Gems from June 1- 10, 2020

June 1

IF THE LORD WILL

We will go into such a city, and continue there (residence), . . . and buy and sell . . . (occupation), and get gain (income). . . . Ye ought to say, If the Lord will. . . . James 4 :13-15.

Where shall I dwell, what toil my days employ,
And whether I shall gain thereby or lose,
Are not, O Lord, for me to will and choose.
The will, the choice, are Thine, I own with joy.

To-morrow's lot I know not, nor can tell
How soon this vapour, Life, shall flit from sight.
I only know Thy will is ever right,
Thy child can trust: Thou doest all things well.
James M. S. Tait

N.J. Hiebert - 8134 

June 2

Preserve my soul: for I am holy.  Psalm 86:2
Neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.   Acts 2:27

The Old Testament word "holy" means pious or godly, set apart.  The New Testament word means "right" by intrinsic character, hallowed.

The Lord Jesus was pure in every way. His words were holy; His deeds were holy; His thoughts were holy.  But on the cross He became sin for me.

Is it possible for us to even begin to comprehend it?
Tom Steere

The Holy One who knew no sin, God made Him sin for us;
The Saviour died our souls to win, upon the shameful cross.
His precious blood alone availed to wash our sins away;
Thro' weakness He o'er hell prevailed, thro' death He won the day.

His beauty shineth far above our feeble power of praise;
And we shall live and learn His love through everlasting days.
The knowing this, that us He loves, hath made our cup run o'er;
Jesus, Thy name our spirit moves, today and evermore.
Hannah K. Burlingham

N.J. Hiebert - 8135

June 3

THE LAMB OF GOD

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.  Genesis 22:13 

Please take note of this precious word "behind".  Well may we wonder why "behind" and not "ahead".  Of course, if the ram were ahead of the altar built by Abraham, it might not have escaped his attention before he attempted to offer up his son, Isaac.  Blessing only comes after obedience by faith.  Abraham "lifted up his eyes and looked."

Likewise we, in order to behold the Lamb of God, must learn to lift up our eyes by faith, and behold, looking away from ourselves and from that which is earthly.  The direction where the ram was found by Abraham reminds us that "as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained" the blood of Christ, foreknown indeed "before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" (1 Peter 1:19-20).

How far the "behind" reached back!  God loved His Son "before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24).  So has God chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4).  
F.S.W.

Lamb of God, our souls adore Thee, while upon Thy face we gaze;
There the Father's love and glory shine in all their brightest rays.  
J. G. Deck

N.J. Hiebert - 8136     

June 4

The Desired Haven

"I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Psalm 23:6

FOR ALL ETERNITY.  In the clear light of the New Testament we can assert that every child of God will infallibly dwell in the House of the Lord for all eternity.  "In My Father's House," said the Lord Jesus, "are many mansions  . . . I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

And, after He accomplished redemption, we find Him linking us with Himself in the unspeakably blessed relationship which this verse sets forth: "I ascend unto My Father and your Father" (John 20:17).  "And if I go," He continues, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also" (John 14:3).

This is confirmed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where the apostle, describing the events which will take place at the second coming of our Lord, declares that we "shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord". 

What a strong and sure hope; what a grand and glorious destiny!  The hope is strong and sure because the anchor will never drag (Hebrews 6:19); and the cable will never snap (John 10:35); and the destiny is grand and glorious because "when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).  Then He shall be satisfied, for "He shall see of the travail of His soul (Isaiah 53:11)"; and then we shall be satisfied, for we shall awake with His likeness (Psalm 17:15). The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson

"He and I, in that bright glory,
One deep joy shall share,
Mine to be forever with Him,
His that I am there," Frances Bevan

N.J. Hiebert - 8137

June 5

I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  Psalm 16:8

Although it was more than 80 years ago, at about age 6, I clearly remember walking along a busy street holding my Dad's hand.  It was part companionship and part security.  Of course, what I now realize was that his grip on my hand was far stronger than mine on his.  When we crossed at the corner, I felt his grip tighten. He knew of potential dangers, even if I was oblivious to them.  All I had to do was trust.

