May 21
If any man thirst, let him come unto ME, and drink. He that believeth on ME, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37,38.
I saw that it was a matter of thirsting, coming, drinking, believing, overflowing. There was no great emotional experience, but just as I had trusted Christ as my Saviour, so by simple faith I received the the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within.
It has been said that the two words "believe" and "receive" are the hardest for most people to spell correctly, because it is "ie" in one and "ei" in the other. Surely, in Christian experience they are slowly learned by so many of us, and yet they are the key words in the language of things spiritual.
To as many as RECEIVE Him our Lord gives the right to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on His name. What things soever we desire when we pray, we are to BELIEVE that we RECEIVE them, and we shall have them. And Jesus spoke of the Spirit which they that BELIEVE on Him should RECEIVE.
Believe and receive the Saviour, God's gift of love divine.
And Christ and heaven and glory shall evermore be thine.
Believe and receive the Saviour, forth to the conflict go,
With the Word, the sword of the Spirit, to meet the advancing foe.
Go forth in the Spirit's power, in the all-prevailing name
Of Christ, the world's Redeemer, His Gospel to proclaim.
Chorus: Believe and receive the Saviour, for you His blood was shed;
He took your sins upon Him, and suffered in your stead.
J. Ward Childs
N.J. Hiebert - 8853
I saw that it was a matter of thirsting, coming, drinking, believing, overflowing. There was no great emotional experience, but just as I had trusted Christ as my Saviour, so by simple faith I received the the Holy Spirit, Who dwells within.
It has been said that the two words "believe" and "receive" are the hardest for most people to spell correctly, because it is "ie" in one and "ei" in the other. Surely, in Christian experience they are slowly learned by so many of us, and yet they are the key words in the language of things spiritual.
To as many as RECEIVE Him our Lord gives the right to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on His name. What things soever we desire when we pray, we are to BELIEVE that we RECEIVE them, and we shall have them. And Jesus spoke of the Spirit which they that BELIEVE on Him should RECEIVE.
Believe and receive the Saviour, God's gift of love divine.
And Christ and heaven and glory shall evermore be thine.
Believe and receive the Saviour, forth to the conflict go,
With the Word, the sword of the Spirit, to meet the advancing foe.
Go forth in the Spirit's power, in the all-prevailing name
Of Christ, the world's Redeemer, His Gospel to proclaim.
Chorus: Believe and receive the Saviour, for you His blood was shed;
He took your sins upon Him, and suffered in your stead.
J. Ward Childs
N.J. Hiebert - 8853
May 22
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee... Psalm 55:22
Two young Christian men who lived many years ago were walking from their small village through the country side, heading towards another village where they planned to earn some money helping with the fall harvesting of crops. As they walked, they came to a wide river. There was no bridge in that particular location but since the river was shallow, people who needed to cross at that place often waded through the water. The two young men decided to do the same thing.
When they came to the river they saw an elderly woman sitting at the edge of the water. She had come from the village with a bundle of food and some other supplies. She was quite downcast because since there was no bridge, with the weight of her burdens, she was now afraid to try to wade back across the river, fearing she would lose her balance.
The first young man kindly spoke to her. "We will be glad to carry you across with your bundle, if you would like us to do that." The old lady was very grateful, "Oh, thank you so much" she said. "I would very much appreciate your help." The two young men joined hands together and carefully lifted the elderly woman and her bundle between them. They slowly walked through the river, carrying her to the other side. They put her down on the opposite shore and she heartily thanked them as she continued on her journey.
After the two had walked about a mile, the second young man began to complain. "Look at my shoes and pants" he said. "They are wet and stained from carrying that woman across the river. Besides, my back is very stiff and hurts from lifting her." The first young man just smiled and nodded. After four more miles the second man began to complain again. "My back is really hurting--all because we had to carry that silly old woman across the river! I can't continue" he said "as he lay down moaning. The first man looked at him and asked; "Do you wonder why I'm not complaining? You're back hurts because you're still carrying that woman. I set her down five miles ago." The Christian Shepherd - December 2017
N.J. Hiebert - 8854
Two young Christian men who lived many years ago were walking from their small village through the country side, heading towards another village where they planned to earn some money helping with the fall harvesting of crops. As they walked, they came to a wide river. There was no bridge in that particular location but since the river was shallow, people who needed to cross at that place often waded through the water. The two young men decided to do the same thing.
