August 20
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. James 5:7
We are always waiting for the Lord, if we really understand our position; but whatever may be our desire, we cannot command the Lord to come, nor know when He will come. And blessed be His name! the Lord is patient; as long as there is yet one soul to be called by the gospel, He will not come. His whole body, His bride, must be formed; every member must be present, converted and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Then He will come and take us. Christ Himself is seated on the Father's throne. He also is waiting for that moment, with more desire surely than we are; and therefore the patience of Christ is spoken of: this is the true meaning of Revelation 1:9. Thus also in Revelation 3:10, "because thou hast kept the word of My patience;" also in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, "the patience of Christ."
We are taught also in Hebrews 10:12, that Christ is seated at the right hand of God, waiting till His enemies shall be made His footstool. We may well wait if Christ is waiting; but we wait in suffering and conflict. He is waiting to reign, and then He will cause full blessing to flow forth for His own, whether in heaven or on earth, and will banish evil from both.
Thus we need patience, that neither self-will nor weariness of the conflict should take possession of our souls; but in the confidence that the time that God wills is best (for it is that which divine wisdom and His love for us have ordained) let us fix our affections on the Lord and on things above, because we wait for Him with desire of heart, with broken will, and unwavering faith, leaving His return to the decision of God.
Not only in fact we cannot retard it but the heart has entire confidence in His love, assured that the Lord waits for us with greater love than we for Him, calm in confidence, patient in the wilderness-journey. How sweet to wait for Christ--for the fulness of joy with Him! Thanks be to God, He says, "it is at hand." J.N. Darby
N.J. Hiebert - 8579
We are always waiting for the Lord, if we really understand our position; but whatever may be our desire, we cannot command the Lord to come, nor know when He will come. And blessed be His name! the Lord is patient; as long as there is yet one soul to be called by the gospel, He will not come. His whole body, His bride, must be formed; every member must be present, converted and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Then He will come and take us. Christ Himself is seated on the Father's throne. He also is waiting for that moment, with more desire surely than we are; and therefore the patience of Christ is spoken of: this is the true meaning of Revelation 1:9. Thus also in Revelation 3:10, "because thou hast kept the word of My patience;" also in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, "the patience of Christ."
We are taught also in Hebrews 10:12, that Christ is seated at the right hand of God, waiting till His enemies shall be made His footstool. We may well wait if Christ is waiting; but we wait in suffering and conflict. He is waiting to reign, and then He will cause full blessing to flow forth for His own, whether in heaven or on earth, and will banish evil from both.
Thus we need patience, that neither self-will nor weariness of the conflict should take possession of our souls; but in the confidence that the time that God wills is best (for it is that which divine wisdom and His love for us have ordained) let us fix our affections on the Lord and on things above, because we wait for Him with desire of heart, with broken will, and unwavering faith, leaving His return to the decision of God.
Not only in fact we cannot retard it but the heart has entire confidence in His love, assured that the Lord waits for us with greater love than we for Him, calm in confidence, patient in the wilderness-journey. How sweet to wait for Christ--for the fulness of joy with Him! Thanks be to God, He says, "it is at hand." J.N. Darby
N.J. Hiebert - 8579
August 21
THE PRAYER IN THE NIGHT
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instructions. Job 33:15,16
Sometimes I wake with dark and quiet around me,
And swift across my vision, like a light,
Flashes the face of one I know who suffers,
Or one whom sorrow newly touched last night.
Perhaps, for just that moment and that purpose,
There lacks a link in God's great chain of prayer;
So, lest the chain be weakened by my silence,
Or break because I fail to do my share,
I shape the link, and know the Spirit's fire
Will forge it into place and weld it there.
Annie Johnson Flint
N.J. Hiebert - 8580
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instructions. Job 33:15,16
Sometimes I wake with dark and quiet around me,
And swift across my vision, like a light,
Flashes the face of one I know who suffers,
Or one whom sorrow newly touched last night.
Perhaps, for just that moment and that purpose,
There lacks a link in God's great chain of prayer;
So, lest the chain be weakened by my silence,
Or break because I fail to do my share,
I shape the link, and know the Spirit's fire
Will forge it into place and weld it there.
