"I can do all things through Christ Who strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
The hand of God can do the business of God, though it have but a sling and a stone, or the jaw-bone of an ass, or lamps and pitchers; and the Spirit of God can do the business of God with souls, though He use but a word, or a look, or a groan.
(J.G. Bellett)
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"Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because
ye ask amiss (wrong motives), that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
(James 4:2,3)
True prayer is not asking God to do what we want, but first of all it is asking Him to enable us to do that which He would have us do. Too often we endeavour by prayer to control God instead of taking the place of submission to His holy will. Thus we ask and receive not; because if God answered by giving what we desire we would but consume it on our lusts, or pleasures. To pray aright there must be a separated life, with God Himself before our souls as the supreme object of our affections.
(H.A. Ironside - Notes on James and Peter)
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"Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quick sands, strake sail, and so were driven." (Acts 27:17)
Often when believers find themselves in great difficulties caused by self-will and
disobedience, there is an urge to make promises to do better or to be more watchful the next time. Perhaps renewed efforts are made to read the Bible or pray or to be more faithful in attending the (prayer, Bible reading, etc.) meetings. All of these things, good in themselves, are examples of the helps and undergirdings that those on the centurion's ship used, trying to lessen further damage.
Making resolutions to do better, after the hurt and sorrow your self-will has marked your life is not the happy and peaceful way to journey. Seeking the Lord's help to please Him before the storms come and so that they do not come, is far preferable. (Douglas Nicolet - The Journey of Life)
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"The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in the breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (Luke 24: 34-36)
The voice and realized presence of Jesus rallied, reassured and encouraged them all, and brought all together around His own blessed Person in worship, love and praise. There was an indescribable power in His presence to meet every condition of heart and mind.
Thus it was; thus it is; thus it ever must be, blessed and praised be His precious name! There is power in the presence of a risen Saviour to solve our difficulties, remove our perplexities, calm our fears, ease our burdens, dry our tears, meet our every need, tranquillize our minds and satisfy every craving of our hearts. (C.H. Mackintosh - Life and Times of David (A Risen Saviour's Challenge) - Vol. 6)
"Jesus! Thou art enough
The mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life - to calm the soul
Thy love - its fear dispel.
(L.F. 174)
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"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
(Philippians 4:13)
He that is down need fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
(John Bunyan)
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“But He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
O Head! once full of bruises,
So full of pain and scorn,
Mid other sore abuses,
Mocked with a crown of thorn:
O Head! e'en now surrounded
With brightest majesty,
In death once bowed and wounded
On the accursed tree:
Thou Countenance transcendent!
Thou life-creating Sun!
To worlds on Thee dependent-
Yet bruised and spit upon:
O Lord! what Thee tormented
Was our sins' heavy load,
We had the debt augmented
Which Thou didst pay in blood.
We give Thee thanks unfeigned,
O Saviour! Friend in need,
For what Thy soul sustained
When Thou for us didst bleed;
Grant us to lean unshaken
Upon Thy faithfulness;
Until, to glory taken,
We see Thee face to face.
Bernard of Clairvaux
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"While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may
be the children of light." (John 12:36)
It is said of a blind man that, when asked why he always carried a lantern at night, he replied that, being himself unable to see, the light was not to preserve his own feet but to prevent others from stumbling over him. May the Lord keep us walking as "children of Light", then only will our feet be kept from stumbling and we shall be no occasion of stumbling to others. (Things to Think About)
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"In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." (Romans 7:18)
It is better to be thinking of what God is than of what we are. This looking at ourselves at the bottom is really pride, a want of the thorough consciousness that we are good for nothing. Till we see this we never look quite away from self to God.
In looking to Christ, it is our privilege to forget ourselves.
True humility does not so much consist in thinking badly of ourselves, as in not thinking of ourselves at all. I am too bad to be worth thinking about. What I want is, to forget myself and to look to God, who is indeed worth all my thoughts. Is there need of being humbled about ourselves? we may be quite sure that will do it.
(J.N. Darby)
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"Choose you this day whom ye will serve." (Joshua 24:15)
The Lord's work must be done, and if we do not do it, He often has to set others to do our work; but, of course, if the hand is paralyzed, and the foot has to act in its stead, it cannot do the work as well - especially as it has its own besides. Idleness, therefore, is a great evil, causing not only some to suffer from neglect, but others who are willing, to be overworked, and, after all, the work is not so well done.
Consider, then, if ever you are tempted to criticize the work of another, whether that servant may not be doing double duty for some lazy Christian who will do nothing, and it may be that "thou art the man." (2 Samuel 12:7)
Let us, then, encourage one another in the work of the Lord, and see that none of us are mere lookers-on, for a looker-on is generally a faultfinder. Let us remember, too, that our labour is not in vain in the Lord, but that our loving Master is only too glad to give each one His full reward of praise for every bit of work done in His name, and that will therefore stand the fire.
The time is short, and much has been wasted by all of us; before the Lord's return, then, let each of us be found steadily at our posts, working for Christ.
(The Christian Newsletter — (Number 72)
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"But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness,
I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me." (Genesis 40:14)
Here we have a threefold request of Joseph - a man who is a wonderful illustration of the Lord. Surely the Lord would have us fulfill these requests for Him as well. Do we think upon Him daily and show kindness in His Name to those we meet? Do we mention Him to others? The butler forgot Joseph for two long years. May we never forget the One who died for us. (John M. Clegg)
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