And deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 2:15
John Wesley said, “Brethren, farewell.
The greatest thing is that God still lives. Brethren, farewell.”
John Wesley stepped into his chariot and he rode on. That is the Christian way.
When Moody was leaving this world for the other, he said to his wife,
“Do you hear that singing?” Then he said, “Earth is receding,
Heaven is opening,” and he was gone.
That is beautiful. That is the Christian way to go.
That is the glory of the death moment.
Still we live foolishly our whole life afraid of death.
As sings the mountain stream
Past rock and verdure wild.
So let me sing my way to Thee,
Thy pure and happy child.
(Traveling Toward Sunrise)
N.J. Hiebert - 7551
August 22
MY TRAVEL PLANS
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James 5:8
Though I am nearing my 80th birthday, I have travel plans regarding a very extensive future journey—an exciting trip that I will soon be taking. I don’t know the exact departure time of my journey, but my wonderful Friend who made all the arrangements knows and has promised to call me when it’s time to leave. (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Matthew 24:44)
I will be traveling light—baggage check-in won’t be needed since I am not taking any luggage
(1 Timothy 6:7). When I arrive at my destination, new beautiful clothing
will be provided (Revelation 3:5).
I won’t need a credit card, cash or payment of any kind because all expenses have been paid
through the kindness of my Friend and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Since I am going “home" there’s no need for me to make any “reservations". It’s true that I’ve
never seen my heavenly accommodations but they‘ve been prepared by none other
than the great Creator. I know I’ll be totally delighted with all that
He has prepared for me (John 14:1-3, 10:28).
I’ve not been given many details of what it looks like except that the building materials used are the
purest gold and most precious jewels (Revelation 18:21). I’ve also been promised that
my destination is so beautiful that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Best of all I’ll be with my
God and Father, and my Saviour (John 17:3).
The place to which I am traveling is located in a very exclusive neighbourhood and I’ll be there
with all my family (Romans 12:5). We are innumerable and specially chosen children of our
Father (Ephesians 1:4, 1 John 4:4). Each who will be there has been very carefully
screened for purity and holiness-cleansed from anything that might defile
(Revelation 21:27). And we’ll all be just like the Saviour who invited
us—(1 John 3:2). He paid an incalculable price so that we—
born again—would have His life, righteousness and
holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Many years ago the Lord took a man there to learn what “home" is like. He was the
apostle Paul and told us that human words can’t describe its wonder
(2 Corinthians 12:1-4). I’m looking forward to my trip!
The Christian Shepherd - May, 2009
N.J. Hiebert - 7552
August 23
Which of you by taking thought can add
one cubit unto his stature?
Matthew 6:27
We gain nothing by our anxiety and planning; we only shut out God,
and that is no gain.
It is a just judgment from the hand of God to be left to reap the fruits of our own devices;
and I know of few things more sad than to see a child of God so entirely
forgetting his proper place and privilege as to take the
management of his affairs into his own hands.
The birds of the air and the lilies of the field may well be our teachers
when we so far forget our position of unqualified
dependance upon God.
And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin - Matthew 6:28.
C. H. Mackintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 7553
August 24
L O S T
The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
It has been a long time since I have heard parents speak of their unsaved boy or girl as being lost.
That old word has departed from our Christian vocabulary.
Young couples who are prospering materially and socially are admired and congratulated,
but, if they do not know Jesus Christ, they are not dong well.
We act as though their lostness were incidental, that it does not matter much,
a personal and private matter not in good taste as a matter of discussion.
Either it is a stupendous issue of heaven or hell or we might as well forget it.
If our unsaved friends were in danger otherwise, we would go to their
assistance without apology.
Yet Jesus came to seek and to save the lost and died for their redemption.
There is something hypocritical about claiming to believe that and
acting as though it were unimportant.
All the Days - Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 7554
August 25
But all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him
with whom we have to do . . . and He is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12,13
The unseen world, which to man is dark and hidden, is all open before Him.
He alone searches the hearts of men, and tries the reins.
When they refuse correction His eye is observing their perversity,
and He will see that they are judged
according to their works.
It is only the scorner who resents correction and reproof,
and hence avoids the wise, lest his evil ways be called in question.
But One he cannot avoid. With Him he must have to do whether he will or not.
Solemn indeed will be the accounting for opportunities refused,
instruction neglected, and grace despised.
H. A. Ironside
N.J. Hiebert - 7555
August 26
. . . I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world . . .
Matthew 28:20
When I was in solitary confinement, I wrote in one of my letters,
“I long for freedom, but I hope I will not lose the joyful
consciousness of Jesus’ presence that
I have in this cell.”
Do you also know what it means to feel the presence of Jesus?
There is nothing that can surpass it.
And He Himself promised that He would be with us!
This Day is the Lord’s - Corrie Ten Boom
N.J. Hiebert - 7556
August 27
H A N N A H: H E R P R A Y E R A N D H E R S O N G
Be of good cheer.
And she (Hannah) was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD,
and wept sore. 1 Samuel 1:10
And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord . . . 1 Samuel 2:1
Hannah both prayed and sang, and she became the mother of praying Samuel - Psalm 99:6,
and the ancestress of Heman the temple singer - 1 Chronicles 6:33.