Annie Johnson Flint
N.J. Hiebert - 8580
August 22
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. John 20:16
The One whom Magdalene called "Rabboni" was coming agin, her unchanged and gracious Lord. He whose voice had so often stilled the fears of His troubled disciples, as He spoke peace or pardon to their hearts, was coming back again. There was unmeasured consolation to the wondering "men of Galilee," (Acts 1:11) when the angels assured them that He who was in heaven, and He who was returning for them again, was the same Jesus.
How marvellous that the Christ of the glory is the Christ of the carpenter shop! How transcendently precious that the Christ of Bethesda, and of Sychar's well, is still the very same. He has the same love, the same longsuffering, the same goodness, though now he sits on the throne of God. The One who cheered us on our pathway, the One who cared for us as a Shepherd for His sheep, is coming back again.
And He will come "in like manner" as He went. Our Lord went away, "while they beheld"; when He returns "we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). With their own eyes they gazed intently upon Him as He went up; with our own eyes we shall see Him without a veil between, when He comes again. It will be a cloud that will bring Him back to this earth as well: (Revelation 1:7).
We read, "And when He had spoken these things" (Acts 1:9). He talked with them as He left them, and how sweet will be His voice when we hear it audibly for the first time: A Plant of Renown Leonard Sheldrake
"Oh, the blessed joy of meeting, all the desert past!
Oh, the wondrous words of greeting, He shall speak at last!
He and I in that bright glory, one deep joy shall share,
Mine to be forever with Him, His that I am there." Francis Bevan
N.J. Hiebert - 8581
The One whom Magdalene called "Rabboni" was coming agin, her unchanged and gracious Lord. He whose voice had so often stilled the fears of His troubled disciples, as He spoke peace or pardon to their hearts, was coming back again. There was unmeasured consolation to the wondering "men of Galilee," (Acts 1:11) when the angels assured them that He who was in heaven, and He who was returning for them again, was the same Jesus.
How marvellous that the Christ of the glory is the Christ of the carpenter shop! How transcendently precious that the Christ of Bethesda, and of Sychar's well, is still the very same. He has the same love, the same longsuffering, the same goodness, though now he sits on the throne of God. The One who cheered us on our pathway, the One who cared for us as a Shepherd for His sheep, is coming back again.
And He will come "in like manner" as He went. Our Lord went away, "while they beheld"; when He returns "we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). With their own eyes they gazed intently upon Him as He went up; with our own eyes we shall see Him without a veil between, when He comes again. It will be a cloud that will bring Him back to this earth as well: (Revelation 1:7).
We read, "And when He had spoken these things" (Acts 1:9). He talked with them as He left them, and how sweet will be His voice when we hear it audibly for the first time: A Plant of Renown Leonard Sheldrake
"Oh, the blessed joy of meeting, all the desert past!
Oh, the wondrous words of greeting, He shall speak at last!
He and I in that bright glory, one deep joy shall share,
Mine to be forever with Him, His that I am there." Francis Bevan
N.J. Hiebert - 8581
August 23
"Then said they unto Jonah, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm? . . . And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea. . . . So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging." Jonah 1:11,15.
I have little doubt that it was a solemn moment on board that ship, as the prophet prepared to die, and the sailors were compelled to carry out that sentence of death on the very man that had first told them of the true and living God, and who had been the means of turning them to Him from their idols. It may well be that a strong bond of love had sprung up between the prophet and the seamen during their stormy passage together. They well knew that he was voluntarily going down into death in order to save their lives.
The result--what was it? It was two-fold; first, "The sea ceased from her raging;" then "The men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows." For these heathen men the result was a complete and entire turning to the true and living God. Jonah could say of himself, "I fear the Lord." The Spirit of God records of the sailors, "The men feared the Lord exceedingly." Then they offered a sacrifice. That tells us of approach to God in God's own way--also, of thanksgiving and worship.
