When Jesus was interrupted in His hours of retirement and spiritual communion He was never irritated; nor yet did he feel that the unexpected task was a substitute for the needed refreshment.
So when the multitude intruded upon the period of rest which Jesus had designed for Himself and His disciples, He patiently taught them during the day, but then He dismissed them and with drew to the mountain solitudes to spend the whole night in prayer.
So with the disciples: they may have been disappointed in their expectations of secret fellowship with Jesus, but the very interruption gave them opportunities to know their Lord better than they had ever known Him before.
For those who are patient, plans unexpectedly altered often bring new revelations of the person and power of Christ.
Gospel of Mark - Charles R. Erdman
N.J. Hiebert - 8275
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17
We get too much occupied with "our LIGHT affliction," and "the moment" in which it takes place. Our outlook is not far enough, nor high enough, and we are apt to forget the "far more exceeding and ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY."
The remedy for this is to "Look . . . at the things which are not seen" -- a riddle, a contradiction, a paradox to all but faith, but how blessedly simple to faith.
You have a bright prospect. The most weighty teacher, the most faithful pastor, the most honoured evangelist, has not a brighter prospect than yours.
It is to be conformed to the image of God's Son, and spend eternity with Him. "We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Then praise Him in the cloud, and soon you will see Him on the cloud, to be translated into His presence without a cloud.
Comforted of God - A. J. Pollock
N.J. Hiebert - 8276
"Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well." John 4:6 Oh! to think of the Lord Himself, whom none of the princes of this world knew, but who was the Lord of glory, sitting weary on the well, thirsty, and dependent upon this world for a drink of water--the world that was made by Him, and knew Him not!
He was the display, at all cost to Himself, of divine love to man.
I adore the love that led Him to be sin for me. There was the full testing of the love that carried Him through all. It is deeply instructive, though very dreadful to see there what man is. What do I expect of my friends if I am on trial? At least they will not forsake me. They all forsook Him, and fled!
In a judge? I expect him to protect innocence. Pilate washes his hands of His blood, and gives Him over to the people! In a priest, what do I expect? That he will intercede for the ignorant and for them that are out of the way. They urge the people, who cry, "Away with Him, away with Him!" Every man was the opposite of what was right, and that one Man was not only right, but in divine love He was going through it all!
His sorrows must ever be a depth into which we look over on the edge with solemn awe. It exalts His grace to the soul to look into that depth, and makes one feel that none but a divine Person (and one perfect in every way) could have been there.
He looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but found none. He was tested and tried to the last degree of human suffering and sorrow, standing alone in this, praying in agony and alone, none to sympathize with Him.
None of us can fathom what it was to One who had dwelt in the bosom of the Father to find His soul as a man forsaken of Him.
In the measure in which He knew what it was to be holy, He felt what it was to be made sin before God. In the measure in which He knew the love of God, He felt what it was to be forsaken of God. He is the resurrection and the life. Wonderful that He, such in this world, Master of death, steps then into death Himself for us! Pilgrim Portions - J. N. D.
N.J. Hiebert - 8277
October 23
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. Philippians 4:6
Be much in prayer, in this dark hour, for great are Satan's wiles;
Far worse than persecuting power are his seductive smiles.
And error comes in such disguise -- smooth-tongued and circumspect --
That none but truth enlightened eyes the monster can detect!
And Fair profession, hand-in-hand with evil, stalks abroad
But to deceive. Oh! who can stand save those who trust in God?
Be much in prayer, 'mid all thy joys, so shall their depths increase;
For lack of watchfulness alloys the very sweetest peace.
What power to stand is gained by saints who love to "watch and pray"!
And who escapes the desert taints in this defiling day?
Be much in prayer for labouring ones, who in the Master's name,
And with the Master's message, run, His mercy to proclaim.
The harvest's great, the workmen few, and naught of time to spare;
Iniquity increases, too--remember this in prayer.
"I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace." (Acts 20:32)
Selected
N.J. Hiebert - 8278
October 24
By night on my bed I sought him who my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. Song of Solomon 3:1
The heart of the spouse is feeling the loneliness of the night while waiting for the dawn of the morning. She is thinking of the One who brings the morning with Him. But she has lost the sense of His nearness. This is failure. The conscience is awake--the affections are lively: "I sought him whom my soul loveth." Yet there is no joy--she is in trouble. There can only be one cause for such a state of soul--the eye rests not on the Beloved Himself. Her eye has wandered, and she is in darkness--in felt loneliness. She has rest as to salvation; "my bed"-- a resting place: though for a moment, it is "night" with the soul.
It matters little, for the purpose of the enemy, on what the eye rests, if he can only get it off Christ. It may be occupied with the best of things, such as work of the Lord, our brethren, brotherly love, the fellowship of saints. But even these things, blessed as they are, will lead to failure, if any one of them becomes the governing object of the heart in place of the Person of Christ. But what shall we say of self and the world coming in, in some of their ten thousand forms? Darkness, weakness, and sad confusion must follow. (John 14:23)
The Lord is ever the same. He changeth not. When there is a change as to our communion--as to our enjoyment of Christ, it is entirely with ourselves. We may rest assured, that He will manifest to the fullest extent possible, the love that we can appreciate, so long as the eye is fixed on the Person of the Lord--so long as He is our object, our centre; light, love, peace, and joy fills the soul.
