I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:5
The story is told of a little girl who broke one of her mom's favourite demitasse cups. The little girl came to her mom sobbing: "O Mama," she said," I'm sorry I broke your beautiful cup."
The mother said. "I know you're sorry, and I forgive you. Now don't cry anymore." The mother then swept up the pieces of the broken cup and placed them in the trash can.
But the little girl apparently enjoyed the guilty feeling. She went to the trash can and retrieved some of the pieces. She brought them to her mother and sobbed, "I'm so sorry that I broke your pretty cup."
This time the mother spoke firmly to her: Take those pieces and put them back in the trash, and don't take them out again. I told you I forgive you, so don't cry anymore."
Do you find, yourself dredging up things from the past that the Lord has already forgiven? Do you beat yourself up about them...again? Re-read the verse above, and remember that God has put them behind Him. They are forgiven, and He choses to remember them against us no longer. "...their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12). He wants us to move on. When we re-focus on them, we give them life again, which is not good.
Jesus said to the woman who had been caught in adultery: "Jesus said unto her neither do I, condemn thee: go and sin no more." (John 8:11). When God forgives us, we are forgiven and freed to live a new life in Christ. May we stop carrying around guilt for things that are washed away in the blood of Christ. If they've been confessed, let us move on. L.L. (Daily Devotions).
N.J. Hiebert - 10162
December 20
I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Luke 7:8
"Arise, Go." (Jonah 1:2) Not only was Jonah to arise, but he had the very same orders that we have, "Go!" This centurion Luke 7:8 understood authority. When the Lord said "Go!" to Jonah, Jonah decided he would not go. The soldier did not dream of complaining that the way was too long, or to rough, or too dangerous, or the time was not convenient; he did not suggest that he did not want to go, or that he was too busy with other work. No, the soldier understood authority, and went. When the captain says, "Go!" he goes.
The same word is used of the prodigal in Luke 15. "I will arise and go to my father." He may have often said, "I ought to go to my father," or, "I must go to my father," but it was not until he did finally arise that he ever reached his father. It took the energy of faith to arise. A believer understands and experiences what it means to arise and go to their Father. May God help us to understand what it means for us arise and go to them that sit in darkness!
How many there are of us to whom the Lord has said "GO!" and we have been like Jonah and refused. It may be that we have been so busy with our own affairs, that we have hardly heard Him say "GO," or it may be that we know so little of authority, that we decide that there is no need to obey, but think we may chose our own will instead. May the Lord give us each one to hear His voice, speaking with Divine authority, that we dare not question, saying to us, "ARISE! GO!" ARISE, GO TO NINEVEH."
Not only did the Lord tell Jonah to "Arise, Go," but He told him just where he was to go. He did not say, "Arise, go anywhere you like"; but he told him just where to go. The Lord will tell us where to go. It may be that the Lord will send us to someone in our own family, or to our neighbours, or it may be to those of a different nation, and language, at the other end of the earth. C. Willis - Jonah
N.J. Hiebert - 10163
December 21
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
(2 Corinthians 2:14)
There is one other thing which we would do well to note, namely, that a fragrance is the same everywhere. "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you."
(2 Corinthians 2:4)
A rose smells as sweetly in the kitchen as in the living room; in the house of business as in the prayer meeting or on the playground.
Lord Jesus, in the busy mart, the hurrying crowd, the anxious strife,
Maintain Thy throne within my heart, be thou to me my very life.
The wild pursuit of paltry wealth, the craze and lure of wrong desires,
The world that lives without Thyself, and all for self alone aspires--
Let these all leave me undismayed, untouched, unstained, by sin or shame,
Calm, and at all times unafraid, indifferent quite, to worldly fame.
But filled alone with Thee, my Lord, and all of Heaven's joy beside,
Thus walk with Thee in glad accord, and find my Heaven at Thy side.
One look of love from Thy kind eyes, one pressure of Thy nail-scarred hand,
Are more than earth's most thrilling prize, acclaimed abroad in every land.
Winsome Christianity - Henry Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 10164
December 22
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse . . . and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10
The truth of this verse is well illustrated in nature where the farmer who sows liberally, reaps liberally, and the farmer who sows sparingly will reap sparingly.
So it is with us. If we hoard our resources and give to God in a skimpy fashion, we cannot expect to see His hand open in blessing upon us. But if we yield our all to Him, we can expect to see returns that will go beyond our ability to conceive it.
There shall be showers of blessing: this is the promise of love:
There shall be seasons refreshing, sent from the Saviour above.
There shall be showers of blessing, precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys, sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing: send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing, come, and now honour Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing: oh that today they might fall,
Now as to God we're confessing, now as on Jesus we call!
CHORUS
Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead. (El Nathan)
N.J. Hiebert - 10165
December 23
In the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. And Pilate asked Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? And He answering said unto him, thou sayest it. ...The multitude crying aloud began to desire (Barabbas)...who had committed murder...will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews...And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify Him." (Mark 15:1-15)
By their Roman conquerors the Jews had been deprived of the right to inflict capital punishment. The Jewish rulers lead Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, that he may pronounce and execute the sentence of death. Mark pictures all the essential features of the scene: the malice of the rulers, the fickleness of the people, the moral cowardice of Pilate, and above all the supreme majesty of Jesus. As to the character of the rulers in this supreme crisis they exhibit their power over the people and so emphasize their guilty abuse of the sacred trust of leadership and influence.