How lovely to trace the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of these men! First, they were "afraid" of the storm, verse 5, and crying to their gods; then, they were "exceedingly afraid" as they heard for the first time, of the God of the heavens, Who had made the sea and the dry land. Thirdly, they cried to the Lord, instead of to their gods; acknowledged His greatness and power, and bowed in submission to His will. Fourthly, they feared the Lord exceedingly--a very different thing from being "exceedingly afraid." Fifthly, they came into the Lord's presence with a sacrifice, God's own appointed way, and bowed before Him in worship and thanksgiving; and finally, they made vows-- a public acknowledgement of the debt that they owed to the great God whom they had so lately learned to know. G. C. Willis.
N.J. Hiebert - 8582
I have little doubt that it was a solemn moment on board that ship, as the prophet prepared to die, and the sailors were compelled to carry out that sentence of death on the very man that had first told them of the true and living God, and who had been the means of turning them to Him from their idols. It may well be that a strong bond of love had sprung up between the prophet and the seamen during their stormy passage together. They well knew that he was voluntarily going down into death in order to save their lives.
The result--what was it? It was two-fold; first, "The sea ceased from her raging;" then "The men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows." For these heathen men the result was a complete and entire turning to the true and living God. Jonah could say of himself, "I fear the Lord." The Spirit of God records of the sailors, "The men feared the Lord exceedingly." Then they offered a sacrifice. That tells us of approach to God in God's own way--also, of thanksgiving and worship.
How lovely to trace the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of these men! First, they were "afraid" of the storm, verse 5, and crying to their gods; then, they were "exceedingly afraid" as they heard for the first time, of the God of the heavens, Who had made the sea and the dry land. Thirdly, they cried to the Lord, instead of to their gods; acknowledged His greatness and power, and bowed in submission to His will. Fourthly, they feared the Lord exceedingly--a very different thing from being "exceedingly afraid." Fifthly, they came into the Lord's presence with a sacrifice, God's own appointed way, and bowed before Him in worship and thanksgiving; and finally, they made vows-- a public acknowledgement of the debt that they owed to the great God whom they had so lately learned to know. G. C. Willis.
N.J. Hiebert - 8582
August 24
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
God is; and another scripture says, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6). I have first of all to get in my soul the sense that God is. You may say, I do not know Him. That is quite true, and the question is, how can you know Him? You cannot learn Him from nature; but He reveals Himself by His Son and by His Word. (Hebrews 1:1,2)
The great thing to get hold of is this, that God has spoken. What you and I have to do is to listen, and I am certain of this, if you listen, you will believe, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
If you listen to God's Word, it will have an effect upon you, it will produce a deep, real mark upon you--a mark which reason will not produce, because reason may turn a man away from God, and often does; but faith, the fruit of the reception of the Word of God, always leads a man to God.
Man's heart naturally sets itself against God, but faith accepts His testimony. Very striking that! You must receive first of all what the Lord says of you. "He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." (John 3:33). There I believe you get the real definition of what faith is.
God hath spoken by His Son the Lord Jesus, and the man that receives His testimony, "Sets to his seal that God is true." That is faith. Ask any person who is a believer how they first really got to know that they were saved and they will tell you, by giving God credit for speaking the truth, by taking Him at His word, which is faith. Human reasoning and wisdom of words cannot manufacture faith; it comes by hearing the Word of God.
Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston
N.J. Hiebert - 8583
God is; and another scripture says, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6). I have first of all to get in my soul the sense that God is. You may say, I do not know Him. That is quite true, and the question is, how can you know Him? You cannot learn Him from nature; but He reveals Himself by His Son and by His Word. (Hebrews 1:1,2)
The great thing to get hold of is this, that God has spoken. What you and I have to do is to listen, and I am certain of this, if you listen, you will believe, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
If you listen to God's Word, it will have an effect upon you, it will produce a deep, real mark upon you--a mark which reason will not produce, because reason may turn a man away from God, and often does; but faith, the fruit of the reception of the Word of God, always leads a man to God.
Man's heart naturally sets itself against God, but faith accepts His testimony. Very striking that! You must receive first of all what the Lord says of you. "He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." (John 3:33). There I believe you get the real definition of what faith is.
