“There is no difference: for ALL have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:22-23)
That is one of the hardest truths man has to learn.
We are apt to think that we are just a little better than our neighbours,
and if we find they are a little better than us, we go to work and try to pull them down to our level.
If you want to find out who and what man is, go to the third chapter of Romans, and there the whole story is told.
“There are none righteous, no, not one.”
“All have sinned and come short.”
All! Some men like to have their lives written before they die.
If you would like to read your biography, turn to this chapter, and you will find it already written.
(D. L. Moody)
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May 22
“I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.”
(Revelation 22:16-17)
Does God desire to see the Lord Jesus as the bright and morning Star? When the hour is come, God will give the word, and Christ will leave His throne, to bring up His bride.
But the morning star is not for God—it is a hope for a people in the dark night.
This title does not come in once in the Old Testament; there we find the Son of righteousness.
But this bright and morning star comes to usher in the morning without clouds.
The Lord knows what the hearts of His people want here—it is Himself,
His own blessed person.
Ah! is the Lord Jesus looked for by us as the bright and morning star?
It is not the glory, but Himself that is set forth.
"I am the bright and morning star;” and, oh, it is Himself that I want.
What would glory be to me without my Lord?
(Gleanings - G.V. Wigram)
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For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
(Isaiah 11:96)
What will it be like when the Lord Jesus is no longer hidden from view, but is seen and known by all?
What a contrast to today when the daily life of most is lived with little acknowledgement of the One who created them and cares deeply for them.
As Christians, we have been blessed to reveal the excellencies of the One who delivered us from the deception and darkness of this world.
May we share the light to that same dark world today.
R. Crawford
Jesus bids us shine, with a pure, clear light, like a little candle, burning in the night In this world of darkness, so let us shine—you in your small corner, and I in mine.
S. B. Warner
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May 24
LOOKING AND SEEING
Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. . . .
Isaiah 45:22
GOD PROMISED THAT all who looked upon the fiery serpent in the wilderness should live (Numbers 21:8).
Jesus said that is the way we are saved, not by seeing but by looking.
I do not think the Israelites on the back row of all that multitude could see the serpent very well,
but they could look.
Alexander Whyte advised a troubled soul: “He does not say, ‘See’: He only says look.’ "
We do not have to comprehend or understand salvation.
A course in theology is not required.
Just, “Look . . . and be ye saved.”
All the Days - Vance Havner
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May 25
“COME” AND “BELIEVE”
For he that cometh to God must believe that He is.
Hebrews 11:6
The coming so hinges on that, as to be really the same thing.
The moment you really believed, you would really come;
and the moment you really come, you really believe.
Now the Lord Jesus is as truly and actually “nigh thee” as if you could see Him.
And He as truly and actually says “Come” to you as if you heard Him.
Fear not, believe only, and let yourself come to Him straight away!
“Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him,
take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.”
And know that His answer is, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
Reality in greatest need, Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art indeed!
Is the pilot real, who alone can guide the drifting ship through the midnight tide?
Is the lifeboat real, as it nears the wreck, and the saved ones leap from the parting deck?
Is the haven real, where the barque may flee from the autumn gales of the wild North Sea?
Reality indeed art Thou, My Pilot, Lifeboat, Haven now.
Openened Treasure - Frances Ridley Havergal
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May 26
“. . . Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
(John 6:12)
ETERNAL issues hang upon fragments of time.
There is a proverb which says, “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son.”
Youth is a summer. It is time for gathering knowledge.
It is time for the formation of habits, for the knitting of the thews and sinews of character.
Youth who improve their opportunities, who are diligent in the “summer-gathering for winter’s need,” will come up to the responsibilities of their later years prepared to accept them and meet them with honour.
Those who would shine as God’s fairest children must have no wasted years. They must harvest time. All the prizes of life are taken by those who are earliest in the field.
The man who excels in the world of music is he who from childhood has yielded to the wizardry of minstrelsy.
The man who figures prominently in the world of letters is he whose brain was disciplined in his school days; he who excels in godliness is he who in the springtime of his career was obedient to the heavenly vision.
Early on God’s altar in youth’s springtime we can master the music of the Everlasting City, learn the dialect of the King’s country, graduate in divine wisdom, become proficient in spiritual knowledge,
adept in the things of grace.
