October 20
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. (Psalm 119:9) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables.
(2 Peter 1:16)
Some tell me that the Bible is not God's sacred Word,
And brand as cunning fables the records of the Lord;
That Moses is a fiction, that prophets never spake,
And e'en the blessed Gospels as myths I must forsake.
There was a time I listened to those old serpent lies,
My foolish heart sore tempted the Bible to despise;
Its holiness rebuked me, its precepts, crossed my will,
I wished to silence conscience, and thus my lusts fulfil.
I cared not for the Saviour, this present world I loved,
Its lusts, and wealth, and glory, alone my passions moved;
I cared not for a heaven, I hoped there were no hell,
I wished for no hereafter, I loved my sins too well.
His mercy still pursued me, while wandering far away,
His hand with sickness smote me, to wound, but not to slay;
His Spirit then convinced me, and brought my guilt to light;
I saw my lost condition, how awful was the sight!
The serpent's crafty teachings, the heart's deceitful lies,
The skeptic's subtle reasonings, all vanish from my eyes.
Naked, and lost, and guilty, beneath God's searching eye,
Eternity before me, Oh! whither could I fly?
Oh, then what beauteous sunshine burst on my raptured sight!
It chased away the darkness, and all was life, and light.
I saw how grace and glory in God's free gospel shone,
Before the cross, my terrors and unbelief were gone.
I love the blessed Bible, I know it all is true;
It is a faithful mirror in which myself I view;
It shows me all my weakness, my folly and my shame,
But makes thereby more precious my Saviour's grace and Name. The Remembrancer 1897
N.J. Hiebert - 8640
Some tell me that the Bible is not God's sacred Word,
And brand as cunning fables the records of the Lord;
That Moses is a fiction, that prophets never spake,
And e'en the blessed Gospels as myths I must forsake.
There was a time I listened to those old serpent lies,
My foolish heart sore tempted the Bible to despise;
Its holiness rebuked me, its precepts, crossed my will,
I wished to silence conscience, and thus my lusts fulfil.
I cared not for the Saviour, this present world I loved,
Its lusts, and wealth, and glory, alone my passions moved;
I cared not for a heaven, I hoped there were no hell,
I wished for no hereafter, I loved my sins too well.
His mercy still pursued me, while wandering far away,
His hand with sickness smote me, to wound, but not to slay;
His Spirit then convinced me, and brought my guilt to light;
I saw my lost condition, how awful was the sight!
The serpent's crafty teachings, the heart's deceitful lies,
The skeptic's subtle reasonings, all vanish from my eyes.
Naked, and lost, and guilty, beneath God's searching eye,
Eternity before me, Oh! whither could I fly?
Oh, then what beauteous sunshine burst on my raptured sight!
It chased away the darkness, and all was life, and light.
I saw how grace and glory in God's free gospel shone,
Before the cross, my terrors and unbelief were gone.
I love the blessed Bible, I know it all is true;
It is a faithful mirror in which myself I view;
It shows me all my weakness, my folly and my shame,
But makes thereby more precious my Saviour's grace and Name. The Remembrancer 1897
N.J. Hiebert - 8640
October 21
For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:19-20
At the birth of the Lord the earth was saluted with words of peace. "Peace on earth," the angels proclaimed in the fields of Bethlehem. (Luke 2:14)
This, however, was but a salutation. It was not the authoritative pronunciation of peace. It was like the word which the Lord afterwards put into the lips of the seventy, in Luke 10:5 when sending them out. He then told them, into whatsoever house they entered first to say, "Peace be to this house." This was a salutation, a wishing them well, the proclamation of good will towards the house, not an authoritative pronunciation of peace: that would rather follow on its being found that the Son of peace was there.
Upon the resurrection of the Lord, however, we have the other thing. "Peace be unto you," the risen Saviour said to His disciples, being thus returned to them--and when He said that, He showed them His hands and His side. (John 20:19-20) He gave them to read their title to peace. Peace was not now merely wished, but authoritatively pronounced, conveyed to them on the warrant of the cross. Jesus now gave peace to them, because He had already made it for them.
