Gems from March 11- 13, 2025

[We] worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:3 

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.  Hebrews 13:15

Petition and praise are often mingled into worship, but properly speaking they alone do not constitute worship. "Lord, save me" is petition; "Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul," is praise; but "Thank you, Lord, for what you are" is worship.

Petition.  To illustrate, let us suppose that a person who cannot swim falls into a river.  As he struggles to save himself, he realizes how hopeless it is, and cries out from his heart,  "Help! help! Save me!"  This is petition.

Praise.  Suddenly, a well-dressed man appears and, risking his own life, without hesitation dives into the river and rescues the drowning man.  The response is overwhelming praise.  "How brave  you were in saving me!  How can I ever express my gratitude to you for saving my life!  Thank you, thank you!"  This illustrates what takes place when a sinner accepts Christ's substitutionary work on Calvary.  He is assured that he is saved from his sins' penalty and his soul is filled with joy and with praise for the One who saved him.

Worship.  Now the rescuer says, "Please come to my home tomorrow and dine with me so we can become better acquainted."  To his surprise his rescuer is wealthy!  Then during an excellent dinner, he becomes aware of his host's, nobility, kindness, graciousness, and humility--his moral character and true worth.  While he does not forget that his host was the rescuer, he now admires and appreciates what the rescuer is in himself.  The expression of this is worship.

We can never forget that Christ is our Saviour and has redeemed us at the cost of His blood, but as the Spirit reveals His character, we are increasingly able to worship Him.     The Lord is Near - 2007  A. P. Gibbs 

N.J. Hiebert - 9877

March 10

While He thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.   Luke 9:34 

This evening the clouds lay low on the mountains, so that some times we could hardly see them, and sometimes the stars were nearly all covered.  But always, just when it seemed as though the mountains were going to be quite lost in the mist, the higher peaks pushed out, and whereas the dimmer stars were veiled, the brighter ones shone through. 

Even supposing the clouds had wholly covered the face of the mountains, and not a star had shone through the piled-up masses, the mountains would still have stood steadfast, and the stars would not have ceased to shine.  Our feelings do not affect God's facts.  They may blow up like clouds and cover the eternal things that we do most truly believe.  We may not see the shining of the promises, but still they shine; and the strength of the hills that is His also, is not for one moment less because of our human weakness. 

How often we fear as we enter into some cloud of the unknown.  The unknown year--or perhaps only the unknown day, can make us fear.  Shall we be led through it, always caused to triumph? or shall we fail?  Or the cloud may be the sorrow which all of us know so well, the grief  (that fills the hour like a cloud) over some well-loved soul that has taken the wrong turn.  "They feared as they entered into the cloud."

But "there came a Voice out of the cloud saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him", and as we listen we hear.  To each heart comes the word it needs most at that moment, and often the first word will be, "Fear thou not", and with the words will come an assurance of His Presence, or a promise of His succour.  "And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone." (Luke 9:36)  Edges of His ways - Amy Carmichael

N.J. Hiebert - 9878

March 11

She laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. . . .  They spit in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote Him with the palms of their hands . . . [Pilate]  scourged Jesus, and he delivered Him to be crucified.  Luke 2:7 Matthew 26:67,27:26   

EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY 
The common, overwhelming picture we have of Christ in the Gospels is that of the despised, lowly, suffering Servant; however, we do find occasional glimpses of His divine glory and majesty:

1.  Even while the infant Jesus was lying in a feed trough in a dark and dirty stable, the glory of the Lord shone down to reveal to the shepherds the glory and majesty that belonged to this wondrous Being (Luke 2:9-14); 
2.  Later, the wise men visited Jesus and worshipped Him Matthew 2:1-11;
3.  Peter confessed Him as  "the Christ, the Son of the living God"
Matthew 16:16;
4. The centurion exclaimed, Truly this Man was the Son of God Mark 15:39,

These people accorded to Jesus the honour and place that were rightfully His even though He did not make an outward display of glory and majesty.

But we do find one instance in the Gospels of His divine glory and majesty breaking through the veil of His humanity.   We read that "He was transfigured" before Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:2-5).  This is the scene Peter refers to in (2 Peter 1:16-18) "We. . . were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The more we meditate upon the glory, the majesty of our Lord, the more deeply we are impressed with how worthy He is to receive from our lives continual honour, glory, praise, adoration, worship, and obedience. P. L. Canner

N.J. Hiebert - 9879

March 12

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. 
Psalm 4:7,8. 