First she prayed for a son, in her distress weeping
as she prayed - 1 Samuel 1:10.
The man who should have been, of all people, in close touch with God was so thoroughly out
of communion with Him that he could not discern the difference between a
sorrowful woman and a drunken woman.
God’s priest should be both compassionate and sympathetic - Hebrew 5:2.
The risen Christ is all this and more; Eli, alas, was but a poor foreshadow of Him.
Being corrected for his error, he could only vaguely say, "Go in peace, and
the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.”
1 Samuel 1:17
Samuel God’s Emergency Man - F.F. Feredy
N.J. Hiebert - 7557
August 28
"Be ye angry, and sin not:
let not the sun go down upon your wrath."
Ephesians 4:26
Anger may be as holy a feeling as any other, but do not retain it so as to let
it degenerate into nature.
Then we are to “resist the devil,” and “Let him that stole steal no more:
but rather let him labour . . . that he may have to give to him that needeth."
This is very beautiful.
He is not merely to cease from stealing, but to become a workman for others.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth . . .
and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God."
Our works are looked at and our words, and now our tempers.
Are you not thankful that Christianity legislates for every bit of you?
But what dignity! Your lips may be employed in communicating
grace to the hearers; and your thoughts, either in
refreshing or grieving the Holy Spirit of God!
J. G. Bellett
N.J. Hiebert - 7558
August 29
For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house,
and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch.
Mark 13:34
Two salient points are to be observed.
While watching is the attitude of the servant, working is his characteristic.
How sweet to notice that the Lord has given “to every man his work.”
There is room for all, place for all, and work for all, that love Him.
No two have the same work, nor can another really do that which is allotted to each.
Therefore to know one’s work, and then to stick to it, is of prime importance.
Were we each to really get hold of this divinely important principle,
how it would foster the work of the Lord!
What a cure would it be for the little petty jealousies that, alas! often spring
up among the Lord’s servants, and hinder His work.
It is a happy moment in the soul’s history when it can say: “I have my little bit of work
from the Lord to do; I can do no one else’s little bit, and no one can do mine.”
Coupled with the diligence and responsibility of service, how sweetly
is here intertwined the call on the affections to “watch.”
Blessed Master, help us all to watch unremittingly for Thy coming; and,
till Thou comest back, to work unweariedly in thy harvest field!
W. T. P. Wolston
N.J. Hiebert - 7559
August 30
A T C A L V A R Y
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise
of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted
in the Beloved. In Whom we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of His grace.
Ephesians 1:5-7
WILLIAM R. NEWELL was best known as a Bible teacher, commentator, pastor and professor,
not as a hymn writer. Yet while on his way to teach a class at Moody Bible
Institute one day, the words of this hymn began to form in his mind.
He didn’t want to forget these ideas, so he went into an unoccupied classroom
and there scribbled the words on the back of an envelope.
A few minutes later he gave the words to Daniel B. Towner, the director of music at
the school. Within an hour Towner had composed music for them.
Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.
Chorus:
Mercy there was great and grace was free,
pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty—At Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned—then I trembled at the truth I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus ev’rything, now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary.
O the love that drew salvation’s plan! O the grace that bro’t it down to man!
O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary.
William Reed Newell (1868-1956)
N.J. Hiebert - 7560
August 31
They looked . . . and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
Exodus 16:10
On a day in the autumn, I saw a prairie eagle mortally wounded by a rifle shot.
His eyes still gleamed like a circle of light. Then he slowly turned his head, and gave one
more searching and longing look at the sky. He had often swept those starry spaces with his wonderful wings.
The beautiful sky was the home of his heart. It was the eagles domain. A thousand times
he had exploited there his splendid strength. In those far away heights he had played
with the lightnings, and raced with the winds, and now, so far away from home the
eagle lay dying, done to the death, because for once he forgot and flew too low.
The soul is that eagle. This is not its home. It must not lose the skyward look.
We must keep faith, we must keep hope, we must keep courage, we must keep Christ.
We would better creep away from the battlefield at once if we are not going to be brave.
There is no time for the soul to stampede.
Keep the skyward look, my soul; keep the skyward look!
Keep looking up—the waves that roar around thy feet,
Jehovah-Jireh will defeat when looking up.
Keep looking up—though darkness seems to wrap thy soul;
The Light of Light shall fill thy soul
When looking up.
Keep looking up—when worn, distracted with the fight;
Your captain gives you conquering might
When you look up.
We can never see the sun rise by looking into the west.
Streams in the Desert
N.J. Hiebert - 7561
September 1
Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever;
and Thy memorial, O LORD, through out all generations.
Psalm 135:13
The wildest mistake which a man can possibly fall into is to act without taking God into his account. Sooner or later, the thought of God will force itself upon him, and then comes the awful crash of all his schemes and calculations.
At best, everything that is undertaken independently of God, can last but for the present time. It cannot, by any possibility, stretch itself into eternity.
All that is merely human, however solid, however brilliant, or however attractive, must fall into the cold grasp of death, and moulder in the dark, silent tomb.
The clod of the valley must cover man’s highest excellencies and brightest glories; mortality is engraved upon his brow, and all his schemes are diminishing.
On the contrary, that which is connected with, and based upon,
God, shall endure forever.
C. H. Mackintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 7562
September 2
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