And this is the peace that we, who have it, may testify to our fellow-sinners. We do not, like the commissioned seventy, merely say, "Peace be to this house," as saluting it, or wishing it well, but we proclaim to it the sure, settled, purchased peace which sinners have title to in the blood of the cross.
J.G. Bellett
N.J. Hiebert - 8641
At the birth of the Lord the earth was saluted with words of peace. "Peace on earth," the angels proclaimed in the fields of Bethlehem. (Luke 2:14)
This, however, was but a salutation. It was not the authoritative pronunciation of peace. It was like the word which the Lord afterwards put into the lips of the seventy, in Luke 10:5 when sending them out. He then told them, into whatsoever house they entered first to say, "Peace be to this house." This was a salutation, a wishing them well, the proclamation of good will towards the house, not an authoritative pronunciation of peace: that would rather follow on its being found that the Son of peace was there.
Upon the resurrection of the Lord, however, we have the other thing. "Peace be unto you," the risen Saviour said to His disciples, being thus returned to them--and when He said that, He showed them His hands and His side. (John 20:19-20) He gave them to read their title to peace. Peace was not now merely wished, but authoritatively pronounced, conveyed to them on the warrant of the cross. Jesus now gave peace to them, because He had already made it for them.
And this is the peace that we, who have it, may testify to our fellow-sinners. We do not, like the commissioned seventy, merely say, "Peace be to this house," as saluting it, or wishing it well, but we proclaim to it the sure, settled, purchased peace which sinners have title to in the blood of the cross.
J.G. Bellett
N.J. Hiebert - 8641
October 22
And the people shall go out and gather a certain rate [portion] every day. Exodus16:4
The day's portion in its day: Such was the rule for God's giving and man's working in the ingathering of the manna. It is still the law in all the dealings of God's grace with His children. A clear insight into the beauty and application of this arrangement is a wonderful help in understanding. Now one, who feels himself utterly weak, can have the confidence and the perseverance to hold on brightly through all the years of his earthly course.
A doctor was once asked by a patient who had met with a serious accident: "Doctor, how long shall I have to lie here?" The answer, "Only a day at a time," taught the patient a precious lesson. It was the same lesson God had recorded for His people of all ages long before: The day's portion in its day.
It was, without doubt, with a view to this, and to meet man's weakness, that God graciously appointed the change of day and and night. If time had been given to man in the form of one long unbroken day, it would have exhausted and overwhelmed him; the change of day and night continually recruits and recreates his powers. As a child, who easily makes himself master of a book, when each day only the lesson for the day is given him, would be utterly hopeless if the whole book were given him at once; so it would be with man, if there were no divisions in time.
Broken small and divided into fragments, he can bear them; only the care and the work of each day have to be undertaken,--the day's portion in its day. The rest of the night fits him for making a fresh start with each new morning; the mistakes of the past can be avoided, its lessons improved. And he has only each day to be faithful for the one short day, and long years and a long life take care of themselves, without the sense of their length or their weight ever being a burden. Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8642
The day's portion in its day: Such was the rule for God's giving and man's working in the ingathering of the manna. It is still the law in all the dealings of God's grace with His children. A clear insight into the beauty and application of this arrangement is a wonderful help in understanding. Now one, who feels himself utterly weak, can have the confidence and the perseverance to hold on brightly through all the years of his earthly course.
A doctor was once asked by a patient who had met with a serious accident: "Doctor, how long shall I have to lie here?" The answer, "Only a day at a time," taught the patient a precious lesson. It was the same lesson God had recorded for His people of all ages long before: The day's portion in its day.
It was, without doubt, with a view to this, and to meet man's weakness, that God graciously appointed the change of day and and night. If time had been given to man in the form of one long unbroken day, it would have exhausted and overwhelmed him; the change of day and night continually recruits and recreates his powers. As a child, who easily makes himself master of a book, when each day only the lesson for the day is given him, would be utterly hopeless if the whole book were given him at once; so it would be with man, if there were no divisions in time.
