And when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him." Joshua 6:5
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. Hebrews 11:30
The shout of steadfast faith is in direct contrast to the moans of wavering faith, and to the wails of discouraged hearts. Among the many "secrets of the Lord," I do not know of any that is more valuable than the secret of this shout of faith. The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."
He had not said, "I will give," but "I have given." It belonged to them already; and now they were called to take possession of it. But the great question was, How? It looked impossible, but the Lord declared His plan.
Now, no one can suppose for a moment that this shout caused the walls to fall. And yet the secret of their victory lay in just this shout, for it was the shout of a faith which dared, on the authority of God's Word alone, to claim a promised victory, while as yet there were no signs of this victory being accomplished. According to their faith God did unto them so that, when they shouted, He made the walls to fall.
God had declared that He had given them the city, and faith reckoned this to be true. And long centuries afterwards the Holy Spirit recorded this triumph of faith. Hannah Whitehall Smith
"Faith can never reach its consummation,
Till the victor's thankful song we raise;
In the glorious city of salvation,
God has told us all the gates are praise."
N.J.Hiebert - 9717
October 1
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself, for it. Ephesians 5:25
You cannot go beyond that. That is a self-denying love, a love that makes one willing even to lay down his life for another. You remember that striking story about the wife of one of Cyrus' generals who was charged with treachery against the king. She was called before him and after trial condemned to die.
Her husband, who did not realize what had taken place, was informed of it and came hurrying in. When he heard the sentence condemning his wife to death, he threw himself prostrate before the king and said, "O Sire, take my life instead of hers. Let me die in her place!" Cyrus was so touched that he said, "love like that must not be spoiled by death," and he gave them back to each other and let the wife go free.
As they walked happily away the husband said, "Did you notice how kindly the king looked upon us when he gave you a free pardon?" "I had no eyes for the king," she said; "I saw only the man who was willing to die for me."
That is the picture that you have here. It is as though the apostle can scarcely speak on this subject but that it brings before him the One who has won his own heart, and he must tell us more about Him. This glorious Head of the Church, gave up His own precious life for the Bride of His heart the Church.
H. A. Ironside
The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace-
Not at the crown He giveth, but on his piercèd hand:
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land.
Mrs. Cousins
N.J. Hiebert - 9718
October 2
RUNNING OR REELING
When thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Proverbs 4:12
This promise does not stand alone; it is reiterated and varied. God knew our constant, momentary need of it. He knew that without it we must stumble, and fall too: that we have not the least power to take one step without a stumble--or rather, that we have no power to take one single onward step at all.
And He knew that Satan's surest device to make us stumble would be to make us believe that it can't be helped. We have thought that, if we have not said it. But "what saith the Scripture?" "When thou runnest" (the likeliest place for a slip), "Thou shalt not stumble." "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved." "He will keep the feet of His saints." "He led them . . . that they should not stumble."
Can we say, "Yea, hath God said?" to all this? Leave that to Satan; it is no comment for God's children to make upon His precious promises. If we do not use the power of faith, we find the neutralizing power of unbelief.
Yes! He knows the way is dreary,
Knows the weakness of our frame,
Knows that hand and heart are weary;
He, in all points, felt the same.
He is near to help and bless;
Be not weary, onward press.
Frances Ridley Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 9719
October 3
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto Him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. Luke 22:61
Was it a look of anger, or withering scorn? Did it say, as it were, Contemptible miscreant, can you deny Me at such a moment? No, no, I believe it was a look of unutterable, albeit wounded, love. That look said, Peter, do you not know Me? I know you, Peter, and I love you, not withstanding your denial of Me. It was a look of tender changeless love. Peter lived on that look for the next three days, till he met his Master again in resurrection, and communion was restored.
Peter went out then, and "wept bitterly." Repentance did its proper work in his soul, as he saw his folly and sin in the light of his Lord's love. Here is the difference between repentance and remorse.
Repentance is the judgment of my sin that I have in the light of love, and grace known. Remorse is produced by viewing the sin in the light only of its probable results. Repentance begets hope, remorse leads only to despair. Repentance leads the soul back to God, remorse drives it to deeper sin, and further into Satan's hands.
This is all illustrated in the consequent pathway of Peter and Judas. Judas, who did not know what grace was, went out and, in remorse over his consummate wickedness, hanged himself; Peter, who did know what grace was, and who knew better than ever then how deeply the Lord loved him, went out and wept bitterly.
The last thing Peter had done was to deny his Master, and the next thing his Master did was to die for Peter; and if He had not died for Peter, he never could have been restored nor saved. W. T. P. Wolston
N.J. Hiebert - 9720
October 4
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Many of the Lord's people were puzzled and distressed about how to act responsibly in the midst of a global pandemic. For the first few months it was relatively easy to simply comply with regulations, but later patience was wearing thin. We have questioned just how we are to go about following the Lord's scriptural instructions while at the same time obeying secular authority.
