And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock. Exodus 33:21
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27:5
What words of assurance and comfort for the weary, exhausted traveller, beaten by the storms of life. How good to know that there is a place where life's tumult never can reach and the harassments of earth can never invade.
That place is by His side, in the eternal calm of His presence. It is a place that He has prepared for us, into which we can safely retreat. We feel the rock beneath our feet when all other places are but shifting sand. W. H. Burnett
From every stormy wind that blows, from every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sweet retreat; 'tis found before the mercy seat.
There is a place where mercy sheds the oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all beside more sweet--it is the heavenly mercy-seat.
There is a spot where souls unite, and saint meets saint in heavenly light;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet before the common mercy seat.
Ah! whither could we flee for aid when tempted, desolate, dismayed?
Or how the hosts of hell defeat, had suffering saints no mercy-seat?
Thither by faith we upward sore, and time and sense seem all no more,
For freely God our souls can greet where glory crowns the Mercy-seat.
H.Stowell
N.J. Hiebert - 9989
What words of assurance and comfort for the weary, exhausted traveller, beaten by the storms of life. How good to know that there is a place where life's tumult never can reach and the harassments of earth can never invade.
That place is by His side, in the eternal calm of His presence. It is a place that He has prepared for us, into which we can safely retreat. We feel the rock beneath our feet when all other places are but shifting sand. W. H. Burnett
From every stormy wind that blows, from every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sweet retreat; 'tis found before the mercy seat.
There is a place where mercy sheds the oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all beside more sweet--it is the heavenly mercy-seat.
There is a spot where souls unite, and saint meets saint in heavenly light;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet before the common mercy seat.
Ah! whither could we flee for aid when tempted, desolate, dismayed?
Or how the hosts of hell defeat, had suffering saints no mercy-seat?
Thither by faith we upward sore, and time and sense seem all no more,
For freely God our souls can greet where glory crowns the Mercy-seat.
H.Stowell
N.J. Hiebert - 9989
June 30
Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:10,11
While Joshua fought, Moses prayed. As long as Moses held up his hands in prayer, Israel prevailed in battle, but when his hands drooped, Amalek prevailed. This battle was not won by Israel's fighting ability, since they were not experienced soldiers nor adept at warfare.
The battle was won by Moses through prayer. What a reminder as to the value, power, and absolute necessity of prayer! Have you prayed today?
W. Ross Rainey
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls us near!
To seek our God and Father's face,
Who loves to answer prayer.
Thy rich atoning blood,
Which sprinkled round we see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all prevailing plea.
My soul, ask what thou wilt;
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since His own blood for thee He spilt,
What else can He withhold?
Beyond thy utmost wants
His love and pow'r can bless;
To praying souls He always grants
More than they can express. John Newton
N.J. Hiebert - 9990
While Joshua fought, Moses prayed. As long as Moses held up his hands in prayer, Israel prevailed in battle, but when his hands drooped, Amalek prevailed. This battle was not won by Israel's fighting ability, since they were not experienced soldiers nor adept at warfare.
The battle was won by Moses through prayer. What a reminder as to the value, power, and absolute necessity of prayer! Have you prayed today?
W. Ross Rainey
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls us near!
To seek our God and Father's face,
Who loves to answer prayer.
Thy rich atoning blood,
Which sprinkled round we see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all prevailing plea.
My soul, ask what thou wilt;
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since His own blood for thee He spilt,
What else can He withhold?
Beyond thy utmost wants
His love and pow'r can bless;
To praying souls He always grants
More than they can express. John Newton
N.J. Hiebert - 9990
July 1
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Let us consider Christ's work on the cross and what has been accomplished by it. But who is able to speak worthily of this theme of all themes? Who can fathom the solemn yet blessed fact, the death of the Son of God on the cross? What tongue or pen can describe the sad, yet glorious truth, that the Just One died for the unjust, that Christ died for the ungodly! And what human mind can estimate the wonderful results of His work on the cross!