Broken small and divided into fragments, he can bear them; only the care and the work of each day have to be undertaken,--the day's portion in its day. The rest of the night fits him for making a fresh start with each new morning; the mistakes of the past can be avoided, its lessons improved. And he has only each day to be faithful for the one short day, and long years and a long life take care of themselves, without the sense of their length or their weight ever being a burden. Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8642
October 23
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. . . . Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. (Romans 6:6,9)
There are those who tell us that the flesh in them is dead, or is "burned out," and will never act again. No, the flesh is very much alive, as we will soon see, if we do not heed the Holy Spirit within us.
There was a man who insisted that his flesh was dead, and he had no more passionate desires. Someone threw a cup of water in his face, and immediately he lost his temper, and became very angry. His flesh was not dead, but was only waiting for an opportunity to manifest itself. Though the flesh is not dead, and will be with us as long as we are down on this earth, yet we may thank God that He has provided a way in which it may be kept in the place of death. (Romans 6:6-13)
But the only way I can put this into practical effect in my life, is by walking by the Spirit, letting the Spirit lead me, yielding myself and my members to God, to lead me, and use me as He pleases. So I live to God, not to the flesh.
This life is produced in us by the work of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God. The Christians's walk should show forth this new life, which indeed manifests Christ, for Christ is our life. If we follow this path we shall not at all give effect to the passionate cravings of the flesh. It is thus we avoid sin, not by taking the law to compel us to do what we do not wish to do. The law has no power to compel the flesh to obey, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7) Galatians or Beautiful Grace - G.C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8643
There are those who tell us that the flesh in them is dead, or is "burned out," and will never act again. No, the flesh is very much alive, as we will soon see, if we do not heed the Holy Spirit within us.
There was a man who insisted that his flesh was dead, and he had no more passionate desires. Someone threw a cup of water in his face, and immediately he lost his temper, and became very angry. His flesh was not dead, but was only waiting for an opportunity to manifest itself. Though the flesh is not dead, and will be with us as long as we are down on this earth, yet we may thank God that He has provided a way in which it may be kept in the place of death. (Romans 6:6-13)
But the only way I can put this into practical effect in my life, is by walking by the Spirit, letting the Spirit lead me, yielding myself and my members to God, to lead me, and use me as He pleases. So I live to God, not to the flesh.
This life is produced in us by the work of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God. The Christians's walk should show forth this new life, which indeed manifests Christ, for Christ is our life. If we follow this path we shall not at all give effect to the passionate cravings of the flesh. It is thus we avoid sin, not by taking the law to compel us to do what we do not wish to do. The law has no power to compel the flesh to obey, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7) Galatians or Beautiful Grace - G.C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 8643
October 24
PROFIT AND LOSS
What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
What are all the schemes and undertakings which begin, continue, and end in time, when compared with eternity and the salvation of your never-dying soul? They are as the small dust of the balance. "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his owns soul?"
If you had the wealth of a Rothchild--the money-king; if you stood on the loftiest pinnacles of literary fame or political ambition; if your name were adorned with all the honour which the universities of this world could bestow; if your brow were wreathed with the laurels and your breast covered wth the medals of a hundred victories, what would it profit you?
You must leave all - you must pass through the narrow arch of time into the boundless ocean of eternity. Men of princely wealth, men of literary fame, men who have ruled by their intellectual power in the highest political offices; men who have held thousands hanging entranced upon their lips; men who have reached the very highest point of naval, military, and forensic distinction, have passed into eternity; and the solemn question as to each such is, "Where is their soul?" C. H. Mackintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 8644
What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
What are all the schemes and undertakings which begin, continue, and end in time, when compared with eternity and the salvation of your never-dying soul? They are as the small dust of the balance. "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his owns soul?"
If you had the wealth of a Rothchild--the money-king; if you stood on the loftiest pinnacles of literary fame or political ambition; if your name were adorned with all the honour which the universities of this world could bestow; if your brow were wreathed with the laurels and your breast covered wth the medals of a hundred victories, what would it profit you?
