Ye are complete in HIm. . . . Colossians 2:10
A friend sent to me a bookmark that reads:
Birds do not sing because they have an answer,
They sing because they have a song!
The birds do not have all the answers, but they sing because they have a song
within. We are told to consider the birds. They have their mishaps and miseries,
but not even a sparrow falls without God’s notice. (Matthew 10:29)
The Christian does not have all the answers to the whys that baffle and
perplex him, but He has the Answer in whom are gathered up all our problems.
We see yet not all things put under Jesus, but we see Him (Hebrews 2:8-9)
and He is our song.
“And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3
Vance Havner .
I have a song that Jesus gave me, it was sent from heaven above;
There never was a sweeter melody, ‘tis a melody of love.
I love the Christ who died on Calvary, for He washed my sins away;
He put within my heart a melody, and I know it’s there to stay.
‘Twill be my endless theme in glory, with the ransomed I will sing;
‘Twill be a song with glorious harmony, when the courts of heaven ring.
Elton Roth
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SEVEN STEPS DOWNWARD
Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: but made Himself of no reputation, (emptied Himself) and took upon
Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being
found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8
“He emptied Himself.” Remember it was when He was in the form of God
that He emptied Himself. It was love made Him empty Himself: of all His
outward glory: but let us remember that He never ceased to be God. That
Babe in the manger was Emmanuel, “God with us,” Just as truly God,—
upholding all things by the word of His power, as when “all things were
created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1 :16)
Could there be another step downwards, beyond death? We would not
have thought so: but the Father, Who looked down with perfect delight
on all that pathway, sees one more step: not only did He become
obedient unto death: but that death, was the death of a cross.
That last step tells out the awfulness, the horror, the shame, the anguish
of the death to which He became obedient. “Jesus…endured the cross,
despising the shame.” (Hebrews 12:2) There was probably no death
from which one so much shrink as “the death of the cross.” It was to
this, the lowest step that could be taken, that the Lord of Glory went.
Philippians - G Christopher Willis
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In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord . . . I remembered God, I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed . . . I am so troubled that I cannot speak. But I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old . . . Thy way is in the sea, and Thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest Thy people like a flock. (Psalm 77)
Have you noticed how, when you are in heaviness, you are always tempted to
think about yourself—your uselessness, your failures, your nothingness—yourself
in one way or another? . . . Straight against this is the word we have in this
Psalm.
When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God. I will turn my thoughts from
myself to my Father Who loves me and does not stop loving me, though I am
useless and a failure and less than nothing at all.
It may seem quite impossible that we should rise and triumph, but ”Thou art
the God that doeth wonders.” We do not understand this strange way; be
it so. “Thy way is in the sea.” Who can find footsteps in the sea? Even so,
even there, “Thou led Thy people like sheep.” Amy Carmichael
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Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; (respect) not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (unjust). 1 Peter 2:18
THE WORKPLACE
God puts high value on work. To work is an honourable thing. If you work for someone, how is the work environment? How does your employer treat the employees? How does your employer treat you?
We know that God is all about relationships. Our verse for today provides valuable advice for the employee (servant) as how he/she relates to the boss(es).
First it speaks of being subject to them. Their position of authority commands that.
I once had a Principal who had a doctor's degree already by his early thirties - he was Dr. "Doe." I had been teaching 7 years longer than he had been alive. What was I to do? Be subject to him - he was my boss! It provided a good object lesson for my students.
Next it tells us how to be subject to them - “with all respect.” Yes, when we interact with them we are to be respectful, in actions and in words. Is that always easy to do?
No, because it goes on to say, “not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” And, there may be employers who don’t see the big picture (or the details) as well as you do - yes that happens more than we realize. Still, we’re called to be subject and respectful, and here’s why:
For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” (verse 19)
Who knows but what, by our respectfulness, some might be drawn to the Christ they see in us. L.I.F.E. LINES - Fred Pratt
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Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. Psalm 50:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. Psalm 91:15
In the above verses we are given to see in advance some of the blessings we can reap from the day of trouble. It is a day in which we have a special invitation to call upon the Lord. We also have the assurance of God’s response: “I will deliver thee.” God said the same thing in Psalm 91:15, “He shall call upon Me.” and He adds, “And I will answer Him.”
Thus the first blessing is fellowship and communion with Him. We call and He answers. Furthermore His presence is felt: “I will be with him in trouble.” If the trouble is as severe as the fiery furnace, He will walk with us so that no harm will befall us. His promise is not only, “I will deliver Him,” but it goes beyond this: “and honour HIm.” So, a day starting with trouble can end with honour!
But still more wonderful than that is the statement,”and Thou shalt glorify Me.”Just think of all the blessings that we gain when God permits us to have a “day of
trouble:“ fellowship, deliverance, and honour. But best of all, we glorify Him.