There can be nothing deeper than the death of God's Son on the cross. Depths are here which are unfathomable. We must ever turn back to the cross. Always we shall learn something new. With unspeakable Glory upon us and greater glory before us in eternal ages to come, the cross of Christ and the Lamb of God which has taken away the sin of the world can never be forgotten. But we shall never know what that death on the cross meant for Him and what it meant to God.
"Through the eternal He Spirit offered Himself without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:14). The Holy Lamb of God, with no spot or blemish upon Him, shed His precious blood on the cross, to procure redemption. But what it all meant for Him who was as truly Man as He is God! Here was a Being perfectly holy, One who had always pleased God and did His will, yea, His meat and drink was to do the will of Him that sent Him.
Sin was the horrible defiling thing to Him. He, too, like the Holy God hated and hates sin. And yet such a One was made sin for us. He had to stand in the place of guilty sinners and all the waves and billows of divine judgment and wrath had to pass over Him. He drank the cup of wrath to the last drop.
A. C. Gaebelein (1861-1945)
N.J. Hiebert - 9991
Let us consider Christ's work on the cross and what has been accomplished by it. But who is able to speak worthily of this theme of all themes? Who can fathom the solemn yet blessed fact, the death of the Son of God on the cross? What tongue or pen can describe the sad, yet glorious truth, that the Just One died for the unjust, that Christ died for the ungodly! And what human mind can estimate the wonderful results of His work on the cross!
There can be nothing deeper than the death of God's Son on the cross. Depths are here which are unfathomable. We must ever turn back to the cross. Always we shall learn something new. With unspeakable Glory upon us and greater glory before us in eternal ages to come, the cross of Christ and the Lamb of God which has taken away the sin of the world can never be forgotten. But we shall never know what that death on the cross meant for Him and what it meant to God.
"Through the eternal He Spirit offered Himself without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:14). The Holy Lamb of God, with no spot or blemish upon Him, shed His precious blood on the cross, to procure redemption. But what it all meant for Him who was as truly Man as He is God! Here was a Being perfectly holy, One who had always pleased God and did His will, yea, His meat and drink was to do the will of Him that sent Him.
Sin was the horrible defiling thing to Him. He, too, like the Holy God hated and hates sin. And yet such a One was made sin for us. He had to stand in the place of guilty sinners and all the waves and billows of divine judgment and wrath had to pass over Him. He drank the cup of wrath to the last drop.
A. C. Gaebelein (1861-1945)
N.J. Hiebert - 9991
July 2
Looking unto Jesus. Hebrews 12:2
Only three words, but in those three words is the whole secret of life.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS in the Scriptures,
to learn there what He is, what He has done, what He gives, what He desires; to find in His character our pattern, in His teachings our instruction, in His precepts our law, in His promises our support, in His person and in His work a full satisfaction provided for every need of our souls.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Crucified,
to find in His shed blood our ransom, our pardon, our peace.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Risen,
to find in Him the righteousness which alone makes us righteous, and permits us, all unworthy as we are, to draw near with boldness, in His Name, to Him Who is His Father and our Father, His God and our God.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Glorified,
to find in Him our Heavenly Advocate completing by His intercession the work inspired by His loving-kindness for our salvation; (1 John 2:1) Who even now is appearing for us before the face of God (Hebrews 9:24), the kingly Priest, the spotless victim, bearing the iniquity of our holy things (Exodus 28:38).
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Who gives repentance,
as well as forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31) because He give us the grace to recognize, to deplore, to confess, and to forsake our transgressions.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS NOW, if we have never looked unto Him,--
UNTO JESUS AFRESH, if we have ceased doing so,--
UNTO JESUS ONLY, STILL, ALWAYS, thus awaiting the hour when He will call us to pass from earth to heaven, and from time to eternity,--when at last "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2 Theodore Monod
N.J. Hiebert - 9992
Only three words, but in those three words is the whole secret of life.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS in the Scriptures,
to learn there what He is, what He has done, what He gives, what He desires; to find in His character our pattern, in His teachings our instruction, in His precepts our law, in His promises our support, in His person and in His work a full satisfaction provided for every need of our souls.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Crucified,
to find in His shed blood our ransom, our pardon, our peace.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Risen,
to find in Him the righteousness which alone makes us righteous, and permits us, all unworthy as we are, to draw near with boldness, in His Name, to Him Who is His Father and our Father, His God and our God.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Glorified,
to find in Him our Heavenly Advocate completing by His intercession the work inspired by His loving-kindness for our salvation; (1 John 2:1) Who even now is appearing for us before the face of God (Hebrews 9:24), the kingly Priest, the spotless victim, bearing the iniquity of our holy things (Exodus 28:38).