A youth-time diligently improved prepares one for whatever may come in the stern days and mature years. Let not a fragment of the precious gift of life be wasted!
“A noble life is not a blaze of sudden glory won,
But just an adding up of days in which God’s is done."
MOUNTAIN TRAILWAYS FOR YOUTH
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May 27
The dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
(Matthew 15:27)
Yet we are not fed with crumbs; we are seated at the full table,
with the richest provisions before us.
The prodigal, returning, asked only to be made a servant,
as he felt unworthy to be restored to a son's place.
But father-love knew no such half-way restoration as that.
The white robe, the ring, the shoes, were given to him, insignia of sonship.
God puts the lowliest and unworthiest at once into the children’s place,
and feeds them abundantly.
Come Ye Apart - J. R. Miller
Not worthy, Lord, to gather up the crumbs with trembling hand that from Thy table fall,
A weary, heavy-laden sinner comes to plead Thy promise and obey Thy call.
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May 28
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.”
that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.”
(1John 5:14)
Here is a confidence in God that applies itself to all the details of life through which I may be called to pass.
This is the confidence we have in Him: His ear being open to us, we have what we ask for, when we ask according to God’s will. How wondrous this is, that God’s ear is ever open to us; for surely we should not desire to ask for anything contrary to His will.
“And if we know that He hears us; whatsoever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5:15)
I am so made to know the love that, if I ask, I shall have.
If I am really in earnest to do God’s will, to preach the gospel for instance, and there are hindrances in the way—Satan in the way—I have only to ask, and I have all God’s power at my disposal, His ear being open to me.
If you know what conflict and difficulty are, what a blessing is this, to have God’s ear open to you, and to know, if you are doing God’s will, you will always succeed in doing His will.
(1 John 1 - J. N. Darby)
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May 29
“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness.”
(Isaiah. 45:3)
When God made this promise to Cyrus, He was speaking of material treasures
from lands of darkness that Cyrus would conquer.
But we are not doing violence to the verse when
we take it and apply it in a spiritual sense.
There are treasures that are discovered in the dark nights of life that
are never found in days of unrelieved sunshine.
For instance, God can give songs in the darkest night (Job 35:10) that would
never have been sung if life were completely devoid of trials.
That is why the poet wrote:
And many a rapturous minstrel among those sons of light
Will say of his sweetest music, “I learned it in the night;”
And many a rolling anthem that fills the Father’s home
Sobbed out its first rehearsal in the shade of a darkened room.
(Adapted - D.H.)
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May 30
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1:3)
It is good for each of us periodically to take time to rediscover the simple but profound truths expressed by Johnson J. Oatman Jr, in the four stanzas of this hymn. In the first two stanzas’ he develops the thought that counting our blessings serves as an antidote for life’s discouragements and in turn makes for victorious Christian living.
The third stanza teaches us that counting our blessings can be a means of placing material possessions in proper perspective when compared to the eternal inheritance awaiting believers.
As we review our individual blessings, we certainly would have to agree with Mr. Oatman’s fourth stanza: The provision of God’s help and comfort to the end of our earthly pilgrimage is one of our choicest blessings.
Each of us could spare ourselves much despair and inner tension if we would only learn to apply the practical teaching of this hymn to our daily living.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings-name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings-every doubt will fly, and you will be singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold, think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings-money cannot buy your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
So amid the conflict, whether great or small, do not be discouraged-God is over all;
Count your many blessings-angels will attend, help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Chorus: Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessing, see what God hath done.
(Amazing Grace - Kenneth W. Osbeck)
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May 31
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
(Galatians 6:1)
Observe that word “restore”.
It is the translation of a word which
means to mend that which is broken, or rent.
Dr. Lightfoot says that it is a surgical term—used of
the re-setting of a fractured bone, or joint.
Tender work that! Who is to do it?
“Ye which are spiritual.”
This physician must be Spirit-filled.
What is he to do? "Restore such an one”;
to bind up the broken heart. How is he to do it?
“In the spirit of meekness.”
"Softly he touches for the reed is tender,
Wisely enkindles for the flame is low.”
(In Pastures Green - George Henderson)
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