwhelmed, so that they cried out in their distress for Christ's assistance.
Though Christ may delay His coming in our time of distress, it is only that our faith may be tried and strengthened, and that our prayers may be more intense, and that our desires for deliverance may be increased, so that when the deliverance does come we will appreciate it more fully.
Christ gave them a gentle rebuke, saying, "Where is your faith?" Why did you not shout victory in the very face of the storm, and say to the raging winds and rolling waves, "You can do no harm, for Christ, the mighty Saviour is on board"?
It is much easier to trust when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging.
We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm; and that is the reason why the Saviour is on board.
If you are ever to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, your strength will be born in some storm. - Selected
"With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.
Christ said, "Let us go to the other side"
- not to the middle of the lake to be drowned. - Dan Crawford.
N.J.Hiebert — 9602
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew Him not." (1 John 3:1)
The young believer revels in this - I was a lost sinner, at enmity with God, and now I am called a son of God, a child in God's family. Here is marvellous love indeed "that brings a poor, vile sinner into His house of wine." It, however, is not only for the young, because the more we mature in the things of the Lord, the more we marvel at the wonders of His love. No matter how old we are in the faith, may we never look on His love in any lesser degree. (Reg L. Jordan)
Behold what love, what boundless love, the Father hath bestowed
On sinners lost, that we should be now called the sons of God.
(M.S. Sullivan)
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"The Lord shall count, when HE writeth up the people, that this man was born there." (Psalm 87:6)
"Tychicus... a beloved brother, faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord... Onesimus, a faithful servant and beloved brother... Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner... Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas. Justus... Epaphras... a servant of Christ...Luke, the beloved physician and Demas. Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.. Archippus. The salutations by the hand of me Paul. (Colossians 4:7-18)
We are all going to be written up. That process is going on now. In the close of the epistle to the Colossians we get a little foreshadowing of that kind of thing… we are given a few remarks about some of the brethren.
These remarks are the estimate that the Apostle Paul by the Spirit of God put upon them. No two of these men are characterized alike. Each one has that that is distinctly his.
No two of us are expected to be duplicates. The Spirit of God has been pleased to put these records here that we might pick up a bit of profit from them.
If the Lord tarries and you live for several more years, what kind of a record will God be able to write of you at that time? If the Apostle Paul were going to close one of his epistles and wanted to mention you, what kind of a record would he be able to give? For example, Tychicus has a nice recommendation. Here is a "beloved brother." There was something about that man that made him very dear to the heart of Paul. He was a beloved brother.
There are some brethren whom we can scarcely speak of without using that word.
We always think of them as beloved brothers. Perhaps there are others about whom we would not be so ready to speak in that way. Of course, we are all beloved of the Father, but that is not the side of things in the scriptures noted. It is not what we are in Christ, but what is manifested in our practical everyday life. (C.H. Brown)
N.J.Hiebert — 9604
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
We sing of the realms of the blest,
That country so bright and so fair,
The glorious mansions of rest—
But what must it be to be there?
We tell of its service of love;
The robes which the glorified wear;
The church of the Firstborn above—
But what must it be to be there?
We tell of its freedom from sin,
From sorrow, temptation, and care,
From trials without and within—
But what must it be to be there?
Do Thou, Lord, ‘midst pleasure and woe,
Still for heaven our spirits prepare;
And shortly we also shall know
And feel what it is to be there.
(Elizabeth Mills)
So wrote Elizabeth Mills a few weeks before she was taken
“there.” This hymn was suggested by a remark someone
made to her few weeks before her death. This remark was,
“We speak of heaven, but oh to be there!” At only 24 years
of age she learned what it must be to be there! She was
married to Thomas Mills, a Member of Parliament - England.
N.J.Hiebert - 9605
"Think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
- How consistently we see in the history of God's people that those who were great in their littleness became little in their greatness.
- The minute the words of our lips are beyond our spiritual condition, we are in the place of danger.
- If personal communion be not diligently maintained, the higher our position, the greater our danger and the more disastrous our fall. (C.H. Mackintosh)
- Beware of a half truth. It may be the wrong half.