Where there is peace, such peace as peace wth God and conscience, there can want no pleasure.  David goes merry to bed, when he had nothing to eat but the gladness that God by this puts into his heart, and promises himself a better night's rest than any of them all, that are feasted with the world's cheer.

This same peace with God, enjoyed in the conscience, redounds to the comfort of the body.  Now David can sleep sweetly, when he lies on a hard bed; what here he says he would do, he has done, "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me."  Psalm  3:5

The title of this psalm (A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.), tells us when David had this sweet night's rest; not when he laid in his bed of down in his stately palace at Jerusalem, but when he fled for his life from his unnatural son Absalom, and possibly was forced to lie in the open field, under the canopy of heaven.

The great care that Christ took for His disciples, when He left the world, was not to leave them a quiet world to live in, but to arm them against a troublesome world: He bequeaths unto them His peace.  
The Christian in Compete Armour - William Gurnall (1617-1679)

In Jesus for peace I abide, and as I keep  close to His side,
There  is nothing but peace doth betide, sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
P. P. Bilhorn

N.J. Hiebert - 9880

March 13

March 14

Gems from March 1- 10, 2025

THE BURDEN-BEARER

Casting all your your care upon Him; for He careth for you.   1 Peter 5:7

I know the Son of God for me
The cross endured.
I know He suffered in my stead,
And, by the precious blood He shed,
My peace secured.

I know the Man who died for me
Is on the throne.
I know He ever watches there,
With sympathizing shepherd-care,
O'er all His own.

So why should I not trust His love
And power divine?
If He could bear my sins away,
Can He not carry day by day
Those cares of mine?

My burdens, then, my frets, my fears,
On Him I'll cast.
I'll leave my life in His good hand,
Assured my path in love He's planned 
From first to last.

Thus gladly on my homeward way
I'll singing go;
Until, by His abounding grace,
At last I see Him face to face
Who loved me so. 
Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait

N.J.Hiebert - 9868

March 1

WAKEFUL HOURS

"Thou holdest mine eyes waking."  Psalm  77:4

If we could always say, night after night, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep,"  (Psalm 4:8) receiving in full measure the Lord's quiet gift to His beloved, we should not learn the disguised sweetness of this special word for the wakeful ones. 

When the wearisome nights come, it is hushing to know that they are appointed (Job 7:3).  But this is something nearer and closer bringing, something individual and personal; not only an appointment, but an act of our Father:  "Thou holdest mine eyes waking."  (Psalm 77:4).   It is not that He is merely not giving us sleep; it is not a denial, but a different dealing.  

Every moment that the tired eyes are sleepless, it is because our Father is holding them waking.  It seems so natural to say, "How I wish I could go to sleep!"  Yet even that restless wish may be soothed by the happy confidence in our Father's hand, which will not relax its "hold" upon the weary eyelids until the right moment has come to let them fall in slumber.

Ah! but we say, "It is not only wish, I really want sleep."  Well; wanting it is one thing, and needing it is another.  For He is pledged to supply "All our need, not all our notions." (Philippians 4:19)  And if He holds our eyes waking, we may rest assured that, so long as He does so, it is not sleep but wakefulness that is our true need. 

Now if we first simply submit ourselves in the appointed wakefulness, instead of getting fidgeted because we cannot go to sleep, the resting in His will, even in this little thing, will bring a certain blessing.  And the perfect learning of this little page in the great lesson-book of our Father's will, will make others easier and clearer.  Royal Bounty - Frances Ridley Havergal

N.J. Hiebert - 9869

March 2

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  

(James 1:2-4) 

It is no evidence of God's displeasure when His people are called upon to pass through great trials.  If one professes to have faith in the Lord he can depend upon it that his profession will be put to the test sooner or later.  Alas, that we so frequently lose courage and become despondent in the hour of temptation, instead of realizing that it is the very time when we should look up into the Father's face with confidence, knowing that He is working out some purpose in us which could not be wrought out in any other way.  We are called upon to count it all joy when we fall into many trials.

The word "temptation," as  used here, does not refer to our being tempted to sin, but rather as when God did tempt Abraham, to the testing of our faith.  Paul tells us that tribulation worketh patience, and James affirms the same: "The trying of your faith worketh patience."  

By nature we are inclined to be fretful and impatient.  Even Christians sometimes rebel against the ways of God when these go contrary to their own desires.  But he who learns to be submissive to whatever God permits glorifies Him who orders all things according to the counsel of His own will.  David said his soul had quieted itself as a weaned child  (Psalm 131:2).  This is patience exemplified.