You must leave all - you must pass through the narrow arch of time into the boundless ocean of eternity. Men of princely wealth, men of literary fame, men who have ruled by their intellectual power in the highest political offices; men who have held thousands hanging entranced upon their lips; men who have reached the very highest point of naval, military, and forensic distinction, have passed into eternity; and the solemn question as to each such is, "Where is their soul?" C. H. Mackintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 8644
October 25
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12
The vanity of the flesh likes to be popular and self-important and make itself prominent before the world and the saints, but in view of that day, it is better to take a lowly place in self-effacement rather than a public place in self-advertisement, for then it will be found that many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
We may indeed suffer for our own failure, and this should humble us. Nevertheless, with the example of the Apostle before us, we do well to remember that had we walked in absolute faithfulness we should have suffered still more, for it ever remains true that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
If we are faithful to the light that God has given us, and seek to walk in separation from all that is a denial of the truth, we shall find, in our little measure, that we shall have to face persecution and opposition, and, in its most painful forms, from our fellow-Christians. And well for us, when the trial comes, if we can, like Paul, commit all to the Lord, and wait for His vindication in that day.
Too often we are fretful and impatient in the presence of wrongs, and seek to have have them righted in this day instead of waiting for "that day." If, in the faith of our souls, the glory of that day shines before us, instead of being tempted to rebel at the insults and wrongs that may be allowed, we shall "rejoice and be exceeding glad" for, says the Lord, "great is your reward in heaven " (Matthew 5:12) Hamilton Smith - The second Epistle of Timothy
N.J. Hiebert - 8645
2 Timothy 1:12
The vanity of the flesh likes to be popular and self-important and make itself prominent before the world and the saints, but in view of that day, it is better to take a lowly place in self-effacement rather than a public place in self-advertisement, for then it will be found that many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
We may indeed suffer for our own failure, and this should humble us. Nevertheless, with the example of the Apostle before us, we do well to remember that had we walked in absolute faithfulness we should have suffered still more, for it ever remains true that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
If we are faithful to the light that God has given us, and seek to walk in separation from all that is a denial of the truth, we shall find, in our little measure, that we shall have to face persecution and opposition, and, in its most painful forms, from our fellow-Christians. And well for us, when the trial comes, if we can, like Paul, commit all to the Lord, and wait for His vindication in that day.
Too often we are fretful and impatient in the presence of wrongs, and seek to have have them righted in this day instead of waiting for "that day." If, in the faith of our souls, the glory of that day shines before us, instead of being tempted to rebel at the insults and wrongs that may be allowed, we shall "rejoice and be exceeding glad" for, says the Lord, "great is your reward in heaven " (Matthew 5:12) Hamilton Smith - The second Epistle of Timothy
N.J. Hiebert - 8645
October 26
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . but exhorting one another. Hebrews 10:25.
When you get into the house, what are you doing together? Are you to be down in the depths of conscious ruin? No; but exhorting one another to love and to good works. These are the activities of the house. We dwell together in one happy house, exhorting one another, and so much the more as we point to the sky and say, "Look! the dawning of morning is near; the sky is breaking."
We want a great deal more to exhort one another to know our dignity in Christ than to know our degradation in ourselves. It is very right to know ourselves poor worthless creatures. Confession is very right; but to gird up the mind to the apprehension of our dignity is much more acceptable and priestly work than to be ever in the depths. "Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O LORD. (Psalm 130:1).
Here we see ourselves accepted; holding our hope without wavering; exhorting one another; and saying, as we point to the eastern sky. "The dawn is coming."
Musings on the Epistle to the Hebrews - J. G. Bellett (1795)
The holiest we enter in perfect peace with God,
Through whom we found our centre, in Jesus and His blood:
Though great may be our dullness in thought, and word, and deed,
We glory in the fulness of Him that meets our need.
Mary Bowley
N.J. Hiebert - 8646
When you get into the house, what are you doing together? Are you to be down in the depths of conscious ruin? No; but exhorting one another to love and to good works. These are the activities of the house. We dwell together in one happy house, exhorting one another, and so much the more as we point to the sky and say, "Look! the dawning of morning is near; the sky is breaking."