God hath spoken by His Son the Lord Jesus, and the man that receives His testimony, "Sets to his seal that God is true." That is faith. Ask any person who is a believer how they first really got to know that they were saved and they will tell you, by giving God credit for speaking the truth, by taking Him at His word, which is faith. Human reasoning and wisdom of words cannot manufacture faith; it comes by hearing the Word of God.
Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston
N.J. Hiebert - 8583
August 25
His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9
In many forests, fires burn more fiercely and with greater devastation because brush and brambles and undergrowth become established around the trees. A very clear picture of this is given in Judges 9:15: "And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon."
Lightning also frequently strikes trees that stand out in exposed sites on ridges or open country. If a tree has dead or dry wood it may be set ablaze. Green, vigorous, luxuriant trees are not so apt to burn, though they may be scarred or split or shattered by the electrical discharge that goes to the ground.
The likelihood of such a calamity befalling a strong, green vigorously growing tree is much less than for one which is dried up, diseased, or cumbered with dead wood. The rich, dense foliage of a healthy cedar, moreover, so shades the soil beneath it that it precludes brush and brambles from encircling it. So the chances of its being burned are more remote.
Is my life cluttered with the "underbrush" of the world? Lord, let Thy fires cleanse me! Songs of My Soul - Phillip Keller
Living for Jesus, a life that is true, striving to pease Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me. Thomas Chisholm
N.J. Hiebert - 8584
In many forests, fires burn more fiercely and with greater devastation because brush and brambles and undergrowth become established around the trees. A very clear picture of this is given in Judges 9:15: "And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon."
Lightning also frequently strikes trees that stand out in exposed sites on ridges or open country. If a tree has dead or dry wood it may be set ablaze. Green, vigorous, luxuriant trees are not so apt to burn, though they may be scarred or split or shattered by the electrical discharge that goes to the ground.
The likelihood of such a calamity befalling a strong, green vigorously growing tree is much less than for one which is dried up, diseased, or cumbered with dead wood. The rich, dense foliage of a healthy cedar, moreover, so shades the soil beneath it that it precludes brush and brambles from encircling it. So the chances of its being burned are more remote.
Is my life cluttered with the "underbrush" of the world? Lord, let Thy fires cleanse me! Songs of My Soul - Phillip Keller
Living for Jesus, a life that is true, striving to pease Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me. Thomas Chisholm
N.J. Hiebert - 8584
August 26
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psalm 23:5
When the children of Israel were in the wilderness they questioned God by asking: "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" (Psalm 78:19). This was an act of pure unbelief in their case. God had provided them with a stream of water gushing from the rock and had supplied "angels' food," manna from heaven.
The Lord always prepares a table for His people. In the Shepherd Psalm we see that a table was prepared for King David in the presence of his enemies. We should take note of this because the Lord has spread for us a table as well--the Lord's Table. It is wonderful that we can have fellowship together in all the Christian privileges that flow from the sacrifice of Christ. The Lord's Supper is the highest expression of our fellowship, for it is not an individualistic thing at all--it is the expression of the fact that we are all "one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
The Lord's Supper is celebrated (and the Christian life is lived) in the presence of our enemies--they are onlookers. Paul writes that we "show (proclaim) the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The word "proclaim" literally means to preach. We are to declare the death of Christ in the very world that crucified and rejected Him--we are on enemy turf. In the Lord's Supper we proclaim, in the presence of the enemy, that the One who has redeemed us has also bought the world. It is His by right and His by purchase and He will yet claim it at His coming!
But not only this. Christ has sealed us with the Holy Spirit and marked us out as His own; He has anointed our heads with oil. But our joy and prosperity is not to be kept exclusively for ourselves but it should be overflowing in gracious testimony to all who are willing to bow the knee to Christ--even to His enemies. Is your cup running over? Brian Reynolds
N.J. Hiebert - 8585
When the children of Israel were in the wilderness they questioned God by asking: "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" (Psalm 78:19). This was an act of pure unbelief in their case. God had provided them with a stream of water gushing from the rock and had supplied "angels' food," manna from heaven.