- Everyone of us gets as much of Christ as we want, and our lives show how much we want. (H.E. Hayhoe)
- John did not draw near to get the Lord's mind, but because he was leaning on His bosom, he got the mind of the Lord. (T.C.N. - Things to Think About)
N.J.Hiebert — 9606
"Slothfulness (laziness) casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15)
Even before Adam sinned, he had responsibility. He was called to till and keep the garden (Eden), planted exceptionally by Jehovah Elohim with every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. When fallen, as the ground was cursed on his account, he had to eat of it all the days of his life with toil. Thorns and thistles it yielded unbidden, so that man had to eat bread in the sweat of his face all his diminishing life.
Slothfulness therefore ill became his position, and all the more when he faced adversity through his own fault. The sun arises, and the wild beasts get away to their dens, but man goeth forth to his work till the evening; and, as he is, it is well ordered for him. But slothfulness traverses all, and casts into a deep sleep while it is day, and pays the penalty. If any will not work, neither let him eat. The idle soul
shall suffer hunger. (William Kelly - The Proverbs)
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“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation . . . worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. …and they fell down and worshiped Him that liveth forever and ever.
Revelation 5:9-14
We’ll sing of the Shepherd that died
That died for the sake of the flock :
His love to the utmost was tried,
But firmly endured as a rock.
2 When blood from a victim must flow,
This Shepherd by pity was led
To stand between us and the foe,
And willingly died in our stead.
3 Our song, then, for ever shall be
Of the Shepherd who gave Himself thus;
No subject's so glorious as He,
No theme so affecting to us.
4 Of Him and His love will we sing,
His praises our tongues shall employ
Till heavenly anthems we bring
In yonder bright regions of joy. (T. Kelly)
N.J.Hiebert — 9608
"Consider the lilies of the field..." (Matthew 6:28)
NOT ARTIFICIAL MAN MADE lilies of the hothouse, but lilies of the open field exposed to wind and rain. They may not look as good, sometimes frayed and torn by tempest, too much sun or too much rain, bedraggled maybe, but real lilies.
Some Christians who have wrestled long with the powers of darkness and suffered the pressures of this age may not be as elegant as manufactured varieties or sheltered souls who have not been in the thick of the fight. Paul was perhaps not an impressive sight physically. Some of the things he wrote indicate such limitations.
Compared to some of the scribes in all their fancy garb, he looked like the itinerant
battle-scarred veteran - this Gospel vagabond on the earth - that he was. The list he gives us of what he had been through (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) would make that abundantly clear. We need more lilies of the field out in the wind and weather.
(Vance Havner - All the Days)
N.J.Hiebert — 9609
"It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God."
(Luke 4:4)
It is the written Word Jesus ever uses, and Satan is powerless. What amazing importance Jesus gives the Scriptures! God now acts by the Word, and Satan is resisted morally in this way. A man cannot be touched by Satan while the Word is simply used in obedience. "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth Him not" (1 John 5:18).
It was not as an exercise of divine authority He dismissed Satan, but the enemy is proved unable to grapple with obedience to the Word of God. If he cannot take out of the path of obedience, he has no power. What more simple? Every child of God has the Holy Spirit acting by the Word to keep him. (J.N. Darby - The Man of Sorrows)
N.J.Hiebert — 9610
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)
Just a word about "your own salvation." The farmer very likely gets the hired man to cultivate his corn and soybeans for him. But you and I cannot do that. We must each cultivate our own salvation. It is like the shield of faith: each must carry his own shield. You remember Goliath had a man that went before him to carry his shield (1 Samuel 17:41) and it cost him his life. So, in the same way, self-judgment and communion are terribly individual things, into which another can scarcely enter.
(G. Christopher Willis - Sacrifices of Joy Being Meditations on Philippians)
N.J.Hiebert — 9611
"The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God."