When they came to the river they saw an elderly woman sitting at the edge of the water. She had come from the village with a bundle of food and some other supplies. She was quite downcast because since there was no bridge, with the weight of her burdens, she was now afraid to try to wade back across the river, fearing she would lose her balance.
The first young man kindly spoke to her. "We will be glad to carry you across with your bundle, if you would like us to do that." The old lady was very grateful, "Oh, thank you so much" she said. "I would very much appreciate your help." The two young men joined hands together and carefully lifted the elderly woman and her bundle between them. They slowly walked through the river, carrying her to the other side. They put her down on the opposite shore and she heartily thanked them as she continued on her journey.
After the two had walked about a mile, the second young man began to complain. "Look at my shoes and pants" he said. "They are wet and stained from carrying that woman across the river. Besides, my back is very stiff and hurts from lifting her." The first young man just smiled and nodded. After four more miles the second man began to complain again. "My back is really hurting--all because we had to carry that silly old woman across the river! I can't continue" he said "as he lay down moaning. The first man looked at him and asked; "Do you wonder why I'm not complaining? You're back hurts because you're still carrying that woman. I set her down five miles ago." The Christian Shepherd - December 2017
N.J. Hiebert - 8854
May 23
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. Mark 2:22
No man puts new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perishes, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.
The reference is to the custom of using leather bottles, made of skins, for carrying wine, and to the fact that new wine, by its increasing fermentation, would burst "old skins," which were already stretched, or worn thin by age.
So, as Jesus suggested, it would be impossible for the old forms and ceremonies of Judaism to contain the spirit of religion as taught by Him. Christianity cannot be comprehended by any system of rites and observances, it cannot be bound up by any set of rules and requirements, it is not to be confused with any ritual.
Its very essence is a new life, imparted by faith in Christ; it controls men, not by rules but by motives; its symbol is not a fast, but a feast, for its pervasive spirit is joy. If Christianity was to have any forms, they must be new; the followers of Christ could not be bound by the fasts and other observances which had been invented or multiplied by Jewish formalists and Pharisees.
The Gospel of Mark - Charles R. Erdman
N.J. Hiebert - 8855
No man puts new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perishes, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.
The reference is to the custom of using leather bottles, made of skins, for carrying wine, and to the fact that new wine, by its increasing fermentation, would burst "old skins," which were already stretched, or worn thin by age.
So, as Jesus suggested, it would be impossible for the old forms and ceremonies of Judaism to contain the spirit of religion as taught by Him. Christianity cannot be comprehended by any system of rites and observances, it cannot be bound up by any set of rules and requirements, it is not to be confused with any ritual.
Its very essence is a new life, imparted by faith in Christ; it controls men, not by rules but by motives; its symbol is not a fast, but a feast, for its pervasive spirit is joy. If Christianity was to have any forms, they must be new; the followers of Christ could not be bound by the fasts and other observances which had been invented or multiplied by Jewish formalists and Pharisees.
The Gospel of Mark - Charles R. Erdman
N.J. Hiebert - 8855
May 24
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
Proverbs 21:4
As long as man persists in rebellion against God, he can do nothing that will be acceptable in His sight. Not only are lofty eyes and a proud heart evil, but even what might otherwise be meritorious is sin while man refuses to bow in repentance before Him.
Let a province rebel against its lawful ruler, the inhabitants may carry on many useful occupations and labour diligently in them, but all are tainted with sedition, so cannot be considered profitable or right.
When they laid down their weapons at the feet of the king, and own his sway, these same occupations become pleasing and proper in his sight. So it is with man away from God, and with those who turn to Him in contrition of heart. See the Holy Spirit's estimate of Israel while God's anointed is rejected.
