Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
He would have us, in the intimacy of His love, to be without reserve before Him--all told out, nothing kept back. Our danger never lies in telling Him too much, but just in the opposite direction.
He loves to hear the cry of His children, for He well knows that it is the expression of their confidence in Him. It may be, as it often is, a foolish cry, but still it is the cry of His own children, and He never wearies of listening to it.
God never spares His rod if thereby He can bless His children.
But, He lifts it up on high,
With pity in His heart,
That every stroke His children feel
May peace and joy impart.
To enter into this will make an immense change in our experience. Meeting with trials and difficulties we shall instantly ask, "What has the Father to say to us through these things?" In this way we shall receive nothing but blessing through the most adverse circumstances.
Like vines, our poor hearts send out tendrils in all directions, winding themselves around this and that object, and then it is that the Father permits trials...to come in to snap these ties to objects other than Christ, and by the discovery of Himself and His love to us in these chastenings He seeks to wean us from everything that might hinder our progress, and to attract us more fully to Himself. Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennett
N.J. Hiebert - 20438
September 21
Wherefore, as by one man sin came into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5:12
The Bubonic plague, the Ebola virus, SARS, and most recently, the COVID-19 virus, have taken countless thousands of lives over the years. Yet these diseases have only affected a percentage of the world's overall population. But there is another disease that is the worst of all diseases combined, because it affects every person on this earth. And it brings death.
It cannot be identified in a research lab; nor can it be seen under a microscope; and there is no earthly cure for it either. The Bible is the only reliable source of information on it. The Bible has identified it, described it, and has prescribed a cure for it. It is called SIN. It originated with one man, Adam. Through his disobedience sin entered the world, and the Bible says that as a consequence all are under condemnation.
But God has prescribed a cure through another Man. John the Baptist introduced Him when, looking upon Jesus as He walked, he said,"Behold! the Lamb of God, which taketh away the SIN of the world." (John 1:29). Christ died for our SINS on the cross, and "the blood Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). But we must avail ourselves of it:
"For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned" (John 3:16-18).
This disease will be forever eradicated from the world when God brings in a new heaven and a new earth where only righteousness will dwell.
(2 Peter 3:13) Richard Barnett
N.J. Hiebert - 20439
September 22
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His. 2 Timothy 2:19
What a blessed thought of comfort and cheer it is, which should forever banish fear and unbelief! The Lord, the One seated there in the Holiest, knows us personally. He knew us before we ever were in existence. He saw us before the foundation of the world. He knew all our vileness and depths of degradation. He knew us as we wandered in our sins. His loving eyes followed us then. He sought us in His love and brought us to Himself.
He gave us His life and dwells in us. Each believing sinner, saved by grace, is one Spirit with the Lord. "I know My sheep." He calleth each by name, like a Shepherd calleth His own sheep. What a comfort it should be to our hearts, that He knows each of us by name. He knows our circumstances, trials, difficulties and temptations. He knows our conflicts and our tears. "He knoweth the way, which I take." It is very precious! In Psalm 32 we find the comforting word for one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, "I will guide thee with Mine eye upon thee." That eye up yonder, which measures the depths of the universe, which follows every planet, that eye which neither sleeps nor slumbers, that all-seeing eye rests upon us.
He is occupied with each. The millions of His people who have lived and died, who passed through life and are now at home with Him, were each individually the objects of His care. His loving eye was upon the multitudes of martyrs. He knew and watched that poor tortured saint, who was cast with broken bones into a dungeon to starve to death. His power and love rested upon those who were burned or cast before wild animals.
For each He served and worked. And so He does still. Oh, the preciousness that each believer is under the loving care of the Man in Glory, the object of His love. The Work of Christ - A. C. Gaebelein
N.J. Hiebert - 20440
September 23
hough He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him. Job 13:15
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12
"In fierce storms," said an old seaman, "we must do one thing; there is only one way: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there."
This, Christian is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, (Acts 27:14-20) you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you; and then you can do but one thing; there is only one way.
Reason cannot help you; past experiences give you no light. Even prayer fetches no consolation. Only a single course is left. Put your soul in one position, keep it there.