The Lord always prepares a table for His people. In the Shepherd Psalm we see that a table was prepared for King David in the presence of his enemies. We should take note of this because the Lord has spread for us a table as well--the Lord's Table. It is wonderful that we can have fellowship together in all the Christian privileges that flow from the sacrifice of Christ. The Lord's Supper is the highest expression of our fellowship, for it is not an individualistic thing at all--it is the expression of the fact that we are all "one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
The Lord's Supper is celebrated (and the Christian life is lived) in the presence of our enemies--they are onlookers. Paul writes that we "show (proclaim) the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The word "proclaim" literally means to preach. We are to declare the death of Christ in the very world that crucified and rejected Him--we are on enemy turf. In the Lord's Supper we proclaim, in the presence of the enemy, that the One who has redeemed us has also bought the world. It is His by right and His by purchase and He will yet claim it at His coming!
But not only this. Christ has sealed us with the Holy Spirit and marked us out as His own; He has anointed our heads with oil. But our joy and prosperity is not to be kept exclusively for ourselves but it should be overflowing in gracious testimony to all who are willing to bow the knee to Christ--even to His enemies. Is your cup running over? Brian Reynolds
N.J. Hiebert - 8585
August 27
Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. Exodus 16:4.
The day's portion in its day: Such was the the rule for God's giving and man's working in the ingathering of the manna. It is still the law in all the dealings of God's grace with His children. A clear insight into the beauty and application of this arrangement is a wonderful help in understanding. Now one, who feels himself utterly weak, can have the confidence and the perseverance to hold on brightly through all the years of his earthly course.
A doctor once asked by a patient who had met with a serious accident; "Doctor, how long shall I have to lie here?" The answer, "Only a day at a time," taught the patient a precious lesson. It was the same lesson God had recorded for His people of all ages long before: The day's portion in its day.
It was, without doubt, with a view to this, and to meet man's weakness, that God graciously appointed the change of day and night. If time had been given to man in the form of one long unbroken day, it would have exhausted and overwhelmed him; the change of day and night continually recruits and recreates his powers. As a child, who easily makes himself master of a book, when each day only the lesson for the day is given him, would be utterly hopeless if the whole book were given him at once; so it would be with man, if there were no divisions in time.
Broken small and divided into fragments, he can bear them; only the care and the work of each day have to be undertaken,--the day's portion in its day. The rest of the night fits him for making a fresh start with each new morning; the mistakes of the past can be avoided, its lessons improved. And he has only each day to be faithful for the one short day, and long years and a long life take care of themselves, without the sense of their weight ever being a burden. Abide in Christ - Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8586
The day's portion in its day: Such was the the rule for God's giving and man's working in the ingathering of the manna. It is still the law in all the dealings of God's grace with His children. A clear insight into the beauty and application of this arrangement is a wonderful help in understanding. Now one, who feels himself utterly weak, can have the confidence and the perseverance to hold on brightly through all the years of his earthly course.
A doctor once asked by a patient who had met with a serious accident; "Doctor, how long shall I have to lie here?" The answer, "Only a day at a time," taught the patient a precious lesson. It was the same lesson God had recorded for His people of all ages long before: The day's portion in its day.
It was, without doubt, with a view to this, and to meet man's weakness, that God graciously appointed the change of day and night. If time had been given to man in the form of one long unbroken day, it would have exhausted and overwhelmed him; the change of day and night continually recruits and recreates his powers. As a child, who easily makes himself master of a book, when each day only the lesson for the day is given him, would be utterly hopeless if the whole book were given him at once; so it would be with man, if there were no divisions in time.
Broken small and divided into fragments, he can bear them; only the care and the work of each day have to be undertaken,--the day's portion in its day. The rest of the night fits him for making a fresh start with each new morning; the mistakes of the past can be avoided, its lessons improved. And he has only each day to be faithful for the one short day, and long years and a long life take care of themselves, without the sense of their weight ever being a burden. Abide in Christ - Andrew Murray
N.J. Hiebert - 8586
August 28
TRUSTING JESUS, THAT IS ALL
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. Luke 12:29.
Our Lord had much to say about taking no anxious thought for our lives, food, drink, or raiment. He spoke of the birds and the lilies as examples of God's care. He said, ". . . be ye [not] of doubtful mind" Luke 12:29.