The over-riding guideline is to seek the mind of the Lord, first, individually, and then, collectively. We know the Lord would have only one answer to any question, but the difficulty comes up as we are all in varying states of soul and with variety of personal opinions.
There is this clear illustration from the story of Joseph and Mary's long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to comply with the Roman requirement to register for taxation in their birth town. You might think Mary may have begged off due to advanced pregnancy, but she didn't. Perhaps at the time they didn't remember Micah 5:2, "O thou Bethlehem Ephratah though Thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." But in obeying the authorities, it turned out they were fulfilling prophecy.
We can see that God has had several purposes in allowing this virus:
(1) To teach the world that He is over everything, including pandemics.
(2) To cause the unsaved to turn to Him in their anxiety.
(3 To teach us believers that we need to be more and more cast upon Him for direction. Lorne Perry
Whom have we Lord but Thee soul-thirst to satisfy?
Exhaustless spring! the waters free! all other streams are dry.
Our hearts by Thee are set on brighter things above;
Strange that we ever should forget Thine own most faithful love.
Yet oft we credit not, He freely gives as God,
Though well we know our happy lot in trusting to His blood. Mary Bowley
N.J. Hiebert - 9721
October 5
FAITH AND PRAYER
And Saul . . . as he journeyed . . . suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? . . . And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord . . . arise and go into the street and enquire in the house of Judas . . . for one called, Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold he prayeth. Acts 9:1-11
True faith is prayerful; prayer is the child of faith. As the creature cannot pray without faith, so with faith he cannot but pray. The new creature (like our infants in their natural birth) comes crying into the world: and therefore Christ tells it for great news of Ananias of Saul, a new-born believer, "Behold, he prayeth!"
Faith enables the soul to persevere in prayer. The sincere believer hath that in him which makes it impossible he should quite give over praying. Prayer is the very breath of faith; stop a man's breath, and where is he then?
Faith may live in a storm, but it will not suffer a storm to live in it. As faith rises, so the blustering wind of the discontented troublesome thoughts go down. Faith relieves the soul in prayer of that which oppresses it; whereas the unbelieving soul still carries about it the cause of its troubles, because it had not strength to cast forth its sorrows and roll its cares upon God.
William Gurnall - 1617 - 1679
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles, He is a kind and compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end.
I must tell Jesus, Jesus can help me. Jesus alone. Elisha Hoffman
N.J. Hiebert - 9722
October 6
O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill. Psalm 43:3
Thy Holy scripture . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
2 Timothy 3:15
I am a spirit come from God, and retuning to God . . . I want to know one thing, the way to heaven . . . God Himself has condescended to teach me the way . . . for this very end He came down from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that Book! At any price, give me the Book of God!
I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one Book. Here, then, I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone; only God is here. In His presence I open, I read His Book; for this end -- to find the way to heaven.
John Wesley
The Bible is the most wonderful Book in the world. It has changed the stream of history, and the gates of eternity swing upon the hinges of acceptance or rejection of its message. Like the crushing blows of a hammer, to which Jeremiah compares it (Jeremiah 23:29), it breaks the flinty hearts of rebellious sinners. Its fires melt the hardest, its waters cleanse the foulest soul, its light can penetrate the deepest darkness.
G. M. L.
God's Word is like a hammer, that breaketh the rock in twain;
A lamp to guide our footsteps, and a light on the stormy main;
A sword that has two edges, and a mirror ourselves to see--
O yes, this is the Book of books, The B-I-B-L-E!
W. B. Mackie
N.J. Hiebert - 9723
October 7
. . . they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. (Titus 3:8)
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
(1 Corinthians 4:2)
Men said the old smith was foolishly careful as he worked on the great chain he was making in his dingy shop in the heart of the great city. But he heeded not their words and only worked with greater painstaking. Link after link he fashioned, and at last the chain was finished and carried away. In time it lay coiled on the deck of a great ship which sped back and forth on the ocean.
There seemed no use for it, for the great anchor was never needed and the chain laid there coiled. So years passed. But one night there was a terrible storm, and the ship was in sore peril of being hurled upon the rocks. Anchor after anchor was dropped, but none of them availed. The chains were broken like threads. At last the mighty sheet anchor was cast into the sea, and the old chain was quickly uncoiled and run out until it grew taut.
All watched to see if it would bear the awful strain. It sang in the wild storm as the vessel's weight surged upon it. It was a moment of intense anxiety. The ship, with its cargo of a thousand lives, depended upon this one chain. What now if the old smith had worked carelessly even on one link of his chain!
But he had put honesty and truth and invincible strength into every part of it, and it stood the test, holding the ship in safety until the storm was over and the morning came. J. R. Miller.
