Gems from April 2026

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.  Ephesians 4:10 

No fact of Scripture is more wonderful that this--there is a risen Man in the glory of God.  It is the appropriate sequel to the wonder of God having been manifested in flesh. (1 Timothy 3:16)

We are also well within the mark when we say that no fact of Scripture is verified with such abundant care as this.  In 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 the apostle Paul rehearses the gospel which he preached. The death of Christ for our sins and His burial are simply stated, for there was no need to verify these facts since they were beyond dispute and acknowledged by all. 

He passes to the third fact of the gospel, "That He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" and in support of this he adduces a host of witnesses.  The resurrection of Christ had not the same publicity and was not carried out with spectacular effect as was His death.  Nevertheless, it is the very keystone of the whole arch of divine truth, as 1 Corinthians 15:13-19 shows.  How necessary then for the apostle to start by showing that the resurrection of Christ is a fact beyond dispute. 

And that risen Man is in glory!--a truly astounding fact!  The Old Testament view of things is stated concisely in "The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's: but the earth hath He given to the children of men." (Psalm 115:16) The earth was emphatically man's sphere as he was originally created, and there was the place of his dominion. 

The New Testament view, consequent upon the exaltation of Christ, is very different and vastly enlarged.  The Lord Jesus is today a Man in glory.  God has "set Him down at His right hand in the heavenlies...and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things..." (Ephesians 1:20-23), a portion in contrast to our verse in the psalm above.  F. B. Hole 

N.J. Hiebert - 20264

March 31

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
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N. J. Hiebert - 20265

April 1

"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 - 20266

April 2

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 - 20267

April 3

April 4

April 5