He told us that the Gentiles worry about such things and, since Christians belong to another race and nation as children of God, we should not worry as they do about such matters. Paul wrote, "Be careful for nothing . . ." (Philippians 4:6).
When we doubt or fear or worry we are not believing. Christ lives within us and He never worries. Faith is the opposite of fuming and fussing. All doubt is sin for it denies God's Word. "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).
It takes some of us a long time to stop trying and begin trusting. Some never do. The greatest adventure in this life is to quit merely reading it, talking about it, praying about it, and reach that point where we can actually sing:
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all. (E. Page)
Though I Walk Through the Valley - Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 8587
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. Luke 12:29.
Our Lord had much to say about taking no anxious thought for our lives, food, drink, or raiment. He spoke of the birds and the lilies as examples of God's care. He said, ". . . be ye [not] of doubtful mind" Luke 12:29.
He told us that the Gentiles worry about such things and, since Christians belong to another race and nation as children of God, we should not worry as they do about such matters. Paul wrote, "Be careful for nothing . . ." (Philippians 4:6).
When we doubt or fear or worry we are not believing. Christ lives within us and He never worries. Faith is the opposite of fuming and fussing. All doubt is sin for it denies God's Word. "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).
It takes some of us a long time to stop trying and begin trusting. Some never do. The greatest adventure in this life is to quit merely reading it, talking about it, praying about it, and reach that point where we can actually sing:
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all. (E. Page)
Though I Walk Through the Valley - Vance Havner
N.J. Hiebert - 8587
August 29
Joseph said unto his brethren. . . be not grieved, God sent me before you to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:4-7.
THE RELIEF FROM ANXIETY
As to the future no care or anxiety need cloud their horizon, for Joseph can say, in the message he sends to his father, "Thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near to me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and all that thou hast, and there will I nourish thee" (v.10).
THE REALIZATION OF LOVE
Thus with marvellous skill and infinite love, Joseph makes himself known to his brethren, dispels their fears, delivers them from self-occupation, and relieves them from anxiety, by filing their vision with himself and his glories, and engaging their thoughts with his gracious words. "Behold," says Joseph, "your eyes see. . . that it is my mouth that speaks unto you." (v.12)
Fear dispelled, grief assuaged, cares banished, love can flow without hindrance,--"He kissed all his brethren; and after that his brethren talked with him." (v.15). But their** eyes have seen his glories, their ears have been charmed with his words of grace, their hearts have been warmed with his love and, in the warmth of love, they are set free to talk with him. No shade remains to hinder the communion of love between Joseph and his brethren.
"Perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:8). All this foreshadows the yet future dealings of Christ with His earthly people who rejected Him in the days of old. But more, the story tells us the way Christ takes to teach us the evil of our hearts, and then dispel all fear by making Himself known in the love of His heart. Joseph - Hamilton Smith
N.J. Hebert - 8588
THE RELIEF FROM ANXIETY
As to the future no care or anxiety need cloud their horizon, for Joseph can say, in the message he sends to his father, "Thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near to me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and all that thou hast, and there will I nourish thee" (v.10).
THE REALIZATION OF LOVE
Thus with marvellous skill and infinite love, Joseph makes himself known to his brethren, dispels their fears, delivers them from self-occupation, and relieves them from anxiety, by filing their vision with himself and his glories, and engaging their thoughts with his gracious words. "Behold," says Joseph, "your eyes see. . . that it is my mouth that speaks unto you." (v.12)
Fear dispelled, grief assuaged, cares banished, love can flow without hindrance,--"He kissed all his brethren; and after that his brethren talked with him." (v.15). But their** eyes have seen his glories, their ears have been charmed with his words of grace, their hearts have been warmed with his love and, in the warmth of love, they are set free to talk with him. No shade remains to hinder the communion of love between Joseph and his brethren.
"Perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:8). All this foreshadows the yet future dealings of Christ with His earthly people who rejected Him in the days of old. But more, the story tells us the way Christ takes to teach us the evil of our hearts, and then dispel all fear by making Himself known in the love of His heart. Joseph - Hamilton Smith
N.J. Hebert - 8588
August 30
But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.