(Roman's 10:1-3) Proverbs - H. A. Ironside
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:1-3)
The perfect righteousness of God is witnessed in the Saviour's blood;
'Tis in the cross of Christ we trace His righteousness, yet wondrous grace.
God could not pass the sinner by, His sin demands that He must die;
But in the cross of Christ we see how God can save, yet righteous be.
The sinner who believes is free, can say, "The Saviour died for me:"
Can point to the atoning blood, and say, "This made my peace with God."
N.J. Hiebert - 8856
Proverbs 21:4
As long as man persists in rebellion against God, he can do nothing that will be acceptable in His sight. Not only are lofty eyes and a proud heart evil, but even what might otherwise be meritorious is sin while man refuses to bow in repentance before Him.
Let a province rebel against its lawful ruler, the inhabitants may carry on many useful occupations and labour diligently in them, but all are tainted with sedition, so cannot be considered profitable or right.
When they laid down their weapons at the feet of the king, and own his sway, these same occupations become pleasing and proper in his sight. So it is with man away from God, and with those who turn to Him in contrition of heart. See the Holy Spirit's estimate of Israel while God's anointed is rejected.
(Roman's 10:1-3) Proverbs - H. A. Ironside
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:1-3)
The perfect righteousness of God is witnessed in the Saviour's blood;
'Tis in the cross of Christ we trace His righteousness, yet wondrous grace.
God could not pass the sinner by, His sin demands that He must die;
But in the cross of Christ we see how God can save, yet righteous be.
The sinner who believes is free, can say, "The Saviour died for me:"
Can point to the atoning blood, and say, "This made my peace with God."
N.J. Hiebert - 8856
May 25
In My Father's house are many mansions. John 14:2
Their earthly sun was sinking, but the stars were coming out in the in the sky to tell of a greater and and a grander universe. Somewhere in that great universe, in the infinite realms of space, God has a place which He calls His "Home"; a house of many mansions, to which, one by one, He welcomes His children; and to which, sooner or later, He shall conduct all who are His.
"My Father's house! No strange and foreign land;
No wonderful new world, too coldly grand;
But Home--and a Father's outstretched, welcoming hand"
Those whose experiences in this world have made them conscious of homelessness and loneliness, can look forward to mansions of eternal rest. Meantime, they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth: strangers because they are from Home; pilgrims because they are going home.
"I will come again, and receive you unto Myself" John 14:3. It is the personal presence of the Lord Jesus that elicits the affections, and brings abiding rest to the heart. John 14:3 tells us of the One Who is coming to conduct us Home; 1John 3:2, of the transformation which takes place when we shall see Him face to face.
1Thessalonians 4:17 assures us that we shall be with Him always; and Psalms 17:15, that when these things shall become an accomplished facts, we shall be abundantly and everlastingly satisfied. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us; but the childlike acceptance of it is as being literally true, will send us joyfully along the pathway of Christian discipleship.
"Until at last when earth's day's work is ended,
We meet Thee in the blessed realms above
From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,
Thy everlasting Home of peace and love. The Last Words - Henry Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 8857
Their earthly sun was sinking, but the stars were coming out in the in the sky to tell of a greater and and a grander universe. Somewhere in that great universe, in the infinite realms of space, God has a place which He calls His "Home"; a house of many mansions, to which, one by one, He welcomes His children; and to which, sooner or later, He shall conduct all who are His.
"My Father's house! No strange and foreign land;
No wonderful new world, too coldly grand;
But Home--and a Father's outstretched, welcoming hand"
Those whose experiences in this world have made them conscious of homelessness and loneliness, can look forward to mansions of eternal rest. Meantime, they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth: strangers because they are from Home; pilgrims because they are going home.
"I will come again, and receive you unto Myself" John 14:3. It is the personal presence of the Lord Jesus that elicits the affections, and brings abiding rest to the heart. John 14:3 tells us of the One Who is coming to conduct us Home; 1John 3:2, of the transformation which takes place when we shall see Him face to face.
