Gems from April 1- 10, 2017

TAKE HEART AGAIN

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

(1 Timothy 1:15)   

William Archer has pointed out that one of the singular things about the Bible is that some of its outstanding men had serious moral lapses.

Abraham practiced deceit, and yet is called “the friend of God” James 2:23.

Jacob was a crafty schemer, yet is called a Prince with God—Genesis 32:28.

David committed sins that cast deep shadows over other lives as well as his own, yet is called a man after God’s own heart—Acts 13:22.

Peter said that he would follow the Master to prison and to death, but when the test came, he denied Him to a little maid—Matthew 26:69-72. 

Mr. Archer instances these things, however, not to throw stones at these good men, nor to condone their faults. He does so to show, on the one hand, that if God were strict to mark iniquity, not one of us could stand; and, on the other that it is the trend of a life that is the true test of character.

A battle may be lost, but the campaign may be won;
the wave may be defeated, but the tide is sure to triumph.  

(In Green Pastures  George Henderson - 1866-1912)

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March 31

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

And, as the path of duty is made plain,

May grace be given that I may walk therein—

Not like the hireling, for his selfish gain,

With backward glances and reluctant tread,

Making a merit of his coward dread—

But cheerful in the light around me thrown,

Walking as one to pleasant service led,

Doing God’s will as if it were my own,

Yet trusting not in mine,

But in His strength alone!

(Johm Greenleaf Whittier - 1807-1892)

With thanks - J. Kaiser

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April 1

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  (Romans 5:1-2) 

The glory of God is now the place of peace to the Christian,—the home of the 

Christian,—“and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

We can’t afford to put into the background anything contained in the blessed Word of God.

The Christian glories in tribulation, because it clears his vision.  

He sees that God is allowing it to thresh out of him the 

husk of earthly desires and expectations,—as 

the frost kills all the rank weeds.

(Hunt’s Sayings)

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April 2

“All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, 

out of the ivory palaces, whereby 

they have made Thee glad.”

(Psalms 45:8)

Proctor and Gamble is a familiar name.

One Sunday, Harley Proctor listened to a preacher

speak from Psalm 45 where ivory palaces are mentioned.

As a result, he decided to call his soap Ivory.

Many people think that good works or a moral life, superficial cleanliness,

will merit them entry into God’s heaven.

But our problem goes much deeper than that.

Thank God for Him who came from the ivory places to accomplish what no  

soap could could do! 

Christ washed us from our sins!

(R.E. Surgenor)

Though thy sins are red like crimson, deep in scarlet glow;

Jesus’ precious blood can make them, white as snow.

(Francis Ridley Havergal)

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April 3

“The people which sat in darkness saw great light;

and to them which sat in the region and

shadow of death light is sprung up.”

(Matthew 4:16)

Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence

With me doth continually dwell.

(Treasures from Fanny Crosby)

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April 4

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying

in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking

for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

(Jude 20,21)

It matters little, for the purposes of the enemy, 

on what the eye rests, if he can only get it off Christ.

It may be occupied with the best of things, such as the work of the Lord,

our brethren, brotherly love, the fellowship of saints.  But even these things, 

blessed as they are, will lead to failure, if any one of them becomes the 

governing object of the heart in place of the Person of Christ.

But what shall we say of self and the world coming in, 

in some of their ten thousand forms?

Darkness, weakness, and sad confusion must follow.

(Andrew Miller)

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.”

(Helen Howarth Lemmel)

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April 5

“. . . I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, 

behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen!  

(Revelation 1:17-18)

What a glorious truth to ponder—Jesus is not the “Great I WAS” but rather the "Great I AM!”  He is not only a historical fact but a present-day, living reality.  The whole system of Christianity rests upon the truth that Jesus Christ rose from the grave and is now seated at the Father’s right hand as our personal advocate.

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” was written by Charles Wesley in 1738.  He has written numerous hymns on every phase of the Christian experience, some sixty-five hundred in all.

It has been said that the hymns of Charles Wesley gave converts a belief they could easily grasp, embrace with personal faith, and if necessary, even die for.

If all of our eternity is to be realized on this side of the grave, we are hopeless and to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19).  But for the Christian, the resurrection assures us of God’s tomorrow.  This anticipation makes it possible to live joyfully today, regardless of life’s circumstances. 

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!  Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply: Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia! Where Thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

(Kenneth W. Osbeck - Hymn stories)

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April 6

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

(Psalm 46:1)

Have you noticed this?

Whatever need or trouble you are in, there is always something to help you in your Bible,

if only you go on reading till you come to the word God specially has for you.

