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

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength but wisdom is profitable to direct.   Ecclesiastes10:10 

Years ago in the Pacific Northwestern US, when logging was a very physically demanding job, a logging company advertised for strong, hard working men.  An eager, muscular young man who was searching for work saw the ad.  He immediately traveled to the location where the logging crew was felling trees. Arriving there and finding the foreman of the logging crew, he introduced himself  and requested that he would be hired for the work.  The foreman silently and carefully looked over the young man.  After a few moments he said; "well son, hiring you depends on how you demonstrate your hard work". 

Handing him an axe the foreman pointed to a large tree and  continued; "Let me see you fell that tree".  The young man eagerly stepped forward, took the axe, and over a remarkably short period of time, quite skillfully felled the great tree.  Very impressed, the foreman said; "You can start working with us on Monday!"  The happy young man showed up early the next Monday morning and eagerly began to work with the crew, felling trees. He did the same on Tuesday, on Wednesday, and on Thursday.  When quitting time rolled around that Thursday the foreman stopped the young logger before he left work, saying; "You can pick up your pay cheque on the way out today." 

The young man was surprised.  He stammered; "But,--but, I thought we got paid on Fridays."  "Yes we do," replied the foreman, "But I'm sorry, I have to let you go today.  Our daily tree felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last place today."  "But" objected the young man, "I've arrived here first every day, I leave last, and I've even worked through our rest breaks!"  The foreman, who liked the young man and felt sorry for him, thought for a moment.  Then he asked, "Have you been sharpening your axe?"  After a long pause came the crestfallen answer, "I've been working so hard, I haven't taken the time".  Smiling, the foreman told him, "then that will be the first thing you do tomorrow morning". 
Doug Nicolet - T.C.S. - October 2015.

N.J. Hiebert - 20268

April 4

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Galatians 6:9 

It is so easy to lose heart in doing good.  That poor soul you helped out the other day, later proved to be a crook, and not in need at all, and you vowed you will not be taken in as easily again.  No, no; let us not be discouraged; let us not give in to evil.  Next time you may turn away somebody really in need: and "whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13)

Or that Sunday School class that is so noisy  and unruly!  It seems to be useless to try and go on with them.  You are desperate.   It's not worth trying any longer.

I once did that.  I once had a desperately bad Sunday School, and at the advice of an older brother, I gave it up.  About three weeks later I met one of the children on the street, and she said "Oh, why did you give up the Sunday School?  I wanted so much to know I was saved.  I think I would have found the Lord the very next Sunday: but I had to go somewhere else, and there I found the Lord." 

Another time an old brother urged that I should give up some children's work that the Lord had opened up.  I was much perplexed, and went for advice to another old brother: and to my amazement he said: "Take on more work of that kind; but never give up!  All giving up is of the devil." That was more than fifty years ago, but how often have I thanked God for those words.

Dear Mr. Herbert Taylor, Mr. Hudson Taylor's eldest son, once told me that he was at one time so discouraged that he said to his father, "I'm going to give up."  His father replied, "All discouragement is of the devil!"  God is "the God of all comfort (encouragement)." (2 Corinthians 1:3).  No, beloved,   God's Word is clear.  "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."   Hid Treasures - G.C. Willis 

N.J. Hiebert - 20269

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