When each of us accepted the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour, we learned to trust.  His strength was so much greater than anything we could muster.  He is fully capable of protecting and nurturing us along the way; a way that we know is strewn with dangers, pitfalls, and countless temptations. Even when one of  Satan's traps snags us, the Lord is ready to rescue us, as long as we cry out to Him in our weakness.  But even if He allows us to remain entangled for a time, He gives the grace to see His hand in it; always for our ultimate blessing.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13.  Lorne Perry

Put your hand in the hand of the Man
Who stilled the water.
Put your hand in the hand of the Man
Who calmed the sea.
Take a look at yourself
And you can look at others differently.
Put your hand in the hand of the Man
From Galilee.  Anne Murray

N.J. Hiebert - 8138

June 6

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet . . . Matthew 6:6 

The apostolic men, the saintly men, the heroic servants of God, the strong soldiers of Jesus Christ, have everywhere and always prayed without ceasing.

- David Brainerd rode through endless American woods praying, thus fulfilling his ministry in a short time.
- John Wesley came out from his seclusion to change the face of England.
- Andrew Bonar did not once miss the mercy-seat, and his fellowship with heaven made him the winsome Christian that he was.
- Adoniram Judson won Burma for Christ through unwearied prayer.
Such was the habit of those who wrought nobly for God.  Selected

Alone, dear Lord, in solitude serene,
Thy servant Moses was constrained to go,
Into the silent desert with the sheep;
The silvery stars his lovely vigil know.

And Paul, the fiery warrior, zealous, bold,
In desert places, 'neath Arabian skies,
Learned God's own lessons, hearkened to His voice,
Grew calm, resourceful, humble, meek and wise.

Alone, dear Lord, I fear to be alone;
My heart demands the blest companionship
Of those that love Thee; friendship's nectar sweet,
With those beloved, I evermore would sip.

But in the desert, Moses, David, Paul,
Were not alone, afar from love or care:
They companied with heavenly visitors,
They knew no loneliness, for Thou wert there.  Alice E.Sherwood

N.J. Hiebert - 8139 

June 7

Now when He had left speaking, Jesus said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught (catch).  Luke 5:4

He (Jesus) will not be beholden to any man, so He is going to pay Peter for the use of his boat.  Peter says, "Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at Thy word I will let down the net." (Luke 5:5)

Peter obeys, for he knows now something of who He is who speaks, and, as a result, finds that he never had taken such a haul of fish in all his days.

His answer is at once a confession of failure, and of faith.  Failure as regards his own efforts, and faith in the One who now bids him lower his nets.  Daylight is not the time when fish enter a net, hence the man who would catch them goes out by night.

Reason would have said, if there were none to be got last night, there are sure to be none caught in broad daylight.  But reason is of no avail in nearing God.  Faith alone understands Him; and "the obedience of faith, ("Romans 1:5) as well as its confidence, is manifest in the utterance, "Nevertheless, at Thy word I will let down the net."  At once it is filled to breakage.
Simon Peter - W. T. P. Wolston

N.J. Hiebert - 8140     

June 8

And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  1 John 1:3

Is this indeed true?  Is this fellowship with the Father and the Son more real, more used than our fellowship with one another?  It is so good to be together, to sing and pray and work together, that we may easily slip into finding our first joy there, rather than in that which alone gives vitality to the other.

Let us pray for those who have not the help of human fellowship, that there may be such a sense of the invisible, the spiritual, the blessed fellowship with the Father and with our Lord Jesus Christ, that all loss may be turned to gain.

And let us watch, lest in our joy in His gifts we ever become dependent upon one another.

O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.  Psalm 63:1
Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael

N.J. Hiebert - 8141 

June 9

". . . He is altogether lovely". Song of Solomon 5:16

What little follies in the writings and in the words of the holiest of men!  But every word of our Lord Jesus Christ was like the most fine gold; or like the frankincense that even when "beaten small," emitted its lovely fragrance from every particle.  How could this be if He were a mere man?  Surely "Never man spake like this Man." (John 7:46).