(Galatians 2:20)
It is by faith that God is honoured. It is enough for Satan if he succeeds in frightening us away from the pure and simple path of faith. Faith acts on God's behalf, and reveals Him in the midst of circumstances, instead of being governed by them. Its superiority over that which surrounds it is evident. What repose to witness this amid the mire of this poor world. It is characteristic of faith to reckon on God, not simply spite of difficulty, but spite of impossibility. (J.N. Darby)
N.J.Hiebert — 9612
"In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
The WORD never had a beginning. The SON is as truly eternal as the FATHER. To teach otherwise is to deny the very foundations of our faith. HE could not have beginning, for HE HIMSELF is the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13)
But it is not merely that HE was eternally in the Godhead. Scripture is equally insistent regarding His distinct Personality. This is implied in the expression “The WORD was with God.” We are told of Wisdom, in Proverbs 8:27, "When He prepared the heavens I was there." And again in verse 30, "I was by Him as One brought up with Him." The Eternal Wisdom and the Eternal Word are one and the same.
Throughout all the ages of the past CHRIST was a distinct Personality in the Godhead. There was communion between the FATHER and the SON.
But this does not imply the inferiority of the SON. Full Deity was HIS: "The WORD was GOD."Just as truly as the FATHER was GOD and the HOLY SPIRIT was GOD, so the WORD was GOD. More than this could not be said.
(H.A. Ironside - Gospel of John)
N.J.Hiebert — 9613
"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged."
(Colossians 3:21)
Father's should be gentle in order that the children's affections may not be estranged from them, and that they may not be induced to seek that happiness in the world which they ought to find in the domestic circle which God has formed as a safeguard for those who are growing up in weakness.
It is most important that warm affections be cultivated and intimacy maintained between fathers and their children, especially as the children grow up and become exposed to the influences of the world and distance easily comes in between the hearts of children and the parents.
While not neglecting firm discipline, parents, especially fathers, should embrace every opportunity of showing love to their children and thus win their filial affections and confidence. Impress upon them by deeds that they are loved, but at the same time that parental authority must be obeyed. These two things are most important. (R.K Campbell - The Christian Home)
N.J.Hiebert — 9614
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
The Father, from eternity, chose us, O Jesus Christ, in Thee, In Thee, His well belovèd: and we, as given to Thee—Thy bride, In Thee, Lord Jesus, can confide: Thy love remains unmovèd. From Thee daily strength receiving—to Thee cleaving, Blessèd Jesus! may we all shew forth Thy praises.
Before the world we’d make our boast, that Thou, in whom is all our trust,Art Lord of life and glory; and soon Thou’lt bring us to that place Where we shall see Thee face to face, and glorified adore Thee. Amen!—be then praise and blessing—never ceasing to Thee given Here, and when we come to heaven.
Nicolai, 1598
N.J.Hiebert —9615
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25
Give me Thy strength for my day, Lord,
That wheresoever I go,
There shall no danger daunt me
And I shall fear no foe;
So shall no task o’ercome me,
So shall not trial fret,
So shall I walk unwearied
The path where my feet are set;
So shall I find no burden
Greater than I can bear,
So shall I have a courage
Equal to all my care;
So shall no grief o’erwhelm me,
So shall no wave o’erflow;
Give me Thy strength for my day, Lord,
Cover my weakness so.
Annie Johhnson Flint’s—Best loved poems
N.J.Hiebert - 9616
Ho, every one that thirsteth, COME ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; COME ye, buy, and eat; yea, COME buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)
Here, every thirsty, needy, penniless one is invited to come. It is the desire of the loving heart of God that he should come—come now—come just as he is and drink at the living fountain of water, so freely opened by the hand of redeeming love.
There is no hindrance. Grace has removed every difficulty out of the way. The very fact of God’s sending forth the invitation to come, proves that He has taken away every barrier. He would not, He could not say “come” if the way were not perfectly opened—perfectly free.
And not only so, but we may rest assured that when God says “come,” He means what He says. He expresses the language of His heart. In a word, not only is the way open, but God earnestly desires that every thirsty, needy, helpless soul that reads these lines should come now and drink—come and draw water out of those wells of salvation which are freely opened to every creature under heaven. Christian Truth.
N.J.Hiebert — 9617
"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT.”
PSALM 23:1
IT IS OF THE LORD’S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.” LAMENTATIONS 3:22,23
- I shall not want want REST. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”
- I shall not want DRINK. “He leadeth me beside the still waters.”