Full many forms the "chain" may take: perchance 'tis some infirmity
That doth for thee thy fetter make; or duty-call or poverty;
If thou art His, -- then this thy rest, -- if in His will disposed to be, --
The "chain " may be a thing most blest, though, meantime, it so fetters thee.
And at the End it may be seen, when things, now dark, are all made clear,
The "chain" God's method kind hath been to hold us safe, -- to keep us near.
J. Danson Smith.
N.J. Hiebert - 9724
October 8
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
Ephesians 5:15
How is understanding to exercise itself? In the philosophy of the schools? I am to have an understanding of the will of the Lord. He keeps you, as a heavenly creature in company with Christ; as a man walking across the face of the earth, He keeps you equally with Christ. When he sends you into the field of battle He arrays you in Christ, He puts Christ upon you.
Who but the Spirit could come down into the traffic of such a world and keep Christ in your company through it all! So the old nature might get drunk with wine. (Ephesians 5:18). The new nature has the Spirit to fill himself with. If that is to be mortified, this is to be cultivated.
And how will this filling with the Spirit express itself? "In Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." (Ephesians 5:19). There is a vessel filled with the Spirit. It is the very same vessel, only transmuted (Transformed, changed from one nature into another). It was once filled with wine; now, in a spirit of thanksgiving, it is bubbling up with melody to the Lord. Ephesians -- J. G. Bellett
Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that did not satisfy,
And then I heard my Saviour speaking: "Draw from My well that never shall run dry."
There are millions in this world who are craving the pleasure earthly things afford,
But none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
So my brother if the things that this world gave you leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you if you yield to Him and humbly pray.
CHORUS: Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, come and quench the thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more; fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. Richard E. Blanchard Sr.
N.J. Hiebert - 9725
October 9
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works. . . .
Psalm 131:3-4
. . . and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Satan wastes no ammunition on those who are dead in trespasses and sins.
Christians are far more strategic targets for him. Traveling all over the world, I saw Satan, with his timely shots, attacking Christians more than ever before. What a joy that we have so many promises in the Bible. We are holy, chosen, beloved, hidden in the hollow of His hand. We have a living Saviour, legions of angels. Count your many blessings!
Corrie Ten Boom
Oh, that mine eyes might closed be to what concerns me not to see; That deafness might posses mine ear to what concerns me not to hear; That truth my tongue might always tie from ever speaking foolishly; That no vain thought might ever rest or be conceived within my breast;
That by each deed and word and thought glory may to my God be brought.
But what are wishes? Lord, mine eye on Thee is fixed, to Thee I cry. Wash, Lord, and purify my heart and make it clean in ever part. And when it's clean, Lord, keep it too, for that is more than I can do.
Thomas Elwood (1639)
N.J. Hiebert - 9726
October 10
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
Beethoven was in the habit of playing his symphonies on an old harpsichord, as a test. They would thus be made to stand out in their true character, with nothing to hide their faults, or exaggerate their beauties.
Thus wisely may we test our character, endeavouring to ascertain how it manifests itself - not on great and rare occasions, or before the public eye, where there is a chance for display and applause - but in private, in the little, homely everyday duties, which attract no particular attention and reward us with no praise.
If in the retired nook of your own breast, in the regulation of your thoughts and feelings; if in the bosom of your family, in the monotonous round of home life each day, you preserve a sweet serene temper, and go forward cheerfully, taking a real pleasure in duty as duty, and in all these little matters honestly strive to serve and please the heavenly Master; if, in a word, your piety sounds well on such an unpretending harp, it is good, genuine, tested; it will one day win acclamation from a vaster and nobler throng than ever was thrilled by the genius of Beethoven.
Selected
Every character has an inward spring; let Christ be in it. Every action has a keynote; let Christ set it! Drummond
N.J.Hiebert - 9727
October 11
Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23
A traveler following his guide amid the Alpine heights, reached a place where the path was narrowed by a jutting rock on one side and a deep precipice on the other. The guide passed around, and then holding on to the rock with one hand, extended the other out over the precipice for the traveler to step upon, and so pass around the jutting rock.
He hesitated, but the guide called back saying, "That hand has never lost a man." The traveler stepped on to the hand and was soon safely past the danger.
It isn't that I cling to Him
Or struggle to be blest;
He simply takes my hand in His
And there I let it rest.
So I dread not any pathway,
Dare to sail on any sea,
Since handclasp of Another
Makes the journey safe for me.
Hold Thou my hand, O Lord,
Hold Thou my hand!
Mountain Trailways
N.J. Hiebert - 9728
October 12
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:"
Proverbs 23:7
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and accidentally bumps you and shakes your arm, making you spill coffee everywhere. Why did you spill the coffee? Because someone bumped into you, right?
Wrong answer. You spilled the coffee because coffee was in the cup. If tea had been in it, you would have spilled tea. Whatever is inside the cup is what will come out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you, whatever is inside of you will come out.
