Gems from February 11- 16, 2026

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:9,10. 

Mark, it is first the heart, then the tongue.  It is not head-work.  That will not do here.  It is all head work  with zoology, geology, or physiology, but when you come to the knowledge of the Lord, it is heart-work.  You have all got hearts, let Christ fill them.

Think of His love--do you not believe that blessed One?  Do you ask me if I believe?  Yes, I believe Him from the bottom of my heart; I believe He loved me, as the apostle Paul says, "The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me."  (Galatians 2:20).  What is the result of knowing and believing that?  The tongue is loosed. 

When a man's heart is touched, he believes, and then confesses Christ.  "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  (Romans 10:10)  It is exceedingly simple.  "Confession is made unto salvation."  You get right with God first in your heart, and then put yourself right with men by your mouth.

Your tongue exalts Christ.  The man who is saved, tells of it to other people.  He rejoices to speak of Christ's grace, and to Christ's credit.  There is no credit to him.  It is all to the glory of Christ.  You believe in Him with your heart, and with your mouth confession is made to salvation, for the Scripture says, "For whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:11)   
Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D. 

N.J. Hiebert - 20216

February 11

He (Elijah) went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree . . . as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. . . . and he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.  And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great  for thee. and he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights . 

1 Kings 19:4-8

And what did God do with His tired servant?  Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep.  Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was depressed.

The physical needed to be cared for.  What many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment  attended to.  There are grand men and women who get where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master:  "The journey is too great for thee," (verse 7) and I am going to refresh you.  Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weakness. 

I'm to tired too trust and too tired to pray,
Said one, as the overtaxed strength gave way.
The one conscious  thought by my mind possessed,
Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest. 

Will God understand, do you suppose. 
If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,
Without an asking if I may,
Without ever trying to trust and pray?

Will God understand why think, dear heart,
When language to you was an unknown art,
Did a mother deny you needed rest,
Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

Did she let you want when you could not ask?
Did she set her child an unequal task?
Or did she cradle you in her arms,
And then guard your slumber against alarms?  - Ella Conrad Cowherd 

N.J. Hiebert - 20217

February 12

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  

Philippians 2:13 

Both the willing and the working are from God: there is no room to boast.  And if it is of GOD, it cannot fail, for, "HE FAILETH NOT." (Zephaniah 3:5) Notice the two "days" that are mentioned in Philippians 1:5 & 6: "The first day", and, "Christ Jesus' day:" the beginning of the race, and the ending.  "The first day" was the day when they heard the Gospel and believed it.  When is "Christ Jesus' day"?  The present time is called "Man's day" (1 Corinthians 3:13).  But "Christ Jesus' day "  (Philippians 1:6) is coming.

Now, man is allowed to a large extent to have his own way.
-Then, Christ Jesus will have His own way.  
- Then, all enemies will be put under His feet. 
- Then, He will gather all His own unto Himself. 
- Then, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. 
- Then, even our bodies will be fashioned like unto His glorious body. 
- Then, we shall be conformed unto the image of His Son. 
- Then, He will finish up the good work which He began in us at the first day. 
(It is almost the same word as "It is finished" at the Cross.)

Well may the Apostle cry: "I AM PERSUADED, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate  us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:38,39). Lord, Give us more of this "persuasion!"  
Philippians - G. Christopher Willis

N.J. Hiebert - 20218

February 13

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. . . .fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:29,31 

Civilla D. Martin, author of this gospel hymn text, tells of a visit in 1904 to a bedridden Christian friend.  Mrs. Martin asked the woman if she ever got discouraged because of her physical condition.  Her friend responded quickly: "How can I be discouraged when my heavenly Father watches over each little sparrow and I know He loves and cares for me."  Within just a few minutes Mrs. Martin completed the writing of her new text, which has since been a source of great encouragement to many of God's people.

It is interesting that our Lord chose the most common of all birds, sparrows of little value, to teach a profound truth: In God's eyes, no one is insignificant!  He is vitally concerned with even the details of our lives.  Notice also that the Bible uses another bird to to teach this inspiring truth: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles" (Isaiah 40:31).  With an awareness of God's concern for our lives and the promise of His enabling power to live victoriously, why should we be afraid?

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,  why should my heart be lonely and long for heav'n and home when Jesus is my portion? my constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me . . .   