Our Lord, living in an eternal calm, never hesitated in the face of infinite difficulty.  He did not fear to say to the raging elements, "Peace, be still." (Mark 4:39).

Canute, the Danish king of England, moved his throne near the waves of the incoming tide.  His admirers told him the waves would obey his word.  Canute's submission to their desires caused them all shame; for had he not moved himself and his throne back again, all would have been overthrown by the sea.

Proud words from men carry refutation of their own emptiness and worthlessness.
Leonard Sheldrake

Thy lips the Father's name to us reveal;
What burning power in all Thy words we feel,
When to our raptured hearts we hear Thee tell
The heavenly glories which Thou know'st so well.
J. G. Deck

N.J. Hiebert - 8142

June 10

JOSEPH'S BRETHREN REASSURED

And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  Genesis 50:17 

The lack of confidence, after all the love that had been lavished upon them, broke the heart of Joseph.  The saddest thing in all this sad world is unrequited love.  But though his tears showed how deeply he felt he utters no word of reproach.

The very tears would surely be sufficient to wither up their unbelief.  But Joseph leads them into personal acquaintance with himself by letting them know there is nothing but love in his heart towards them, though he fully knows the evil of their hearts towards him.

THE FEAR REMOVED

"As for you," he can say, "Ye thought evil against me," but he can add, "Fear ye not."  He says as it were, "I know all the evil of your hearts toward me, but there is nothing to fear, for there is nothing but love in my heart toward you."  And thus once again he removes all fear as to the past and all anxiety as to the future, for he adds, "I will nourish you and your little ones."  Thus it was "he comforted them and spake to their hearts". Perfect love casts out all fear.

THE CONFIDENCE RESTORED

What a difference this interview must have made to  these brethren.  After this did anyone seek to cast a doubt upon Joseph's love they would surely say, "We have been in his presence, we have made personal acquaintance with himself, we know his mind.  We not only know what he has done for us, but we know how he feels towards us."  Joseph - Hamilton Smith

N.J. Hiebert - 8143    

June 11

AN UNEXPECTED LETTER

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:3

"During the Persian Gulf War, I was assigned to a US Naval ship, serving as a Marine intelligence analyst.  Work days were routine 12-16 hours long and like most soldiers serving in the Gulf, I really looked forward to 'mail call' - receiving letters from home.

During the Gulf war, US armed forces also received an enormous amount of encouraging, supportive letters from the States addressed "To any service member".  Not infrequently, such communications came from public school classes.  But I didn't take any of those letters since I wrote to my wife and two kids every day.  Occasionally I also wrote a note to my daughter Becky's class and felt that I didn't have the time to write anyone else.

However, after several months of hearing the mailroom announce that there were "To any service member" letters available, I finally gave in and picked up three of the letters.  There would be time, I hoped, to at least send them a note expressing our "Thanks" for their encouragement.

During the next week I began to answer the letters. The last of the three letters had no return address, but was stamped with a Kansas postmark.  Seeing the post mark was depressing because my family and I live in Kansas.  It also reminded me how much I missed spending Thanksgiving and the year end holidays with them, and especially how I missed our family time of prayer and Bible reading.

Loneliness swept over me as I began to read the letter, which was obviously written by a youngster, caught my eye; "My daddy is a Marine over there.  If you see him tell him 'hi' and I love him a lot."  I was deeply touched and felt even more lonely for my family.  Skipping to the end to look at the writer's signature, I sat stunned, while silent tears filled my eyes. My own daughter Becky had signed the letter."

Our gracious God and Father has written a wondrous letter, full of encouragement and assurances of His love, to all His dear children.  We are engaged in a "spiritual" combat that grows more fierce each day.  The Bible is God's communication of comfort, encouragement, and wisdom.  Let's read it daily and eagerly!   The Christian Shepherd - Doug Nicolet - November 2009

N.J. Hiebert - 8144

June 12