So each of us has to ask ourselves . . . what's in my cup? When life gets bumpy, what spills over?
Joy, gratefulness, peace, and humility? Or anger, bitterness, harsh words, and reactions? We choose what's in our cup! Today, let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation to others, kindness, gentleness, and love!
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23 With thanks - Dan Hopkins
Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord,
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more;
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. Richard Blanchard
N.J. Hiebert - 9729
October 13
"He came . . ." John 1:11
"He came" -- these two simple words are at the root of all truth!
Before Christ came in the incarnation, there had been only the eternal past. Then from the time of creation, we have such truths as "In the beginning He was God" and "In Him was light" and "all things were made by Him" and "in Him was life." John 1:1-3
Now it says, "He came!" We are struck by the wonder of these simple words. All of the mercy and the redeeming love and grace that God could pour out of His divine being - are in the fact that Jesus came!
Then too, all of the hopes and longings and aspirations and dreams of immortality that lie in the human breast had their fulfilment in these two words, "He came!"
The message is more profound than all philosophy. It may be a superlative statement, but I believe it to be a balanced and accurate statement, to insist that the impact of these two words, understood in their high spiritual context, is wiser than all of man's learning.
Because He is "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," John 1:9 man's long night of darkness is dispelled. A. W. Tozer
Thou wast "the image" in man's lowly guise, Of the invisible to mortal eyes;
Come from His bosom, from the heavens above, We see in Thee incarnate, "God is love".
That precious stream of water and of blood which from Thy pierced side so freely flowed, Has put away our sins of scarlet dye, Washed us from every stain, and brought us nigh.
J. G. Deck
N.J. Hiebert - 9730
October 14
And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones. And King Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. 2 Chronicles 9: 9,12
Careful reading of these verses reveals that the Queen went away with gifts from Solomon of greater value than what she had brought him. This closely parallels what we, as believers in the Lord Jesus, have experienced. What can we bring to Him but our praise, worship and service? But what has He given us in return?
1. "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish." John 10:28
2. "My peace I give unto you." John 14:27
3 "He giveth more grace." James 4:6
4 "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57
This is just a partial list of all our spiritual blessings; an indication that every time we come into the presence of our Lord and Saviour to thank Him, we come away with a heightened awareness of His incredible largess, way beyond our capacity to give.
Presents and Presence
The Queen discovered how much better it was to be in the actual presence of King Solomon, than to simply hear reports at a distance. "The one half. . . was not told me. 2 Chronicles 9:6. She brought presents of great value to King Solomon, but of even greater value to her was the glory and dignity of his presence - culminating in "his ascent by which he went up in the house of the Lord".
It was the stately and solemn procession up the long staircase to the temple, lined all the way with soldiers bearing shields of gold, glittering in the sun. At this point, she was over-awed; "there was no more spirit left in her" 2 Chronicles 9:4.
It is the same when we spend a little time in quiet contemplation of our Lord Jesus, considering all He is to the Father and to us, all He has done to work the miracle of salvation; to say nothing of His future glory-display that will easily surpass that of King Solomon. We come away humbled, but enriched beyond measure. Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 9731
October 15
"And while Jesus yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast." Matthew 26:47-48
"And forthwith came Judas to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him." Matthew 26:49. The word translated "Hail" is chaire, and literally means "Rejoice, Master!" He said, "and kissed Him."
As we gaze with bowed heads, and unshod feet on our Lord and Master, in such agony of soul: at His sweat as great drops of blood: as we hear His words, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;" and then we hear that heartless traitor saying: "Rejoice, Master!" how it makes our hearts recoil with horror at such cruel and awful conduct.
And the word for "kissed Him" is changed from the word that Judas used when he gave them this sign. Then he used the word phileo, I love, or, I kiss. But in his eagerness to make sure they seized the One whom once he had followed, he "covered him with kisses:" kata-phileo, a much stronger word.
It is difficult for us to conceive of anything more horrible than Judas' method of betraying his Master; and we know from the Psalms how keenly our Lord felt it. See, for example, Psalm 41:9: "Yea, Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up his heal against Me."
And Psalm 55:12-14: "For it was not an enemy that reproached Me; then I could have borne it." Hid Treasures in the Greek New Testament - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9732
October 16
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
There are loved ones who are missing from the fireside and the feast; There are faces that have vanished, there are voices that have ceased; But we know they passed forever from our mortal grief and pain, And we thank Thee, O our Father, for the blessings that remain.
Thanksgiving, oh, thanksgiving that their love once blessed us here, That so long they walked beside us sharing every smile and tear; For the joy the past has brought us but can never take away, For the sweet and gracious memories growing dearer every day.
For the faith that keeps us patient looking at the things unseen, Knowing Spring shall follow Winter and the earth again be green, For the hope of that glad meeting far from mortal grief and pain- We thank Thee, O our Father - for the blessings that remain.