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear, and resting on His goodness I lose my doubts and fear; tho' by the path He leadeth but one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me . . .

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me . . .
Chorus:  I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

N.J. Hiebert - 20219

February 14

And their father Israel said unto them, if it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits...carry down the man a present...take double money...and the money that was brought again...take also your brother...and God almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin.  If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." 

Genesis 43:11-14.

What a picture of man's way of seeking to obtain blessing from God.  Do your best, look to the mercy of God to make up for any failure in your efforts, and then hope for the best in the future, and if you are saved you will be saved, and if you are condemned you will be condemned. 

The brethren of Joseph proceed to act upon their father's plan only to realize its utter futility.  They took the present, they took double money, and Benjamin, and stood before Joseph. (v,15).  Joseph pays not the slightest heed to their gifts, he does not touch their money, he will not accept Benjamin as a ransom.  He entirely ignores their plan and commences to act according to his own heart. 

First, he says, "Bring those men home, and slay and make ready; for these men shall dine with me." (v16).  Is this not an anticipation of that far greater message  that God sends to a world of sinners, "Come for all things are now ready"? (Luke 14:17).  The purposes of Joseph far transcend the plans of his brethren. 

Their plan was simply to obtain a blessing from Joseph; his purpose was to bestow a blessing, but a blessing that they should enjoy in his company and in his home.  Their plan was to buy corn to make a feast among themselves, his plan to spread a feast to be enjoyed with him.  "These men shall dine with me" (v.16).

Like the brethren of Joseph we are equally slow to take in God's thoughts of blessing.  We would be content to obtain the forgiveness of sins, and salvation from hell.  But how far short of God's thoughts!  His thought is to have us with Himself to feast with Him in His home.  Joseph - Hamilton Smith

N.J. Hiebert - 20220

February 15

And the king (David) was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! 
2 Samuel 18:33

David's heart is broken with unconsolable sorrow.  David could not have died for his son.  This was reserved for One alone who would die for the ungodly, the only One who was counted among the transgressors and who bore the sin of many (Isaiah 53:12).  But David could give free vent to his sorrow over the irrevocable loss of that one whose salvation he had so ardently desired.

No doubt human sentiments were mixed with all this mourning; this is why David needed to have a broken heart.  While it is much, a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17) is not enough.  With a broken spirit, self-will cannot be active.  Before he had a broken spirit David has followed his own will which had led him into adultery and to Uriah's murder.  A broken spirit gives up its own will in order to depend on God (15:25-26; 16:10-12; 18:4). There was no need for Jesus' spirit  to be broken.  Did He not say, when He came into the world: "Lo I come to do, O God, Thy will"?   

But sooner or later our heart must be broken as well as our spirit.  Sometimes God begins with one, sometimes with the other.  When Peter wept bitterly he truly had a broken, humbled heart, for brokenness of heart is always accompanied by humiliation (Psalm 51:17).  Peter's spirit was not broken until later: "When thou wast young," Jesus said to him, "thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst where thou desiredest; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and bring thee where thou dost not desire" (John 21:18). 

Nor let us forget that we need continual brokenness. Each time God wants to manifest some new feature of Christ in us, He breaks our heart so that it may appear.  Thus it was with the apostle Paul.  Jesus' light and life  shining through this broken vessel warmed and quickened  the soul of his brethren.  H. L Rossier 
N.J. Hiebert - 20221

February 16

Behold the Lamb of God!  John 1:36
I have glorified Thee on the earth.  John 17:4

MEDITATIONS  on  the  CROSS

As the Lamb of God, Christ perfectly glorifies God in John 13; as the Son, He perfectly glorifies the Father in John 14. It is a wonderful thing, the cross; there, and there only, was God fully glorified.  Where do we find the love of God in all its fullness?  At the cross: "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us." (1 John 3:16) 

Where do we find perfect righteousness against sin? At the cross:  "He made Him to be sin, for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 

Where do we find absolute obedience?  At the cross, where Christ was before God in the very place of sin: "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Where was the majesty of God fully vindicated?  At the cross: "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." 

The more we look into the cross--and we must come to it first as poor sinners that need salvation--the more we shall wonder at God's love.  We get in the cross man in absolute hatred to God and all the power of Satan;  Man (Jesus), much more than man, in absolute obedience; and God in perfect righteousness against sin.  All Man was in goodness in Christ; all man was in badness; and all God was in love and righteousness, came out at the cross. 