We want a great deal more to exhort one another to know our dignity in Christ than to know our degradation in ourselves. It is very right to know ourselves poor worthless creatures. Confession is very right; but to gird up the mind to the apprehension of our dignity is much more acceptable and priestly work than to be ever in the depths. "Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O LORD. (Psalm 130:1).
Here we see ourselves accepted; holding our hope without wavering; exhorting one another; and saying, as we point to the eastern sky. "The dawn is coming."
Musings on the Epistle to the Hebrews - J. G. Bellett (1795)
The holiest we enter in perfect peace with God,
Through whom we found our centre, in Jesus and His blood:
Though great may be our dullness in thought, and word, and deed,
We glory in the fulness of Him that meets our need.
Mary Bowley
N.J. Hiebert - 8646
October 27
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Several years ago there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world's history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown of state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put in the hands of an expert lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took this gem of priceless value. He cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument and lo! the superb jewel lay in his hand, cleft in twain.
What recklessness! what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness! Not so. For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world. Do you say that blow was a mistake! No. It was the climax of the lapidary's skill.
When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jewelled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was in fact its perfect redemption. For, from these two halves were wrought the two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mines.
So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The soul cries out in an agony of wondering protest. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe. Some day you are to blaze in the diadem of the King of kings. As you lie in His hand now He knows just how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from it depths of blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought of by you. J. H. McConkey
N.J. Hiebert - 8647
Several years ago there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world's history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown of state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put in the hands of an expert lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took this gem of priceless value. He cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument and lo! the superb jewel lay in his hand, cleft in twain.
What recklessness! what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness! Not so. For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world. Do you say that blow was a mistake! No. It was the climax of the lapidary's skill.
When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jewelled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was in fact its perfect redemption. For, from these two halves were wrought the two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mines.
So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The soul cries out in an agony of wondering protest. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe. Some day you are to blaze in the diadem of the King of kings. As you lie in His hand now He knows just how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from it depths of blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought of by you. J. H. McConkey
N.J. Hiebert - 8647
October 28
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, it is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30
"It is finished." These last words spoken by Jesus on the cross are far-reaching and rich in meaning. All the types and shadows and all the sacrifices pointing to the cross were now fulfilled. Nothing more could be added to make it more complete. "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Then He adds, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:14,17).
The way into the most holy place has been opened for us, and with boldness, or holy liberty, we can enter by faith into the very presence of God. This holy privilege is for us to enjoy now. We can speak to Him as a child to a loving Father. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water...Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22,24-25).
There that is much more to come in the Day that is fast approaching. Time and again, the Spirit of God points us to the Lamb of God, who, by shedding His precious blood, has paved the way for future blessings to be revealed when He shall come to establish His kingdom.
When John the baptist saw Jesus coming toward him at the Jordan River, He said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) This verse encompasses the purposes of God for the ages to come, culminating in the day of God when "we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13). We are blessed both now and through all eternity. He is worthy of our praise! The Lord is Near - 2018
N.J. Hiebert - 8648
"It is finished." These last words spoken by Jesus on the cross are far-reaching and rich in meaning. All the types and shadows and all the sacrifices pointing to the cross were now fulfilled. Nothing more could be added to make it more complete. "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Then He adds, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:14,17).
The way into the most holy place has been opened for us, and with boldness, or holy liberty, we can enter by faith into the very presence of God. This holy privilege is for us to enjoy now. We can speak to Him as a child to a loving Father. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water...Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22,24-25).
There that is much more to come in the Day that is fast approaching. Time and again, the Spirit of God points us to the Lamb of God, who, by shedding His precious blood, has paved the way for future blessings to be revealed when He shall come to establish His kingdom.
When John the baptist saw Jesus coming toward him at the Jordan River, He said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) This verse encompasses the purposes of God for the ages to come, culminating in the day of God when "we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13). We are blessed both now and through all eternity. He is worthy of our praise! The Lord is Near - 2018
N.J. Hiebert - 8648
October 29
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:3
"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5) God now justifies an ungodly sinner who believes that He has "raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25). But this is just what we are, ungodly sinners.