For the love that still is left us, for the friends who hold us dear, For the lives that yet may need us for their guidance and their cheer, For the work that waits our doing, for the help we can bestow, For the care that watches o'er us wheresoe'er our steps may go,
For the simple joys of living, for the sunshine and the breeze, For the beauty of the flowers and the laden orchard trees, For the night and for the starlight, for the rainbow and the rain-
Thanksgiving, O our Father, for the blessings that remain.
Annie Johnson Flint
N.J. Hiebert - 9733
October 17
THEY WIST NOT WHAT IT WAS
And when the dew that lay was gone up, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said, it is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. . . . and the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:14-15,31
It was small, very small, and reminds us of Christ who humbled Himself to the death of the cross. He stands among men at the foot of the list of those who were lowly, and suffered all loss.
It was white, very white, and Christ too was pure, no evil within Him, no blemish without. His whole life was holy from birth unto death, in sight and in sentence He was ever devout.
It was sweet, very sweet with no bitterness found, and Christ's life was sweet and His manner serene. His ways were perfection in God's holy sight, no envy, no sourness could ever be seen.
It was round, very round, not an angle nor twist. He went on so smoothly; no corners were there. His life was unruffled, and calm was His heart; His days were all fragrant with unbroken prayer. (Selected)
Our Shepherd is still our Guardian and Guide,
Before us He goes to help and provide:
The springs that refresh us from heaven were given,
Our bread is the Manna that came down from heaven. J. G. Deck
O may we be like Him in each of His ways, And walk in His footsteps the rest of our days.
N.J. Hiebert - 9734
October 18
I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. Genesis 17:1
Consecrate yourself today to the Lord. Exodus 32:29
I have noticed that wherever there has been a faithful following of the Lord in a consecrated soul, several things have inevitably followed, sooner or later. Meekness and quietness of spirit become in time the characteristics of the daily life.
1. A submissive acceptance of the will of God as it comes in the hourly events of each day;
2. Pliability in the hands of God to do or to suffer all the good pleasure of His will;
3. Sweetness under provocation;
4. Calmness in the midst of turmoil and bustle;
5. Yieldingness to the wishes of others;
6. An insensibility to the slights and affronts;
7. Absence of worry or anxiety;
8. Deliverance from care and fear;
All these, and many similar graces, are invariably found to be the natural outward development of that inward life which is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
H. W. Smith
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
F. R. Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 9735
October 19
Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. Psalm 50:15
The Ant and the Contact Lens: a true story
Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a rest during her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry."
She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains.
She prayed to God, "O God you can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."
A little later, another set of hikers reached the top. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!
The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it is awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for You."
I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.
God doesn't call the qualified, He QUALIFIES those He calls.
Christian Truth Book Room - Chennai, India
N.J. Hiebert - 9736
October 20
And Jesus said unto the disciples, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing and they ran together . . . and outwent them. And, Jesus when He came out, saw much people . . . and He began to teach them many things. Mark 6:31-34
When Jesus was interrupted in His hours of retirement and spiritual communion He was never irritated; nor yet did he feel that the unexpected task was a substitute for the needed refreshment.
So when the multitude intruded upon the period of rest which Jesus had designed for Himself and His disciples, He patiently taught them during the day, but then He dismissed them and with drew to the mountain solitudes to spend the whole night in prayer.
So with the disciples: they may have been disappointed in their expectations of secret fellowship with Jesus, but the very interruption gave them opportunities to know their Lord better than they had ever known Him before.
For those who are patient, plans unexpectedly altered often bring new revelations of the person and power of Christ.
Gospel of Mark - Charles R. Erdman
N.J. Hiebert - 9737
October 21
A BRIGHT PROSPECT
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17
We get too much occupied with "our LIGHT affliction," and "the moment" in which it takes place. Our outlook is not far enough, nor high enough, and we are apt to forget the "far more exceeding and ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY."
The remedy for this is to "Look . . . at the things which are not seen" -- a riddle, a contradiction, a paradox to all but faith, but how blessedly simple to faith.
You have a bright prospect. The most weighty teacher, the most faithful pastor, the most honoured evangelist, has not a brighter prospect than yours.
It is to be conformed to the image of God's Son, and spend eternity with Him. "We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Then praise Him in the cloud, and soon you will see Him on the cloud, to be translated into His presence without a cloud.
Comforted of God - A. J. Pollock
N.J. Hiebert - 9738
October 22
"A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ."
Isaiah 53:3
"Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well." John 4:6 Oh! to think of the Lord Himself, whom none of the princes of this world knew, but who was the Lord of glory, sitting weary on the well, thirsty, and dependent upon this world for a drink of water--the world that was made by Him, and knew Him not!
He was the display, at all cost to Himself, of divine love to man.