1Thessalonians 4:17 assures us that we shall be with Him always; and Psalms 17:15, that when these things shall become an accomplished facts, we shall be abundantly and everlastingly satisfied. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us; but the childlike acceptance of it is as being literally true, will send us joyfully along the pathway of Christian discipleship.
"Until at last when earth's day's work is ended,
We meet Thee in the blessed realms above
From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,
Thy everlasting Home of peace and love. The Last Words - Henry Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 8857
May 26
By faith Abraham...offered up Isaac...his only begotten son...accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Hebrews 11:17-19
In Abraham we have a picture of God the Father who was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son for our sins. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. (Romans 8:32) The heartache that Abraham experienced as he and Isaac journeyed toward Mount Moriah gives us only a small glimpse of God's heartache as He walked with His perfect Son to a mountain called Calvary.
The depth of God's love for us is shown in His willingness to give His beloved Son in sacrifice for us--with no strings attached. What a startling picture of God's great love for sinners!
In Isaac we see our Lord Jesus as the perfect Son, completely obedient to the Father's will. The fact that Isaac, who was at least a strong teenager at the time, allowed Abraham to bind him and put him on the altar enhances the picture of the willingness of Christ to go to the cross for us. Isaac was unaware of what lay ahead, but our Lord was fully aware of what lay ahead as He walked together with the Father toward Calvary.
And yet "He steadfastly set HIs face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51) Never has there been such a determined love as that which was demonstrated in our Lord's steadfast walk to that cross which He knew lay before Him. He knew that there He would be painfully crucified and would suffer the awful judgment of God for our sins. In Isaac we catch, in picture form, a small glimpse of the perfect Son submissive to the known will of the Father.
Thus we have here what is probably one of the clearest types of the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. D. R. Reid
N.J. Hiebert - 8858
In Abraham we have a picture of God the Father who was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son for our sins. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. (Romans 8:32) The heartache that Abraham experienced as he and Isaac journeyed toward Mount Moriah gives us only a small glimpse of God's heartache as He walked with His perfect Son to a mountain called Calvary.
The depth of God's love for us is shown in His willingness to give His beloved Son in sacrifice for us--with no strings attached. What a startling picture of God's great love for sinners!
In Isaac we see our Lord Jesus as the perfect Son, completely obedient to the Father's will. The fact that Isaac, who was at least a strong teenager at the time, allowed Abraham to bind him and put him on the altar enhances the picture of the willingness of Christ to go to the cross for us. Isaac was unaware of what lay ahead, but our Lord was fully aware of what lay ahead as He walked together with the Father toward Calvary.
And yet "He steadfastly set HIs face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51) Never has there been such a determined love as that which was demonstrated in our Lord's steadfast walk to that cross which He knew lay before Him. He knew that there He would be painfully crucified and would suffer the awful judgment of God for our sins. In Isaac we catch, in picture form, a small glimpse of the perfect Son submissive to the known will of the Father.
Thus we have here what is probably one of the clearest types of the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. D. R. Reid
N.J. Hiebert - 8858
May 27
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly. John 12:3
What price was paid for this ointment of spikenard? It is described as expensive, precious (Mark 14:3) and very costly. For Mary no price was too high. This was her life sacrifice she was laying at Jesus' feet.
It might have cost three hundred day's working wages, as Judas adjudged--a waste to cast at Jesus' feet. But it did not matter. Mary loved her Lord and He was going away soon. He was more important than anything or anyone else.
But poor Judas--he was prepared to sell his Lord for just thirty pieces of silver. How distorted his perspective of life's values!
How much is Jesus Christ worth to you? K. C. Ung
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame;
I'd rather be true to His Holy name.
He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast a vast domain and be held in sin's dread sway;
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today. R. F. Miller
N.J. Hiebert - 8859
What price was paid for this ointment of spikenard? It is described as expensive, precious (Mark 14:3) and very costly. For Mary no price was too high. This was her life sacrifice she was laying at Jesus' feet.