When natural nourishment is taken from a babe, and it is fed on other food more suitable for its age, it becomes peevish and fretful.  But when actually weaned all this is ended, and it accepts gratefully the proffered refreshment. 
Notes on James - H. A. Ironside

N.J. Hiebert - 9870

March 3

Verily, verily, I (Jesus) say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old . . . another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. . . And when He had spoken this, He said unto him, Follow Me.  (John 21:18,19)

But Peter is Peter right on to the end, and even here again he appears as we read, "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved, following. . . . Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?" (vs. 20,21).  John, without doubt, is meant here, and having heard the call to Peter, himself follows Jesus.  What Peter was bidden to do; John does.  The Lord's answer is enigmatical (puzzling), but highly instructive-- "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?  Follow thou Me."  It is enough to know our own path, we are not called on to inquire as to our brother's. 

"What shall this man do?" is too often on our lips.  The Lord's reply is rather of the nature of a rebuke.  "You keep your eye on Me, not on your brother."  How good, how salutary, such a word!  One can hardly conceive that under such circumstances, with his fault just only forgiven, and his death foretold, that Peter could have put such a question about another. 

But as we read the record we can only say, "That is Peter to life."  No matter where you find him, he is always the same impulsive man.  Discretion had little part in his composition, while warmth ever marked him, and I doubt not it was his affection for John that led to his last indiscreet question.  All his others we have see elicited valuable truth from the Lord, and this is no exception.

Whether the explanation of this be clear to our minds or not, the last word of the Lord to Peter, "Follow thou Me," is abundantly plain.  May our hearts, each one, heed it to the full, and so please and serve Him, fully and untiringly, till He come!    Simon Peter - W. T. P. Wolston     

N.J. Hiebert - 9871

March 4

THROUGH THE WATERS

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1
  
Into death's  dark waters faring,
Christ passed for me;
Shame, reproach and sorrow bearing, all, all for me.
Now I spurn the sins that slew Him,
Turn from scenes that never knew Him;
Take my cross and hasten to Him;  He died for me!

See, the grave has closed around Him,
Silent and lone;
They who wove the thorns that crowned Him, sealing the stone.
To His tomb have I descended,
Seen my earthly pathway ended;
Here by faith have comprehended His grave my own.

O the joy, the blest awaking,
When Christ arose!
Every band forever breaking, my Lord arose. 
Free with Him, what tie can bind me?
Safe in Him, what foe can find me?
Death and darkness all behind me, with Him I rose.

Sharing in His triumph glorious 
O'er every foe, 
Now to walk in life victorious, forward I go.
Where in Heaven, His work completed,
Christ at God's right hand is seated,
There my portion, too, is meted, there, there I go.    James M. S. Tait         

N.J. Hiebert - 9872

March 5

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy.  2 Corinthians 11:2 

How an old harper dotes on his harp!  How he fondles and caresses it, as a child resting on his bosom!  His life is bound up in it.  But, see him tuning it.  He grasps it firmly, strikes a chord with a sharp, quick blow; and while it quivers as if in pain, he leans over intently to catch the first note that rises.  The note, as he feared, is false and harsh.

He strains the chord with the torturing thumb-screw; and though it seems ready to snap with the tension, he strikes it again, bending down to listen softly as before, till at length you see a smile on his face as the first true tone trembles upward.

So it may be that God is dealing with you.  Loving you better than any harper loves his harp, He finds you a massive jarring discords.  He wrings your heart strings with some torturing anguish; he bends over you tenderly, striking and listening; and, hearing only a harsh murmur, strikes you again, while His heart bleeds for you, anxiously waiting for that strain--"Not my will, but Thine be done"--which is melody sweet to His ear.  Nor will He cease to strike until your chastened soul shall blend with all the pure and infinite harmony of His own choosing.  Selected. 

Oh, the sweetness that dwells in a harp of many strings, 
While each, all vocal with love in a tuneful harmony rings! 
But, oh, the wail and the discord, when one and another is rent, 
Tensionless, broken and lost, from the cherished instrument.

For rapture of love linked with the pain or fear of loss,
And the hand that takes the crown, must ache with many a cross; 
Yet he who hath never a conflict, hath never a victor's palm,
And only the toilers know the sweetness of rest and calm.  
Streams in the Desert

N.J. Hiebert - 9873

March 6

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  Luke 2:13,14 

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  Galatians 4:4,5   

A multitude of the heavenly host came to announce the arrival of this divine Stranger, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  (Luke 2:13,14)   But the only ones to hear their message were a few shepherds out on the hillside keeping watch over their sheep.  Jerusalem, the city of the great King, was troubled by the news that He was born (Matthew 2:3). 

