Gems from May 21- 31, 2020

May 21

ANSWERS TO PRAYER

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.  Psalm 145:19

He has engaged to answer the prayers of His people, and fulfil the desires of them that fear Him; but it proves a long voyage sometimes before the praying saint has the return of his adventure.

There comes often a long and sharp winter between the sowing time of prayer and the reaping.  He hears us, indeed, as soon as we pray, but we often do not hear of Him so soon.

Prayers are not long on their journey to heaven, but long coming from thence in a full answer.  Never was faithful prayer lost at sea.  No merchant trades with such certainty as the praying saint.  Some prayers, indeed, have a longer voyage than others, but then they come with the richer lading at last.

Sometimes we have speedy return of prayers - "In the day when I cried, Thou answeredst me" (Psalm 138:3).  While the church were at God's door praying for Peter's deliverance, Peter is knocking at theirs, to tell them their prayer is heard.  (Acts 12:12-17)
The Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall  (1617-1679)

N.J. Hiebert - 8123

May 22

When I am weak, then am I strong.   2 Corinthians  12:10

A contradiction?  Not to the Apostle Paul.  His experience was that going ahead in his own strength had led to an attempt to wipe out Christianity.  He had to learn that he must recognize his extreme weakness before God and count only on Him for strength. And that can only come about by trusting in the redemptive work our Lord Jesus Christ completed at Calvary.

Be strong and of a good courage.  Joshua 1:9
This is not an appeal to muster up inner strength and thus demonstrate courage.  Rather, it is essential to read on to find out from whence these characteristics can be obtained.

Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.  Joshua 1:9
Joshua was to take over as leader of the children of Israel as they prepared to enter and conquer the land promised them by God.  At that time he first heard the message about strength and courage given to Israel by Moses (Deuteronomy 31:6), and then heard it reinforced personally by God several times at key decision points along the way.

No different for us.  These encouraging words need to be rehearsed in our thoughts over and over, but especially in times of anxiety or crisis.  When we are ready to acknowledge before God that we have no strength to manage the current life crisis, we can begin to recognize that God is ready to give of His strength generously, and lead us to hold our head up and press forward, always leaning on Him to provide the necessary strength and courage.  We cannot simply hide behind the fact that this message is given to everyone who trusts in God; we need to take it personally and act on the strength of it.

Notice that relying upon Him comes before the removal of fear and anxiety.  First, turn TO Him, and then turn FROM worry.  Placing our present and long-term confidence in our Father and His  Son results in our fears and anxieties fading away.  
Lorne Perry

We wait for Thee, content to share, in patience, days of trial;
So meekly Thou the cross didst bear, our sin, reproach, denial.
How should we not receive with Thee the cup of shame and sorrow,
Until the promised morrow?   H. K. Burlingham

N.J. Hiebert - 8124

May 23

. . . He giveth His beloved sleep.  Psalm 127:2

Loss of sleep will never be missed if we spend the time in communion with the Master.  He changes our attitude towards the things which we fear, helps us forgive where forgiveness is necessary and puts love into our hearts for those who irritate and annoy us.

It is the worries and anxieties that make us tired and drive away our sleep - not long hours of work or a weary body.  There is no one like  the Lord for smoothing out the worries and stilling the anxious thoughts.

Thou hast not always promised me rest from my burden, but Thou hast always offered me rest in my burden.
George Matheson 

Go bury thy sorrow, the world hath its share;
Go bury it deeply go hide it with care;
Go think of it calmly, when curtained by night;
Go tell it to Jesus and all will be right.
Mary Bachelor

N.J. Hiebert - 8125 

May 24

. . . and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.   Hebrews 13:5

Kingsley once had a visit from a friend who had just returned home from tiger hunting in the Himalayas.  Oh, how insignificant and little he found the village where Kingsley lived.  How he commiserated poor Kingsley, compelled to be continually in such a surrounding when the world was so great and vast.

Kingsley replied with a happy smile, "It is now some years ago that I realized that my dwelling place must be my prison or my palace.  Thank God!  He has made it a palace.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings - wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Johnson Oatman

N.J. Hiebert - 8126

May 25

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength.  Psalm 8:2

Here is a young orphan, her name is Esther, (Esther 2:5-7) which means, "I will be hidden."  That is the beginning of blessing for Esther.  "I will be hidden" also refers to the fact that God Himself is hidden in the book.

We are living in a day like Esther's, when as far as this world is concerned, God is hidden.  It is on the darkest night that the smallest star shines brightly.  Are you going to be one of those stars shining out in the darkness?

Don't say, "There is nothing for me to do, no place for me," because He has appointed to everyone his work.  And do not say, "The work that I have to do is so small it will never be noticed," because that One on high Who love us, Who is watching us daily in every move, is the One Who has appointed us the task.

And be sure of this - if you carry out the task that He has appointed, your credit will be among the greatest, because He appoints the task and you don't. He looks at the heart, not merely at what you do.  He wants to know whether the heart is right or not.
Esther - C. E. Lunden

N.J. Hiebert - 8127

May 26

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto Him, and make Our abode with Him.  John 14:23

One night, years ago, I was trying to tell a little group of Chinese refugees in Hong Kong about this wondrous promise.  They mostly lived in Sik Kiet Mei, at that time one of the most miserable of all the refugee settlements in Hong Kong.

Many of the "homes" there were more miserable shacks than anything, I suppose, my readers have ever seen; just piled up at random on a wild, rough, steep hillside.  One I knew well was only a hole in the earth dug under a great boulder, to form a sort of cave.

