Gems from June 10- 20, 2020

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

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31 

This is by no means easy.  Indeed, it is more difficult to walk than either to fly or run.  To go slow is sometimes harder, and tries us more than to go fast.  There is not the exhilaration which attaches to flying and running.  For walking may mean monotony, and monotony may become a grievous burden.

Some years ago, an editor of a very popular weekly religious journal invited his readers to confide to him what they considered to be their greatest trial in life.  To his surprise, he discovered that to a very large number the monotony of life was their heaviest burden.

As one correspondent put it: "I rise every morning at the same hour, I catch the same train, I see the same faces, I do the same work, and I return home at the same time."  This may not be felt in a similar degree to-day, but there must be still a great many people to whom life is very monotonous.  They may sometimes feel ready to faint.

Here is the remedy: "They that wait upon the Lord shall change their strength" - fresh strength shall be given day by day - it shall be as regular as the duties are regular - and the promise is, "They shall walk, and not faint."
Angels in White - Russell Elliott

N.J. Hiebert - 8145   

June 13

They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  John 8:4.

Some people think they are too sinful, too far gone to be forgiven of God.  Our Lord ministered to this woman who had been found in the act of adultery.

One of the last people He comforted was a condemned thief.

God loves you no matter what sin you have committed.  He wants you to turn to Him.  The thief asked the Lord Jesus to remember him and Jesus heard his cry and told him that he would be with Him in paradise.

Turn to the Lord Jesus and accept the salvation He lovingly offers.
M. Robins

Just as I am, without one plea,
Bu that Thy blood was shed for me;
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come! I come.
Charlotte Elliot

N.J. Hiebert - 8146

June 14

OCCUPATION WITH CHRIST

"One thing have I desired  . . . to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple."  Psalm 27:4

Jesus! Thou art enough the mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life - to calm the soul, Thy love - its fear dispel.

O fix our earnest gaze so wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied, we elsewhere none may see.

The perfection of the Christian life is to lose sight of oneself completely and to make everything of Christ. The sign of a good state of soul is enjoyment of the presence of Christ. Everything that takes your eye off Christ is a snare of the devil.

The one object of the Christian life  is to learn more of Christ, and Satan cannot find entrance into a heart that is full of Christ.

 We are not to rejoice so much in the deliverances when they come as in the One who delivers us.  The deeper the sense of the state from which we have been delivered the more absorbingly intense our affection for the deliverer.

Intellectual conviction is always powerless, it occupies itself with the truth, and never leads to Christ Himself.

The Israelites were to "gather the manna every man according to his eating."  Exodus 16:16.  The appetite governed the amount collected.  How strikingly true this is of the believer!  We all have as much of Christ as we desire - no more, and no less.  If our desires are large, if we open our mouth wide, He will fill it. . . . On the other hand, if we are but feebly conscious of our need, a little only of Christ will be supplied.   Edward Dennett

N.J. Hiebert - 8147  

June 15

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  Psalm 14:2

O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their later end!   Deuteronomy 32:29 


God's heart is ever open to human need.  He sees the world's empty striving for mastery and it grieves Him.  We too should sorrow as we look around and see a world that is fast ripening for judgment.

Many loved ones are not yet sheltered from the coming wrath and are in need of salvation.  Surely this must lead us to intensify our prayers for them.
Drew Craig

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labour the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way, patiently win them;
Tell the poor wanderer a Saviour has died.
Fanny J. Crosby

N.J. Hiebert - 8148 

June 16

THE MISSION OF THE MEEK

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.  Isaiah 57:15

Essentially in the Scriptures where we find such phrases as: "broken-hearted"; "contrite in spirit"; "meek and lowly in heart;" this is what is meant: A man's will has been brought into subjection to the will of God.  A person's powerful passions and drives and energy have been harnessed to do God's work in the world.

The "meek" man is the disciplined man, trained and taught to take on great responsibilities and to discharge them without fuss and fanfare.  He handles tough assignments with apparent ease.

The "meek" person is the one easily entreated of God.  The Master need only speak the word and the worker will throw all of his full weight and strength into the enterprise.