We are helpless and ungodly. One cannot boast over another, for there are no godly sinners; but it was "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).
God has taken into account all that we really are as helpless and hopeless sinners, and Christ has died for us as such. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5:7-9).
It has all to do with the death of Christ, and ourselves as sinners, and nothing else. And the moment we bow to what GOD says in His WORD, we have PEACE WITH GOD, being justified by faith.
It was in this way that blessing reached Abraham. God spoke to him, and he believed what God said. W. M. Sibthorpe - The Ways of God With Man
N.J. Hiebert - 8649
"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5) God now justifies an ungodly sinner who believes that He has "raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25). But this is just what we are, ungodly sinners.
We are helpless and ungodly. One cannot boast over another, for there are no godly sinners; but it was "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).
God has taken into account all that we really are as helpless and hopeless sinners, and Christ has died for us as such. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5:7-9).
It has all to do with the death of Christ, and ourselves as sinners, and nothing else. And the moment we bow to what GOD says in His WORD, we have PEACE WITH GOD, being justified by faith.
It was in this way that blessing reached Abraham. God spoke to him, and he believed what God said. W. M. Sibthorpe - The Ways of God With Man
N.J. Hiebert - 8649
October 30
"BUT IF NOT . . ."
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:17,18 .
THE HEBREW CHILDREN did not doubt that God could save them from the furnace, but if He did not they would be faithful, anyway. It is well to be prepared for the "if nots." God is always able, but sometimes it is not His will to deliver us from the fiery furnace. But He will save us in the furnace. He does not always spare us trouble, but He does succour us in trouble.
If you are facing a furnace, make provision for the "if not." If you are not healed, if the dear one is taken, if that friend fails you, be faithful, anyway. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (Job 13:15)
If things do not turn out the way you had hoped and prayed they would, do not bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image of doubt or fear or discouragement. That is what the devil wants, as when he put Job in his furnace.
"God can do it, but if He doesn't, He is still my God. I will bow to no idol." . . . Blessed are the saints of the If Nots! Day by Day - Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 8650
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:17,18 .
THE HEBREW CHILDREN did not doubt that God could save them from the furnace, but if He did not they would be faithful, anyway. It is well to be prepared for the "if nots." God is always able, but sometimes it is not His will to deliver us from the fiery furnace. But He will save us in the furnace. He does not always spare us trouble, but He does succour us in trouble.
If you are facing a furnace, make provision for the "if not." If you are not healed, if the dear one is taken, if that friend fails you, be faithful, anyway. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (Job 13:15)
If things do not turn out the way you had hoped and prayed they would, do not bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image of doubt or fear or discouragement. That is what the devil wants, as when he put Job in his furnace.
"God can do it, but if He doesn't, He is still my God. I will bow to no idol." . . . Blessed are the saints of the If Nots! Day by Day - Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 8650
October 31
THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE ANXIOUS
Casting all your care (anxiety) upon Him; for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
The Lord Jesus once spoke of the "cares of this life" (Luke 8:14.) He knew all about them, and how very real they are. One great object of His coming into the world was to teach men how to get free from those cares. He taught them by precept and example to trust God.
What are some of the "cares of this life?" There is, first of all, the care connected with its maintenance. How to make both ends meet, we may depend upon it, presses very heavily upon not a few. The husband does not know, perhaps, how long he may keep his situation. His health is failing, his income barely sufficient, and with a growing family expenses necessarily increase. Or, worse still, he is actually out of work.
Take another case. There is a widow with a number of young children dependent upon her. Work is uncertain, at the best hard, and the entire responsibility depends upon her. Is it possible under such circumstances to be free from care? We answer with unhesitating certainty, Yes. God has given us an object-lesson as to this which is before our eyes every day. Christ drew our attention to it. The birds have neither storehouse nor barn, yet they sing as blithely as if all the world were theirs. How are thy fed? "God feedeth them" (Luke 12:24) is the divine explanation.