You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may--winds, waves, cross-seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers--no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm, and hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness, His covenant engagement, His everlasting love in Christ Jesus. Richard Fuller
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Will your anchor hold in the straights of fear, when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rave, and the wild winds blow, shall the angry waves then your bark o'erflow?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure as the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love.
Priscilla J. Owens
N.J.Hiebert - 20441
September 24
SAD OR GLAD
For they all saw Him, and were troubled. Mark 6:50
Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. John 20:20
The disciples saw Him in a storm but supposed Him to b a spirit. They did not recognize Him. But in our second verse they saw the risen Lord and knew Him by the print of the nails in His hands and feet.
Surely the sight of the Lord should make us glad. But sometimes we wist not that it was He. He draws near, but, like the Emmaus disciples, we have holden eyes. What should thrill us only troubles us. Indeed, as the Emmaus disciples related their experience, Jesus appeared, but they "supposed that they had seen a spirit." (Luke 24:37) He quelled their fears then as He did in John's account by showing the marks of the cross.
We walk by faith, not by sight, these days, and are not granted a view of Him with our eyes. But in His dealings with us He still walks our seas and comes into our rooms through doors we have shut. Alas, that fear so often sees a spirit when faith should see the Saviour! What should bring triumph then brings only trouble. See Him and be glad! Day by Day - Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 20442
September 25
Pilate saith unto Him (Jesus), what is truth? And when he had said this, he went out... John 18:38
It is of vast importance to have the truth. It is a profound mistake not to have it, if it is to be had. Many a man has it not. The Christian has it. The believer in Christ has it. Christ is the truth, and I want to draw your attention to these precious words of the Saviour uttered by Him when surrounded by everything that the enmity of man could bring against Him, when betrayed, denied, blindfolded, and passed on from one careless high priest to another, and then trundled away to the judgment-seat of a godless man, as Pilate undoubtedly was.
Yet in the face of all this, what what was His attitude? Look at Christ! Look how quiet, how calm, albeit how sad. Then it was He said: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice." (John 18:37) Pilate carelessly says "What is truth?" and then turns his back on Truth personified. There is many a man doing that to-day. Pilate is not the only man who has turned his back on the Truth.
The truth, God's truth, may simply pass before us. I shall make mo apology for the Scripture. I believe it to be the Word of God. I believe it to be a revelation from God, of His mind, of His thoughts, of His purposes, and of His counsels; that we have in the Scriptures the truth written, and that in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ we have truth incarnate. The result is, that the man who receives the truth of scripture, in the power of the Holy Ghost, will invariably be brought into contact with Christ, Who is the truth.
Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J. Hiebert - 20443
September 26
But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)
Did we but know the perils which surround those who occupy high positions, we would cease envying them and commence praying for them--thankful and content to fill, in lowly obscurity, the niche which God intends us to fill.
". . . As the storm that makes
The high elm crouch and rends the oak,
The humble lily spares--so, a thousand blows
That shake the lofty Monarch on his throne
We lesser folk feel not. Keen are the pains
Advancement often brings. To be secure
Be humble; to be happy be content."
Of all trees, I observe that God hath chosen the vine, a low plant that creeps upon the helpful wall; of all beasts, the soft and patient lamb; of all fowls, the mild and guileless dove.
When God appeared to Moses, it was not in the lofty cedar, nor the sturdy oak, nor the spreading palm; but in a bush, a humble, slender, abject shrub; as if He would, by these elections, check the conceited arrogance of man.
"He that is down need fear no fall.
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide."
Winsome Christianity - Henry Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 20444
September 27
I will say unto God my rock, why hast Thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Psalm 42:9
Canst thou answer this, believer? Canst thou find any reason why thou art so often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who told thee that the night would never end in day?
Who told thee that the winter of thy discontent would proceed from frost to frost, from snow and ice, and hail, to deeper snow, and yet more heavy tempest of despair?
Knowest thou not that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed winter?
Hope thou then! Hope thou ever! for God fails thee not. C. H. Spurgeon
He was better to me than all my hopes;
He was better than all my fears;
He made a bridge of my broken works,
And a rainbow of my tears.
N.J. Hiebert - 20445
September 28
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled.