And the chief priests and scribes, who should have been the first to welcome Him, did not make the smallest effort to seek Him.  True, there were those who brought kingly gifts and falling before Him did Him homage, but these were Gentile strangers. (Matthew 2:11).  And old Simeon, or Anna, had a heart prepared to give a welcome to the newborn King; and Anna knew all those in Jerusalem that looked for redemption, and she spoke of Him to them.

I fear the number was not great. (Luke 2:25, 36-38).  Such was man's condition when God's time arrived, when "the fullness of time came."  In Romans 5:6, the Holy Spirit calls it "due time."  In Mark 1:15, He sent to men the message, "The time is fulfilled."  It was God's time, the time for the most important event that ever has happened in the history of the universe:
"GOD SENT FORTH FROM HIMSELF HIS SON." 
G. C. Willis - Galatians or "BEAUTIFUL GRACE"

N.J. Hiebert - 9874

March 7

The Word of God is quick [living] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.     Hebrews 4:12  

It is no idle boast that the Bible makes.  It is living.  It is powerful.  It is the only living book in the world.  No wonder the Christian hymn writer wrote: - - 

"Oh! for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise:
The glories of my God and King, the triumph of His grace."

If Charles Wesley were alive now, he would rejoice to know that the Bible has been translated into one thousand languages and dialects, and that a thousand tongues all over the world are singing the great Redeemer's praise.

There is an interesting story told of Lord Lyttleton (1709-1773) and his friend Gilbert West.  Both were trained lawyers, well able to sift evidence.  Both were infidels.  They consulted together and conceived the idea that if they could disprove the resurrection of Christ and the conversion of the apostle Paul they would strike a mortal and much desired blow at Christianity.  Of course they had to read diligently the Bible accounts of these two great events.

They were obliged to weigh the evidences.  They were convinced against their will.  Both sat down to their tasks full of prejudice; but the result of their separate attempts was, that they were both converted by their efforts to overthrown the truth of Christianity.  They came together, not as they expected, to exult over an imposture expose to ridicule, but to lament over their own folly and to express great joy on their joint  conviction that the Bible was the Word of God.

Their books can be seen in the library at Oxford at this present time. 
Why I believe the Bible -  A. J. Pollock

N.J. Hiebert  9875

March 8

So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.  2 Chronicles 27:6

To talk with God no breath is lost--talk on, . . .
To walk with God no strength is lost--walk on, . . .
To wait on God no time is lost--wait on, . . .
To grind the axe no work is lost--grind on, . . .
The work is quicker, better done, . . . 
Nor needing half the strength laid on-- grind on, . . .
Work without God is labour lost--work on, . . .
Full soon you'll learn, add to your cost--toil on, . . .
Little is much when God is in it; much is little everywhere . . .
Man's busiest day is not worth God's minute, if God the labour does not share, 
Go work with God, and nothing's lost: . . . who works with Him does best and most--work on. 
E. Stanley Jones

Then in fellowship sweet, let us sit at His feet,
Or walk by His side in the way;
What He says may do, where He sends may we go,     
Never fear, only trust and obey.   
John H. Sammis

N.J. Hiebert - 9876

March 9

[We] worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:3
 
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.  Hebrews 13:15

Petition and praise are often mingled into worship, but properly speaking they alone do not constitute worship. "Lord, save me" is petition; "Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul," is praise; but "Thank you, Lord, for what you are" is worship.

Petition.  To illustrate, let us suppose that a person who cannot swim falls into a river.  As he struggles to save himself, he realizes how hopeless it is, and cries out from his heart,  "Help! help! Save me!"  This is petition.

Praise.  Suddenly, a well-dressed man appears and, risking his own life, without hesitation dives into the river and rescues the drowning man.  The response is overwhelming praise.  "How brave  you were in saving me!  How can I ever express my gratitude to you for saving my life!  Thank you, thank you!"  This illustrates what takes place when a sinner accepts Christ's substitutionary work on Calvary.  He is assured that he is saved from his sins' penalty and his soul is filled with joy and with praise for the One who saved him.

Worship.  Now the rescuer says, "Please come to my home tomorrow and dine with me so we can become better acquainted."  To his surprise his rescuer is wealthy!  Then during an excellent dinner, he becomes aware of his host's, nobility, kindness, graciousness, and humility--his moral character and true worth.  While he does not forget that his host was the rescuer, he now admires and appreciates what the rescuer is in himself.  The expression of this is worship.

