I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13
The story is told of a beloved servant of the Lord who, in his own right, was very wealthy. One night in the prayer meeting he asked prayer for a brother who had had a great calamity.
A friend walking home with him enquired who the brother was for whom they had been praying. He replied, "Myself". "Oh," the other asked, "if it is not too inquisitive, may I know what the calamity is?" "I have just had word of a large legacy that has been left to me and the responsibility to use it aright is so heavy."
I believe that brother had learned the lesson how to abound. He and his devoted wife had a large and beautiful home in London, where they lived on the top floor, devoting the rest of the house to the Lord's people who were in need. My mother has told me how her widowed mother, with a young family, homeless for Christ's sake, were taken into that home and tenderly cared for.
But these are lessons that we may see in perfection only in Him "though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) How it bows our hearts in adoration to know that "Though He were a Son, yet learned HE obedience by the things which He suffered." (Hebrews 5:8).
In (Philippians 2:8) We have the same word: "to run low:" but there it is He Himself who made Himself low. It is one of those amazing steps downward that we saw our Lord voluntarily take, for our sakes. So if we, like Paul, must learn the lesson of being brought low: let us remember our Lord knows all about it: He has walked that road before us; and none ever went so low as He.
G. Christopher Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 19193
January 20
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, if Thou be the Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23:39-41
Is not the testimony of this recent convert beautiful? "This Man hath done nothing amiss." (Luke 23:41) He confesses his own sin, and judges it too, and at the same moment gets a glimpse of, and proclaims the glories of the Saviour's character. This man, in the very jaws of death himself, and when every possible evidence was against Christ, discovers His worth, and proclaims alike His excellences, His Lordship, and His Kingly rights, "...He hath done nothing amiss." (Luke 23:41) He is Lord and King, and although He is dying now, He will rise and come in His kingdom. Splendid testimony of faith!
The next moment he says, "Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." (Luke 23:42). That is all the length his faith got then; but mark the Lord's answer, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." (Luke 23:43).
Oh! look at the Saviour's grace to the man who confides in Him. That other thief, hand and glove with the world, was railing against Him--infidelity, rationalism, and reason were working in all save one, as they stood, or hung, taunting Him to save Himself, if He were the Christ, and if He were the King. The poor thief sees that He is a King; sees that He is the Christ the Son of God, and then owns that He is his Lord! Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M. D.
N.J. Hiebert - 19194
January 21
Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:32-33
Of the manna, we read that "they gathered it every morning" (Exodus 16:21). Viewed typically and spiritually, these words present a philosophy of life for the Christian believer. They constitute the secret of safety, of certainty, and of enjoyment. To the holy habit of daily feeding on the heavenly manna, which is set before us in the sacred page of Scripture, is attributable our joy (Jeremiah 15:16), our peace (Psalm 119:165), our fruitfulness (Psalm 1:2,3), our security in the hour of peril (Psalm 17:4).
Christian men and women must read and study the Word of God. No pressure of Christian work, in all the manifold activities of the present day, should prevent the daily, devotional perusal of God's Holy Word. Christian effort cannot be substituted for thoughtful and serious attention to what we are taught of God in His Holy Book, and by which we are to be renewed and sanctified. We must be filled with divine truth if we are to grow in the divine life. Our Christian activities, furthermore, can only be sustained and enlarged by much communion with Christ through His Word.
The sources of great rivers are hidden away in mountain and glen. Fountains burst out in secluded places, and gentle brooks run through shaded ravines. They meet at length, and, mingling in their onward flow, set at work industrial activity in a thousand shapes and forms. But would keep all these activities in motion if the fountains should fail, and the brooks be dried up? What shall sustain steadily the long-continued effort of the Church of Christ to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, save the feeding of each member of the elect body in the green pastures of the divine Word? The real power to do great things for Christ must come from secluded places, where men commune with God and gather motives, convictions and incitements to effort, from His word. The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson
N.J. Hiebert - 19195
January 22
And when he came to himself, he said, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father . . . Luke 15:17,18
The eager father welcomes back the returning prodigal. But we should not overlook the fact, that it was when the ungrateful youth "came to himself" (Luke 15:17) and took the position of self-judgment because of his wicked folly, and actually turned his face homeward, that the father ran to him, though still a great way off, and fell on his neck and kissed him.
He did not wait for his boy to ring the door bell or knock in fear and anxiety on the gate. But, on the other hand, he did not offer him the kiss of forgiveness while he was down among the swine. He hastened to meet him when, in repentance, he turned homeward with words of confession in his heart.
Does all this becloud grace? Surely not. Rather it magnifies and exalts it. For it is to unworthy sinners who recognize and acknowledge their dire condition that God finds delight in showing undeserved favour. H.A. Ironside
In rags and in ruin, without and within, one terrible mass of pollution and sin;
By false friends deserted, of fortune bereft, he turns to the home he once eagerly left.
O! none can restore, nor such deep sin efface, but the One who comes forth in such infinite grace;
For grace is above all his sin and distress, and he's nothing to do--save his sin to confess!
What an earnest and seal of unspeakable bliss Is conveyed in the Father's affectionate kiss!
The lost one is found, and the servants must bring, at the Father's command, the shoes and the ring.
And the very best robe, and the fatling and wine, What a change from the rags, the husks, and the swine
With music and dancing-tis something so new, such a fullness of blessing-and nothing to do!
N.J. Hiebert - 10196
January 23
January 24
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