Gems from January 21- 31, 2019

January 21

“My cup runneth over"  (Psalm 23 :5).

There is a process needed in all our souls, that we should be able to say: “My cup runneth over.” This is not the experience of the first part of the Psalm.  There, in being able to say: “The Lord is my Shepherd,” it is easy to add: “I shall not want.”

Accordingly, we find the Shepherd’s care expressed in the green pastures and still waters of His providing, that the soul thus invigorated (for this is the meaning of “restore,” as food or rest restores) may walk “in the paths or righteousness for His Name’s sake.”

But in the latter part of the Psalm there is a marked change.  The green pastures and waters of rest are no longer present to the soul, but the valley of the shadow of death.

This is commonly taken to mean a death-bed.

  

Practically the experience of this Psalm is only reached on a death-bed.  But it ought not to be so; and that this is not the thought of the passage may be clear from the words: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

(Comforted of God - A. J. Pollock)

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January 22

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he 

may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: 

and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

(Luke 22:31-32)

First observe that the Lord warns him.  Then note two other most touching things, the Lord’s prayer for him before he fell, and the Lord’s look at him after. “Satan hath desired to have you,” is divinely met, in grace, by ”but I have prayed for thee.”    

The Lord made use of Satan to break the self-confidence which was the cause of Peter’s fall,

but the Lord’s controlling hand was upon the enemy, even so, and he was allowed to go 

so far and no farther; and I believe that when the day of Pentecost came, 

and Peter, restored, and happy in His master’s love, was the means 

of three thousand souls coming to Christ, and being saved, 

the devil was heartily sorry that that he had not left 

him alone in the high priest’s hall.

But for that bitter experience he would never have been enough broken down,

humbled, and self-emptied, for the Lord to use him 

in that marvellous manner.

(W. T. P. Wolston)

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January 23

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness:

According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."

(Psalm 51:1)

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud,

thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”

(Isaiah 44:22)

I have buried them there—where no mortal can see!

I have cast all your sins in the depths of the sea!

In the depths, in the depths, where the storm cannot come,

Where its faint echo falls like a musical drum,

Where no mortal can enter, your faults to deride—

For above them forever flows love’s mighty tide! 

(Unknown)

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January 24

“For the which cause I also suffer things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:

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)

"It’s not what you know, its who you know.”  That’s what we say when job hunting, but it’s also

a foundational Christian truth.  We can study an entire lifetime to try to discover who 

God is and how to reach Him.  But it all comes down to one question: 

Do we know Jesus?

As a POW during the Civil War, Daniel Whittle began reading the New Testament his mother

had given him as he marched off to war, and he committed his life to Jesus Christ.

After the war, Whittle was promoted to the rank of major and then became a successful businessman.

In 1873 he began preaching in evangelistic services, and for a quarter-century 

he led revivals throughout the United States.  

He also encouraged some of the leading song writers of his time and wrote many hymns himself, 

including “Showers of Blessing” and "Moment by Moment.”  Whittle penned this hymn in 

1883, perhaps thinking back to questions he had asked during his imprisonment.  

There were still many things he didn’t know, but he certainly did know Jesus.

I Know Whom I Have Believed 

I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own.

But "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

to keep that which I‘ve committed unto Him against that day.”     

I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing men of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word, creating faith in Him.

I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noonday fair,

Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him, or “meet Him in the air.”

Daniel Webster Whittle (1840–1901) 

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January 25

“Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou has laid up for them 

that fear Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that 

trust in Thee before the sons of men!”

(Psalm 31:19)

We do not see it all now, it is hidden away, 

kept for a surprise of love.

“Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man:

Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of 

tongues.  Blessed be the Lord: for He hath showed me 

His marvellous kindness in a strong city.”

(Psalm 31:20-21)

What is my city today?  What are my circumstances?

Just where I am He waits to make His loving kindness wonderful to me.

Whoso hath know that comforting, 

The inward touch that maketh whole,

How can he ever chose but sing to Thee, 

O Lover of his soul?

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael)

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January 26

“The heart of the righteous studieth (ponders) to answer: 

But the mouth of the lawless poureth out evil things.”

(Proverbs 15:28)

The man who walks in the fear of God will weigh his words, lest by a hasty utterance
he dishonour His Lord and hinder where he desires to help.

The wicked has no such consideration, and speaks whatever comes to his lips,
let it do what harm it may.

People often actually pride themselves on being, as they suppose, frank and outspoken,
when in reality they are simply manifesting the unexercised state of their consciences:
for, if truly aroused to the value of words, they would weigh them well ere giving them out,
and thus save much mischief and sorrow.

Because a thing is true, it is not necessarily a fit subject to be discussed,
and passed on from one to another.

The righteous will consider carefully its bearing for good or ill
before uttering what can never be fully recalled.

(H. A. Ironside)

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January 27

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

(John 17:16)

The question is not, what harm is there in this or that? but, is it a Christian object?

It is well to see this.  We may depend upon it, without doubt, that one great reason of the low tone which prevails among Christians will be found in the fact that the eye is taken off Christ and fixed upon some lower object.