I adore the love that led Him to be sin for me. There was the full testing of the love that carried Him through all. It is deeply instructive, though very dreadful to see there what man is. What do I expect of my friends if I am on trial? At least they will not forsake me. They all forsook Him, and fled!
In a judge? I expect him to protect innocence. Pilate washes his hands of His blood, and gives Him over to the people! In a priest, what do I expect? That he will intercede for the ignorant and for them that are out of the way. They urge the people, who cry, "Away with Him, away with Him!" Every man was the opposite of what was right, and that one Man was not only right, but in divine love He was going through it all!
His sorrows must ever be a depth into which we look over on the edge with solemn awe. It exalts His grace to the soul to look into that depth, and makes one feel that none but a divine Person (and one perfect in every way) could have been there.
He looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but found none. He was tested and tried to the last degree of human suffering and sorrow, standing alone in this, praying in agony and alone, none to sympathize with Him.
None of us can fathom what it was to One who had dwelt in the bosom of the Father to find His soul as a man forsaken of Him.
In the measure in which He knew what it was to be holy, He felt what it was to be made sin before God. In the measure in which He knew the love of God, He felt what it was to be forsaken of God. He is the resurrection and the life. Wonderful that He, such in this world, Master of death, steps then into death Himself for us! Pilgrim Portions - J. N. Darby
N.J. Hiebert - 9739
October 23
BE MUCH IN PRAYER
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. Philippians 4:6
Be much in prayer, in this dark hour, for great are Satan's wiles;
Far worse than persecuting power are his seductive smiles.
And error comes in such disguise -- smooth-tongued and circumspect --
That none but truth enlightened eyes the monster can detect!
And Fair profession, hand-in-hand with evil, stalks abroad
But to deceive. Oh! who can stand save those who trust in God?
Be much in prayer, 'mid all thy joys, so shall their depths increase;
For lack of watchfulness alloys the very sweetest peace.
What power to stand is gained by saints who love to "watch and pray"!
And who escapes the desert taints in this defiling day?
Be much in prayer for labouring ones, who in the Master's name,
And with the Master's message, run, His mercy to proclaim.
The harvest's great, the workmen few, and naught of time to spare;
Iniquity increases, too--remember this in prayer.
"I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace." (Acts 20:32)
Selected
N.J. Hiebert - 9740
October 24
By night on my bed I sought him who my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. Song of Solomon 3:1
The heart of the spouse is feeling the loneliness of the night while waiting for the dawn of the morning. She is thinking of the One who brings the morning with Him. But she has lost the sense of His nearness. This is failure. The conscience is awake--the affections are lively: "I sought him whom my soul loveth." Yet there is no joy--she is in trouble. There can only be one cause for such a state of soul--the eye rests not on the Beloved Himself. Her eye has wandered, and she is in darkness--in felt loneliness. She has rest as to salvation; "my bed"-- a resting place: though for a moment, it is "night" with the soul.
It matters little, for the purpose of the enemy, on what the eye rests, if he can only get it off Christ. It may be occupied with the best of things, such as work of the Lord, our brethren, brotherly love, the fellowship of saints. But even these things, blessed as they are, will lead to failure, if any one of them becomes the governing object of the heart in place of the Person of Christ. But what shall we say of self and the world coming in, in some of their ten thousand forms? Darkness, weakness, and sad confusion must follow. (John 14:23)
The Lord is ever the same. He changeth not. When there is a change as to our communion--as to our enjoyment of Christ, it is entirely with ourselves. We may rest assured, that He will manifest to the fullest extent possible, the love that we can appreciate, so long as the eye is fixed on the Person of the Lord--so long as He is our object, our centre; light, love, peace, and joy fills the soul.
But when the eye wanders--when He ceases to fill the full vision of our souls, darkness comes in; then follows, through the craftiness of the enemy, the numerous train of perplexing, agitating thoughts and feelings. (Matthew 6:22)
Song of Solomon - Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 9741
October 25
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
An infidel was holding forth on a steamer declaiming against the Bible. There happened to be on board an earnest preacher, who listened in pained silence to the outburst. When the infidel ceased speaking, the preacher spoke up. He placed a five pound note on the table, and on top of the note his watch. He then said to the infidel, "Sir, you are evidently very familiar with the Bible."
"Yes," he replied boastfully, "I have made it a lifetime study."
"In that case you will easily earn this five pound note and watch. They are yours if you will quote ten verses out of the Bible correctly."
The infidel hesitated and looked confused. He then said apologetically, "I have not read the Bible for the last fourteen years, and I am afraid my memory of it has failed a good deal."
"You shall have this five pound note and watch, if you can quote five verses." Still no response.
At last the preacher said, "You shall have this five pound note and watch, if you will quote correctly one text." Still no response.
