Gems from January 2026

Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.  

John 10:17-18 

He was free, and yet under commandment. Strange all this, again I admit, to reasonings and unbelief, but perfect in the judgment of faith.

The Son of God died on the tree, where the wicked hand of man had nailed Him, and  the eternal purpose and grace of God had appointed Him.  There He died, and died because He was there.  The Lamb was slain.  Who would think of of gainsaying such a thought?  Wicked hands murdered Him, and God provided Him as His own Lamb for the altar.  Who would touch for a moment so needed and precious a mystery?  And yet the Lamb gave up His own life.

No exhaustion under the suffering, no pressure of the cross, led Him to the death; but His life He yielded of Himself.  In token of being in full possession of that which he was rendering up,  "He cried with a loud voice," and then "gave up the ghost." (Mark 15:37).  The history of the moment admits of no other thought; and I will add, neither should the worshipping affections of the saints.

Pilate marvelled that He was dead already; he would not believe it;  He had to satisfy himself of it.  No time had been passed on the cross sufficient to extort the life, so that the legs of the others had to be broken.  But He was dead already,  and Pilate must make inquiry, and call for the witness, ere he would believe it.    The Son of God - J. G. Bellett

N.J. Hiebert - 10172

December 31

. . . Jesus said, let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me...She hath done what she could.  Mark 14:6,8

A striking storey of W W II was recounted by an airman who was part of a crew that flew a B-17 bomber over Germany during that awful conflict.  The particular bombing run which he recounted was targeted over the German city of Kassel.

As usual, the flak from German antiaircraft weapons was heavy and terrible.  The shells most often used were 20mm,  armour piercing shells with explosive charges in their tips.  If they hit an aircraft in the right place the exploding charge would set off a far greater explosion, destroying the aircraft.  During the raids, many allied bombers were lost after being hit by these shells.  Yet, on this particular mission, though the shells actually pierced the fuel tanks of the bomber the airman was in, strangely, the aircraft did not explode.  It was able to complete its mission and get back to its base before it ran out of fuel.

The pilot later told his aircrew the amazing story of that particular bombing run.  The morning following the bombing run, he had requested that the air crew ground chief who was in charge of repairing the bomber's fuel tanks would give him one of the enemy shells as a souvenir of the what seemed a miracle.  It was them the pilot learned that eleven shells had been found in the fuel tanks!  All eleven shells were un-exploded even though just one should have caused the bomber to explode in flames.

The shells had been sent to the armorers to have their explosive tips defused, but then, Allied intelligence men had taken them away.   Eventually the pilot received word that when the armorers opened each of the shells to defuse them, they found no explosive charges in any of shell tips.  All eleven shell tips were empty.

Yet, not all of the shells were really empty!  They found one shell which contained in its hollow tip a carefully rolled piece of paper with a note scrawled on it in the Czech language.  The Allied intelligence people located a man who could read Czech and was able to decipher the note.  It caused the whole bomber crew to marvel!  The translated note read: This is all we can do for you for now.  TCS - July 2013

N.J. Hiebert - 10173

January 1

The night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer,
Paul.  Acts 23:11 

Some think Paul should not have gone up to Jerusalem on this visit.  Some think he should not have taken a vow as he was advised to do.  Still others think that his behaviour on trial compares poorly with that of our Lord.  Be all that as it may, the Lord knew Paul's heart and so stood by him to cheer him up and to assure him that he would witness also in Rome.

God does not measure us by by isolated incidents.  "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart"  (1 Samuel 16:7).  A good man may blunder and fall far below the standard, but God looks at the real motive, the general purpose of the heart.  Some may do exceedingly well at times whose true heart is undependable.  Others may fail at times, but their inmost self is right with God.  God knew that Paul meant business with those who mean business.  God knew that Paul meant business, and that is what counts with Him.    Day by Day with Vance Havner  

When we walk with the Lord in the Light of His word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His sweet will, how our hearts He can fill
With His love as we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
When in paths of self pleasing we stray;
For the favour He shows, and the joy He bestows
Are for those who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet let us sit at His feet,
Or walk by His side in the way;
What He says may we do, where He sends may we go--
Never fear, only trust and obey. (J. H. Sammis)      

N.J. Hiebert - 10175

January 2

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   

The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

On a beautiful summer day each one of us can stand in the sunshine, feel its warmth and enjoy it to the full.  While all have a share of the sun, we realize also that all have a sun to themselves.   It is for all!  It is for me!  So is the love of God: vast, immense, wonderful!  Alex Ross

Was it for me for me, alone, The Saviour left His glorious throne; The dazzling splendours of the sky, was it for me He came to die?

Was it for me sweet angel strains came floating o'er Judea's plans? That starlight night so long ago, was it for me God planned it so?

Was it for me the Saviour said, pillow thy weary aching head, Trustingly on thy Saviour's breast? was it for me can I thus rest?

Was it for me He wept and prayed my load of sin before Him laid; That night within Gethsemane, was it for me, that agony?

Was it for me He bowed His head, upon the cross, and freely shed His precious blood-that crimson tide, was it for me the Saviour died?  

Chorus  It was for me, yes, all for me, O love of God, so great so free, O wondrous love, I'll shout and sing.  He died for me, my Lord and King!
J. M. Whyte 

N.J. Hiebert - 10176

January 3

Lo, I am with you alway.   Matthew 28:20 

    Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear.  Rather look at them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them.  He has kept you hitherto; do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms. 
    Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow.  The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of your tomorrow, and every day.  Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.  Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.  Frances de Sales
     The Lord is my Shepherd.  Psalm 23:1     Not was, not may be, nor will be.  "The Lord is my Shepherd," is on Sunday, is on Monday, and is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, and is in China; is in peace, and, is in war; in abundance, and in penury.  J. Hudson Taylor 

HE will silently plan for thee, object thou of omniscient care;
God Himself undertakes to be thy Pilot through each subtle snare.

He WILL silently plan for thee, so certainly, He cannot fail!
Rest on the faithfulness of God, In Him thou surely shalt prevail.

He will SILENTLY plan for thee some wonderful surprise of love.
Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard, but it is kept for thee above.

He will silently PLAN for thee, His purposes shall all unfold;
The tangled skein shall shine at last, a masterpiece of skill untold.

He will silently plan FOR THEE, happy child of a Father's care,
As though no other claimed His love, but thou alone to Him wert dear.  E. M.Grimes 

N.J. Hiebert - 10177

January 4

January 5

January 6