Gems from June 21- 30, 2020

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

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today.   Exodus 14:13

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 

Do you remember when Israel stood between the Red Sea and the hosts of Egypt what is said to them?  "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."  They had got from under the claims of the destroying angel.  They were in the salvation of God; but God had secrets in the cloud not yet unfolded to them.

There was a glory there that could scatter the hosts in the Red Sea.  It could turn one side, and take the wheels off the Egyptian chariots.  It could turn the other, and make crystal walls on either side of the Israelites.

So, in standing before the Ephesians, we do not come to see justification by blood, but to let the rich purpose of God unfold itself to our gaze.  How blessed are these divine ways!  Are we satisfied to know the blood on the lintel has delivered us?

All leans on that; but still I say, stand by, and mark the secrets - go and inquire into the cloudy glory before you.  This is just the attitude to take up in Ephesians.
J. G.Bellett - Ephesians

N.J. Hiebert - 8155  

June 23

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  
Revelation 5:11-12 

What a host!  You would think that God had enough without us.  Old John Bunyan says, "Oh, this Lamb of God! He had a whole heaven to Himself, myriads of angels to do His pleasure, but this could not satisfy Him.  He must have sinners to share it with Him!"

If you are ever going to sing up there you will have to start in down here.  Can you say, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed me by Thy blood?
H. A. Ironside - Revelation

Around the throne of God in heaven will many children sing;
Children whose sins are all forgiven, will heavenly anthems bring.

What brings them to that world above, that heaven so bright and fair,
Where all is peace, and joy, and love?  How came those children there?

Because the Saviour shed His blood to wash away their sin;
Now washed in that most precious flood, behold them white and clean!

On earth they sought the Saviour's grace, on earth they loved His name;
So then they'll see His blessed face, and praise before the Lamb,

Refrain:  Singing, " Glory, Glory, Glory be to God on high!"
Anna Shepherd

N.J. Hiebert - 8156  

June 24

JONAH  PREACHES

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.  Jonah 3:1-2

Scripture is often silent when we wish that it would speak.  Such a time is the gap (if we may use such a word), between the second and third chapters of Jonah.  How much we would like to know where the great fish vomited out Jonah?  Did he return home to Gath-Hepher after his strange and sad experience?

Did the command from God, given a second time, come immediately after Jonah was vomited out of the fish, or was there a space, perhaps a considerable space, of time?  None of these questions we can answer; and it is idle for us to ask them, much as we would like to know about these things.

We do know that God has told us in His Word all that we need to know, and we often can learn from the silence of Scripture as well as from that which reveals it to us.

Perhaps in this instance our gaze is the more steadily kept on God's determined purpose to send a warning to the great city of Nineveh.  The failure of man, even the failure of God's own servants, cannot deter the Lord in His purposes of grace.  What comfort there is for our souls in this thought.  Not that it should make us careless, far from it.

Jonah should surely have learned that lesson.  On the contrary it should give us a deeper and fuller confidence in the One  whom we trust and serve, as we realize that the work is His, and depends on Himself, and He will surely bring about His purposes .  Even though we may fail, He faileth not!
Lessons from Jonah the Prophet - G.C. Willis

N.J. Hiebert - 8157     

June 25

And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.  
Psalm 106:15

When bringing our requests to God, we are exhorted to pray boldly, fervently and persistently.  God's Word also teaches us to pray in His will, by faith and with pure motives.

When we pray with a heart of ingratitude, lust, or presumption, God often graciously declines our pleading.  Yet there may be times God responds to our persistent begging by granting our petition, emaciating our soul so that we will turn back to Him.

Instead let's learn to listen for God's answers, trust His wisdom and like both Moses (Deuteronomy 3:26) and Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9) learn to accept His refusals.
George Ferrier

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see;
Christ only, always, living in me.
Adelaide A. Pollard

N.J. Hiebert - 8158 

June 26

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.  Psalm 119:71

In "Fanny Crosby's Life Story by Herself," this remarkable statement of faith in God's overruling hand pf Providence appears: "I have heard that this physician (who unwittingly caused her blindness), never ceased to express his regret at the occurrence; and that it was one of the sorrows of his life.

But if I could meet him now, I would say, "Thank you, thank you, over and over again, for making me blind . . ." Although it may have been a blunder on the physician's part, it was no mistake on God's.

I verily believe it was His intention that I should live my days in physical darkness, so as to be better prepared to sing His praises and incite others  so to do."

Fanny Crosby, blind writer of six thousand hymns testified, "I am the happiest creature in all the land."

O what a happy soul am I
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don't,
To weep  and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot and I won't.
Written by Fanny Crosby at the age of eight.

N.J. Hiebert - 8159  

June 27

Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16.

"Ye are the light of the world."  Christ so designated Himself as long as He was in this scene "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5).  In His absence His disciples are to witness for Him as lights in this dark world. (Philippians 2:15).  The light manifests the evils that were hidden in the darkness (Ephesians 5:13).

