Gems from December 21-31, 2017

December 21

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore 

when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light.”

(Luke 11:34)

A divided heart brings a disordered mind.

Much of what passes these days for “mental illness”

is largely the effect of a heart in rebellion against God’s hand.

(Nugget - John Kaiser)

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December 22

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?

Who hath gathered the wind in his fists?

Who hath bound the waters 

in a garment?

(Proverbs 30:4)

“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

(Mark 4:39)   

Observe Him again in the vessel on the lake during the storm (Mark 4:39).

He was there as a tired labouring man whose sleep was sweet.

Such was His manifested form.  But underneath lay 

“the form of God” (Philippians 2:6).

He arose, and as the Lord who gathers the wind in His fists, and binds 

the waters in a garment, He rebuked the sea into a calm.  

(J. G. Bellett)

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December 23

“But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice.”

(Psalm 5:11)

How sweet the hour of praise and prayer, when our devotions blend,

And on the wings of faith divine our songs of joy ascend! 

’Tis then we hear in tones more clear the gracious promise given,

That, though we part from friends on earth, we all shall meet in heaven.

(Treasures From Fanny Crosby)

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December 24

Introducing Jesus

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

(John 1:29)

John is introducing Jesus to his disciples.  He did not say,

“Here comes my cousin, Jesus,” “Here comes Jesus, the carpenter.”

No, he went far beyond that; he declared Him to be 

“The lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” 

Here was Jesus, very near the beginning of His public ministry,

a ministry that would take Him all the way to Calvary’s cross.

There He would become God’s sacrificial Lamb, and there lay down His life for you 

and for me.  Our sins would all be laid on His blessed head there, 

and Holy God would pour out His righteous wrath on

the innocent Jesus for our guilty sins. 

Oh, how He suffered for you and for me!  Is He your Lamb; have you made 

it a personal matter with you?  Have you said, He died for me?

As Christians, how do we introduce Jesus?  Once it is personal, it is so different.

The personal-ness of it is reflected in our choice of words, 

in our emotions, in our face.

He is my Saviour!  He is my Lord! He is my Keeper!  He is my advocate with the Father! and so on.

(With thanks - Lifelines - F. Pratt)

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December 25

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth 

not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

 (2 Timothy 2:15)

Differences of apprehension are mainly due to sluggishness and perversity on our part.

Dulness in a Christian is always the effect of having neglected the spiritual opportunities that have been given.

Unless there is growth there is always declension.

Satan goes right through every weapon that isn’t the Word of God.

(Hunt’s Sayings)

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December 26

“And the angel said unto them (shepherds), Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings

 of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in 

the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

(Luke 2:10-11)

"He shall stand upon the earth."

(Job 19:29)

Greater Than Walking on the Moon

Colonel James Irwin, related how he stood on the moon seeing Planet Earth suspended in space, glowing like an iridescent jewel.  He said that as he walked on the surface of the moon his thought was - "Man walking on the moon - this is the greatest event of human history!”  But at that very moment he heard an inner voice quietly speak to his heart; "I did something greater than that - I WALKED ON THE EARTH!"

Colonel Irwin returned from the moon a different man - not with a desire to be a celebrity but to walk as a servant of the Lord of the universe - the Lord Jesus Christ - who came from glory and walked on earth.

The greatest event this world has ever experienced is the incarnation - God manifest in flesh in the Person of the Son. The fullness of the Godhead clothed in the garb of humanity.  The infinite becoming the humble Servant.  

The Sovereign becoming the Saviour.  

Another expressed:

"The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world is the most stupendous event of human history."

"He shall stand upon the earth" (Job 19:29).  

This remarkable declaration of Job, anticipated centuries in advance of our Lord's coming to earth, was for Job his great hope. It enabled him to endure and maintain his faith amid the fiercest of trials as God lovingly dealt with His dear child.

What a grand realization!  Our redeemer has come to earth and given His life a ransom for many.  

Because He came, died on the cross and rose again the third day, we can say with even greater confidence than Job,

"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26).  “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

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December 27

DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” 

(Psalm 37:4)

Too often we read Scripture without concentrating on what we are reading and therefore miss completely what God has to say to us. We read quickly without delving into the depths of what has been written. 

We need to read God's Word slowly, thoughtfully, incisively with a desire, not only to understand what is being said, but to seek to apply to our lives the truth or principle before us. 

With this, we need to have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts open to respond to all God wants to 

reveal to us. The Holy Spirit has been given to us, not simply to dwell within our 

hearts, but to teach and give us discernment to understand 

His Word and make it a reality in our daily walk.

(Adapted)

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December 28

“. . . It is enough . . .” (1 Kings 19:4)

“. . . It is finished . . .” (John 19:30)

When Elijah, depressed and alone in the wilderness under a tree,

 couldn’t withstand any more, he exclaimed,

“It is enough!”

When Jesus, tortured and crucified, alone on the tree,

couldn’t give any more, He exclaimed, 

“It is finished!”

"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through 

our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians  15:57)

(R. M. B.)

I am unworthy to take of His grace, wonderful grace so free;

Yes, Jesus suffered and died in my place, e’en for a soul like me.

How can I help but love Him, when He love me so?

(Elton M. Roth)

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December 29

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.”

(Psalm 55:22)

Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”

(1 Peter 5:7) 

We all have "little tangles” in our lives, 

and are discouraged because we cannot make them straight;

so, instead of singing at our work, we are heavy-hearted and complaining.

But is there really so easy a remedy always at hand?

May we send directly to the King? 

Let us hear what He says about it Himself, for if it is true, why should we go on

carrying all our burdens, and keeping all our sorrows pent up within? 

(A.J. Pollock)

"Be careful for nothing; but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.”

(Philippians 4:6) 

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December 30

“The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, 

to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, 

to give them light; to go by day and night.”

(Exodus 13:21)

So cloud and fire are bound up with thoughts of guidance.

Each day for each Israelite began with the sight of the impenetrable Cloud.

What was the day to bring of journeying or of waiting?  He did not know.

He saw the Cloud, that was all.  So do our days begin.

We may have a time-table, even so,

we face the Unknown. 

We know not what a day may bring forth,

but if we are following our Leader we know that we shall be led.

The symbol of that leading is a Cloud, through which we cannot see.

Great Leader, guide me by cloud or fire, let me be loyal to Thy heart’s desire.

And lest I falter if the way be long, O let Thy joy be strength to me and song. 

(Edges of His Way - Amy Carmichael)

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December 31

The Humble Christian 

"By the grace of God, I am what I am!” 

(1 Corinthians 15:10)

The humble Christian will not be easily angered--nor will he be dogmatic and judgmental. 

He will be compassionate and tender towards the infirmities of his fellow-sinners; knowing, that, 

if there is any difference between himself and others--it is grace of God that has made it. 

He knows that he has the seeds of every evil in his own heart!

Also, under all trials and afflictions, the humble Christian will look to the hand of the Lord, 

and lay his mouth in the dust--acknowledging that he suffers much less than his iniquities have deserved. 

These are some of the advantages and good fruits which the Lord enables us to obtain from that bitter root, indwelling sin.

(John Newton)

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January 1

“And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more,

save Jesus only with themselves.”

(Mark 9:8)

Christ is the key to the puzzle of this world.

May God give us to be anything or nothing, so that the Lord Jesus may be everything.

The magnet always turns towards the pole;

the needle always trembles a little when the storm and tempest roar,

but its direction changes not; the needle of the Christian heart always points towards Christ.

The only thing which can be truly blessing to our brethren, 

so precious because they belong to Him, 

is that which we reproduce of Him.

(Pilgrim Portions for the Day of Rest)

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