The "meek" man is the one under divine discipline who responds to the call of Christ and tackles the tough tasks without hesitation.  The "meek" individual is the one who gets God's work done in the world without a lot of showmanship or theatrics.
Phillip Keller

N.J. Hiebert - 8149  

June 17

He went out, not knowing whither he went.  Hebrews 11:8

Too many of us want to see our way through before starting new enterprises. If we could and did, from whence would come the development of our Christian graces?  Faith, hope, and love cannot be plucked from trees, like ripe apples.

After the words "in the beginning" comes the word "God".  The first step turns the key into God's power-house, and it is not only true that God helps those who help themselves, but He also helps those who cannot help themselves.  You can depend upon Him every time.

Waiting on God brings us to our journey's end quicker than our feet.

The opportunity is often lost by deliberation.
Streams in the Desert.

N.J. Hiebert - 8150

June 18

STEPPING IN THE LIGHT

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.  Colossians 2:6

God would not have us merely "take a stand," He would have us walk.  Too many have taken a stand and are still standing; for years they have made no progress.

The New Testament makes much of our walk.  We walk by faith, not by sight.  We are to walk in the light, walk in love, walk in newness of life, walk worthy of our vocation, walk circumspectly, walk worthy of the Lord, walk honestly, walk in the truth, walk as He walked.

The Christian life begins with a step of faith- "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord" - and it proceeds step by step - "so walk ye in Him."

  We are inclined to take a stand and at best strive to maintain it instead of walking daily with God like Enoch.  Faith grows as we go. And don't let your tongue get too far ahead of your feet.  Let your walk match your talk!    
Day by Day with Vance Havner

N.J. Hiebert - 8151 

June 19

OLD AGE NO BARRIER

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age.   Psalm 92:13-14

Some of the fruits of the Spirit seem to be especially and peculiarly characteristic of sanctified older years; and do we not want to  bring them all forth?

- Look at the splendid ripeness of Abraham's faith in his old age;

- The grandeur of Moses' meekness when he went up the mountain alone to die;

- The mellowness of Paul's joy in his later Epistles;

- The wonderful gentleness of John which makes us almost forget his early character of "a son of thunder" wanting to call down God's lightnings of wrath.

And the same Spirit is given to us, that we, too, may bring forth "fruit that may abound, " and always more fruit.

Now, the pruning, sharp, unsparing;
Scattered blossom, bleeding shoot!
Afterward, the plenteous bearing
Of the Master's pleasant fruit.
Frances Ridley Havergal

N.J. Hiebert - 8152 

June 20

PRAYER AND PROSPERITY

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Philippians 4:6

Prayer is not a winter garment: it is then to be worn indeed, but not to be left off in the summer of prosperity.  If you would find some at prayer, you must stay till it thunders and lightenings; and not go to them except it be in a storm.

Pray in prosperity, that you may speed when you pray in adversity; own God now, that He may acknowledge you then.  Shall that friend be welcome to us, who never gives us a visit but when he comes to borrow?  Pray in prosperity, that you may not be ensnared by it.

Prosperity is no friend to the memory, therefore we are cautioned so much to beware when we are full, lest we forget God.  You shall find, in Scripture, that the saints have had their saddest fall on the most even ground.

Noah, who had seen the whole world drowned in water, no sooner was safe on shore, but himself is drowned in wine.  David's heart was fixed when in the wilderness, but his wanton eye rolled and wandered when he walked upon the terrace of his palace.  
William Gurnall - 1617-1679

N.J. Hiebert - 8153    

June 21

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?  
Romans 9:20

Remember, whoever you are, if you die the death of the wicked, it is because you despise "the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance."  (Romans 2:4)

For "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him."  (John 3:36).  Believe on Him and you are eternally saved, but go on in unbelief and you are certainly lost, for they that go down to the pit cannot hope for His mercy, because the truth of God has fixed a great gulf which none can pass over.

If you are not saved, be not satisfied until you rest in Jesus, who, in wondrous grace, has said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
Meditations on Ruth - C. McKendrick

N.J. Hiebert - 8154

June 22