It may be a very laudable object for a mere man of the world—for one who merely sees his place in the world, or in the old creation.  But the Christian is not this.  He does not belong to this world at all. He is in it, but not of it.  “They,” says our blessed Lord, "are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16).

“Our citizenship is in Heaven;” and we should never be satisfied to propose 

to ourselves any lower object than Christ.

It matters not in the least what a man’s position may be.  He may be only a scavenger,

or he may be a prince, or he may stand at any one of the many gradations between these two extremes.

It is all the same, provided Christ is his real, his only object.

It is a man’s object, not his position, that gives him his character.  

   (C. H. Mackintosh)

           

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January 28

A FIXED GAZE MAKES  A SURE STEP

“For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

(Proverbs 3:26)

You cannot keep from stumbling at all, but He is “able to keep you from falling,” which in the Greek is strongly and distinctly “without stumbling.”

The least confidence in or expectation from yourself not only leads to inevitable stumbling but it is itself a grievous fall.  “But, how shall I be kept?”  Jesus Himself has answered:  “If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.” 

“Walk in the light,” “looking unto Jesus,” and so shall we be “kept by the power of God through faith.” 

We tell a little child to look where it steps and pick its way, but Christ’s little children are to do just the opposite; they are to look away to Him.  “Let thine eyes look (not down, but) right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee,” and it is on Him, the Light of the world, that the gaze must be fixed. 

(Opened Treasures - Francis Ridley Havergal)

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January 29

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience . . .” 

(Hebrews 10:22)

There was a story told of a young man who saw several targets on the barn of a friend.  In the center of every bulls-eye there was a bullet hole.  He asked his friend who had done the shooting?  His friend said that he had.  He was amazed at what a crack shot his friend was.  Then, his friend confessed that he had shot the barn 

first, then painted the targets around the holes. 

I wonder how many of us have pulled off a similar ruse in our Christian lives?  I wonder, have I been guilty of that? Let’s ask ourselves, am I trying to give the impression that my life is on target with God, that I’m the real deal, or am I just a good painter?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance . . .” (Galatians 5:22-23).  - only the Holy Spirit can produce those qualities in you and me.

We are sealed with the Spirit when we receive Christ.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom ye also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”

(Ephesians 1:13)

Are you seeking to portray those virtues apart from having Christ in your life as your Saviour and Lord?

January 30

"But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God,

that I may declare all Thy works.”

(Psalm 73:28)

If we live near enough to Christ we live for the church not from it.

It is . . . not by what we find, but by what we bring that we can serve in Christianity.

“. . . living in the good with Him, you carry it in with you into the service and circumstances 

of the church. . . .  You must not want the support of the walking well of the church.

It is the greatest comfort, but you must be for Christ whatever the church needs.

If we get near to the Lord, if we are in communion with God within the holy place, we see all the

saints with His eyes, as dear to Him . . . objects of Christ’s delight and the fruit of the 

travail of His soul; then intercession for them is easy, and faithfulness to 

them becomes easy and gracious too. . . . 

(J. N. Darby)

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January 31

A DEATH REMEMBERED

“And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straightly sworn the children of Israel,

saying, God will surely visit: you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.”

(Exodus 13:19)

So it comes to pass in the power of faith’s vision of the living God he gives directions 

concerning his bones.  They are not to be left in Egypt.

What a witness to the Israelites must the coffin of Joseph have been through the long centuries,

for ever reminding them that not even death itself can hinder the living God from fulfilling 

all His pleasure, and carrying out His purpose for His people.

So in accord with the oath made to Joseph, when at last they leave the land of Egypt,

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with Him” (Exodus 13:19), 

still to be a witness to faith in God, throughout 

the forty years of wilderness journeyings. 

And when at last they reach the land of promise, his body is buried  “in the parcel of ground 

which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor” (Joshua 24:32), there to sleep in the dust of 

the earth until he awakes to everlasting life and stands in his lot at the end of days. 

(Hamilton Smith)

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February 1

“Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

(Matthew 5:14)

“Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

(Matthew 5:16)

Moody once said, "Do you know what the moon did when the dog barked at it?

It just kept on shining!” If the sons of darkness bark at us, 

just keep on shining, and someone who is stumbling in 

the darkness will be guided to Christ.

(E. MacLelland)

Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,

Like a little candle burning in the night;

In this world of darkness we all must shine,

You in your small corner and I in mine.

(Susan Warner)

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February 2

This Is the Way

"This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand,

and when ye turn to the left.”

(Isaiah 30:21)

We can walk together with God.  We can share life with Him.

We can be acutely aware of His presence on the path.  We can know His intimate friendship.

We can be guided by Him in every area we enter.  

We can sense His gracious Spirit by our side, speaking 

distinctly, emphatically saying to us, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

This is the life to which God calls human beings.  He longs for our companionship.

 Down through the long centuries of human history, He has come and come and 

come, calling men and women to walk with Him, just as today He calls us.

(Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller)

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February 3