Bible Gems

 April 20 What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God, knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  1 Corinthians 2:11. THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THE BIBLE WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND.   This is as we should expect.  If man could fully understand the Bible that would prove it to be written by men.  If man could fully understand the Bible, then man must be God, or God must be man.  I remember looking at a busy ant colony on a broiling summer day in Australia.  My thoughts ran as follows.  The distance between a man and an ant is very great, but after all it is but a finite distance.  You can weigh the substance of a man and that of an ant, and you can find out how much heavier a man is than an ant.  But can an ant understand what is passing through a man's mind?  Can an ant understand the achievement of men?  We know it cannot. But the distance between God and man is ...

 April 11 Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:3  It is always going  down  when we seek to leave the Lord.  This was Jonah's first outward step  down , but it was by no means his last. The outward step is generally preceded by an inward  or spiritual step  down .  It is easier to go down than to go up, whether it be for body or soul.  Beware dear fellow-Christian, when the path begins to go downward, when the travel is easy, and there is no hill to climb!  We can be sure then that we have got on the wrong road. Notice, too, that apparently with no difficulty or delay, he  "found a ship going to Tarshish."   Perhaps he thought, "this is quite providential!  This is surely a sign that I am being prospered in my way."  It is wonderful how easy the devil makes our downward pathway.  He is always ready to provide all we need to get away from the Lord....

He commandeth  even  the winds and water, and they obey Him.  Luke 8:25  Even .  Is there anything you find quite impossible to command in your circumstances or character?  Something as deaf to command as the winds and the water?  Something that has baffled you a thousand times, and appears as if it would win in the end?  Do not despair.   Better hath He been for years than thy fears.   Better can He be, far better.  He can command even this that seems as if it would not be commanded.  Let that  "even"  be a comfort to you.   "He arose, and rebuked the wind,  and said unto the sea, Peace be still.  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39). Is there one who is facing something that seems impossible?  Does the appointed burden feel too heavy to be carried?  The disappointment too sharp to be welcomed?  The duty too toilsome to be performed with joy?...