It might have cost three hundred day's working wages, as Judas adjudged--a waste to cast at Jesus' feet. But it did not matter. Mary loved her Lord and He was going away soon. He was more important than anything or anyone else.
But poor Judas--he was prepared to sell his Lord for just thirty pieces of silver. How distorted his perspective of life's values!
How much is Jesus Christ worth to you? K. C. Ung
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame;
I'd rather be true to His Holy name.
He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast a vast domain and be held in sin's dread sway;
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today. R. F. Miller
N.J. Hiebert - 8859
May 28
God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-5
I once heard an evangelist, exclaim, "Oh, how hard it is to find sinners! If only I could find one, I have a marvellous message for him." A moment's thought made his meaning clear. To be a sinner is one thing; to know it is another.
Repentance is the recognition that I am a sinner--the acknowledging before God that I am as He has declared me to be in His Holy Word. Until one comes to this place, there is no further word from heaven for any man, except the sentence of doom. This truth does not in the least degree compromise the gospel of grace. It rather prepares the sinner to know "the grace of God in Truth" (Colossians 1:6) and to rejoice in it, reveling in the marvellous provision God has made to "[satisfy] the longing soul" (Psalm 107:9)
Often, the gospel preacher dwells on the hopelessness of obtaining salvation by good works, when addressing men whose works are altogether evil and who have no thought of meriting life eternal, but care only for the things of this Godless world. We make it all too simple, so easy that we quite misrepresent the God of all grace, Who has in all ages first sought to show men their sinfulness and guilt, and then has offered the remedy to those who confessed to their dread disease.
I am not told to labour, to put away my sin;
So foolish, weak and helpless,I never could begin.
But blessed truth, I know it! though ruined by the fall,
Christ for my sin hath suffered: Yes, Chris has done it all. (Author Unknown)
Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is to be saved at all, it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6) Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is nothing but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation. Repent - H. A. Ironside
N.J. Hiebert - 8860
I once heard an evangelist, exclaim, "Oh, how hard it is to find sinners! If only I could find one, I have a marvellous message for him." A moment's thought made his meaning clear. To be a sinner is one thing; to know it is another.
Repentance is the recognition that I am a sinner--the acknowledging before God that I am as He has declared me to be in His Holy Word. Until one comes to this place, there is no further word from heaven for any man, except the sentence of doom. This truth does not in the least degree compromise the gospel of grace. It rather prepares the sinner to know "the grace of God in Truth" (Colossians 1:6) and to rejoice in it, reveling in the marvellous provision God has made to "[satisfy] the longing soul" (Psalm 107:9)
Often, the gospel preacher dwells on the hopelessness of obtaining salvation by good works, when addressing men whose works are altogether evil and who have no thought of meriting life eternal, but care only for the things of this Godless world. We make it all too simple, so easy that we quite misrepresent the God of all grace, Who has in all ages first sought to show men their sinfulness and guilt, and then has offered the remedy to those who confessed to their dread disease.
I am not told to labour, to put away my sin;
So foolish, weak and helpless,I never could begin.
But blessed truth, I know it! though ruined by the fall,
Christ for my sin hath suffered: Yes, Chris has done it all. (Author Unknown)
Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is to be saved at all, it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6) Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is nothing but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation. Repent - H. A. Ironside
N.J. Hiebert - 8860
May 29
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers... hath in THESE LAST DAYS spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:1-3
Do you ever make "these last days" a subject of thought? Why is the Spirit entitled to call the age through which we are passing the "last days"? We shall have other days after these. Why then does He call them the last days? Beautifully so--because God rests in what the Lord Jesus has accomplished, as thoroughly as He rested at the close of creation in the perfection of His own work. It is not that in the unfolding of the economy of God we shall not have other ages; yet, in the face of that, the Spirit does not hesitate to call these the "last days".