We can never forget that Christ is our Saviour and has redeemed us at the cost of His blood, but as the Spirit reveals His character, we are increasingly able to worship Him.     The Lord is Near - 2007  A. P. Gibbs 

N.J. Hiebert - 9877

March 10

While He thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.   Luke 9:34 

This evening the clouds lay low on the mountains, so that some times we could hardly see them, and sometimes the stars were nearly all covered.  But always, just when it seemed as though the mountains were going to be quite lost in the mist, the higher peaks pushed out, and whereas the dimmer stars were veiled, the brighter ones shone through. 

Even supposing the clouds had wholly covered the face of the mountains, and not a star had shone through the piled-up masses, the mountains would still have stood steadfast, and the stars would not have ceased to shine.  Our feelings do not affect God's facts.  They may blow up like clouds and cover the eternal things that we do most truly believe.  We may not see the shining of the promises, but still they shine; and the strength of the hills that is His also, is not for one moment less because of our human weakness. 

How often we fear as we enter into some cloud of the unknown.  The unknown year--or perhaps only the unknown day, can make us fear.  Shall we be led through it, always caused to triumph? or shall we fail?  Or the cloud may be the sorrow which all of us know so well, the grief  (that fills the hour like a cloud) over some well-loved soul that has taken the wrong turn.  "They feared as they entered into the cloud."

But "there came a Voice out of the cloud saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him", and as we listen we hear.  To each heart comes the word it needs most at that moment, and often the first word will be, "Fear thou not", and with the words will come an assurance of His Presence, or a promise of His succour.  "And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone." (Luke 9:36)  Edges of His ways - Amy Carmichael

N.J. Hiebert - 9878

March 11

She laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. . . .  They spit in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote Him with the palms of their hands . . . [Pilate]  scourged Jesus, and he delivered Him to be crucified.  Luke 2:7 Matthew 26:67,27:26   

EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY 
The common, overwhelming picture we have of Christ in the Gospels is that of the despised, lowly, suffering Servant; however, we do find occasional glimpses of His divine glory and majesty:

1.  Even while the infant Jesus was lying in a feed trough in a dark and dirty stable, the glory of the Lord shone down to reveal to the shepherds the glory and majesty that belonged to this wondrous Being (Luke 2:9-14); 
2.  Later, the wise men visited Jesus and worshipped Him Matthew 2:1-11;
3.  Peter confessed Him as  "the Christ, the Son of the living God"
Matthew 16:16;
4. The centurion exclaimed, Truly this Man was the Son of God Mark 15:39,

These people accorded to Jesus the honour and place that were rightfully His even though He did not make an outward display of glory and majesty.

But we do find one instance in the Gospels of His divine glory and majesty breaking through the veil of His humanity.   We read that "He was transfigured" before Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:2-5).  This is the scene Peter refers to in (2 Peter 1:16-18) "We. . . were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The more we meditate upon the glory, the majesty of our Lord, the more deeply we are impressed with how worthy He is to receive from our lives continual honour, glory, praise, adoration, worship, and obedience. P. L. Canner

N.J. Hiebert - 9879

March 12

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. 
Psalm 4:7,8. 

Where there is peace, such peace as peace wth God and conscience, there can want no pleasure.  David goes merry to bed, when he had nothing to eat but the gladness that God by this puts into his heart, and promises himself a better night's rest than any of them all, that are feasted with the world's cheer.

This same peace with God, enjoyed in the conscience, redounds to the comfort of the body.  Now David can sleep sweetly, when he lies on a hard bed; what here he says he would do, he has done, "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me."  Psalm  3:5

The title of this psalm (A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.), tells us when David had this sweet night's rest; not when he laid in his bed of down in his stately palace at Jerusalem, but when he fled for his life from his unnatural son Absalom, and possibly was forced to lie in the open field, under the canopy of heaven.

The great care that Christ took for His disciples, when He left the world, was not to leave them a quiet world to live in, but to arm them against a troublesome world: He bequeaths unto them His peace.  
The Christian in Compete Armour - William Gurnall (1617-1679)

In Jesus for peace I abide, and as I keep  close to His side,
There  is nothing but peace doth betide, sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
P. P. Bilhorn

N.J. Hiebert - 9880

March 13

Gems from February 21- 28, 2025

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heaves; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.  Psalm 36:5 

A remarkable principle that the ocean has impressed upon my spirit is one shaped by the action of the waves upon sand.  I see it repeated a hundred thousand times when I walk softly between the tides. Every wave or wavelet that surges across the sand seems to run up the beach in threatening fashion.  The water foams and froths ominously.  It comes swishing up the sand, hissing menacingly.  It seems intent on shifting and sweeping everything before it.  

