November 10
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
At my father’s house in the country there is a little closet in the chimney corner where are kept the canes and walking-sticks of several generations. When my father and I are going out for a walk, we often go to the cane closet, and pick out our sticks to suit the occasion. In this I have frequently been reminded that the Word of God is a staff.
During the war, when the season of discouragement and pending danger was upon us, the verse, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord,” (Psalm 112:7), was a staff to walk with many dark days.
When death took away our child and left us almost heart-broken, I found another staff in the promise that “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
When in impaired health, I was exiled for a year, not knowing whether I should be permitted to return to my home and work again, I took with me this staff which never failed, “He knoweth the thoughts that He thinketh toward me, thoughts of peace and not of evil.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
In times of special danger or doubt when human judgment has seemed to be set at naught, I have found it easy to go forward with this staff “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
In emergencies, when there has seemed to be no adequate time for deliberation or for action, I have never found that this staff has failed me, “He that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16) Benjamin Abbott
N.J.Hiebert - 9392
The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
(John 1:17)
The law was truth, but it was truth without grace. This latter having come by Jesus Christ the believer is exhorted to be speaking the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15) “Speaking the truth” is one word in the original and is a participle. Mr. J. N. Darby suggested coining a word to express it; “truthing.” It is not merely speaking the truth. It is being characterized by the truth; but all must be in love.
A hard and fast intolerant spirit that makes the truth like a series of legal enactments, and is censorious toward those who see not eye to eye with oneself; this is far removed from the Spirit of truth. Lovingkindness will commend the truth, when an acrimonious, judging spirit, will deter the timid from its reception.
They are to be bound about the neck, in this way displayed in the sight of man; and written upon the heart, thus finding favour with God. H.A. Ironside
N.J.Hiebert - 9393
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16
The word conscience appears more than 30 times in the New Testament. It is the inner monitor of the soul that judges all we do, say, and think. But conscience is not always reliable. While this inner voice passes judgment by either clearing or condemning us, the critical factor is the standard by which it makes these decisions.
An English writer points out that the conscience has something in common with a sundial. During the hours of daylight when the sun is brightly shining, a sun dial gives a reasonably accurate reading of the time. But when the light from the moon or any other source falls on it, the reading is not at all reliable.
The same is true of man’s conscience. Because it has been darkened by sin, it must be exposed to the light of God’s Word before it can tell us what is right and what is wrong. Without the standard of objective truth in the Bible, our conscience may make us feel comfortable when we do wrong.
The apostle Paul lived so close to the Lord and was so influenced by divine revelation that he could confidently testify in Acts 23:1, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
Christians can enjoy peace of mind only if that inner monitor of the soul is continually sensitized by the Word of God. We must be careful not to let our conscience be deadened. We must not engage in wicked practices nor accept the low moral standards of the world. Do you have a good clear conscience? H. G. B.
There is a treasure you can own thats greater than a crown or throne:
This treasure is a conscious clear that brings the sweetest peace and cheer. Isenhour
N.J.Hiebert - 9394
Draw me, we will run after Thee. The Song of Solomon 1:4
There is a beautiful connection between the Lord’s drawing, and our running. “We will run,” but carefully note the last two words—”after Thee.” There is much more, much more, in these words than can here be noted. They are all-important. “After Thee.” not after our own notions, or even after the best of men on earth, but “after Thee.”
As it is said in that beautiful sixteenth (Psalm 16:8), “I have set the Lord always before me.” Not at times, merely, but “always”. Oh! what a path ours on earth would be were this the case! How separated would it be from everything that is not Christ. And surely, in all fairness, when we pray, “draw me,” we should be ready to add, like the spouse and her companions, “We will run after Thee.” Andrew Miller
N.J.Hiebert - 9395
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2
Time flies or, as the Romans would say, “tempus fugit”. There is also and expression that says: “Time and time wait for no man.” We can’t stop the passage of time. So, how much do YOU have left? Actually, you cannot even tell if you will be around tomorrow. The past is but a memory, and the future is walled off from our view. We just have to wait for the clock to tick often enough to show us tomorrow; bit by bit.