Job 35:10
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25
What man arouses to sing in the dark of night? Night is the time when we are more apt to be obsessed with doubts and fears that do not beget songs. Even a song bird does not sing at night. but God has something for man beyond the bird: a capacity to commune with his Maker--and in this communion his Maker gives him a song . . . even in the night.
Throughout the hours of darkness dim, still let us watch and raise the hymn;
And in deep midnight's awful calm pour forth the soul in joyful psalm.
REDEEMED
I think of my blessed Redeemer,
Who cares for me all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty,
The King in whose Word I delight,
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
Fanny Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 8589
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25
What man arouses to sing in the dark of night? Night is the time when we are more apt to be obsessed with doubts and fears that do not beget songs. Even a song bird does not sing at night. but God has something for man beyond the bird: a capacity to commune with his Maker--and in this communion his Maker gives him a song . . . even in the night.
Throughout the hours of darkness dim, still let us watch and raise the hymn;
And in deep midnight's awful calm pour forth the soul in joyful psalm.
REDEEMED
I think of my blessed Redeemer,
Who cares for me all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty,
The King in whose Word I delight,
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
Fanny Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 8589
August 31
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life. Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I lay there, unable to move...realizing how very real my situation had become. Unbelievable actually...I asked the Lord, really? Are you sure...?? In the wee hours one morning in the ICU, I struggled..."Lord, is this really gong to be the sum of my life?...Really??..."
A still small voice in my heart said "Mike, it was never yours alone...Remember? You asked me into your heart? It is our life, I only ever wanted to live in you, with you, through you...I wanted to partner with you. I wanted us to live together." I have little time left but I know for sure, I want to live it with Him..."
Happiness is a choice.... Accepting that depending on others is a privilege and is critical to a happy life for me now. I can embrace it and enjoy peace and happiness, or I can let this situation overwhelm me...
When I am weak then am I strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song.
Embracing your inability is a prerequisite to God showing you His ability.
There is so much that we do not see, but we see Him.
Musings From My Journey: Mike O'Brien "A brother beloved."
Mike continues to suffer serious disabilities and has spent many years depended on the care of others.
N.J. Hiebert - 8590
I lay there, unable to move...realizing how very real my situation had become. Unbelievable actually...I asked the Lord, really? Are you sure...?? In the wee hours one morning in the ICU, I struggled..."Lord, is this really gong to be the sum of my life?...Really??..."
A still small voice in my heart said "Mike, it was never yours alone...Remember? You asked me into your heart? It is our life, I only ever wanted to live in you, with you, through you...I wanted to partner with you. I wanted us to live together." I have little time left but I know for sure, I want to live it with Him..."
Happiness is a choice.... Accepting that depending on others is a privilege and is critical to a happy life for me now. I can embrace it and enjoy peace and happiness, or I can let this situation overwhelm me...
When I am weak then am I strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song.
Embracing your inability is a prerequisite to God showing you His ability.
There is so much that we do not see, but we see Him.
Musings From My Journey: Mike O'Brien "A brother beloved."
Mike continues to suffer serious disabilities and has spent many years depended on the care of others.
N.J. Hiebert - 8590
September 1
About midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Acts 27:27-28
Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner, but the ship became caught in a major storm. The sailors, in the dark, sensed land was near, so they used a "Fathom" line to measure the depth under the keel. This was a process of heaving a lead weight as far out in front as possible. The line attached had a knot every six feet (two meters). Counting the knots when the weight touched bottom revealed the depth; in this case, 120 feet, shoaling quickly to 90 (27.5 m).
The account in Acts tells us that Paul had direct assurance from God that, although the ship would be lost, every one aboard would arrive safely on land. This suggests that as we see the world situation getting darker, we rely more and more on the promise that all believer will get safely to heaven.