Every question of good and evil was settled at the cross.  The new heaven and new earth are founded on it.   Though all our blessing is wrapped up in it, "God's Lamb" is for God's glory--for Himself and according to what He is. 
J. N. Darby

N.J. Hiebert - 8760

February 17

THE  CHARM  OF  GENTLEMANLINESS

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.  Proverbs 15:13  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Galatians 2:20  

The Christian, indeed, should be the highest type of gentleman.  Although he may not be able to boast of noble descent, or of having received a classical education, he learns in the school of grace, where the heart keeps pace with the head, lessons that will enable him to bear, without abuse, the grand old name of  "Gentleman."

   1. He is careful to cultivate good manners - It is the natural thing for him to stand, in vehicles, for aged people, and to avoid pushing in crowds.  
   2. He is above doing a mean thing - He is generous and brave, and never descends to anything that is dishonourable.  He invades no secrets in the keeping of another.  He betrays none confined to his own keeping.  He never stabs in the dark.  He is not one thing to a man's face and another behind his back.  He has a cheer for those who pass him in the race.  His mind is filled with the things that are true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; and the opposite of these things have no place in his life (Philippians 4:8).
   3. He will never willingly give pain -  Conscious of the sense of tears in things mortal, a true gentleman does not make life hard for anyone. "So long as I have been here," said Lincoln, after his second election, "I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom".  Someone has defined a gentleman as "one who never puts his feelings before the rights of others; or his rights before their feelings".  
   4. He has a touch of kindly humour - God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes.  For, as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently.  Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness; and laughter is one of the privileges of reason, being confined to the human species.  Winsome Christianity

N.J. Hiebert - 20223

February 18

February 19

Gems from February 1- 10, 2026

. . . Jesus said, let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me...She hath done what she could.  Mark 14:6,8

A striking story of W W II was recounted by an airman who was part of a crew that flew a B-17 bomber over Germany during that awful conflict.  The particular bombing run which he recounted was targeted over the German city of Kassel.

As usual, the flak from German antiaircraft weapons was heavy and terrible.  The shells most often used were 20mm,  armour piercing shells with explosive charges in their tips.  If they hit an aircraft in the right place the exploding charge would set off a far greater explosion, destroying the aircraft.  During the raids, many allied bombers were lost after being hit by these shells.  Yet, on this particular mission, though the shells actually pierced the fuel tanks of the bomber the airman was in, strangely, the aircraft did not explode.  It was able to complete its mission and get back to its base before it ran out of fuel.

The pilot later told his aircrew the amazing story of that particular bombing run.  The morning following the bombing run, he had requested that the air crew ground chief who was in charge of repairing the bomber's fuel tanks would give him one of the enemy shells as a souvenir of the what seemed a miracle.  It was them the pilot learned that eleven shells had been found in the fuel tanks!  All eleven shells were un-exploded even though just one should have caused the bomber to explode in flames.

The shells had been sent to the armorers to have their explosive tips defused, but then, Allied intelligence men had taken them away.   Eventually the pilot received word that when the armorers opened each of the shells to defuse them, they found no explosive charges in any of shell tips.  All eleven shell tips were empty.

Yet, not all of the shells were really empty!  They found one shell which contained in its hollow tip a carefully rolled piece of paper with a note scrawled on it in the Czech language.  The Allied intelligence people located a man who could read Czech and was able to decipher the note.  It caused the whole bomber crew to marvel!  The translated note read: This is all we can do for you for now.  TCS - July 2013

N.J. Hiebert - 10205

January 31

There shall come in the last days scoffers...saying, where, is the promise of His coming?  2 Peter 3:3,4   For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  Hebrews 10:37  Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

Rev. 22:20
 
Where is the promise of His coming? 
It is settled in the counsel of the Lord;
By prophets, saints and sages through the slow march of the ages
It was blazoned on the pages of His Word.

Where is the promise of His coming?
It was given unto Israel of old,
And through sore humiliation it is still their consolation 
While they wait the restoration long foretold.

Where is the promise of His coming?
It is hidden in the hearts of His redeemed;
In the gloom of shadowed spaces 'tis a light on lifted faces
From the radiant heavenly places whence it streamed.