The prayer the Lord taught His disciples is in harmony with this: "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) If the kind of life indicated here is accepted it is possible to be free from care even in the poorest circumstances.
Angels in White - Russell Elliott
N.J. Hiebert - 8651
Casting all your care (anxiety) upon Him; for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
The Lord Jesus once spoke of the "cares of this life" (Luke 8:14.) He knew all about them, and how very real they are. One great object of His coming into the world was to teach men how to get free from those cares. He taught them by precept and example to trust God.
What are some of the "cares of this life?" There is, first of all, the care connected with its maintenance. How to make both ends meet, we may depend upon it, presses very heavily upon not a few. The husband does not know, perhaps, how long he may keep his situation. His health is failing, his income barely sufficient, and with a growing family expenses necessarily increase. Or, worse still, he is actually out of work.
Take another case. There is a widow with a number of young children dependent upon her. Work is uncertain, at the best hard, and the entire responsibility depends upon her. Is it possible under such circumstances to be free from care? We answer with unhesitating certainty, Yes. God has given us an object-lesson as to this which is before our eyes every day. Christ drew our attention to it. The birds have neither storehouse nor barn, yet they sing as blithely as if all the world were theirs. How are thy fed? "God feedeth them" (Luke 12:24) is the divine explanation.
The prayer the Lord taught His disciples is in harmony with this: "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) If the kind of life indicated here is accepted it is possible to be free from care even in the poorest circumstances.
Angels in White - Russell Elliott
N.J. Hiebert - 8651
November 1
ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED
"He hath made us accepted in the Beloved". Ephesians 1:6
Years ago I was preaching in the small town of Roosevelt, Washington, on the north bank of the Columbia River. I was the guest of friends who were sheep-raisers. It was lambing time and every morning we went out to see the lambs--hundreds of them--playing about on the green.
One morning I was startled to see an old ewe go loping across the road, followed by the strangest looking lamb I had ever seen. It apparently had six legs, and the last two were hanging helplessly as though paralyzed, and the skin seemed to be partially torn from its body in a way that made me feel the poor little creature must be suffering terribly. But when one of the herders caught the lamb and brought it over to me, the mystery was explained.
That lamb did not really belong originally to that ewe. She had a lamb which was bitten by a rattlesnake and died. This lamb that I saw was an orphan and needed a mother's care. But at first the bereft ewe refused to have anything to do with it. She sniffed at it when it was brought to her, then pushed it away, saying as plainly as a sheep could say it, "That is not our family odour!" So the herders skinned the lamb that had died and very carefully drew the fleece over the living lamb. This left the hind-leg coverings dragging loose. Thus covered, the lamb was brought again to the ewe. She smelled it once more and this time seemed thoroughly satisfied and adopted it as her own.
It seemed to me to be a beautiful picture of the grace of God to sinners. We are all outcasts and have no claim upon His love. But God's own Son, the "Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the World," has died for us and now we who believe are dressed up in the fleece of the Lamb who died. Thus, God has accepted us in Him, and "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." We are as dear to the heart of the Father as His own holy, spotless Son. H. A. Ironside
So nigh, so very nigh to God, I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.
So dear, so very dear to God, more dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son, such is His love to me. C. Paget
N.J. Hiebert - 8652
"He hath made us accepted in the Beloved". Ephesians 1:6
Years ago I was preaching in the small town of Roosevelt, Washington, on the north bank of the Columbia River. I was the guest of friends who were sheep-raisers. It was lambing time and every morning we went out to see the lambs--hundreds of them--playing about on the green.
One morning I was startled to see an old ewe go loping across the road, followed by the strangest looking lamb I had ever seen. It apparently had six legs, and the last two were hanging helplessly as though paralyzed, and the skin seemed to be partially torn from its body in a way that made me feel the poor little creature must be suffering terribly. But when one of the herders caught the lamb and brought it over to me, the mystery was explained.
