a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!”
(2 Corinthians 4:17)
The purest gold is that which has been longest in the refiner's furnace.
The brightest diamond is often that which has required the most grinding and polishing.
The last night of weeping will soon be spent,
The last wave of trouble will have rolled over us, and
Then we shall have a peace that passes all understanding!
We shall be at home forever with the Lord!
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words!" (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
(Daily Devotions - J.C. Ryle -1860-1907 — B.L.)
N.J. Hiebert - 6033
October 8
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that
are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty.”
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)
We are to pray;“for kings, and for all that are in authority.” When we come together in a public service we usually pray for those who are in authority; but are we as much concerned about remembering them before God when we kneel alone in His presence?
If we prayed more for those at the head of the country and in other positions of responsibility we would feel less ready to criticize them;
we would be more disposed to recognize the heavy burdens resting upon them,
we would be more disposed to recognize the heavy burdens resting upon them,
and to understand how easy it is to make mistakes in times of crises.
Our rulers need divine wisdom that they might govern well in subjection to Him who is earth’s rightful King.
As we pray earnestly for them we are furthering our own best interests,
because as the affairs of nations are ordered according to the will of
God His people find living conditions more comfortable and more enjoyable. So we are told to pray
“For all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Christians are to be examples to others of subjection to the Government.
When difficulties arise and differences come up that divide people and set one group agains another, we should be characterized by quiet, restful confidence in God as we refer these things to Him in prayer.
God told Israel, when they were scattered among the nations of the earth,
to pray for the peace of the different lands in which they dwelt.
This is a responsibility that rests upon us as believers today.
(H.A. Ironside)
N.J. Hiebert - 6034
October 9
“. . . Joseph made himself known unto his brethren, and he wept aloud . . .
and Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph . . .”
(Genesis 45:1,3)
And he said., “I am Joseph.”
He spoke in deep emotion; yet the words must have fallen on them like a thunderbolt.
“Joseph!” Had they been dealing all the while with their long-lost brother?
“Joseph!” Then they had fallen into a lion’s den indeed.
“Joseph!” Could it be?
Yes, it must be so; and it would explain a great many things which had sorely puzzled them.
Well might they be troubled and terrified.
Astonishment as at one risen from the dead, terror for the consequences,
fear lest he would repay them the long-standing debt—all these emotions made them dumb.
They could not answer him. So he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt”;
and he added very lovingly, “Be not grieved, nor angry, for God did send me.”
"And Joseph said unto his brethren, come near unto me.”
They had gone farther and farther back from him; but now he bids them approach.
This is a beautiful illustration of the way in which a sinner may be reinstated in the loving favour of God.
We are not set to serve a time of probation. We need not stand afar off.
We may step right into the deepest and closest intimacy with the Son of God.
Once “far off,” but now “made nigh” by the blood of Jesus.
One moment the rugged road of repentance; the next the Father’s kiss and the banquet in the Father’s home.
(F.B. Meyer)
N.J. Hiebert - 6035
October 10
“Let Thine hand help me.”
(Psalm 119:173)
This little prayer has often been mine.
These short Bible prayers are just what we want in days
when we are tired or hard-pressed,
so I pass this one on for those who need it.
You will find it enough.
It is like the touch on the light switch—
Just a touch, and the power comes flowing from the
power-house—the power that turns to light.
(Edges of His Ways -Amy Carmichael)
N.J. Hiebert - 6036
October 11
“Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
(Matthew 11:29)
True humility does not so much consist in thinking badly
of ourselves as in not thinking of ourselves at all.
I am too bad to be worth thinking about.
What I want is, to forget myself and
to look to God, who is worth
all my thoughts.
We do not know how to be weak, that is our weakness.
(J.N. Darby)
N.J. Hiebert - 6037
October 12
“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying,
forgive, if ye have ought against any.”
(Mark 11:24-25)
How we long to have a prayer life that is effective and fruitful.
Yet how often do we come to the Lord and the two main
prerequisites to answered prayer are missing.
This passage tells us the two things
that are necessary if we expect to
have answers to our prayer:
faith toward Christ,
and forgiveness to others.
Come believing, ask and receive.
Come forgiving, ask and receive.
(R.E. Harlow)
What various hindrances we meet in coming to the mercy seat!
Yet who, that knows the worth of prayer but wishes to be often there?
(W. Cowper)
N.J. Hiebert - 6038
October 13
“So the shipmaster came to 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)
Notice the contrast between Jonah, down in the sides of the ship, fast asleep,
while the ship was likely to be broken, and Jonah’s Lord,
“. . . the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.” (Mark 4:38).
The one wearied of the service of Him who sent him,
wearied in his vain efforts to flee from His presence; the Other,
wearied in, the service of Him who sent Him was snatching
a few moments of well-earned rest even amidst the storm.
The one was careless and callous to the danger to himself
and those with him in the ship; the Other, even while He slept,
"upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3),
by His very presence, was preserving all with Him on board from every danger,
so that after stilling the store, He could turn to them and ask,
"Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”(Mark 4:37-41).
(G.Christopher Willis)
N.J. Hiebert - 6039
October 14
The Bible Stands!
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of
Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”
(Psalm 119:160)
Very few books survive very long. Only a few survive past the first printing,
and science books especially get out of date in just a few years.
But one book is eternal! The Bible stands!
Even its most ancient chapters are still accurate and up to date.
