“Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
(Matthew 14:25,27)
The Lord Jesus made it plain from the beginning that there would be trials
of many kinds for all who would follow Him, and He Himself led the way in that path.
Should we be surprised when we find ourselves following in His footsteps?
There is joy too. He said clearly that sorrow would be turned into joy, joy that would never end.
But I think that He wants us all to understood quite definitely that if we follow
in the way of the cross we must be prepared to take up the cross.
We must not think of life as a joy-ride. But there is nothing whatever to be afraid of.
“Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee.”
is a shining word for us all” (Psalms 84:4).
No one knows what the next year will bring, but one thing is sure.
He will be with us, and He is enough for every difficulty
that may arise. He is enough for today’s difficulty.
Do you sometimes feel like the disciples when they were in the midst of the
sea toiling in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them?
Then take the lovely words for your comfort.
“Jesus went unto them . . . and spake unto them saying, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”
No matter how much the wind blows, it will be true for us as it was for them,
“The wind ceased”. So let us be of good cheer and
go on our way rejoicing.
(Amy Carmichael)
N.J. Hiebert - 7018
March 12
"And when his (Joseph's) brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. . . . and his brethren envied him.”
(Genesis 37:4,11)
Of all Old Testament histories none presents a richer or more distinct picture of Christ than the touching story of Joseph.
Other lives may give in greater detail personal experiences, and human failure, teaching many a wholesome lesson; but as the story of Joseph is unfolded we feel that the Spirit of God keeps in view the display of the glory of Christ, and all that pertains to the weakness and failure of a man of like passions with ourselves has little or no place.
And yet, however rich the picture, we soon recognize that the life of no single saint could adequately set forth the fulness of Christ. In common with Joseph, other saints of God, as Isaac in his day, and David and Solomon in a later day, have their tale to tell concerning the glories of Christ.
Moreover, there is no mere repetition, each has some special glory to disclose. Isaac tells of the sufferings and affections of Christ whereby he gains his bride: David of His sufferings and victories where by he gains his kingdom: Joseph of His suffering and supremacy by which he he administers His kingdom.
Solomon takes us a step further and unfolds the glories of his kingdom when he is supreme.
(Hamilton Smith)
N.J. Hiebert - 7019
March 13
“With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
(Matthew 7:2)
“Take good heed therefore unto yourselves.”
(Joshua 23:11)
Let us speak of one another in a gracious, loving way;
Cruel censures we have uttered may return in kind someday.
Let us care for one another—seek their good more than our own;
We will cease to be Christ-centered if we live for self alone.
N.J. Hiebert - 7020
March 14
“Know therefore that God exacteth of thee
less than thine iniquity deserveth.”
(Job 11:6)
“My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
(Genesis 4:13)
Though Zophar erred in his speech to Job, the above statement is immensely true.
It is not that God exacted from us less judgment than0 our sins deserved,
but that He acquired full recompense of our offences from
another—His own Son.
Cain minutely understood the consequences of his sin and begged for God’s mercy.
Ponder what God exacted from the Lord Jesus—the full measure of what
our iniquities deserved, meaning there was nothing left for
Him to exact from us—no wrath for the believer.
Amazing grace!
(Warren Henderson)
Jehovah lifted up His rod, O Christ it fell on Thee!
Thou wast forsaken of Thy God; no distance now for me.
Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed; Thy bruising healeth me.
(Mrs. Cousins)
N.J. Hiebert - 7021
March 15
OUR LIPS KEPT FOR JESUS
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
(Psalm 16:11)
We all know there is influence exerted by person’s mere
presence, without the utterance of a single word.
We are conscious of this every day.
People seem to carry an atmosphere with them, which must be breathed by those whom they approach. Some carry an atmosphere in which all unkind thoughts shrivel up and cannot grow into expression. Others carry one in which thoughts of Christ and things divine never seem able to flourish.
Have you not felt how a happy conversation about the things we love best is checked, or even strangled, by the entrance of one who is not in sympathy? Outsiders have not a chance of ever really knowing what delightful fellowship we have one with another about these things,
because their very presence chills and changes it.
On the other hand, how another person’s incoming freshens and develops it and warms us all up, and seems to give us, without the least conscious effort, a sort of lift.
If even unconscious and involuntary influence is such a power,
how much greater must it be when the recognized power of words is added!
(Kept for the Master’s Use - Frances Ridley Havergal)
N.J. Hiebert - 7022
March 16
Our days upon earth are a shadow.
Job 8:9
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10
To be with Christ; which is far better.
Philippians 1:23
’Tis good, at His word, to be here, yet better e’en now to be gone,
And there in His presence appear, and rest where He rests on the throne;
Yet, ah! what the joy ’twill afford, when Him we shall see in the air:
And enter the joy of the Lord, forever to be with Him there.
N.J. Hiebert - 7023
March 17
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7)
God’s own peace, this becomes ours—a thing that has never been disturbed by anything that has happened, nor can be by anything that may yet happen.