LOOKING UNTO JESUS Who gives repentance,
as well as forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31) because He give us the grace to recognize, to deplore, to confess, and to forsake our transgressions.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS NOW, if we have never looked unto Him,--
UNTO JESUS AFRESH, if we have ceased doing so,--
UNTO JESUS ONLY, STILL, ALWAYS, thus awaiting the hour when He will call us to pass from earth to heaven, and from time to eternity,--when at last "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2 Theodore Monod
N.J. Hiebert - 9992
July 3
Looking unto Jesus . . . Hebrews 12:2 (Continued from Gem # 8530)
Only three words, but in those three words is the whole secret of life.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS to receive from Him the task and the cross for each day, with the grace which is sufficient to carry the cross and to accomplish the task;
the grace that enables us to be patient wth His patience, active with His activity, loving with His love;
never asking "What am I able for?" but rather: "What is He not able for?" and waiting for His strength which is made perfect in our weakness.
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
LOOKING UNTO JESUS to go forth from ourselves and to forget ourselves; so that our darkness may flee away before the brightness of His face; so that our joys may be holy, and our sorrow restrained;
- that He may cast us down, and that He may raise us up;
- that He may afflict us, and that He may comfort us;
- that He may deprive us, and that He may enrich us;
- that He may teach us to pray, and that He may answer our prayers;
- that while leaving us in the world, He may separate us from it, our life being hidden with Him in God, and our behaviour bearing witness to Him before men.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS and at nothing else,
as our text expresses it in one untranslatable word (aphoroontes),
which at the same time directs us to fix our gaze upon Him, and to turn it away from everything else.
Theodore Monod
N.J. Hiebert - 9993
Only three words, but in those three words is the whole secret of life.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS to receive from Him the task and the cross for each day, with the grace which is sufficient to carry the cross and to accomplish the task;
the grace that enables us to be patient wth His patience, active with His activity, loving with His love;
never asking "What am I able for?" but rather: "What is He not able for?" and waiting for His strength which is made perfect in our weakness.
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
LOOKING UNTO JESUS to go forth from ourselves and to forget ourselves; so that our darkness may flee away before the brightness of His face; so that our joys may be holy, and our sorrow restrained;
- that He may cast us down, and that He may raise us up;
- that He may afflict us, and that He may comfort us;
- that He may deprive us, and that He may enrich us;
- that He may teach us to pray, and that He may answer our prayers;
- that while leaving us in the world, He may separate us from it, our life being hidden with Him in God, and our behaviour bearing witness to Him before men.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS and at nothing else,
as our text expresses it in one untranslatable word (aphoroontes),
which at the same time directs us to fix our gaze upon Him, and to turn it away from everything else.
Theodore Monod
N.J. Hiebert - 9993
July 4
Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20
Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear. Rather look at them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto; do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms.
Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Frances de Sales
The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1
Not was, not may be, nor will be. "The Lord is my Shepherd," is on Sunday, is on Monday, and is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, and is in China; is in peace, and, is in war; in abundance, and in penury.
J. Hudson Taylor
N.J. Hiebert - 9994
Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear. Rather look at them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto; do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms.
Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Frances de Sales
The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1
Not was, not may be, nor will be. "The Lord is my Shepherd," is on Sunday, is on Monday, and is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, and is in China; is in peace, and, is in war; in abundance, and in penury.
J. Hudson Taylor
N.J. Hiebert - 9994
July 5