In all the Lord has done He has satisfied God. He perfects everything He touches, and makes it eternal, and God does not look beyond it. Everything is set aside till Christ is brought in, but there is no looking beyond Him. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) Now the moment I get God resting in anything I get perfection; and the moment I get perfection I am in the last days.
God has reached satisfaction, and so have I. Christ may be unfolded in millennial days; but He it is the very same Christ that we have now. Shall I get Moses then or Joshua? They are all (in the light of Christ treated) "beggarly elements." All give place one after another; but Christ being introduced to the thought of God, God rests in Him; and when you come to see where you are, you are in God's second Sabbath-- and see how one thing exceeds the other! The rest of the Redeemer is a much more blessed thing than the rest of the Creator. In Christ you have got perfection--the rest of God--and you are in the "last days". Epistle to the Hebrews - J. G. Bellett
N.J. Hiebert - 8861
Do you ever make "these last days" a subject of thought? Why is the Spirit entitled to call the age through which we are passing the "last days"? We shall have other days after these. Why then does He call them the last days? Beautifully so--because God rests in what the Lord Jesus has accomplished, as thoroughly as He rested at the close of creation in the perfection of His own work. It is not that in the unfolding of the economy of God we shall not have other ages; yet, in the face of that, the Spirit does not hesitate to call these the "last days".
In all the Lord has done He has satisfied God. He perfects everything He touches, and makes it eternal, and God does not look beyond it. Everything is set aside till Christ is brought in, but there is no looking beyond Him. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) Now the moment I get God resting in anything I get perfection; and the moment I get perfection I am in the last days.
God has reached satisfaction, and so have I. Christ may be unfolded in millennial days; but He it is the very same Christ that we have now. Shall I get Moses then or Joshua? They are all (in the light of Christ treated) "beggarly elements." All give place one after another; but Christ being introduced to the thought of God, God rests in Him; and when you come to see where you are, you are in God's second Sabbath-- and see how one thing exceeds the other! The rest of the Redeemer is a much more blessed thing than the rest of the Creator. In Christ you have got perfection--the rest of God--and you are in the "last days". Epistle to the Hebrews - J. G. Bellett
N.J. Hiebert - 8861
May 30
G R E A T I N G A T H E R I N G
And (Joseph said) let them gather all the food of those (seven) good years that come, and lay up corn . . . and that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine . . . (Pharaoh said) thou (Joseph) shalt be over my house . . . I have set thee over all the land of Egypt . . . Genesis 41:35-41.
During the years of plenty Joseph uses his place of exaltation to reap a great harvest for Egypt. He deals with the harvest of Egypt during the years of plenty, he will deal with the men of Egypt during the years of famine (36-49).
In this day of grace the world is passing through its "seven plenteous years," when the grace of God is bestowing blessings by "handfuls." The men of the world may entirely neglect the blessings that grace brings to their door, and pursue their way quite heedless of the future. We do not read that they gathered up any food. It was Joseph that went throughout the land, and gathered up corn.
And so today it is the exalted Christ who is reaping a harvest of souls during the day of grace. He is going through the world gathering His people out of the world. But when the days of grace have run their course He will deal with the men of the world. JOSEPH Revealer of Secrets - Hamilton Smith
Lord, we joy, Thy toils are ended, glad Thy suffering time is o'er,
To Thy Father's throne ascended, there Thou livest to die no more.
Lord, we worship and adore Thee for Thy rich, Thy matchless grace;
Perfect soon in joy before Thee, we shall see Thee face to face. J. J. Hopkins
N.J. Hiebert - 8862
And (Joseph said) let them gather all the food of those (seven) good years that come, and lay up corn . . . and that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine . . . (Pharaoh said) thou (Joseph) shalt be over my house . . . I have set thee over all the land of Egypt . . . Genesis 41:35-41.
During the years of plenty Joseph uses his place of exaltation to reap a great harvest for Egypt. He deals with the harvest of Egypt during the years of plenty, he will deal with the men of Egypt during the years of famine (36-49).