If the water were much deeper, the leadsman would holler, No bottom! meaning, beyond measurement. And this meaning has been used by our hymn writers to describe the sufferings of the Lord Jesus on the cross as unfathomable. One example is mentioned in the hymn where the Lord is nailed to a tree: Unfathomable wonder! And mystery divine! The voice that speaks in thunder says, "Sinner, I am thine! " William Cowper
Another synonym, appearing in the Psalms and elsewhere, is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable, and Ephesians 3:8 Unto me...is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
The hymn writer (J. Kent - 1827) describes the grace of God this way.
Sovereign grace o'er sin abounding...'tis a deep that knows no sounding...!
Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 8591
Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner, but the ship became caught in a major storm. The sailors, in the dark, sensed land was near, so they used a "Fathom" line to measure the depth under the keel. This was a process of heaving a lead weight as far out in front as possible. The line attached had a knot every six feet (two meters). Counting the knots when the weight touched bottom revealed the depth; in this case, 120 feet, shoaling quickly to 90 (27.5 m).
The account in Acts tells us that Paul had direct assurance from God that, although the ship would be lost, every one aboard would arrive safely on land. This suggests that as we see the world situation getting darker, we rely more and more on the promise that all believer will get safely to heaven.
If the water were much deeper, the leadsman would holler, No bottom! meaning, beyond measurement. And this meaning has been used by our hymn writers to describe the sufferings of the Lord Jesus on the cross as unfathomable. One example is mentioned in the hymn where the Lord is nailed to a tree: Unfathomable wonder! And mystery divine! The voice that speaks in thunder says, "Sinner, I am thine! " William Cowper
Another synonym, appearing in the Psalms and elsewhere, is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable, and Ephesians 3:8 Unto me...is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
The hymn writer (J. Kent - 1827) describes the grace of God this way.
Sovereign grace o'er sin abounding...'tis a deep that knows no sounding...!
Lorne Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 8591
September 2
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter...and he (Moses) cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet. Exodus 15:23,25
That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9
Marah is but a picture of this world as a wilderness wild with its bitter waters, under curse due to men's sins. "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) Death is depicted by the bitter waters. What then is the solution?
"The Lord showed him a tree." The tree had to be shown to Moses through his crying before God. Apart from God's kind intervention, Moses could not see the tree. The tree reminds us of Christ as here in flesh for the will of God, and of the cross. Likewise, unless the Lord shows us His cross, we will never see its profound significance. Not until then can we truly see who our blessed Lord is. May the Lord show us His cross. May we, through His cross, contemplate Him as never before.
The cure of the bitter waters relied on the tree cast into those waters. He was violently and mercilessly "cast" into the place of death so that sweetness might be yielded at the end. Oh, what had He done to merit such a harsh treatment from God? "So that by the grace of God He should taste death for every man" (or "everyone"). Oh, what an unfathomably bitter taste He fully experienced on the cross! Blessed, adorable Lord and Saviour! F.S.W.
The cross! the cross, oh, that's our gain,
Because on that the Lamb was slain:
'Twas there the Lord was crucified,
'Twas there for us the Saviour died.
Miss C. Taylor - 1742
N.J. Hiebert - 8592
That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9
Marah is but a picture of this world as a wilderness wild with its bitter waters, under curse due to men's sins. "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) Death is depicted by the bitter waters. What then is the solution?
"The Lord showed him a tree." The tree had to be shown to Moses through his crying before God. Apart from God's kind intervention, Moses could not see the tree. The tree reminds us of Christ as here in flesh for the will of God, and of the cross. Likewise, unless the Lord shows us His cross, we will never see its profound significance. Not until then can we truly see who our blessed Lord is. May the Lord show us His cross. May we, through His cross, contemplate Him as never before.
The cure of the bitter waters relied on the tree cast into those waters. He was violently and mercilessly "cast" into the place of death so that sweetness might be yielded at the end. Oh, what had He done to merit such a harsh treatment from God? "So that by the grace of God He should taste death for every man" (or "everyone"). Oh, what an unfathomably bitter taste He fully experienced on the cross! Blessed, adorable Lord and Saviour! F.S.W.
The cross! the cross, oh, that's our gain,
Because on that the Lamb was slain:
'Twas there the Lord was crucified,
'Twas there for us the Saviour died.
Miss C. Taylor - 1742
N.J. Hiebert - 8592
September 3
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