Where is the promise of His coming? 
It is written in the records of the past,
In the evils unabated, in the blood-lust still unsated,
In the woes reiterated to the last.

Where is the promise of His coming?
It is shouted by the thunder of the guns,
By the flaming forges burning, where the plows to swords are turning,
By the weeping mothers yearning for their sons. 

Where is the promise of His coming?
It is  flashed around the world with every sun;
Every day's event a token that God's purpose stands unbroken,
And the things that He has spoken shall be done.

Where is the promise of His coming?
All the sentient earth  with joy electric hums;
On the waves of air 'tis flowing, on the winds of heaven blowing,
Sign on sign its surety showing, till He comes.  Annie Johnson Flint

N.J. Hiebert - 10206

February 1

So the shipmaster came to him, (Jonah) and said unto him, what meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.  Jonah 1:6 

I love those words. True, he did not know God as Jonah knew Him, for who could give a truer and more glorious character to God than Jonah: "I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness and repentest Thee of the evil." (Jonah 4:2)  but the shipmaster did not know a God of such a character. The heathen knew nothing of a God like this: but he does venture to hope:

"Arise call upon thy God, Perhaps God will think upon us, that we perish not." (Jonah 1:6)  Later we hear them pray, not every man to his god, but this time to Jehovah Himself, and they say, "Ah, Jehovah, we beseech Thee, let us not perish for this man's life." (Jonah 1:14)

Later again, we hear the king of Nineveh, another heathen, exhorting his people to turn from their sins, "Who knoweth but that God will turn . . . that we perish not."  (Jonah 3:9).  There may have been but the feeblest, and most ignorant turning to the true God, the object before them being only that they should not perish, but how richly did God meet them in each case.

Can we read those words "perish not," repeated three times, without thinking of that most glorious of verses, "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) 

Truly God has found a way so that the vilest of sinners should not perish.  How can we, who have tasted of such grace and love, ever cease to praise Him?  How can we refuse or neglect to tell out  such glorious news to those who have never heard?  How can we let them go on and perish in their sins?   Jonah the Prophet - G. C. Willis 

N.J. Hiebert - 10207

February 2

My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?  Psalm 22:1

The greatest of all the Lord's sufferings were from God.  With hushed breath, we must speak of this.  It is the Holy of Holies of the great work on the cross; the impenetrable mystery of the atoning work of the Son of God. From the darkness which enshrouded the cross and the blessed Sufferer on the accursed tree, there came the mournful cry: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"  

It made known the awful suffering, which the Lamb of God, the substitute of sinners, endured from the hand of a Holy God.  He was smitten and afflicted of God. Have you noticed that in Psalm 22 this cry of the Sufferer on the cross stands first? 

Man would have written the sufferings of Christ in a far different way. All the agony of the cross and its shame would have been described first by man.  Then how the multitude mocked and darkness came over the entire scene--then last of all, it would have been stated, He cried, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"     

But the Holy Spirit in this great Prophecy puts the cry of deepest agony first.  Why?  Because in that hour the great work of atonement, propitiation, sin-bearing, judgment and wrath enduring, was once and for all accomplished. In this same Psalm we read what men energized by Satan's power, did unto Him. 

But man could not put Him to death.  It is written, "Thou (God) hast brought me into the dust of death." (Psalm 22:15).  God's own hand rested upon Him. "God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him;  He hath put Him to grief." (Isaiah 53:10).   

But what it all meant for the Son of God!  Never shall we fully discover the greatness of the price which was paid. The Work of Christ - A. C. Gaebelein

N.J. HIebert - 10208

February 3

THE  SPIRIT-CONTROLLED  MIND

For it is God which worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 

If I wish to have a Christian mind marked by the qualities of the mind of Christ, it is proper for the production of such a mind to come about by the inner working of the gracious Spirit in my mind. My appetites, my desires, my ambitions, my motives, will be molded and made up of impulses which had their origins with Him.  The degree to which this is done daily in my life is proportional to the degree to which I deliberately allow Him to control my mind, emotions, and will.

Not only will this result in my thinking upon those things which are pure and lovely and of good report, (Philippians 4:8) but it will mean my entire life exudes a wholesome aura of decency and uplift and integrity.  To be with me will be akin to walking amid the cedars of Lebanon--which are both noble and fragrant--trees of the high places.  This is to know something of the secret growth in godliness.