What shocks and rude alarms there have been since the earliest dawn of creation!— the first sin, the angels that left their own habitation, the fall of man, and yet through it all God’s peace remained unshaken.
And He who could be undisturbed by all this offers to “garrison” your heart and mind, that you may be able to meet all that shall come across your own little life.
Yes, He offers nothing less to the trusting and thankful heart than His own peace. It is wonderful to think of such a peace being anywhere, when around us on every hand are the traces of care; but up there in the heart of God is peace, and if it is wonderful that He has it, it is not less wonderful that He gives it.
It can be imparted, and the blessed God is willing to do this, so that poor, troubled, burdened, human hearts may be sharers of God’s own prerogative.
(Angels in White - Russell Elliott)
N.J. Hiebert - 7024
March 18
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of an humble sprit with the lowly
than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
(Proverbs 16:18-19)
Pride was an archangel’s ruin, as it has been the destruction of myriads of men and women on earth. It is the sure precursor of a fall, for the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity cannot permit self-exaltation, on the part of a creature, to go unchecked.
Far better is it to be little one’s own eyes, and to find happy fellowship with the lowly, than to share the pursuits and treasures of the proud in spirit.
It is when one sees pride in another that its hideousness is clearly revealed. How often we will complacently tolerate in ourselves what, when we behold in someone else fills us with disgust.
But God takes note of the least beginning of unjudged haughtiness in each heart. What mind can conceive how hateful it must all be to Him.
May we we look to it that this baneful sin be checked in His presence, ere it master us to our lasting sorrow.
(H. A. Ironside)
N.J. Hiebert - 7025
March 19
“And Moses said unto the Lord, . . . I am not eloquent, neither heretofore,
nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant: but I am
slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
(Exodus 4:10)
Nothing is more dishonouring to God, or more dangerous for us, than a mock humility.
When we refuse to occupy a position which the grace of God assigns us,
because of our not possessing certain virtues and qualifications,
this is not humility, for if we could but satisfy our
own consciences in reference to such virtues
and qualifications, we should then deem
ourselves entitled to assume
the position.
If, for instance, Moses had possessed such a measure of eloquence as he deemed needful,
we may suppose he would have been ready to go.
Now the question is, how much eloquence would he have
needed to furnish him for his mission?
The answer is, without God no amount of human eloquence would have availed; but
with God the merest stammerer would have proved an efficient minister.
This is a great practical truth.
Unbelief is not humility, but thorough pride.
It refuses to believe God because it does not find in self a
reason for believing. This is the very height of presumption.
(C. H. Macintosh)
N.J. Hiebert - 7026
March 20
“For 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)
We are reminded of what an old stone-breaker said,
as he sat by the roadside during the lunch
hour, reading his much worn Bible.
A party of tourists came by, and one of them said:
”How can an old fool like you understand that Book?"
With the grace of a Christian gentleman, the old man replied:
"It would not be possible, sir, in the ordinary way;
but you see I happen to know the Author.”
(George Henderson)
N.J. Hiebert - 7027
March 21
“Let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
(Galatians 6:9)
The text suggests three ideas: well doing, weariness, and waiting for the certain harvest.
WELL DOING
The context text would include restoring fallen Christians, bearing burdens, sharing income with the Lord’s
servants, and doing good to all men, especially those of the household of faith. In a general
sense, well doing would involve all Christian character and service.
But in well doing always lurks the danger of weariness.
WEARINESS
Weariness here does not mean physical weakness, but has the idea of losing courage,
relaxing one’s strength, or becoming despondent in the task.
Weariness may be caused by lack of results as one teaches week after week without apparent impact,
by monotony, by lack of cooperation.
How easily Paul could have been discouraged in his long, arduous travels and persecutions: beaten,
shipwrecked, weak, ill, rejected by "the churches”. Yet he knew the secret of an unwearied life.
Someone has pointed out how frequently he used the word “always”.
“Always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). “Always confident” (2 Corinthians 5:6).
"Always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). “praying always” (Ephesians 6:18).
“Giving thanks always” (Ephesians 5:20). “Always having all
sufficiency in all things” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
A man gave out tracts for years on a certain street corner. He saw no results so he gave it up. Returning to the same corner two years later, he saw another man giving out tracts on the same spot. Striking up a conversation, he learned that the man had become a Christian through a tract given to him at that spot just over two years previous. He added, “Many a time I’ve come back here to thank him, but, he never returned. So I decided he must have died and gone to his reward.
That’s why I’ve taken his place.
(Leslie B. Flynn)
N.J. Hiebert - 7028
March 22
“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”
(Deuteronomy 33:25)
The whole force of this scripture depends upon the connection.
The last words of Deuteronomy 33:24 are,
“Let him dip his foot in oil”;
that is, in its christian interpretation,
let him walk in the power of the Holy Spirit,
and then his shoes should be as iron and brass—
a firm and consistent walk, and his spiritual strength should never decay.
As thy days, thy strength shall be.
(Edward Dennett)
N.J. Hiebert - 7029
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