That lamb did not really belong originally to that ewe. She had a lamb which was bitten by a rattlesnake and died. This lamb that I saw was an orphan and needed a mother's care. But at first the bereft ewe refused to have anything to do with it. She sniffed at it when it was brought to her, then pushed it away, saying as plainly as a sheep could say it, "That is not our family odour!" So the herders skinned the lamb that had died and very carefully drew the fleece over the living lamb. This left the hind-leg coverings dragging loose. Thus covered, the lamb was brought again to the ewe. She smelled it once more and this time seemed thoroughly satisfied and adopted it as her own.
It seemed to me to be a beautiful picture of the grace of God to sinners. We are all outcasts and have no claim upon His love. But God's own Son, the "Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the World," has died for us and now we who believe are dressed up in the fleece of the Lamb who died. Thus, God has accepted us in Him, and "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." We are as dear to the heart of the Father as His own holy, spotless Son. H. A. Ironside
So nigh, so very nigh to God, I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.
So dear, so very dear to God, more dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son, such is His love to me. C. Paget
N.J. Hiebert - 8652
November 2
". . . whither the head looked they followed" Ezekiel 10:11
This simple phrase gives us a principle that should be our guide as believers in the Lord Jesus, our Head. Our natural tendency is to follow our own reasoning power, which we know from experience often gets us into trouble.
Ezekiel at the time was describing what He saw in a vision from God. In this case the followers were cherubim (powerful angelic beings), but the principle needs to be our pattern too. The wisdom, strength and courage to do so will be readily provided by God, to the extent we are willing to take advantage of it.
In Psalm 23:2, we are given the promise that the Shepherd "leadeth me beside the still waters." Why would the sheep ever want anything else? We understand that sheep will only lap from calm water, such as a pond or quiet stream. Sheep are usually not smart enough to find still water in a dry country, and nor are we.
We certainly know how spiritually dry the world around us has become, and need to quietly and submissively follow the Leader, who always knows what we need (not necessarily all we want!). The disciples learned that lesson when they were instructed by the Lord: "there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in" (Luke 22:10). It was very unusual for a man to be fetching water, so he stood out from all the people passing in the busy street. The man is a picture of the Holy Spirit who will always lead us to Jesus.
". . .they turned not as they went" (Ezekiel 10:11) This important phrase makes a point about the straightforward, unswerving submission to the Lord's leadership. We don't need to search very far to understand what Satan sets before us in order to turn us to the right hand or the left. He is always opposed to the Lord Jesus and wants to spoil or diminish our enjoyment of all we possess in Christ. If there is going to be personal communion with others of "like precious faith", it must be on the basis of our own intimate relationship with our Lord and Saviour. "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:3) Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 8653
This simple phrase gives us a principle that should be our guide as believers in the Lord Jesus, our Head. Our natural tendency is to follow our own reasoning power, which we know from experience often gets us into trouble.
Ezekiel at the time was describing what He saw in a vision from God. In this case the followers were cherubim (powerful angelic beings), but the principle needs to be our pattern too. The wisdom, strength and courage to do so will be readily provided by God, to the extent we are willing to take advantage of it.
In Psalm 23:2, we are given the promise that the Shepherd "leadeth me beside the still waters." Why would the sheep ever want anything else? We understand that sheep will only lap from calm water, such as a pond or quiet stream. Sheep are usually not smart enough to find still water in a dry country, and nor are we.
We certainly know how spiritually dry the world around us has become, and need to quietly and submissively follow the Leader, who always knows what we need (not necessarily all we want!). The disciples learned that lesson when they were instructed by the Lord: "there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in" (Luke 22:10). It was very unusual for a man to be fetching water, so he stood out from all the people passing in the busy street. The man is a picture of the Holy Spirit who will always lead us to Jesus.
". . .they turned not as they went" (Ezekiel 10:11) This important phrase makes a point about the straightforward, unswerving submission to the Lord's leadership. We don't need to search very far to understand what Satan sets before us in order to turn us to the right hand or the left. He is always opposed to the Lord Jesus and wants to spoil or diminish our enjoyment of all we possess in Christ. If there is going to be personal communion with others of "like precious faith", it must be on the basis of our own intimate relationship with our Lord and Saviour. "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:3) Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 8653
November 3