Yet, mysteriously, wondrously, incredibly, I have seen those same threatening waves come to a quiet end.  Their energy spent, they simply sink into the sand.  The water not soaked up recedes gently, to be reclaimed by the next incoming wave.  The threatening presence is lost and dissipated in the matrix of the great white beach.  Only tiny bursting rainbow bubbles and a vanishing fleck of foam remain to remind one of the menace.

It seemed so real, so overwhelming, so all-engulfing.  Yet it came to nothing. Life, too, is like that.  So many of the events or things we fear often come to nothing.  Initially they may appear, like a rising wave on the sea, intent on sweeping right over us.  We are sure they will engulf us in calamity and chaos.  We are terrified at times that they will fling us off our feet, to toss us up, crumpled and broken, on the beach of life.

Yet again and again, like waves that run out of energy, to spend themselves softly on the sand, the threats of our day fade away.  They look so menacing, they appear so formidable; we want to turn and run from them.  Yet time tames most of them.  They dissolve into nothing.  Lord, help me to remember this word from the waves.  Songs of My Soul  - W. Philip Keller 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.  Cowper - 1779  
            
N.J. Hiebert - 9860

February 21

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.  They say unto him, We also go with thee.  They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then said Jesus unto them, Children, have ye any meat?  They answered Him, No.  John 21:3-5.

You remember how Jesus stood on the shore, and called to the disciples who were in the fishing boat, "Children, Have ye any meat?" And they had to answer, "No!"  In the Greek Testament the word the Lord used is not "Children" but the diminutive of children, Paidia or as we would say "Little children."   But I do not think He was thinking of their age or size: I think that diminutive was called forth by the Lord's loving concern for their long, discouraging night of failure; and now no breakfast; for the very form of His question as recorded in Greek, intimates that He knew the answer must be, "No!" 

Then the same love that asks the question in that particular form, tells them what to do: "Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find."  And then the answering chord in the heart of the disciple (John) whom Jesus loved tells him who is that "Stranger" standing on the beach, and he says to Peter, "It is the Lord!"

Then He invites them to breakfast: the breakfast His own hands have prepared, and after they have finished eating, you remember He asks Peter if he loved Him more than the other disciples.  Peter dare not use the strong word (agapao) for love, that the Lord had used, but replies, Thou knowest that I am fond of of Thee, (phileõ).  Then the Lord says, "Feed my arnia."  Arnia is the diminutive of 'lambs" or   "Feed my lambkins."  

The Lord said to Peter, "Feed My beloved lambs."  And let us not forget that He meant size or age as well as affection.  So let us not pass by the Children. 
Hid Treasures - G. C. Willis

N.J. Hiebert - 9861

February 22

THREE WORLDS

The world that then was . . . 2 Peter 3:6 
The heavens and earth, which are now . . . 2 Peter 3:7 
Nevertheless, we. . . look for new heavens and a new earth. 2 Peter 3:13

We are hearing much about "one world."  The Christian thinks in terms of three worlds.  The first was destroyed by water.  The second will perish by fire.  The believer looks for a third, where righteousness dwells.  This present world is reserved for fire.  The new world is reserved for us who have become citizens of heaven, to whom this present evil world is but our passage, not our portion.  We are strangers and pilgrims, we seek a city. 

The people of the first world "knew not" until the flood came.  Only Noah had his eyes open.  The people of our world know not, nor will they know, until sudden destruction comes.  They pride themselves on what they know, but it is only educated ignorance. 

There are those today, however, like Noah who know what time of day it is.  When the last storm begins to break and all heads in this world droop, they will lift up theirs, for redemption nears.  The Third World is about to begin!
Day by Day with Vance Havner

Come to the Saviour, make no delay;
Here in His Word He has shown us the way;
Here in our midst He's standing today,
Tenderly saying, "Come!"

Joyful, joyful, will the meeting be,
When from sin our hearts are pure and free;
And we shall gather, Saviour, with Thee,
In our eternal home  G. F. Root 

N.J. Hiebert - 9862

February 23

HEAVEN'S BANK

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

I know a never-failing Bank, well filled with golden store;
No other bank contains so much that can enrich the poor.
Should all the banks of Europe break, the Bank of England fail,
Fear not that heaven's glorious Bank its discounts will curtail.