Then the preacher opened his Bible, and spoke earnestly to those assembled till late at night. They then withdrew to their cabins for the night. The infidel went to his bed, but not to rest. He spent a sleepless night. In the morning with a friend he came to the cabin of the preacher asking him to pray for him, which he gladly did.
I appeal to all, especially young men and women, to give the Bible a fair trial. Read it, study it, and seek earnestly the truth. A. J. Pollock
N.J. Hiebert - 9742
October 26
THE STARS ALSO
He made the stars also. Genesis 1:16
He made the sun that day by day pours down its radiance bright. He made yon stately moon that rules in silvery pomp the night. But all those tiny twinkling specks as far as I can go, I watch with wonder when I think, "He made the stars also."
But I am glad; because, you see, my life so small appears-- Not big and brilliant like the sun that lights the rolling years, Nor fair and lovely like the moon. I'm just a speck, I know.
Yet He who made those greater lights, "He made the stars also."
Then, there are things in daily life that seem so mean and slight, We wonder, does God really keep such tiny things in sight? But now I know however small those little things may show, They'll not escape His loving eye, Who "made the stars also."
But are they small, those twinkling specks? or should I maybe find (Had I the eyes) each one exceed both sun and moon combined? And -- who can tell -- those things that men deem "weak" and "base" and low, May be the greatest things with Him Who "made the stars also."
Bells and Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait
N.J. Hiebert - 9743
October 27
And He commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. Mark 6:39
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
Psalm 23:2
Those who do most in the day and who always have time for one thing more are those who know what it is to sit down on the green grass. It is not the bustling, chatty people who do most for others. It is those who know most of quietness.
Before our Lord Jesus could feed the people, He had to make them sit down. Before He can feed us we too must sit down. David sat before the Lord; he was quiet before his God. Even if we have not a long time to spend in the morning with our God much can be received in a very few minutes if only we are quiet.
Sometimes it takes a little while to gather our scattered thoughts and quiet our soul. Even so, don't hurry; make it sit down on the green grass.
Gather my thoughts, dear Lord, they fitful roam,
Like children bent on foolish wandering,
Or vanity of fruitless wayfaring;
O call them home.
Amy Carmichael
N. J. Hiebert - 9744
October 28
As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:36-37
What is it to be more than conquerors? A mere conqueror is sometimes little better off than the vanquished, and a victory is often only next door to defeat. France and Britain were said to have conquered in the late war, but, certainly, they were not more than conquerors, for they have both suffered and are still suffering to such an extent that they are but little better off than the vanquished.
To be more than conquerors is not only that no enemy can do you harm, but it means you come out of the conflict a complete gainer in every way. In the passage before us the Apostle enumerates the worst of ills (verse 35). He even speaks of being killed all the day long, and yet he can say, "in all these things we are more than conquerors." Apparent defeat and disaster can be turned to our advantage through Him that loves us.
An American admiral said once "I have fought in many engagements, and been victorious in all, but I have one more enemy to encounter, and I know that when we meet I shall be defeated." The enemy he meant was DEATH. This is not being more than conqueror, to be defeated at last. The Apostle Paul, facing even death itself--as he faced it often--yea, speaking as one who was "killed all the day long," could exclaim: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
Through time and eternity, he knew of no enemy that could vanquish him, and he knew that out of all his tribulations he would emerge the gainer.
(2 Corinthians 4:17) To what does he attribute his final and complete victory? Not to his own courage, or determination, or wisdom, or strength--not even to his own faithfulness or holiness, but, to "Him that loved us." He traces it all to one source, and that source the love of God. Angels in White - Russell Elliot
N.J. Hiebert - 9745
October 29
And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:30-31.
They were occupied with His death while talking with Him. One thing occupies the minds of heaven and earth. He was going to be crucified where He ought to have been King. Under such circumstances there was nothing for heaven or earth to talk about but His death. And so for us, the great thing to talk about Messiah is, that He died.
We shall never cease having interest in this subject: when with the Father in the glory, it will be the absorbing theme. He said Himself, "Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life." How much more shall we not love Him for the same cause?
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom. And Jesus said unto Him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise . (Luke 23:39-43).
Jesus crucified was more than King -- He was Saviour. The poor malefactor was a testimony to it, and the joy and consolation of the Lord's heart -- the first fruits of the love which had placed them side by side, were, if the poor thief bore the fruit of his sins from man, the Lord of glory at his side was bearing the fruit of them from God.
Through a work unknown to man save by faith, the sins of His companion were forever put away, they no longer existed, their remembrance was only of the grace which had taken them away, and which had forever cleansed his soul from them, making him that moment as fit to enter paradise as Christ Himself his companion there!
Footprints for Pilgrims.
N.J. Hiebert - 9746
October 30
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true. . .honest (venerable). . . just. . . pure. . .lovely. . .of good report; if. . . any virtue, and if . . .any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:7-9
The peace of God is the Divine Sentinel to keep guard over our "hearts and thoughts;" to repel foes from within and without. When we were children we used to play a sort of game to see if we could stop thinking, and just leave our mind a blank: but we never succeeded.