A. M. Behnam
Our times are in Thy hand, Father, we wish them there;
Our life, our soul, our all, we leave entirely to Thy care.
W. F. Lloyd
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My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.
(John 10:27-30)
The wilderness journey of Israel is a beautiful, lively picture of the journey the believer is now taking from the blood (Exodus 12:13) to the glory (Colossians 3:4). We are out of Egypt and looking toward Canaan. The danger is, not lest the blood should not be on the door, but lest we should break down by the way, as thousands did in the wilderness.
It never calls you to re-investigate the question of having found rest in the blood, but to take care how you travel along the road. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” (Hebrews 4:7). He calls the whole through which we are passing one day—
“Today”. It was a short day to the dying thief, a short day to the martyred Stephen. A longer day to Paul, and a longer day still to John; but let the wilderness journey be short or long, it is one day, and you are to hold by Christ to the very end. Cling to Him day by day till the wilderness journey is over. Hebrews - J. G. Bellett
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Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee. Isaiah 26:3
All the way my Saviour leads me—what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, what ever befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
As rivers of water in a dry place, as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Isaiah 32:2
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life with the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand.
Be careful for nothing. Philippians 4:6
Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’er shaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ‘tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me.
Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,
Safe rom the world’s temptations, sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!
The Treasures of Fanny Crosby (Physically blinded at six weeks)
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When they had laid many stripes upon them (Paul and Silas) they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who…thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. Acts 16:23-24
But midnight approached, and what was heard in the prison? Any one passing by
outside that night would have concluded that they were having a good time in there.
Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises unto God. But their feet were fast
in the stocks, their backs bleeding from the stripes they had received; hungry, cold.
The prisoners heard these songs of praise going up to God.
God stepped in; there was a physical earthquake which shook the prison to its very foundations. The doors opened, every prisoner’s bands loosened, “and the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword and would have killed himself.”
Note how beautifully the grace of God interposed. The voice of God’s servant, whom the jailor had treated so cruelly a few hours before was heard saying, “Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.” (16:28) The earthquake woke him out of his sleep, but what touched his conscience was that he heard a man, whom he had treated in the most brutal manner calling to him in a most tender, loving way “Do thyself no harm.”
“Sirs, What must I do to be saved?” He is not told to do anything but believe.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31}
Now he was a saved man by simply believing God’s message. The lion had become
a lamb. (Acts 16:33-34) The servant of the devil had become a happy servant of Christ. What freedom indeed is that which grace brings to sin’s captives through the sweet and lovely name of Jesus. Night Scenes of Scripture - W. T. P. Wolston
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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 1:3
Grammatically speaking, the word “Himself” does not need to be in this text. It could read, “when He had purged our sins.” However the Spirit of God has added it and surely it is to convey to us the incredible loneliness He endured purging our sin.
And is it not to reinforce that there was no one else who could complete the work? Christ alone could cleanse me from my sins. How thankful we are for those words
“by Himself.” Paul Robertson .
On earth the song begins;
In heaven more sweet and loud—
To Him that cleansed our sins
By His atoning blood;
To Him, we sing in joyful strain,
Be honour, power, and praise, Amen.
Alone He bare the cross,
Alone its grief sustained;
His was the shame and loss,
And He the victory gained;
The mighty work was all His own,
Tho’ we shall share His glorious throne.
Joseph Swain
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By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” Hebrews 11:23
Those of us who have lived in a land dominated by a hostile foe can perhaps better appreciate the magnificent courage of this devoted couple, when they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. It was a trial of their faith, but we know that it was “much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire.” 1 Peter 1:7. And how God honoured their faith! Each of their three children became one of His own honoured servants.
What a cheer to parents today to take a stand boldly on the Lord’s side for their children, to count on Him alone, and to fear no man! Surely He will honour such faith today, just as He honoured it in the days of Amram and Jochebed, (Moses parents).
But Jochebed teaches us another most lovely lesson. Pharaoh had charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river. Jochebed obeys the king. She owns that the king’s command applies to her son, and she casts him into the river, but hidden in an ark, so that not one drop of those waters of death could touch him. And God richly honours her faith.
You all know the story. The king’s daughter takes him up, and the baby’s sister runs to “call a nurse,” who is no other than the child’s own mother. With what joy she takes that little one from the arms of the king’s daughter, not now for herself, but for the one who has saved him. “Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.” (Exodus 2:9).
Jochebed knew her time was limited before she must send Moses back into Pharaoh’s court to be learned in ”all the wisdom of the Egyptians.” (Acts 7:22) But I believe that she had peace through her faith in God that all would be well and he would ultimately lead to the deliverance of God”s people.
The Christian (December 2019) G. C. Willis (adapted)
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It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2
It is not given to all Christians to witness a spectacular work of God either in their own spiritual experience or in their ministry. That is no indication of divine disapproval. The Spirit divideth severally as He will.