Though a thousand notes lie scattered round, all signed, and sealed and free,
Yet many a doubting soul will say, Ah!  they are not for me.
Proud unbelief cannot admit such tidings to be true;
And yet I tell each bankrupt soul, These notes belong to you!

I, too, right at the door have been with painful doubts molested: 
Knowing, if Moses keeps the bank, my notes had been protested; 
Some fear they write so bad a hand their notes will be rejected;
But always humble souls obtain much more than they expected.

Whenever all my money's spent, and I'm in utter need,
Straight to my Bank I always go, for generous aid to plead.
I've been a thousand times before, and never was rejected;
No notes can ever be refused, that are by Grace accepted.

Should all the bankers close their doors, my Bank stands open wide
To all the chosen of the Lord, for whom the Saviour died.
Sometimes my Banker, smiling says, "Why don't you oftener come?" 
And when I draw a little bill, "Why not a larger sum?" 
Rowland Hill

N.J. Hiebert - 9863

February 24

And, behold, there arose a a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but Jesus was asleep.  Matthew 8:24   

Tired from His labour, the Saviour slept--a touching proof of His humanity.  Presently, one of the Gennesaret's sudden storms burst upon the little boat, to the dismay of the disciples, who realized only feebly who it was that was voyaging with them.  This was the One who ages before "shut up the sea with doors, . . .  Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?"  (Job 38:8,11).

Mark tells us that the disciples awoke their Lord crying, "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38)  How those words must have wounded the heart of the Saviour!  Had He not cared, He would have remained in His own glory, and the Bethlehem manger, the Galilean boat, and the cross of Calvary would never have been His lot.  Yet so gracious is He that no word of censure escaped His lips for their heartless speech.  He merely asked, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith (Matthew 8:26).

His voice sufficed for the stilling of the storm. The psalmist wrote of Him, "Thou rulest the raging of the sea. Thou stillest them." (Psalm 89:9).  Not a single attribute of Deity  did He lay aside on becoming Man.  Omnipotence and Omniscience shone forth in Him whenever occasion called forth their display.  Demons, disease, death, winds, and waves all fled before His word. No human mind, however richly taught of God, can unravel the mystery of the union of the divine and human natures in His Person.

The disciples marvelled, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!" (Matthew 8:27).  The answer is simple and plain: He was God manifested in flesh, on His way to death for the eternal blessing of all who believe.  Then and now, He has power to dispel every danger that could befall His people.  We need only to trust Him.  W. W. Fereday.

N.J. Hiebert - 9864

February 25

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.  And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.  Acts 20:7-8

The apostle Paul had a very active and busy life.  Serving the Lord in a hostile world gave him very little time to think of himself.  We don't read of him taking a vacation either.

Nevertheless when the first day of the week came around he was not too busy to meet with the Christians at Troas to break bread.  After the many conflicts he encountered in following and serving the Lord, what a delight it must have been for the apostle just to enjoy the presence of the Lord in the midst of His saints.  And in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup he could recall the love that had led the Lord into unfathomable depths of suffering at Calvary.

Nothing less than the sufferings of Christ could put away our sins and secure a place of acceptance before God for us.  And as we gain an increased  appreciation of the Lord Jesus, our affections are stirred up to greater devotion and untiring service for Him.

The upper room reminds us of our spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. A high and lofty calling is ours.  If we want to be in a condition to walk worthy of our calling we need to hear Paul's discourse in this morally dark midnight hour. 

There were also many lights in the upper room where they were assembled, and so it will ever be when the Word of God is opened to us in the power of the Spirit of God.  There we will not need to grope in the darkness, but the light of His Word will be a lamp we need for the pathway before us.  Wondrous provision from God!    J. Redekop  

N.J. Hiebert - 9865

February 26

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 
1 Corinthians 4:2

I suppose that there has been no man in the world more distinguished for sound wisdom in the field of medicine than Sir William Osler.  At the time of his death he was Regius  Professor of medicine in Oxford University in England and was ultimately knighted by the Queen.  He had received honorary degrees from almost every high-class university and college in the world.  

Where did he start?  Under what auspices did he make his beginning?  In a little frontier settlement on the edge of the forest in eastern Canada, twelve miles from the nearest doctor.  His father was a missionary, a university man from England, who with his bride came out to that wild primitive country.  His circuit riding took him away from home four days out of every week.  If he ever had a bridge over which to cross those abundant Canadian rivers it was made of floating logs fastened together in primitive fashion, which sometimes sank when he stepped upon it.  

