“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20)
OURSELVES KEPT FOR JESUS
“Keep myself, that I may be
Ever, only, all for Thee.”
"FOR THEE”
That is the beginning and the end of the whole matter of consecration.
There was a prelude to its endless song—
A prelude whose theme is woven into every following harmony
in the new anthem of consecrated life:
“The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Out of the realized “for me” grows the practical “for Thee.”
If the former is a living root,
the latter will be its living fruit.
(Frances Ridley Havergal)
N.J. Hiebert - 6068
November 12
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
(2 Timothy 2:16)
People say sometimes, “ I don't think it makes any difference
what a man believes if he is only sincere.”
But you know down in your heart that this is not true.
You might drink poison, sincerely believing that is is pure water,
but it would kill just the same as if you knew its nature and
took it with intent to commit suicide.
No; you do not believe it makes no difference what one believes so long as he is sincere.
You know in your own heart that one can be sincerely wrong
and bring disaster upon himself and others.
What we need to be sure of is that God has spoken in His Word.
It is only the Word that will keep us right.
When we turn from the Word to human theories,
which are are just profane and vain babblings,
they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Experience proves that no man’s life will be in the right
who refuses the truth of the Word.
(H.A. Ironside)
N.J. Hiebert - 6069
November 13
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of
God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”
(1 John 5:18)
"Will the Holy Spirit dwell in a heart where evil and unholy thoughts are indulged?”
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, ye are not your own.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19).
And this precious truth is the ground of exhortation to purity and holiness of heart and life.
We are exhorted not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
To “indulge" evil and unholy thoughts is not Christian walk at all.
The Christian may be assaulted, grieved, and harassed by evil thoughts,
and in such a case he has only to look to Christ for victory.
Proper Christian walk is thus expressed in 1 John 5:18 (Quoted above).
This is the Divine side of the question.
Alas! we know there is the human side likewise; but we judge the human side by the Divine.
We do not lower the Divine to meet the human,
but ever aim at the Divine, notwithstanding the human.
We should never be satisfied with anything lower that 1 John 5:18.
It is by keeping up the true standard that we may expect to raise our moral tone.
(C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert - 6070
November 14
“Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
(Romans 8:15)
When John F. Kennedy was president of the US, photographers sometimes captured a winsome scene.
Seated around the president’s desk in the Oval Office,
cabinet members are debating matters of world consequence.
Meanwhile, a toddler, the 2-year old John-John, crawls around and inside the huge presidential desk,
oblivious to White House protocol and the weighty matters of state.
He is simply visiting his daddy.
This is the kind of shocking accessibility conveyed in the word Abba when Jesus said
“Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee” (Mark 14:36).
God is the sovereign Lord of the universe, but through His Son,
God became as approachable as any doting human father.
In Romans 8:26, Paul brings the image of intimacy even closer.
God’s Spirit lives inside a believer, he says, when we do not know what we ought to pray,
“. . . the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Jesus came to demonstrate that a perfect and Holy God welcomes pleas for help from a widow
with two mites and a Roman centurion and a miserable publican and a thief on a cross.
We need only call out “Abba” or, failing that, simply groan.
God has come that close to us.
(Adapted -P.Y.)
N.J. Hiebert - 6071
November 15
“Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
(Matthew 28:20)
DOES JESUS CARE?
"God whispers in our pleasures but shouts in our pain." (C.S. Lewis)
Frank E. Graeff (1860-1910), author of this hymn text, knew what it was to wonder,
as most of God’s children do at times, if the Lord is really concerned during our times of hurt,
when the burdens and cares weigh heavily, when the way seems dark, when temptation seems difficult to resist, or when we must part with our dearest loved one.
Yet the answer comes back triumphantly: “I know my Saviour cares.”
Known as the “sunshine minister”, Frank Graeff was widely liked for his cheerful and winsome personality.
C. Austin Miles, writer of the hymn “In the Garden,” said of him, he is a spiritual optimist,
a great friend of children; his bright sun-shining disposition attracts not only children but all with whom he comes in contact. He has a holy magnetism and a child-like faith.
Unknown to others, however, were the many severe testing experiences in M. Graeff’s life.
It was during a time of severe physical agony, doubt, and despondency that he turned to the Scriptures for comfort and strength. 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you”
became especially meaningful to him in this time of need.
He wrote the lines of “Does Jesus Care?” to express the feelings of assurance that came to him.