I pointed out that He who was born in a stable was quite willing to make His Home with them at Sik Kiet Mei, if they kept His words.  They looked very incredulous, and at last one asked, "Mr. Lee, have you ever seen Sik Kiet Mei on a dark, rainy night?"

I had to admit I had not: there were no roads, hardly paths; and it was hard enough to find one's way in the day light: but yet I could assure them that if they kept His words, their Lord, the Lord of Glory, would gladly make His Home with them, even in Sik Kiet Mei.  And another replied, "Yes, in our hearts, and that is the best place."      
Hid Treasures - G. C. Willis

N.J. Hiebert - 8128

May 27

". . .That in all things He might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18

After President Garfield was assassinated he was taken to a quiet, isolated house where he could have absolute quiet and rest in his fight for life, and a special railway was constructed to facilitate the bringing of doctors, nurses and loved ones to his bedside.

The engineers laid out the line to cross a farmer's front yard, but the determined old farmer refused to grant the right of way, until they explained to him that it was for the President; then he exclaimed: "that is different!  If that railroad is for the President, you can run it through my house."

Are you willing to give Jesus right of way across your front yard?  It may run right through some of your plans or social engagements or business appointments, but will you give Him the right of way?

Recognize God's right through your life!

Anything which makes Christianity its second object makes Christianity no object.  God will put up with a great many things in the human heart, but there is one thing He will not put up with in it - a second place.  He who offers God a second place offers Him no place.
John Ruskin  

N.J. Hiebert - 8129

May 28

GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY

Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!.  
Romans 11:33

The hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" has been acclaimed as one of the finest songs ever written on the theme of God's providence.  This label is made all the more amazing by the fact that the hymn text was written by an English poet who lived a life time of mental distress. The emotional upsets of William Cowper included an 18-month stay in an insane asylum and later several attempted suicides.

During his time in the asylum, Cowper began reading the Bible.  At the age of 33 he had a genuine conversion experience.  Yet he was periodically haunted by deep depressions, voices and visions, and the overwhelming thought that God had forsaken him and would doom him to hell.

"God Moves in a Mysterious Way" is thought to be Cowper's final hymn text and a reflection of God's leading throughout his own life time.
Kenneth Osbeck

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain:
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain. 
William Cowper

N.J. Hiebert - 8130

May 29

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.   
Proverbs 10:22

The Lord is no man's debtor, and those who honour Him, He will honour.  What a wonderful promise!  As we obey His Word, we will experience His Spirit's leading and blessing.

In the same way that air and water fill a container (the more water, the less air and vice versa), so more of the world's ways in our lives will drive out the Spirit's influence over our actions and attitudes.

May God deliver us from the world's influence and may we be filled with the Spirit.
G. Frear

Oh, child of the kingdom,
From sin's service cease:
Be filled with the Spirit,
With comfort and peace.
Philip P. Bliss

N.J. Hiebert - 8131

May 30

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  Proverbs 28:13

It can never be out of place to proclaim salvation by free, unmerited favour to all who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  But it also needs to be insisted on that the faith that justifies is not a mere intellectual process - not simply crediting certain historical facts or doctrinal statements; but is a faith that springs from a divinely wrought conviction of sin which produces a repentance that is sincere and genuine.

Our Lord's solemn words, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3), are as important today as when first uttered. No dispensational distinctions, important as these are in understanding and interpreting God's ways with man, can alter this truth.

No one was ever saved in any dispensation except by grace.  Neither sacrificial observances, nor ritual service, nor works of law ever had any part in justifying the ungodly.  Nor were any sinners ever saved by grace until they repented.  Repentance is not opposed to grace; it is the recognition of the need of grace. "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. . . . I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:12-13).

Grace is God's unmerited favour to those who have merited the very opposite.  Repentance is the sinner's recognition of and acknowledgment of his lost condition and, thus, of his need of grace.  H. A. Ironside  

Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of HIm.   Joseph Hart 

N.J. Hiebert - 8132

May 31

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.  Hebrews 6:1

There is no valid reason which stands before God save only His order and command. All we have to do is to obey. Elimelech (Ruth 1:1-2) did not go to Moab because he wanted his family to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of God, nor that he might glorify God there in the midst of the customs and ways of this so-called Christian world.  He simply wanted to satisfy his own natural desires.

Elimelech needed the help of God and so do we.  Perhaps there was food in Moab, but life and breath and all things are in the Lord's hands.  To leave Him and to loose life and breath in search of food is worse than folly.  Yet this was the way which Elimelech chose.

It is the way which many others choose also.  He wanted only to "sojourn" in the fields of Moab as a "stranger".  But he died there, and his sons settled there and married Moabitish girls.  Elimelech, the father, sought the things of the world; the children sought the world itself. Death came in and upset their plans.

Is this not the experience of many?  Have we never witnessed something similar?  "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of  death." (Proverbs 16:25).      

How different things would be if only we would act as the Israelites did in Numbers 9:15-23, "At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord." (v.23)
Ruth - H. L. Heijkoop

N.J. HIebert - 8133

June 1

IF THE LORD WILL

We will go into such a city, and continue there (residence), . . . and buy and sell . . . (occupation), and get gain (income). . . . Ye ought to say, If the Lord will. . . . James 4 :13-15.

Where shall I dwell, what toil my days employ,
And whether I shall gain thereby or lose,
Are not, O Lord, for me to will and choose.
The will, the choice, are Thine, I own with joy.

To-morrow's lot I know not, nor can tell
How soon this vapour, Life, shall flit from sight.
I only know Thy will is ever right,
Thy child can trust: Thou doest all things well.
James M. S. Tait

N.J. Hiebert - 8134 

June 2