The Spirit of God knows well how these minds of ours are always active: always thinking: our Divine Sentinel is there to keep away those hateful, evil thoughts: but we need something more than that: we need the positive side as well as the negative. If our mind is always busy with thoughts, and evil thoughts are excluded, what then? That is what we have before us (v 8). Now the Spirit of God, by the Apostle, presents to us those things which should occupy us instead of the old bad thoughts. We will see that the God of Peace Himself promises to be with us if we give heed to Philippians 4:8.
The first is: "Whatsoever things are true." Does this not turn our eyes at once to the only One of Whom it can be truly said "He that is true." (Revelation 3:7) Our thoughts form us; and it is "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." And let us not forget that our thoughts are formed by what we read, and look at, and hear.
How much about us is superficial, or false. Our newspapers, radio, the magazines about the house: do these help us to meditate on whatsoever things are true? Do we realize what a terrific influence these things have on ourselves? And how much of all that is not true, but utterly false, as we very well know. Little wonder the Spirit of God exhorts us to think on, to meditate on, to calculate, whatsoever things are true. May God help us, to learn to refuse, and to choose! To refuse the false, and to choose the true! G. C. Willis.
N.J. Hiebert - 9747
October 31
Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. Psalm 28:9
Save . . . bless . . . feed . . . lift up . . .
What an inclusive prayer! nothing is left out. The word that speaks to me specially is "feed".
I do not think there is anything from the beginning of our Christian life to the end, that is so keenly attacked as our quiet with God, for it is in quietness that we are fed. Sometimes it is not possible to get long uninterrupted quiet, but even if it be only ten minutes, "hem it with quietness."
Enclose it in quietness; do not spend the time in thinking how little time you have. Be quiet. If you are interrupted, as soon as the interruption ceases, sink back into quietness again without fuss or worry of spirit. Those who know this secret and practise it, are lifted up. They go out from that time with their Lord, be it long or short, so refreshed, so peaceful, that wherever they go they unconsciously say to others, who are perhaps cast down and weary, There is a lifting up. Amy Carmichael
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear falling on my ear the Son of God discloses.
Chorus:
And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing. C. Austin Miles
N. J. Hiebert - 9748
November 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2.
People get salvation mostly through single verses of the Bible. How many have found peace through that precious verse "For God so loved the world . . ." John 3:16. I thank God, we do not have to be scholars to be saved; we do not even have to know where to find a single verse in the word of God. The simplest truth as to Christ, the Saviour of the lost, is the means of our salvation. Do I know I am a lost sinner? that I have sinned and come short of the glory of God? Can I say "Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned?" Psalm 51:4 Then it is my privilege to hearken to that other word, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world," John 1:29 and to know that God's love is commended to us in that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8.
But we do not want to remain ignorant. God saves us to be sharers in His thoughts. That is why we ought to covet to understand His Word. We are so intensely selfish naturally that we cheat ourselves as most selfish people do. We are so selfish that unless we think a certain portion of God's word is going to minister to our comfort, or specially suits our case, there is no good in it for us, and therefore we fail to be in harmony with the thoughts of God. As a result we live a poor low life that is exposed to the temptations of the enemy.
Why is it that Satan has such power over the people of God. It is because they neglect the Word of God. And so you and I may have two or three verses that apply to the Christian walk, or to restoration and communion and a few more that apply to our dealings with the world, and we think we have enough to live by: but we are not in communion with God. There is only one way to be in communion with God and that is through His precious Word. That is the importance of taking up in an orderly way and unfolding some of the perfections of God's blessed Word. Genesis to Revelation - S.Ridout
N.J. Hiebert - 9749
November 2
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6
There are two things which characterize a man of the world, namely, his home and his business. But the order is, from his home to his business; and if his home be a happy one, he carries the fragrance of it with him to his business. Exactly so is it with the Christian; his "home" is in Heaven, his business is to work for Christ on earth.
We once heard a preacher say of Dr. Bonar that, as one beheld him in the pulpit, and heard him preach, the impression created was that the Doctor had just come from the presence of God for a few minutes to deliver a message, and that he intended to go back there immediately after he had delivered it. The time is approaching, however, when we shall go "no more out", which, by the way, is one of the many differences between Eden and Heaven--the final Home of the redeemed. The former had a way out, but not a way in; the latter has a way in, but happily has no way out.
Fellow-pilgrim to the realms of endless glory, let us look upwards and onwards--"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8 Let us lay aside every weight; let us forget those things which are behind--the weaknesses and the waverings, the failures and the follies; and "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1 "looking for that blessèd hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13
The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson.
N.J. Hiebert - 9750
November 3