When we accept Christ as our Saviour we are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit.  "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." (Ephesians 1:13)

The question is, have I ever sincerely and earnestly invited the Holy Spirit to  take control of my mind in this manner?  He desires to fill my soul and begin His own winsome work of growth.  It is He who will give me a godly disposition.  Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller  (Read Philippians 2:12-18)

N.J. Hiebert - 10209

February 4

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I (Gabriel) am come to show thee.   Daniel 9: 23

Daniel's prayer was answered in a remarkable way.  Before he had  even finished his supplication, Gabriel appeared by his side and made a remarkable statement. We are living in an era of unprecedented speed of communications.  We are able to send a message around the world in a matter of seconds.  We are able to sit in our homes and watch events on the other side of the world as they happen. But never has a communication system been devised that can approach the miracle of prayer.

Think about it.  Millions of Christians around the world can be praying at the same time.  All these prayers wing their way across the infinite expanses of a universe whose limits scientists have not been abe to define, save only to know that what has been discovered is, in some cases, millions of light years away from our tiny insignificant planet.  Yet across such infinitudes, the prayers of the sons of light ascend to the presence of deity, and an answer can be back before we rise from our knees.  Now that is communication worth having.

Daniel had this communication available to him in that ancient era, and Gabriel, one of the most powerful angelic beings in the armies of heaven, was dispatched to speak to God's praying servant and to bring him an answer.  Do we really believe in the miracle of prayer?  Just imagine the interest around the globe if, for example, we advertised a two-way communication system being demonstrated at a certain time and place, which would put us in touch with dwellers on the furthest reaches of the universe. 

Yet this two-way communication miracle is experienced millions of times every day by the people of God.  Sadly, we have become so accustomed  to it that personal prayer is often neglected, and the prayer meetings are often the poorest attended of all assembly meetings.  Let us recapture the wonder of the miracle of prayer, and the fact that God is willing to dispatch His holy angels to our side to bring His answers to our prayers.  Daniel - William Burnett

N.J. Hiebert - 20210

February 5

The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of  transgressors shall destroy them.  Proverbs 11:3  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.  2 Peter 1:5 

Often, the two words, 'integrity' and 'virtue' have similar meanings. We might say that they both have the sense of moral virtue and uprightness.  Another way in which they might be used would be that they both express having the courage to stand for your convictions, clinging without flinching to what you firmly believe is right. 

It may require that a person has to stand alone, but if their thoughts are guided by the precious Word of God, they will not be the loser, though they may not be understood.  Sometimes it becomes necessary to speak out - patiently and in love, but firmly - against what you know is wrong.

We recently heard of this excellent example of virtue and integrity in use.  A new, young surgical nurse was on her first surgical procedure with a well known surgeon in a highly respected hospital.  She was understandably both nervous and quite determined to do her very best work in her first surgery.

As the surgeon was closing up the patient's incision after a successful surgery, the new young nurse, responsible for counting the surgical sponges used and removed, said to the surgeon, "Doctor, you have only removed eleven sponges.  However we have used twelve on this patient."  Staring at the new nurse the experienced surgeon curtly replied, "No, I've removed them all.  We will continue to close the incision".  "No", rejoined the nurse in a quiet but firm voice.  She went on, "We used twelve sponges and only eleven of them have been removed".

Acting rather annoyed, the surgeon snapped, "I'll take the responsibility, nurse.  Now we will suture".  "But doctor", the nurse said in a very grim, emphatic tone;  "You can't do that!  Think of the patient.  You are leaving a sponge inside the incision!"  The doctor stared at the new nurse.  Then a smile covered his face.  He lifted his foot under which the12th sponge had been hidden.  Grinning at her he said, You'll do fine, nurse.  Welcome to my team!"  Christian Shepherd.- 2014 

N.J. Hiebert - 20211

February 6

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vine: for our vines have tender grapes.   Song of Solomon 2:15 

An eagle carrying a serpent in its talons to its nest on the mountains was bitten to the heart and fell to the ground.  Have you seen a young man or woman fall away from God?  Do you know the cause of their fall?  The neglect of prayer, that stealthy indulgence in the intoxicating cup, that licentiousness  and profligacy unseen of man, that secret tampering with unbelief and error, was the serpent at the heart that brought the eagle down.  Theodora  L. Cuyler

If we wish to bask perpetually in the sunshine of God's love, the problems of sin must be firmly dealt with, and all love of it must cease.  For it is literally true that there is more evil in one drop of sin than in a whole sea of affliction.