- I shall not want FORGIVENESS. “He restoreth my soul.”
- I shall not want GUIDANCE. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.”
- I shall not want COMPANIONSHIP. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”
- I shall not want COMFORT. “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
- I shall not want FOOD. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”
- I shall not want JOY. “Thou anointest my head with oil.”
- I shall not want ANYTHING. “My cup runneth over.”
- I shall not want ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
- I shall not want ANYTHING IN ETERNITY. “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
FAITH NEVER YET OUTSTRIPPED THE BOUNDY OF THE LORD.
C.H SPURGEON
N.J.HIEBERT - 9618
"I know, O Lord, ... that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." (Psalm 119:75)
His love for His child is unchanging,
Although it seem veiled in a cloud;
`Tis only with purpose of blessing,
Affliction is ever allowed.
God's instrument oft is affliction,
For molding and training His own;
But all through the trial and testing,
His love and His mercy are shown.
(Anon)
N.J.Hiebert — 9619
"Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee;
but the night shineth as the day;
the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. (Psalm 139:12)
At eighty-four, Amelia Barr was at work on her sixty-sixth book. Her secret for such activity is quiet and darkness. All forms of life need them. The plant cannot bloom continuously; it must lie its time in the earth in quiet and darkness. Trees have their winter rest. All animals must sleep.
The human being cannot maintain efficient life unless it retreats daily into sleep, back to nothingness, cessation, stillness. When we lie down at night in sleep all the invisible workmen of the body set about their task, cleaning, repairing, restoring, adjusting, just as the cleaners go over a locomotive when it comes in from its run. These workers operate only in quiet and darkness.
It is the same with the mind. Keep constantly on the go and your thoughts get clogged, you have confusion, imperfect judgment, awkwardness. Most of the worries that beset us would vanish of themselves if we would take a rest in quietness and darkness. Evil, fevered, extravagant, hurtful ideas and beliefs are bi-products of too much activity; they dissolve in quiet and darkness.
Never mind whether you sleep or not, just be still. It is in quiet and darkness you hear those still, small voices your life misses in the hurly-burly. It is there you find God. (Traveling Towards Sunrise - Mrs. Charles E. Cowman)
N.J.Hiebert — 9620
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." (Philippians 3:7,8)
How few of us understand anything of this! How few of us grasp the meaning of the words the real force of the expression, "That I may win Christ."! Most of us rest satisfied with thinking of Christ as God's gift to sinners. We do not aim at winning Him as our prize, by the surrender of all those things which nature loves and values.
The two things are quite distinct. As poor, miserable, guilty, hell-deserving sinners, we are not asked to do, or to give, or to surrender anything. We are invited, yes, commanded, to take - take freely - take all. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.“ “The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “If thou knewest the gift of God, …thou wouldest have asked of Him.”
But, then there is the other side of the question. What did Paul mean by winning Christ? He wanted to win Christ as his prize, even at the cost of all beside. He longed to know Him not merely as the One who had put away his sins, but as the One who could satisfy all the longings of his soul, and utterly displace all that earth could offer or nature grasp. (The Young Believer)
N.J.Hiebert — 9621
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
(Luke 23:34)
Those who sat around the cross to watch the Saviour die thought that His death was His utter and irretrievable defeat. Our Lord had said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” (John 16:20)
The cross for the time destroyed all the hopes for the chosen disciples, they forsook Him and fled. They mourned and wept, hiding away for fear of the Jews. Some were so filled with black despair that even the report of His resurrection did not sufficiently interest them to take them to the grave to see for themselves. They turned their backs sadly on Jerusalem and went home to Emmaus.
The companionable Stranger who walked with them made their hearts burn within them as He opened to them the Scriptures. Complete despair so filled their spirits that they even told this Stranger of the witness of the angels to the women at the grave, and ended with the hopeless words, “But Him they saw not.” A Plant of Renown—Leonard Sheldrake.
His be “the Victor’s name,” who fought the fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honour claim, His conquest was their own.
By weakness and defeat, He won the meed and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath His feet by being trodden down.