The Present - We live our lives in the moment of NOW. That truism kind of puts life in perspective. Another often-sighted Latin expression is “carpe diem”, meaning, “Seize the day”. Some people take it as “enjoy life, live in the moment, try everything,” in other words “Be careful, you only live once”. That is short-sighted, to say the least!, because God says, there will be a day of reckoning, (Hebrews 9:27); “And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment; So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Since you only die once, this is the point we must consider eternity.
Your personal Time ends when your natural life here comes to an end. But your soul, the spiritual part of you, lives on. Everyone would like that to be in heaven (certainly no one plans to go to hell!). But one life is over, you have no more power to control your eternal destiny. Decisions about that has to be made NOW.
Decide for Christ today - Jesus Christ, God’s only Son had to die in order that the Way into eternal blessings could be offered. You need to come realizing that you could never make your way into God’s favour.
Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances like Peter (Matthew 14: 30,31), which demand an immediate answer to our prayers. Delay may be disastrous. For him, delay meant drowning. At such a time, today’s promise is most precious and peace -producing. But more often, we must become “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).
Faith believes God will do it; patience waits for His time to do it. And the waiting period can prove to be a fruitful experience. There are three possible answers to prayer: “yes,” “no,” and “wait.” H. G. Mackay
God’s delays are not denials; you will find Him true,
Working through the darkest trials what is best for you. - G. T.
N.J.Hiebert - 9397
Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
John 18:3
The Lord comes forth to the band of cruel officers and soldiers, as they were, with this word, “Whom seek ye?” (18:4)—thus addressing them as in the repose of heaven, which was His. And He comes forth in the power of heaven, as well as in its repose—for afterwards saying to them, “I am He,”They go backward, and fall to the ground. No man could take His life from Him.
He has even to show them their prey; for all their torches and lanterns would not otherwise have discovered Him to them. Every stage in the way was His own. He laid down His life of Himself. They that would eat up His flesh must stumble and fall. They that desired His hurt must be turned back and put to confusion. Had the Son of God pleased, there, on the ground, the enemy still have lain.
He had come, however, not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them; (Luke 9:56) and therefore He would lay down His own. He rather leaves Himself in the hands of enemies. “Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him.” (v.12) The Evangelists - J. G. Bellett
N.J.Hiebert - 9398
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Do you want comfort? Nothing can give it so much as the thought of Christ’s coming. There may be sorrow in the night, but joy enough—”fullness of joy”— (Psalm 16:11) In that morning when we shall see Him as He is: fullness of joy in being like Him and with Him for ever more. (1 John 3:2)
Gleanings - G. V. Wigram
Soon will the Master come: soon pass away
Our times of conflict, grief, and suffering here;
Our night of weeping end in cloudless day,
And sorrow’s moment like a dream appear;
Eternity—with Jesus—in the skies—
How soon that Sun of righteousness may rise!
We shall behold Him, whom not seen we love,
We shall be with Him, whom we long to see;
We shall be like Him, fit for realms above,
With Him, and like Him, for eternity!
Is now to sit at Jesus’ feet our choice?
How will fruition then our souls rejoice!
J. G. Deck
N.J.Hiebert - 9399
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:29
Nothing perhaps has been a more common source falling out by the way than the holding of favourite religious opinions, or the undue, disproportioned estimation of certain doctrines or points of truth.
If we were only happy in Him, we should work much better for Him. It is joy in Christ that gains victory over the world. Why are we in subjection to the world? Just because we have not found in Christ all the joy we ought to find.
It is one thing to be the advocate of Christianity, and another to be the disciple of it. And though it may sound strange at first, far easier is it to teach its lessons than to learn them.
We need not so much to covet information about Him as power to use divinely what we know. J.G. Bellet
N.J.Hiebert - 9400
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded (loaded), everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. Nehemiah 4:17
No soldier on service is ever “laid aside”; he is only given another commission, sometimes just to suffer (we are not told yet the use of that), sometimes, when pain and weakness lessen a little, to fight among the unseen forces of the field. Never, never is he shelved as of no further use to his Beloved Captain. To feel so, even for a moment, is to be terribly weakened and disappointed.
The soldier must let his Captain say where, and for what, He needs him most, and he must not cloud his mind with questions. A wise master never wastes his servant’s time, nor a commander his soldier’s—there is great comfort in remembering that.