Christian youth, beware how you think lightly of sin!   Take heed lest you fall little by little.
 
- Sin, a little thing?  Is it not a poison?  Who knows its deadliness? 
- Sin, a little thing? Do not the foxes spoil the grapes?
- Does not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? 
- Sin a little thing?  It girded the Redeemer's head  with thorns, and pierced His heart! 

Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent.  Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful."  C. H. Spurgeon 

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.   Psalm 119:9

Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.
Psalm 119:11 

N.J. Hiebert - 20212

February 7

And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep.  Matthew 8:23,24 

The ship was covered with the waves but why should the Master of wind and weather be disturbed?  It was His Father's world and what woke Him up was not the fury of the storm but the frenzy of His panicky disciples.  Why did they not say, "There is nothing to worry about.  The Lord of all creation is taking a nap and we are safe"?  Instead, they got their eyes on the storm instead of the Saviour. 

The weather is always a convenient topic for conversation but the Christian attitude toward the weather is rather mixed.  We say, "God runs the weather" and of course that is true for He has the whole world in His hands.  But God can give Satan some leeway and Satan uses it as he did with the mighty wind that destroyed Job's sons, (Job 1:19)  There would be no tornados, floods, hurricanes if sin had not entered the world.  

Storms are part of nature ruined by the Fall.  There are other kinds of storms and all for the same reason.  The Christian travels a tempestuous sea in this old world but Jesus is in the boat and sometimes He seems to be asleep!  When Lazarus lay ill and a hurried call was sent to the Master we read He stayed two days where He was (John 11:6).  There is the love that tarries.  God takes His time.  He may seem slow but He is never late.  We go into panic but no tempest disturbs His repose.
 
Are you in a storm? Is it failing health, financial distress, family trouble, depression of mind?  Does the Lord seem asleep and you feel like crying, "Carest Thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:37-39). They cried, "Lord, save us"--that was faith.  "We perish"-- that was doubt. (Matthew 8:25)

"There arose a great storm" (v.37) and then, "He arose." (v. 39). The storms will arise but He too will arise--and the Saviour is the Answer to the storm. 
Though I Walk Through the Valley - Vance Havner  

 N.J. Hiebert - 20213

February 8

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.  
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.  Proverbs 15:1,2 - 16:32

It is impossible for man to estimate aright the power for good or evil that lies in the tongue.  A kindly, gracious word will often disarm a most ill-tempered and wrathful man; while a sharp, cutting remark has frequently separated friends dear to each other for years, until some trivial circumstance arose which might have been turned to an occasion for grace and forbearance on the part of each had love been ruling.  

It is considered unmanly by many not to resent an insult, and to allow wrathful words to pass unchallenged;  but it takes far more true character to meet an angry man in quietness of spirit, and to return cool, calm words for heated, hasty ones, than it does to give railing for railing, or malice for malice. 

The latter bespeaks a man who does not yet know how to rule his spirt; the former, one who has his personal feelings in subjection.  Grievous words but add fuel to the flame, while a gracious demeanour will go far towards cooling the angry passion of another. 

The wise man knows how to use knowledge so that it shall be for profit;  knows, too, when to speak and when to be silent.  The fool is always ready with a retort, whether it be fitting or not.   Notes on Proverbs - H. A Ironside

Angry words, oh let them never, from the tongue, unbridled slip.
May the love of Jesus ever fill the heart and keep the lip.

Angry words, though lightly spoken, do not suit the child of God.
Happy fellowship is broken by a single angry word.    Horatio Palmer 
  
N.J. Hiebert - 20214

February 9

ATTRACTIONS  AND  AFFECTIONS

Draw me!  Song of Solomon 1:4
Make haste, my beloved.  Song of Solomon 8:14 

Are we drawn to the Person of Christ?  Whether we contemplate the greatness of His work at Calvary or read of the many who were healed during the time of His earthly ministry, we must turn our gaze to the Beautiful One by whom and through whom these things were done.  When a loved one wears perfume, it is not to attract our hearts to the fragrance itself, but that the fragrance would turn our gaze to the person wearing it. 