In this day of grace the world is passing through its "seven plenteous years," when the grace of God is bestowing blessings by "handfuls." The men of the world may entirely neglect the blessings that grace brings to their door, and pursue their way quite heedless of the future. We do not read that they gathered up any food. It was Joseph that went throughout the land, and gathered up corn.
And so today it is the exalted Christ who is reaping a harvest of souls during the day of grace. He is going through the world gathering His people out of the world. But when the days of grace have run their course He will deal with the men of the world. JOSEPH Revealer of Secrets - Hamilton Smith
Lord, we joy, Thy toils are ended, glad Thy suffering time is o'er,
To Thy Father's throne ascended, there Thou livest to die no more.
Lord, we worship and adore Thee for Thy rich, Thy matchless grace;
Perfect soon in joy before Thee, we shall see Thee face to face. J. J. Hopkins
N.J. Hiebert - 8862
May 31
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation. Luke 2:30
The story of Simeon unveils the graphic photo of a man living for one thing. He was waiting for the Messiah of Israel. Then one day Mary entered the temple carrying a baby and the Messiah was there.
Simeon's arms embraced Christ the Lord; his eyes beheld the Light and Lamp of God, the Saviour of the world. How glorious for this godly man to end a long life with his arms encircling the promised Lamb of God and his lips extolling the greatest Person to visit planet earth. Is this our heart's desire as our life progresses, to be near to Christ and praising His name? Les Rainey
Lord of glory, we adore Thee! Christ of God, ascended high!
Heart and soul we bow before Thee, glorious now beyond the sky:
Thee we worship, Thee we praise--
Excellent in all Thy ways.
Anointed King, with glory crownéd, rightful heir and Lord of all!
Once rejected, scorned, disownèd, E'en by those Thou cam'st to call:
Thee we honour, Thee adore--
Glorious now and evermore.
Lord of life! to death once subject; Blesser, yet a curse once made;
Of Thy Father's heart the object, yet in depths of anguish laid:
Thee we gaze on, Thee recall--
Bearing here our sorrows all.
Royal robes shall soon invest Thee, royal splendours crown Thy brow;
Christ of God, our souls confess Thee King and Sovereign even now!
Thee we reverence, Thee obey--
Own Thee Lord and Christ alway. Richard Holden
N.J. Hiebert - 8863
The story of Simeon unveils the graphic photo of a man living for one thing. He was waiting for the Messiah of Israel. Then one day Mary entered the temple carrying a baby and the Messiah was there.
Simeon's arms embraced Christ the Lord; his eyes beheld the Light and Lamp of God, the Saviour of the world. How glorious for this godly man to end a long life with his arms encircling the promised Lamb of God and his lips extolling the greatest Person to visit planet earth. Is this our heart's desire as our life progresses, to be near to Christ and praising His name? Les Rainey
Lord of glory, we adore Thee! Christ of God, ascended high!
Heart and soul we bow before Thee, glorious now beyond the sky:
Thee we worship, Thee we praise--
Excellent in all Thy ways.
Anointed King, with glory crownéd, rightful heir and Lord of all!
Once rejected, scorned, disownèd, E'en by those Thou cam'st to call:
Thee we honour, Thee adore--
Glorious now and evermore.
Lord of life! to death once subject; Blesser, yet a curse once made;
Of Thy Father's heart the object, yet in depths of anguish laid:
Thee we gaze on, Thee recall--
Bearing here our sorrows all.
Royal robes shall soon invest Thee, royal splendours crown Thy brow;
Christ of God, our souls confess Thee King and Sovereign even now!
Thee we reverence, Thee obey--
Own Thee Lord and Christ alway. Richard Holden
N.J. Hiebert - 8863
June 1
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
The first word, "Let", can be interpreted "Permit"; the thought being that there might be some hindrance to the mind of Christ being very active in us. It is important to realize that from the moment we are saved; having taken the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour, we are indeed possessors of the "mind of Christ". But, sad to say, the habits and responsibilities of life, to say nothing of passions or goals, often crowd out the "voice" of the mind of Christ from being discerned and acted upon.