I have noticed this often.

Sometimes the special word is in the portion you would naturally read, or in 

the Psalms for the day, or in Daily Light, or maybe it is somewhere 

else; but you must go on till you find it, for it is always 

somewhere.  You will know it the moment you 

come to it, and it will rest your heart.

Here is a tiny illustration of that:

One day I was troubled and anxious about someone.

That night I found these words on the page of Daily Light:

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)

 And I knew that this was His word to me   

(Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)

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April 7

“Sanctify them through Thy truth:

Thy Word is truth.”

(John 17:17)

Love without truth is hypocrisy.  

Truth without love is brutality.

Brevity is the essence of eloquent speech;  

simplicity—of eloquent life.

Mankind is naturally prompted by reason or feeling.  

Therefore, we ought to be careful when using expressions such as 

“I think” or “I feel” (particularly in regard to the things of God) because such

expressions suggest a judgment made with reference to our reason or feelings rather than to God.

(Nuggets of Truth - John Kaiser)

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April 8

“We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

(Romans 8:37)

PERFECT SUBMISSION

“A little deaf mute at an examination at an institution in London, on being asked,

‘Who made the world?’ immediately wrote: 

’In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’

He was asked in a similar manner, 

‘why did Jesus come into the world?’

Again the little boy, with a bright smile indicating delight and gratitude, wrote:

'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ 

Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’

A third question was then asked, evidently to produce the most powerful feelings:

‘Why were you born deaf and dumb, while I can hear and speak?’

’Never’, said an eyewitness, ’shall I forget the peace which settled 

upon his countenance as he took up the pencil and wrote:

‘Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.’”

(With thanks - C. F.) 

"Submission to the will of Him Who guides me still, is surety of His love revealed;

My soul shall rise above this world in which we move; I conquer only where I yield.

Not what I wish to be, nor where I wish to go, for who am I that I should choose my way?

The Lord shall choose for me, ’tis better far I know; so let Him bid me go, or stay.” 

(C. Austin Miles)

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April 9

God is Better than Our Faith

“Yea hath God said, Ye shall eat of every tree of the garden?” 

(Genesis 3:1)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment.  He that feareth 

is not made perfect in love.” 

(1 John 4:18)

We once said to a dear woman in Jamaica, much tried in her circumstances,

“God is better to us than our fears.”

She answered with a quick smile, “Yes, and God is better to us than our faith.”

I confess that I stood rebuked, and felt I was in the presence of one taught in the school of God.

I looked on that woman as a triumph of Christianity,

as a complete answer to the first question raised in the Bible,

a question doubting God’s goodness and love, “Yea, hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1).

The object of Satan was achieved when he instilled doubt into man’s heart at the fall.

God’s triumph over Satan is proclaimed when a weak saint is found triumphing over afflictions,

praising Him for trials, rejoicing in tribulation.

“Perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18).

To trust Him in the dark and adore Him for His ways, 

is indeed a vindication of God over evil.

(Comforted of God - A.J. Pollock)

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April 10

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee,

and Thou shalt glorify Me.”

(Psalm 50:15)

What an immense relief to be able to speak to anyone about our trouble!

and specially when that One is able to succour as well as sympathize.

It does not say how many times we are to call.  Simply, 

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble.”

A call does, however, imply earnestness.

It is not “Speak to Me.”

We may sometimes speak to God as though we hardly meant what we said.

But here it is more vehement—“

Call upon Me,” as though we were in real earnest to make God hear.

The Psalmist says, “In the day when I cried, Thou answeredst me” (Psalm 138:3).

A child in danger or fright calls to its parent, it does not speak as though nothing was the matter.

Now while God knows everything, and can hear even a whisper and read even our thoughts,

yet His direction here is, “Call upon Me.” 

If you have called many times before and not yet been delivered, still continue calling.

Deliverance will surely come in some form or other,  and in the 

meantime the blessing to your own soul will be immense.

You will learn more of God.  For it says, “Call upon Me”—upon  God Himself.

(Angels in White - Russell Elliott)

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April 11

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying

and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away.”

(Matthew 24:37-39)

Our Lord here tells of the conditions that will exist just before His return.

There will be a craze for pleasure and the lust of the flesh.

People will leave God, eternity and judgment out of their thoughts.

How similar to our own day.

May God help us to be faithful in warning those around us 

of the great judgement just ahead.

(Jim Pizzulli)

Look unto Jesus and be saved; see Him uplifted on the tree,

There all the guilt has been displayed; see how He suffered there for me.

(T.B. Gilbert)

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