Similarly, let us continually thank the Lord for forgiveness of sins and a hope of glory, but all the while may our heart's object be the One who provided this forgiveness.  Yes, we revel in the greatness of the salvation we enjoy, but in doing so let us magnify the Saviour--"The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20)! 

When the Lord Jesus sat with His disciples on the night He was betrayed, He took bread, broke it, and told them "...this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me."  (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). The institution of this holy meal is not merely a rite or ritual, but the focus here is to draw our attention to His Person, and it ought to cause us to worship.  It is only as our hearts are occupied with Him that we can truly appreciate what He has done.

As we contemplate Him, we will find ourselves more and more attracted to Him and our affections drawn to Him.  This in turn will cause our hearts to exclaim, "make haste," for we long to be with Him.  "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"  (Revelation 22:20).  Eric  Clermont

N.J. Hiebert - 20215

February 10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:9,10. 

Mark, it is first the heart, then the tongue.  It is not head-work.  That will not do here.  It is all head work  with zoology, geology, or physiology, but when you come to the knowledge of the Lord, it is heart-work.  You have all got hearts, let Christ fill them.

Think of His love--do you not believe that blessed One?  Do you ask me if I believe?  Yes, I believe Him from the bottom of my heart; I believe He loved me, as the apostle Paul says, "The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me."  (Galatians 2:20).  What is the result of knowing and believing that?  The tongue is loosed. 

When a man's heart is touched, he believes, and then confesses Christ.  "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  (Romans 10:10)  It is exceedingly simple.  "Confession is made unto salvation."  You get right with God first in your heart, and then put yourself right with men by your mouth.

Your tongue exalts Christ.  The man who is saved, tells of it to other people.  He rejoices to speak of Christ's grace, and to Christ's credit.  There is no credit to him.  It is all to the glory of Christ.  You believe in Him with your heart, and with your mouth confession is made to salvation, for the Scripture says, "For whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:11)   
Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D. 

N.J. Hiebert - 20216

February 11

He (Elijah) went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree . . . as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. . . . and he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.  And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great  for thee. and he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights . 1 Kings 19:4-8

And what did God do with His tired servant?  Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep.  Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was depressed.

The physical needed to be cared for.  What many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment  attended to.  There are grand men and women who get where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master:  "The journey is too great for thee," (verse 7) and I am going to refresh you.  Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weakness. 

I'm to tired too trust and too tired to pray,
Said one, as the overtaxed strength gave way.
The one conscious  thought by my mind possessed,
Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest. 

Will God understand, do you suppose. 
If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,
Without an asking if I may,
Without ever trying to trust and pray?

Will God understand why think, dear heart,
When language to you was an unknown art,
Did a mother deny you needed rest,
Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

Did she let you want when you could not ask?
Did she set her child an unequal task?
Or did she cradle you in her arms,
And then guard your slumber against alarms?  - Ella Conrad Cowherd 

N.J. Hiebert - 20217

February 12

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13 

Both the willing and the working are from God: there is no room to boast.  And if it is of GOD, it cannot fail, for, "HE FAILETH NOT." (Zephaniah 3:5) Notice the two "days" that are mentioned in Philippians 1:5 & 6: "The first day", and, "Christ Jesus' day:" the beginning of the race, and the ending.  "The first day" was the day when they heard the Gospel and believed it.  When is "Christ Jesus' day"?  The present time is called "Man's day" (1 Corinthians 3:13).  But "Christ Jesus' day "  (Philippians 1:6) is coming.

Now, man is allowed to a large extent to have his own way.
-Then, Christ Jesus will have His own way.  
- Then, all enemies will be put under His feet. 
- Then, He will gather all His own unto Himself. 
- Then, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. 
- Then, even our bodies will be fashioned like unto His glorious body. 
- Then, we shall be conformed unto the image of His Son. 
- Then, He will finish up the good work which He began in us at the first day. 
(It is almost the same word as "It is finished" at the Cross.)

Well may the Apostle cry: "I AM PERSUADED, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate  us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:38,39). Lord, Give us more of this "persuasion!"  
Philippians - G. Christopher Willis

N.J. Hiebert - 20218

February 13