It is not your entrance but your exit that really counts.   Selected
  
All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see.
Fanny Crosby

N. J. Hiebert - 9866

February 27

WHICH MAN IS IN CHARGE 

Put ye on the Lord Jesus  Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.    Romans 13:14

Are you aware of two forces striving within: the old  Adam doubting and fearing, the new man believing and rejoicing?  In the Christian, both are present and we shift gears back and forth.  It should not be so.  We should walk habitually in the Spirit although there may be occasional lapses back into the flesh.  Such lapses should be accidents on the trip, possible but not on the schedule!  Make no provision for the flesh, leave no loopholes, nothing that makes sinning more likely.  Live in the new man and the old Adam will grow weaker.

Which man is in charge?
All the Days - Vance Havner  

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win;
Fight prayerfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

To him that o'ercometh God giveth a crown; 
Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;
He who is our Saviour our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you,
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.  Horatio Palmer

N.J. Hiebert - 9867

February 28

THE BURDEN-BEARER

Casting all your your care upon Him; for He careth for you.   1 Peter 5:7

I know the Son of God for me
The cross endured.
I know He suffered in my stead,
And, by the precious blood He shed,
My peace secured.

I know the Man who died for me
Is on the throne.
I know He ever watches there,
With sympathizing shepherd-care,
O'er all His own.

So why should I not trust His love
And power divine?
If He could bear my sins away,
Can He not carry day by day
Those cares of mine?

My burdens, then, my frets, my fears,
On Him I'll cast.
I'll leave my life in His good hand,
Assured my path in love He's planned 
From first to last.

Thus gladly on my homeward way
I'll singing go;
Until, by His abounding grace,
At last I see Him face to face
Who loved me so. 
Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait

N.J.Hiebert - 9868

March 1

WAKEFUL HOURS

"Thou holdest mine eyes waking."  Psalm  77:4

If we could always say, night after night, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep,"  (Psalm 4:8) receiving in full measure the Lord's quiet gift to His beloved, we should not learn the disguised sweetness of this special word for the wakeful ones. 

When the wearisome nights come, it is hushing to know that they are appointed (Job 7:3).  But this is something nearer and closer bringing, something individual and personal; not only an appointment, but an act of our Father:  "Thou holdest mine eyes waking."  (Psalm 77:4).   It is not that He is merely not giving us sleep; it is not a denial, but a different dealing.  

Every moment that the tired eyes are sleepless, it is because our Father is holding them waking.  It seems so natural to say, "How I wish I could go to sleep!"  Yet even that restless wish may be soothed by the happy confidence in our Father's hand, which will not relax its "hold" upon the weary eyelids until the right moment has come to let them fall in slumber.

Ah! but we say, "It is not only wish, I really want sleep."  Well; wanting it is one thing, and needing it is another.  For He is pledged to supply "All our need, not all our notions." (Philippians 4:19)  And if He holds our eyes waking, we may rest assured that, so long as He does so, it is not sleep but wakefulness that is our true need. 

Now if we first simply submit ourselves in the appointed wakefulness, instead of getting fidgeted because we cannot go to sleep, the resting in His will, even in this little thing, will bring a certain blessing.  And the perfect learning of this little page in the great lesson-book of our Father's will, will make others easier and clearer.  Royal Bounty - Frances Ridley Havergal

N.J. Hiebert - 9869

March 2

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  

(James 1:2-4) 

It is no evidence of God's displeasure when His people are called upon to pass through great trials.  If one professes to have faith in the Lord he can depend upon it that his profession will be put to the test sooner or later.  Alas, that we so frequently lose courage and become despondent in the hour of temptation, instead of realizing that it is the very time when we should look up into the Father's face with confidence, knowing that He is working out some purpose in us which could not be wrought out in any other way.  We are called upon to count it all joy when we fall into many trials.

The word "temptation," as  used here, does not refer to our being tempted to sin, but rather as when God did tempt Abraham, to the testing of our faith.  Paul tells us that tribulation worketh patience, and James affirms the same: "The trying of your faith worketh patience."  

By nature we are inclined to be fretful and impatient.  Even Christians sometimes rebel against the ways of God when these go contrary to their own desires.  But he who learns to be submissive to whatever God permits glorifies Him who orders all things according to the counsel of His own will.  David said his soul had quieted itself as a weaned child  (Psalm 131:2).  This is patience exemplified.

When natural nourishment is taken from a babe, and it is fed on other food more suitable for its age, it becomes peevish and fretful.  But when actually weaned all this is ended, and it accepts gratefully the proffered refreshment. 
Notes on James - H. A. Ironside

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