It is like many of the spiritual blessings, ours from day 1 of our salvation, that are so little appreciated or put into practice, because we are so taken up with the ordinary pattern of life, and the effect it can have in blunting or diminishing the power and benefits of living according to our spiritual blessings. We may know just what those spiritual blessings are, but we do not even begin to appreciate them unless and until we work them into our daily walk.
The children of Israel were told, in Joshua 1:3, that a great territory could be theirs, way beyond the current boarders of Israel, but they first had to walk upon the whole of it; clearing out God's enemies as they went by taking strength from Him. They had some success but, in those historic times, never took it all.
That will actually come about in a future time when the Lord Jesus, in all His power and glory, will obtain the whole territory for Israel, and go on to see that the entire world is under His dominion and benevolent reign.
Lorne Perry (PART 1)
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and, things under the earth..." Philippians 2:10
N.J. Hiebert - 8864
The first word, "Let", can be interpreted "Permit"; the thought being that there might be some hindrance to the mind of Christ being very active in us. It is important to realize that from the moment we are saved; having taken the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour, we are indeed possessors of the "mind of Christ". But, sad to say, the habits and responsibilities of life, to say nothing of passions or goals, often crowd out the "voice" of the mind of Christ from being discerned and acted upon.
It is like many of the spiritual blessings, ours from day 1 of our salvation, that are so little appreciated or put into practice, because we are so taken up with the ordinary pattern of life, and the effect it can have in blunting or diminishing the power and benefits of living according to our spiritual blessings. We may know just what those spiritual blessings are, but we do not even begin to appreciate them unless and until we work them into our daily walk.
The children of Israel were told, in Joshua 1:3, that a great territory could be theirs, way beyond the current boarders of Israel, but they first had to walk upon the whole of it; clearing out God's enemies as they went by taking strength from Him. They had some success but, in those historic times, never took it all.
That will actually come about in a future time when the Lord Jesus, in all His power and glory, will obtain the whole territory for Israel, and go on to see that the entire world is under His dominion and benevolent reign.
Lorne Perry (PART 1)
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and, things under the earth..." Philippians 2:10
N.J. Hiebert - 8864
June 2
My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Such words lead straight to a land where there is gold, and the gold of that land is good. Gold--the word recalls Job's affirmation, "When He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold"; and Peter's "That the trial of your faith, being much more perisheth than of gold though it be tried with fire" (1 Peter 1:7); and the quiet word in (Malachi 3:3) "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
I have often thanked God that the word is not gold there, but silver. Silver is of little account in the East, and we feel more like silver than gold. But he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, so who need fear?
This picture of the Refiner is straight from Eastern life. The Eastern goldsmith sits on the floor by his crucible. For me, at least, it was not hard to know why the Heavenly Refiner had to sit so long. The heart knows its own dross. Blessed be the love that never wearies, never gives up hope that even in such poor metal He may at last see the reflection of His face. "How do you know when it is purified?" we asked our village goldsmith. "When I can see my face in it," he answered. Rose From Briar - Amy Carmichael
N.J. Hiebert - 8866
Such words lead straight to a land where there is gold, and the gold of that land is good. Gold--the word recalls Job's affirmation, "When He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold"; and Peter's "That the trial of your faith, being much more perisheth than of gold though it be tried with fire" (1 Peter 1:7); and the quiet word in (Malachi 3:3) "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
I have often thanked God that the word is not gold there, but silver. Silver is of little account in the East, and we feel more like silver than gold. But he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, so who need fear?
This picture of the Refiner is straight from Eastern life. The Eastern goldsmith sits on the floor by his crucible. For me, at least, it was not hard to know why the Heavenly Refiner had to sit so long. The heart knows its own dross. Blessed be the love that never wearies, never gives up hope that even in such poor metal He may at last see the reflection of His face. "How do you know when it is purified?" we asked our village goldsmith. "When I can see my face in it," he answered. Rose From Briar - Amy Carmichael
N.J. Hiebert - 8866
June 3