Mr. Graeff wrote more than 200 hymns in his lifetime,
but none has been more consoling to God’s people than this text.
"Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth and song;
as the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?
Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades, does He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed to resist some temptation strong;
when for my deep grief I find no relief, tho my tears flow all the night long?
Does Jesus care when I’ve said good-bye to the dearest on earth to me,
and my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks - is it aught to Him? Does He see?
CHORUS: O yes, He cares, I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief;
when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares."
(Kenneth W. Osbeck - Amazing Grace)
N.J. Hiebert - 6072
November 16
“Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.”
(Psalm 76:4)
"Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.”
(Psalm 76:10)
There is nothing in all creation, and so nothing even in you and me,
that can discourage the Lord the Conqueror.
Because He does wonderfully shine forth, therefore
our inward thoughts can give thanks and keep a feast to Him.
There are caterpillars with skins so transparent that we can see
the green of the leaves they have been feeding on, their “inward thoughts.”
Suppose our minds had transparent skins so that our thoughts could be seen,
what would be seen?
Self-loving thoughts? Self-pitying thoughts?
Lazy thoughts about our work? Unkind thoughts about others?
Would these be seen?
Or would our happy thoughts be seen keeping a feast to God?
Think of it—all our big thoughts and little thoughts, like big children and little at
a birthday party, keeping a feast, singing and praising and being glad because of our loving God!
(Amy Carmichael)
N.J. Hiebert - 6073
November 17
“[He] made Himself of no reputation.”
(Philippians 2:7)
Are you one of the multitudes who have lost their good reputation because of wayward living?
For your sake the Lord “made Himself of no reputation.”
Where was His reputation when he knelt and washed
the dirty feet of twelve proud disciples?
When men spat in His face?
When He hung half-naked on a cross
between two murderers?
When God forsook Him on the cross because of our sins?
He did all this for you,
so that your past could be forgiven and forgotten,
so you could have a new beginning
and a new life in Christ.
Turn from your sinful ways and come to Him today.
(D. Croudace)
N.J. Hiebert - 6074
November 18
The Prayer of Moses
“I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.”
(Exodus 33:18)
As prayed Thy favoured saint of old
We cry, ‘Thy glory, Lord, unfold.’
Pass Thou before our raptured eyes,
Great, Holy, Gracious, Faithful, Wise.
No longer with averted face
Hide’st Thou the radiance of Thy grace:
Thy Son has come, in Him we see,
Unveiled, the Face of Deity.
Yet dim our sight, our spirits slow
To learn of Him we fain would know.
So still we plead, as he of old,
’Thy glory, O our God, unfold!’
(Bell & Pomegranates-James M.S. Tait)
N.J. Hiebert - 6075
November 19
“Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope:
thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.”
(Isaiah 57:10)
Not only does everything matter to God,
but He also takes everything personally.
That is uniquely the prerogative of deity.
We presumptuously take things personally
and consequently we weary ourselves in the
greatness of our way
(Things to Think About - J.K.)
N.J. Hiebert - 6076
November 20
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by Thy Name, O Lord of hosts.”
(Jeremiah 15:16)
All true solid comfort is fetched out of the Word.
The Word is a spiritual garden,
and the promises are the fragrant flowers
or spices in this garden.
How should we delight to walk among these beds of spices!
(Adapted)
N.J. Hiebert - 6077
November 21
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
(1 Peter 1:7)
Do you think that any stone or obstacle on your path is there for no reason at all?
Whether it be ugly, big, or small, you must believe that it has to be just
where it is, but certainly not to hinder you from getting on,
certainly not to weaken your courage and strength.
A wise hand put it there, in order that you might
take a good look at it and then talk about it
with God, asking Him what He wants to
make clear to you by it.
And if you meet God at every stone,
then every stone will bless you.
(Corrie Ten Boom)
N.J. Hiebert - 6078
November 22
“For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have know surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. . . . them which Thou hast given me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.”
(John 17:8-10)
What a blessed thought put forth by the Lord,
that they should be made so one with Himself,
that the glory given to Him could be given to them;
that they should be manifested as the people of His love,
in whom His glory will be displayed.
The moment He lets them hear of the glory given to Him,
they hear also that He proposes to act in all the largeness
of His love, and share it all with them.
(G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert - 6079
November 23
November 24
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