We are prone to measure our experience in the light of someone else’s testimony,
and grow depressed because our little work may look drab or uneventful. It is well to remember that Matthew Henry considered his pastoral work almost a failure, but his commentary stands on the shelves of thousands of fundamental preacher’s studies today.
To be sure, we may be living short of what God has for us. But if we are in His will as best we know, it is required only that we be faithful. Promotion hereafter is for being faithful now, “faithful over a few things,” (Matthew 25:23) “Faithful in that which is least.“ (Luke 16:10) .
True-hearted, whole-hearted, Saviour all - glorious!
Take Thy great power and reign there alone,
Over our wills and affections victorious,
Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.
Frances Ridley Havergal
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And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
I have not the thought of what we shall do in glory: my thought is, Christ will be there. I shall be in the place where everything is ruled by the mind of Christ.
Have you known down here the calming effect of realizing His presence, hearing Him
breathing out like oil on the waters, “It is I!” What will it be to be in a world where all is subject to Him who gives such peace even here! What will heaven be, when all that He is, all His perfect grace, will come out to us in the Father’s house!
What will it be where everything will be attuned to the name of Jesus! The full stream of His affections will flow over and spread blessing everywhere, “His fullness” (John 1:16) poured forth to fill every heart, and every heart perfectly filled and satisfied with it. Gleanings From the Teaching of G. V. Wigram
What will it be to dwell above, and with the Lord of glory reign,
Since the blest knowledge of HIs love so brightens all this dreary plain?
No heart can think, no tongue can tell what joy ‘twill be with Christ to dwell.
When left this scene of faith and strife, the flesh and sense deceive no more,
When we shall see the Prince of life, and all His works of grace explore:
What heights and depths of love divine will there through endless ages shine!
And God has fixed the happy day when the last tear shall dim our eyes;
When He will wipe these tears away, and fill our hearts with glad surprise;
To hear His voice, and see His face, and know the fullness of His grace.
J. Swain - 1792
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Hast Thou considered My servant Job. Job 1:8
Job, a wealthy Oriental sheik, lived in the days before the knowledge of God had been lost, though it is evident that idolatry, particularly the worship of the heavenly bodies, already had supplanted in places the older worship. For, be it remembered, paganism is not a step upward in the evolution of religion.
It is rather a declension, as Romans 1 shows us. Men turned from the living and true God to these vain idols, and “for this cause God gave them up“ (Romans 1:26) to all sorts of unclean practices. But Job had escaped all this. He was perfect in his behaviour, upright in all his ways, one who reverenced God and detested iniquity.
In chapters 1 and 2, we get a remarkable revelation of things in the unseen world. Job is the subject of a conversation between God and Satan, “the accuser of the brethren.” (Revelation 12:10) who accuses them before God day and night. The Lord challenges Satan, “Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth…one that feareth God, and eschewth evil? (blameless and upright) (Job 1:8)
Note, Job was all that God said he was—a man of faith, a true child of God. This book gives us, then, not the repentance of a sinner, but the repentance of a saint.
Satan denies the truthfulness of the divine estimate of Job and particularly declares that Job does not love and reverence the Lord for what He is in Himself, but for what Job receives at His hand.
To prove the contrary, the devil is permitted to wrest from the patriarch all that he possessed. Instead of renouncing God, Job exclaims, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).Thus far Satan is defeated, but he is relentless. “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10) He glorifies God in the fires. Satan is defeated. Job is loyal and loves God for Himself alone, and not simply for His gifts.
It is a marvellous thing thus to find one to whom God means more than all earthly possessions, yes, than life itself. Unless You Repent - H. A. Ironside
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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
How wondrous the glories that meet in Jesus, and from His face shine.
His love is eternal and sweet; ‘tis human, ‘tis also divine!
His glory—not only God’s Son—in manhood He had His full part—
And the union of both joined in one forms the fountain of love in His heart. Robert Hawker
It was love, divine, precious, unspeakable love that led Him to die for us on that accursed tree, and, if you believe on Him, you have eternal life through His death. I say receive it, believe it. You may tell me you cannot understand it. No, but what I cannot understand I can believe, what I cannot fathom I can swim in, what I cannot comprehend I can enjoy I know that God’s Son has died for me, and I know that the source of all blessing is in His perfect love.
Could I with ink the ocean fill, were every blade of grass a quill,
Were the whole heaven of parchment made, and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
F. M. Lehman
Think of being loved by God after such a sort, and yet not believing it. Believe it now, my friend and you will have everlasting life. But you tell me, I do not know for whom this everlasting life is. The answer is here: it is for “whosoever believeth in Him.” Believing in Jesus, you shall not perish, but have everlasting life. You will be brought into everlasting blessing, in association with the Son of God.
What you have to do is to trust Him, bow down your heart to Him, and then confess Him. That is the way of salvation. For it is added, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17) Night Scenes of Scripture - W. T. P. Wolston
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