But when the eye wanders--when he ceases to fill the full vision of our souls, darkness comes in; then follows, through the craftiness of the enemy, the numerous train of perplexing, agitating thoughts and feelings. (Matthew 6:22)
Song of Solomon - Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8279
October 25
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
An infidel was holding forth on a steamer declaiming against the Bible. There happened to be on board an earnest preacher, who listened in pained silence to the outburst. When the infidel ceased speaking, the preacher spoke up. He placed a five pound note on the table, and on top of the note his watch. He then said to the infidel, "Sir, you are evidently very familiar with the Bible."
"Yes," he replied boastfully, "I have made it a lifetime study."
"In that case you will easily earn this five pound note and watch. They are yours if you will quote ten verses out of the Bible correctly."
The infidel hesitated and looked confused. He then said apologetically, "I have not read the Bible for the last fourteen years, and I am afraid my memory of it has failed a good deal."
"You shall have this five pound note and watch, if you can quote five verses." Still no response.
At last the preacher said, "You shall have this five pound note and watch, if you will quote correctly one text." Still no response.
Then the preacher opened his Bible, and spoke earnestly to those assembled till late at night. They then withdrew to their cabins for the night. The infidel went to his bed, but not to rest. He spent a sleepless night. In the morning with a friend he came to the cabin of the preacher asking him to pray for him, which he gladly did.
I appeal to all, especially young men and women, to give the Bible a fair trial. Read it, study it, and seek earnestly the truth. A. J. Pollock
N.J. Hiebert - 8280
October 26
THE STARS ALSO
He made the stars also. Genesis 1:16
He made the sun that day by day pours down its radiance bright.
He made yon stately moon that rules in silvery pomp the night.
But all those tiny twinkling specks as far as I can go,
I watch with wonder when I think, "He made the stars also."
But I am glad; because, you see, my life so small appears--
Not big and brilliant like the sun that lights the rolling years,
Nor fair and lovely like the moon. I'm just a speck, I know.
Yet He who made those greater lights, "He made the stars also."
Then, there are things in daily life that seem so mean and slight,
We wonder, does God really keep such tiny things in sight?
But now I know however small those little things may show,
They'll not escape His loving eye, Who "made the stars also."
But are they small, those twinkling specks? or should I maybe find
(Had I the eyes) each one exceed both sun and moon combined?
And -- who can tell -- those things that men deem "weak" and "base" and low,
May be the greatest things with Him Who "made the stars also."
Bells and Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait
N.J. Hiebert - 8281
October 27
And He commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. Mark 6:39
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Psalm 23:2
Those who do most in the day and who always have time for one thing more are those who know what it is to sit down on the green grass. It is not the bustling, chatty people who do most for others. It is those who know most of quietness.
Before our Lord Jesus could feed the people, He had to make them sit down. Before He can feed us we too must sit down. David sat before the Lord; he was quiet before his God. Even if we have not a long time to spend in the morning with our God much can be received in a very few minutes if only we are quiet.
Sometimes it takes a little while to gather our scattered thoughts and quiet our soul. Even so, don't hurry; make it sit down on the green grass.
Gather my thoughts, dear Lord, they fitful roam,
Like children bent on foolish wandering,
Or vanity of fruitless wayfaring;
O call them home.
Amy Carmichael
N. J. Hiebert - 8282
October 28
As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:36-37
What is it to be more than conquerors? A mere conqueror is sometimes little better off than the vanquished, and a victory is often only next door to defeat. France and Britain were said to have conquered in the late war, but, certainly, they were not more than conquerors, for they have both suffered and are still suffering to such an extent that they are but little better off than the vanquished.
To be more than conquerors is not only that no enemy can do you harm, but it means you come out of the conflict a complete gainer in every way. In the passage before us the Apostle enumerates the worst of ills (verse 35). He even speaks of being killed all the day long, and yet he can say, "in all these things we are more than conquerors." Apparent defeat and disaster can be turned to our advantage through Him that loves us.
An American admiral said once "I have fought in many engagements, and been victorious in all, but I have one more enemy to encounter, and I know that when we meet I shall be defeated." The enemy he meant was DEATH. This is not being more than conqueror, to be defeated at last. The Apostle Paul, facing even death itself--as he faced it often--yea, speaking as one who was "killed all the day long," could exclaim: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
Through time and eternity, he knew of no enemy that could vanquish him, and he knew that out of all his tribulations he would emerge the gainer.
(2 Corinthians 4:17) To what does he attribute his final and complete victory? Not to his own courage, or determination, or wisdom, or strength--not even to his own faithfulness or holiness, but, to "Him that loved us." He traces it all to one source, and that source the love of God. Angels in White - Russell Elliot
N.J. Hiebert - 8283
October 29
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