As to the people, their change of sentiment is incredible, and their choice is fatal. Throughout the whole story they have been enthusiastic in their support of Jesus; they have thronged about Him continually, and recently, as He entered the city, they hailed Him joyfully as their Messiah and King. Suddenly all is changed, when they demanded the release of a murderer (Barabbas) and demand that Jesus be crucified.
How deceitful the rulers must have been, "the chief priest moved the people that Pilate should rather release Barabbas unto them." (Mark 15:11) This furnishes the tragic example of Pilate who lacked the courage of his convictions; when absolutely convinced of the innocence of Jesus. Barbarous torture of a Roman scourging was ordered, thinking that this would satisfy the malice of his enemies. All is in vain; the multitude more loudly demanded that the sufferer should be crucified. Fearing the consequences of treason, Pilate pronounces the sentence of death. Charles R. Erdman
N.J. Hiebert - 10166
December 24
". . . the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. "Ephesians 1:11
The purposes of the eternal Sovereign can be challenged, but never changed. He has a plan and purpose for each of His people and He "worketh all things" to the accomplishment thereof.
Our peace, pleasure, and profit require that our highest aspirations be subject to His perfect will. Our own purposes will lead to discipline, and perhaps suffering and loss as He brings us to conformity to His divine plan for us.
Therefore, it is wise to surrender ourselves entirely to His will now, and without detour reach our decisions in conformity to His unerring and loving purposes.
Doug Kazen
Since all the downward tracts of time
God's watchful eye surveys,
O, who so wise to choose our lot
Or regulate our ways?
Good when He gives, supremely good,
Nor less when He denies;
E'en crosses from His sovereign hand
Are blessings in disguise.
Why should we doubt a Father's love,
So constant and so kind?
To His unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.
James Hervey (1714 - 1758)
N.J. Hiebert - 10167
December 25
ON MEEKNESS AND WEAKNESS
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
Titus 3:1-2
Meek men are not weak men. The meek are gracious, congenial individuals who are easy to get along with. These genial, good-natured souls win friends on every side because they refuse to shove, push, and throw their weight around. They do not win their wars with brutal battles and fierce fights. They win their way into a hundred hearts and homes with the passport of a lowly, loving spirit.
Their unique genius is their gentleness. This quality of life does not come from a position of feeble impotence, but rather from a tremendous inner strength and serenity. Only the strong, stable spirit can afford to be gentle.
It is the sublime Spirit of the living God who bestows upon us the capacity to express genuine concern and compassion for others. His self-less self-giving enables us to treat others with courtesy and consideration. This quality is much more than a thin veneer of proper propriety or superficial politeness. . . . Rather, it is the epitome of a laid-down life, poured out, laid out, lived out on behalf of others.
Songs of My Soul -W. Phillip Keller.
N.J. Hiebert - 10168
December 26
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:7
Once I heard a song of sweetness, as it cleft the morning air,
Sounding in its blest completeness, like a tender, pleading prayer;
And I sought to find the singer, whence the wondrous song was borne;
And I found a bird, sore wounded, pinioned by a cruel throne.
I have seen a soul in sadness, while its wings with pain were furl'd,
Giving hope, and cheer and gladness that should bless a weeping world;
And I knew that life of sweetness, was of pain and sorrow borne,
And a stricken soul was singing, with his heart against a thorn.
Ye are told of One who loved you, of a Saviour crucified,
Ye are told of nails that pinioned, and a spear that pierced His side;
Ye are told of cruel scourging, of a Saviour bearing scorn,
And He died for your salvation, with His brow against a thorn.
Ye are not above the Master. Will you breathe a sweet refrain?
And His grace will be sufficient, when your heart is pierced with pain.
Will you live to bless His loved ones, tho' your life be bruised and torn,
Like the bird that sang so sweetly, with his heart against a thorn?
Mike's comment, "My mom loved this hymn."
Submitted by - Mike O'Brien (severely handicapped brother in Christ)
N.J. Hiebert - 10169
December 27
Then they sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come. John 7:30
It is a principle that runs through scripture, that God's servants are indestructible until their service is over. God protects and preserves His servants until His purpose for their lives is complete; then He takes them to Himself. Daniel and his friends were exposed to the ruthless decree of an uncaring king, and could have been swept away along with the other wise men of Babylon, but God had other plans for them. Neither Nebuchadnezzar nor any other, could thwart these plans.
We also see this exemplified in the life of the Lord Jesus. For example, in John 7:30, "His hour was not yet come." Men could not take Him and kill Him at their whim, because the life of the Lord Jesus was being ordered according to His Father's timing.
We can rest secure that He will keep us right to the end, and His purposes for our lives will be fulfilled. Only when His purposes for us are complete will we be taken to His presence. Until then, our lives are invincible.
Paul also rested secure in this knowledge. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:20,21. "Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." Life and death for Paul were in the hands of the Lord. Even when it became evident that God's purposes for him were nearing completion, and he was to die on Nero's execution block. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand" 2 Timothy 4:6 Daniel - W. Burnett
Our times are in Thy hand, Father, we wish them there;
Our life, our soul, our all, we leave entirely to Thy care .
Our times are in Thy hand, we'd always trust in Thee;
Till we have left this weary land, and all Thy glory see. (W. F. Floyd -1835)
N.J. Hiebert - 10170
December 28
December 29