Bless, bless the Conqueror slain, slain in His victory;
Who lived, who died, who lives again — for thee His church, for thee!
Whitlock Gandy
N.J.Hiebert — 9622
"I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)
When walking in lowliness we are not likely to wound other people, and when walking in meekness we shall not allow ourselves to be offended should they happen to treat us in an unseemly manner. Is it not just the absence of these graces that cause so much fevered restlessness in our lives? We want to do the work of the man with ten talents when God has gifted us with only one; to occupy a prominent position in public when He intends us to fill a lowly place in private. Let us never forget that "when God intends a creature to fly He always provides it with wings", that if He has fitted one for publicity and prominence, the gift with which He has
endowed that one will inevitably make room for itself. "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." (Proverbs 18:16) And the strong probability is that, did we but know the perils which surround those who occupy high positions and the fierce conflict which those have to wage who lead the van in Christian warfare, we would cease envying them and commence praying for them, and be thankful and content that we are filling, in lowly obscurity, the niche which God intends us to fill.
As the storm that makes
The high elm crouch and rends the oak
The humble lily spares - so, a thousand blows
That shake the lofty monarch on his throne
We lesser folk feel not. Keen are the pains
Advancement often brings. To be secure
Be humble; to be happy be content."
(The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson)
N.J.Hiebert — 9623
"He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the
wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39)
O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guard and guide me through the storm;
Defend me from each threatening ill;
Control the waves;
"Peace be still."
Amid the roaring of the sea
My soul still hangs her hope on Thee;
Thy constant love, Thy faithful care,
Are all that save me from despair
(Anon)
N.J.Hiebert — 9624
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2
Too Late! .
You‘re running through the airport, racing to catch your connecting flight; only to find that the gate is closed and you can see the aircraft rolling back. Too late! a sinking feeling of desperation, for which there is no remedy in sight.
Be in time — Life is like that. Most everyone who believes there is SOMETHING after death, feels it is up to them to live according to the standards God has set in place, and thus secure a place in paradise. But a basic belief in God doesn’t give us the right to set the conditions for our acceptance into heaven.That is up to God.
Who can measure how much time we have before death intervenes? And at that point the opportunity to accept God’s gracious offer is over. It is a matter of urgency. Thankfully, God has given us a book called THE HOLY BIBLE which imparts His thoughts about these things. Although it is a thick book, the message boils down to a few key principles.
From beginning to end it is about God’s Son, Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament there are dozens of prophecies about Him, and then the New Testament unfolds the story of His birth, death, resurrection, His glories and His message of invitation. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
Lorne for Vision 2020 in 2024 (PART 1)
N.J.Hiebert — # 9625
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
The Old Testament shows how impossible it is for any person to measure up to God’s standard. The New Testament makes clear the one and only way to be ready for heaven; through relying on and trusting in the work of Christ at Calvary when His blood was shed to pay for the sins of all who would believe. “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The dividing line between Old and New Testaments is remarkable. Everything before is about death and judgment, everything after is about the love and grace of God as expressed in His Son. The cross of Christ is the great dividing line. “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28).
We could go on listing more of the basic principles imparted in the Bible, but these are sufficient for now. Jesus has given us a direct, personal message of invitation: “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Come believing, while there is still time. Don’t put off the decision until it’s Too Late. Lorne for Vision 2020 in 2024 (PART 2)
N.J.Hiebert—9626
“One thing have I desired . . . to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
Jesus! Thou art enough the mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life — to calm the soul, Thy love — its fear dispel.
O fix our earnest gaze so wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied, we elsewhere none may see.
The perfection of the Christian life is to lose sight of oneself completely and to make everything of Christ.
The sign of a good state of soul is enjoyment of the presence of Christ. Everything that takes your eye off Christ is a snare of the devil.
The one object of the Christian life is to learn more of Himself, and Satan cannot find entrance into a heart that is full of Christ.
We are not to rejoice so much in the deliverances when they come as in the One who delivers us.
The deeper the sense of the state from which we have been delivered the more absorbingly intense our affection for the Deliverer.
Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennett
N.J.Hiebert — 9627
posted by soundwords at
June 01, 2024
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