"On a candlestick . . .  it giveth light unto all that are in the house."  One who professes to be a follower of Christ, but who hides his light under a bushel - that is, obscures his testimony by an over occupation with the affairs of this life - makes no real impression for good upon his community; but one who lives consistently and is out-and-out for Christ shines as a lamp on a stand, enlightening the whole house,

Mere profession is not enough.  The life should speak for God.  As we live Christ before men, we let our light shine.  Thus they recognize our good works and see in them an evidence of sincerity.  So they glorify God by recognizing the reality of His work in the souls of those who are faithful in their witness and behaviour.

We need to remember that we do not let our light shine by mere profession, but as it was said of our Lord Himself, "The life was the light of men." (John 1:4).  So it is a devoted, faithful life that gives light to others.
H. A. Ironside - Matthew

N.J. Hiebert - 8160 

June 28

Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.  Hebrews 12:2

The cross was a time of fearful suffering: spiritual, emotional and physical.  Christ did not enjoy the cross; He endured it.  He knew beforehand the nature of His death.  He would be rejected, humiliated, scourged and nailed to a cross.

What sustained Him through that awesome suffering?  Part of the answer is the joy, the anticipation, of having a vast throng of the redeemed in heaven with Him.

When sinners turn to Him by faith it gives Him much joy.  When believers follow Him and live for Him it makes His heart glad. 
Donald Norbie

I gave My life for thee; My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and quickened from the dead;
I gave My life for thee, What hast thou given for Me?

My Father's house of light, My glory circled throne
I left, for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I've borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love.
I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me?
Frances Ridley Havergal

N.J. Hiebert - 8161  

June 29

Glory to God in the highest . . .   Luke 2:14

Glory be to God on high; and that means praising Him,
Telling Him how great He is in Word, in prayer and hymn.
Not only praise for God Himself, but Jesus wants it too.
Worthy is the Lamb once slain a song described as new.  (Revelation 5:12)

God is Light and God is Love, they make a perfect pair,
The glory light illuminates and shows we need repair.
We know we cannot help ourselves, and so His love pours in,
Jesus' work at Calvary takes care of every sin.  (2 Corinthians 4:6)

We hold Him in the highest place, His glory means esteem.
We honour Him for all His grace, an ever-flowing stream.
We give Him all pre-eminence, His suffering was severe,
Which surely serves to make our hearts consider Him more dear. (Luke 24:26)

His glory is His Majesty, His kingly perfect reign.
When every eye shall see Him, when He comes to earth again.
Then we will be there with Him, close following as His bride.
And so we shall be evermore, as promised, by His side.  (Hebrews 2:7) 

Glory means a place on high where God has always been.
It speaks of wonders far beyond what we have ever seen.
But soon the day at last will come when Jesus calls in love,
And we will rise and join Him there up in the clouds above.  (1 Timothy 3:16)

We glory in the fullness of Him who meets our need.
The Man we want to glorify in thought and word and deed.
We glory not in what we do, but in our Lord on high.
He paid the price, once, long ago to keep us ever nigh.  (1 Corinthians 1:31)
Lorne Perry

N.J. Hiebert - 8162

June 30

"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" 
(1 Corinthians 6:19)

Slavery to habits that destroy body and mind has been the Waterloo of many a promising athlete.  What a pathetic sight is that of a young person, capable of doing really big things, but handicapped by intemperate living, and lacking in self control!  It is only a question of time until he becomes a castaway upon the scrap heap of human wreckage.  No fight is so severe as the fight with self.  No victory is so great as the conquering of self .

To be able to say "yes" or "no" at the right time is an indication of a God-controlled life.  Such a life is obtainable through the Lord Jesus Christ. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"  (Philippians 4:13).

There is a deep experience for every soul, where sin is seen in all its horrid ugliness, where the Blood of Calvary's Lamb is appropriated with all its cleansing and transforming power, and where the living Christ is allowed to take full charge, where the "old man" with all his evil propensities is relegated to the place where he belongs - the cross of crucifixion - and "a new creation" in which all the old things are passed away and all things become new is manifested.  Make it yours today!  Mountain Trailways for Youth 

Soldier, soldier, fighting in the world's great strife, On thyself relying, battling for thy life;
Trust thyself no longer, Trust to Christ - He's stronger;
I can all things, all things do Through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

In your daily duty, standing up for right, Are you sometimes weary - heart not always light?
Doubt your Saviour never, This your motto ever:
I can all things, all things do Through Christ, which strengtheneth me. 
R. Hudson Pope

N.J. Hiebert - 8163 

July 1

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18

If God should never again send any trials intended to point us and others to Him, would all our sufferings cease?  No.  Left to ourselves, with our sinful natures unchecked, greater harm would result.

But as it is, He gives us only that which works for good and which will bring us closer to Him.  And there is something else: if we know Him as our Lord and Saviour, we will, at His time, go to heaven, where we will never suffer again.
Corrie Ten Boom - This Day is the Lord's

Whatever foes or fears betide,
In Thy blest presence let us hide;
And while we rest our souls on Thee,
Thou shalt our sanctuary be.

Through time, with all its changing scenes,
And all the grief that intervenes,
Let this support each fainting heart,
That Thou our sanctuary art.
C. Medley

N.J. Hiebert - 8164

July 2