There is no discharge in our warfare. No not for a single day. We may be called to serve on the visible field. We may be called off the visible. That dreary word “laid aside” is never for us; we are soldiers of the King of kings. Soldiers are not shelved.
Rose From Briar - Amy Carmichael
N.J.Hiebert - 9401
Daniel…Kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed. Daniel. 6:10.
It is well to accustom oneself to stated seasons of prayer, and to refuse to allow even pressing business to turn one aside. Who has not heard of the white handkerchief in front of General “Chinese Gordon’s'' tent? The sentry, pacing to and fro, allowed no courier to enter—no matter how urgent - till that handkerchief was removed. It indicated that Gordon was having an audience with God, and all other matters must wait. How often it is otherwise with many of us. God is put last!
H.A.Ironside
I’m busy! No, I cannot stay,
A thousand things call me away;
Tomorrow I will stop to pray.
And so I lost me one great day.
N.J. Hiebert 9402
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4 :4,7
THE TYRNNY OF WORRY
One does not need to travel very far along the road of life before one discovers that probably the greatest foe with which the human heart has to contend is worry. The terrible havoc which it works is written on the faces of men and women everywhere.
It destroys the vitality of the body, turns the mind into a seething caldron of unrest, and robs the soul of peace. No one is exempt from its attacks; for it possesses the fatal power of entering the palace of the king as easily as it does the humblest cottage in the land.
Since the grace that makes us Christians still leaves us men, we too— believers in the Lord Jesus Christ—are faced by this demon of worry; and it may be helpful to enquire how it is that we so frequently get into its grip; to show how sadly it hinders us in our witness for God; and to point out how we may be finally delivered from its power.
Our theme then is: worry—its prevalence, uselessness and baselessness ; its causes, consequences and cure. Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s Care - George Henderson
N.J.Hiebert—9403
(To be continued)
WORRY - ITS CAUSES
Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
By reason of our complex personality, we stand related to three realms of being—physical, mental and spiritual; and worry may come to us from any one of these. On the physical plane, life for very many is a constant battle for the bread that perisheth; and the worry that reaches us from this source is largely occasioned by such questions as: what shall we eat? What shall we drink? or wherewithall shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:31)
Mentally, some are so constituted that they live in perpetual dread of coming disaster. An incurable malady is imagined to be on its way, an impending doom, an overhanging sword is already perceived.
Finally, in the spiritual realm, the happenings of the hour frequently furnish occasion for our faithless hearts to doubt the tenderness of God.
Now it is an indisputable fact that, people worry more about their imaginary troubles than they do about those which are actually upon them.
The troubles that never come form the heaviest part of our daily load. The worry and the fear caused by these apprehended miseries often work said havoc with brain and nerves. The actual sorrows, the bereavements, the disappointments, have their comfort and cure. But there is no cure for the troubles that never come. They are haunting ghosts, unsubstantial as mist, yet very real in their depressing and harmful power over us. Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s care. George Henderson
N.J.Hiebert - 9404 (To be continued)
Draw me, we will run after Thee! Song of Solomon1:4
Were I to read the heart of the loving bride through these words, I should say that her desire to be near the person of the Lord is so great that, near and dear though she be, there is something like distance experienced. Hence the deep breathings of her heart, “Draw me”—oh! draw me nearer—closer—my Lord, to Thee! The more we know of Christ the more we shall desire to know of Him.
The nearer we are to Him, the more we shall desire to be drawn nearer still. As Paul says, “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10), and yet none on earth knew Him so well! Do you speak thus, my soul, to yourself? Do you know this in you own experience?
There is a beautiful connection between the Lord’s drawing and our running. Note the last two words—not after our own notions, or even after the best of men on earth—but “after Thee”. The one who draws, goes before. Thus the Lord goes before His people in the wilderness and sees the danger and meets it before they come to it. Many, many are the dangers He delivers us from that we know nothing about.
A snare may be laid for us by the enemy in the way that we said we would go; but our divine Leader, seeing the snare, turns into another path, leads in another direction, and the snare which might have proved fatal is escaped. And yet I may feel so disappointed and so discontented because something hindered me from reaching my previously appointed place.
Blessed Lord, may we ever and only “run after Thee!” Andrew Miller
N.J.Hiebert - 9405
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