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death;
But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days Matthew 26:57,59-61.
Late in the night, the members of the Sanhedrin were illegally assembled with one purpose in mind: to put Jesus to death. Having no witnesses, they sought for false witnesses. The high priest then put Jesus under oath to tell whether He was the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God.
(Leviticus 5:1-4)required a person placed under oath to speak the truth. Jesus, who is the truth (John 14:6) used the occasion to tell the truth: "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said" (It is as you said.) "nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (v.64)
Then the high priest tore his clothes--something the law forbade--and accused Jesus of speaking blasphemy, Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophecy unto us, Thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee? (vv,67-68). In such a wicked manner Israel's leaders treated the Lord of glory! E. Vedder, Jr.
N.J. Hiebert - 20446
September 29
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works.
Matthew 16:27
The story is told of a soldier in the Crimean war. He had received a medal with Inkerman (War - 1854 November 5) upon it - for that was his battle; but he said the most touching part of it was the experience of a friend of his who fought at his side. A cannon ball took off one of his legs, but the brave fellow sprang up immediately and, taking hold of a tree, drew his sword, and was ready to fight even to death.
Immediately another cannon ball came crashing past and took off the other leg. They carried him, wounded, bleeding, and, as they supposed, dying, to the hospital. Strangely enough, he, recovered, and when the day came for the awarding of medals they carried him upon his stretcher before her majesty, the queen.
To the other soldiers she had simply given the medals by the hands of her secretary, but when she (Queen Victoria) saw this man carried in on a stretcher, his face so thin and pale, she rose from her throne, stooped down by his side, and pinned with her own hands the medal upon his breast, while the tears fell like rain upon the face of the brave soldier.
Thus I trust it will be with many of us. We shall come into His presence, stand face to face with Him, and He will rise from His throne, coming forward to receive us, and as we look up into His face, thrones will vanish away and crowns will be as nothing, for to see Him with all His beauty will be the full reward. J. Wilbur Chapman
A man may go to heaven without health, without honours, without learning,
without friends;
But he can never get to heaven without Christ. Selected
N.J. Hiebert - 29447
September 30
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
Ephesians 5:30
Out of the great continent of Africa, there are people who are unable to count beyond ten--the number of their fingers. One of these folk was asked how many oxen he possessed. He replied that he could not tell.
"Then how would you know if one or two of your oxen were missing?" was the next question. "Not because the number was less, but because I should miss a face." Beloved Christian friend, if by any possibility you fail to appear in heaven, you would be missed! But there is no such possibility.
I like very much the reply which the old lady gave to one who objected to her rejoicing so unfeignedly in the biblical assurances of the security of the believer.
"You seem pretty confident about this salvation of yours. I would not be too sure about it if I were you. Suppose the Lord should let you slip through His fingers."
"But," said the old saint, "He cannot do that since I happen to be one of His fingers myself."
"The love that led me all the golden way,
Nor left me when my feet had gone astray,
Will hold me still at dying of the day
And bring me home."
George Henderson - Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care
N.J. Hiebert - 20448
October 1
But when the fulness 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
What an exciting thought-- "When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son." For centuries, which grew darker and darker, the faithful people of God waited for the promised Messiah who would reign, according to Isaiah 9:6, "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah goes on to say that "of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end." "He will reign with judgment and with righteousness, from henceforth even forever." But when would He come? When would be this "fullness of the time"? It is not too difficult for us today to identify with the desire and longing expressed in the prophecies of the Old Testament that speak of a Redeemer who would come to deliver His people from the oppression and trouble all around them.
We too live in similar times. While there are a few bright spots of hope, they are quickly overshadowed by the vast amounts of selfishness, misery, strife, despair, and destruction all around us. But there is one great difference between then and now. "The fullness of the time" has come! And all who believe "God sent His Son".
The millennial time is yet to come when our Lord will reign physically over this earth in the manner described by Isaiah and the other prophets. But the time is here and now for each one of us to receive the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, the peace which shall guard our hearts and our thoughts by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). We can enjoy Him now if we recognize and own Him as the One sent to redeem us from our sins.
L.J. Ondrejack
N.J. Hiebert - 20449
October 2