Furthermore, despite all the vicious attacks of both ancient pagans and modern humanists,
it will continue to endure. Jesus said:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
Even after everything else dies and all the bombastic tirades of skeptics and secularists are long forgotten, the Word endures.
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8)
Men may, in these last days, arrogantly think they can “take away from the words of the book of this prophecy” (Revelation 22:19),
but such presumption will only “take away [their] part out of the book of life,” and the Bible will still stand.
“The word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you”
(1 Peter 1:25).
(1 Peter 1:25).
(Adapted)
N.J. Hiebert - 6040
October 15
"That the trial of your faith . . . might be found
unto praise and honour and glory.”
(1 Peter 1:7)
Trials and stresses in our lives cause us much grief.
But God chooses them for us on purpose.
The rim of a grand piano must withstand over 22 tons of tension
in order for each string to be at just the right pitch.
Only then can rich, harmonious melodies cascade from its depths.
“Praise Him with stringed instruments” (Psalm 150:4).
God is praised and honoured through us, when in times of trial we accept His
daily strength, allowing profound music to flow from the strings of our lives.
(D. Logan)
“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.”
(R. Robinson)
N.J. Hiebert - 6041
October 16
“What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”
(John 13:7)
These words might have been well addressed to the dear friends at Bethany in their most anxious hours.
Their confidence in the love of Jesus was possibly unshaken,
but this long and fatal delay was most perplexing.
Could they, did they believe that all things were working together for good?
That every detail was under the control of One who never erred,
and whose love for them was deeper than the sea?
We cannot tell.
(John 11:21)“Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died,”
are words which seem to come from hearts not quite submissive and at rest.
But when the “hereafter” came, and the purpose of God in this sickness was fulfilled,
and Lazarus was given back to his sisters, and the glory of God and of Him who was the
Resurrection and the Life was seen in cloudless and broadened vision,
then how gladly would they have owned that God’s way was perfect,
and that blessed is the man whose hope in Him is steadfast!
“Satisfied the way He taketh must be always best.”
(A.J. Pollock)
N.J. Hiebert - 6042
October 17
“He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
(Deuteronomy 32:4)
Foundation Stones
I would not lose the hard things from my life,
The rocks o’er which I stumbled long ago,
The grief and fears, the failures and mistakes,
That tried and tested faith and patience so.
I need them now; they make the deep-laid wall,
The firm foundation-stones on which I raise—
To mount therein from stair to higher stair—
The lofty towers of my House of Praise.
Soft was the roadside turf to weary feet,
And cool the meadows where I fain had trod,
And sweet beneath the trees to lie at rest
And breathe the incense of the flower-starred sod;
But not on these might I securely build,
Nor sand not sod withstand the earthquake shock.
I need the rough, hard boulders of the hills
To set my house on everlasting rock.
(Annie Johnson Flint)
N.J. Hiebert - 6043
October 18
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31)
On a day in the autumn, I saw a prairie eagle mortally wounded by a rifle shot. His eye still gleamed like a circle of light. Then he slowly turned his head, and gave one more searching and longing look at the sky. He had often swept those starry spaces with his wonderful wings.
The beautiful sky was the home of his heart. It was the eagle’s domain. A thousand times he had exploited there his splendid strength. In those far away heights he had played with the lightnings, and raced with the winds, and now, so far away from home, the eagle lay dying, done to the death, because for once he forgot and flew too low.
The soul is that eagle. This is not its home. It must not lose the skyward look. We must keep faith, we must keep hope, we must keep courage, we must keep Christ. We would better creep away from the battle field at once if we are not going to be brave.
There is no time for the soul to stampede. Keep the skyward look, my soul; keep the skyward look!
“Keep looking up—the waves that roar around thy feet,
Jehovah-Jireh will defeat when looking up.
“Keep looking up—though darkness seems to wrap thy soul;
The Light of Light shall fill thy soul when looking up.
“Keep looking up—when worn, distracted with the fight;
Your Captain gives you conquering might when you look up.”
We can never see the sun rise by looking into the west. — Japanese Proverb
(From the Thoughts, Hymns and Encouragements - Michael O’Brien)
N.J. Hiebert - 6044
October 19
“John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name;
and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said
unto him, forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”
(Luke 9:49-50)
Mark how thoroughly conscious the Lord was of His utter rejection by man, so utter that He said: “He that is not against us is proved to be for us.”Christ was perfect, therefore He was a perfect test to men’s consciences, and as far as He is manifested in us we shall be so also.
Paul could say: “If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (2 Corinthians 4:3). Why could he say so? Because it went out from him as pure as it went in. John said: “We forbade him, because he followeth not with us.” That tells the whole tale. They were thinking of themselves, not of Christ; of their own importance, and not His honour.
If it had been His importance they would have thought how blessed it was to find the effect of His Name, and rejoiced to know how His power was being exercised by man. But, no; they were looking at themselves as well as at the Messiah. Even John was thus using Christ Himself to further his own importance.
And is there not something in us of the same thing, a satisfaction at that which aggrandizes self as well as Christ, instead of seeking the honour of Christ alone? The Lord takes him up and answers him on the ground of His utter rejection which was coming. “He that is not against us is for us.”
And mark that the very selfishness of John brings out the grace of Christ. He says “us.” You do not know the lot you have with Me. If you find one who can use the power of My Name rejoice in it. (The Man of Sorrows - J.N. Darby)
N.J. Hiebert - 6045
October 20
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