Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
UNTO JESUS and not to our brethren, not even to the best among them and the best beloved. In following a man we run the risk of losing our way; in following Jesus we are sure of never losing our way.
Besides, in putting a man between Jesus and ourselves, it will come to pass that insensibly the man will increase and Jesus will decrease; soon we no longer know how to find Jesus when we cannot find the man, and if he fails us, all fails.
On the contrary, if Jesus is kept between us and our closest friend, our attachment to the person will be at the same time less enthralling and more deep; less passionate and more tender; less necessary, and more useful; an instrument of rich blessing in the hands of God.
He is pleased to make use of him; and whose absence will be a further blessing, when it may please God to dispense with him, to draw us even nearer to the only Friend who can not be separated from us by "neither death nor life" Romans 8:38,39. Theodore Monod
N.J.Hiebert - 9137
March 1
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31
What though of gilded baubles He bereaves us,
Dear to the heart of youth, to manhood's prime,
Think of the calm He brings, the peace He leaves us,
The hoarded spoils, the legacies of time."
"Nor does the falling into decay of the earthly house of this tabernacle affect the grandeur of old age. "They say I am growing old because my hair is silvered, and there are crow's feet on my forehead, and my step is not as firm and elastic as before. But they are mistaken; that is not me."
The knees are weak, but the knees are not me. The brow is wrinkled, but the brow is not me. This is the house I live in: but I am young--younger than I was ever before."
The conclusion at which we arrive so far, then, is that while youth is beautiful--wondrously beautiful--age has a beauty and a majesty all its own; and that, although those who are at the beginning of life may acquire much knowledge, those who are nearing its close may possess that wisdom which is knowledge applied.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1 The Best Is Yet To Be - H. Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 9138
What though of gilded baubles He bereaves us,
Dear to the heart of youth, to manhood's prime,
Think of the calm He brings, the peace He leaves us,
The hoarded spoils, the legacies of time."
"Nor does the falling into decay of the earthly house of this tabernacle affect the grandeur of old age. "They say I am growing old because my hair is silvered, and there are crow's feet on my forehead, and my step is not as firm and elastic as before. But they are mistaken; that is not me."
The knees are weak, but the knees are not me. The brow is wrinkled, but the brow is not me. This is the house I live in: but I am young--younger than I was ever before."
The conclusion at which we arrive so far, then, is that while youth is beautiful--wondrously beautiful--age has a beauty and a majesty all its own; and that, although those who are at the beginning of life may acquire much knowledge, those who are nearing its close may possess that wisdom which is knowledge applied.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1 The Best Is Yet To Be - H. Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 9138
March 2
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25
It is quite certain that those who are whole hearted for Christ desire to be in His company. They instinctively wend their way to the spot where He is known to be. Is there such a spot on earth? Yes, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of the them." Matthew 18:20.
No one who is truly conscious of the greatness and excellency of His Person, and of the blessedness of communion with Him, would willingly be absent from that favoured place.
We read that of old, "They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42). Alas that there should be such a lack of continuing steadfastly now! "In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12) and can we suppose that He fails to notice whether we are there or not to join in the song He leads?
"This do in remembrance of Me"? (1 Corinthians 11:24)
The Lord is Near - 2007
We go to meet the Saviour, His glorious face to see;
What manner of behaviour doth with this hope agree?
May God's illumination guide heart and walk aright;
That so our preparation be pleasing in His sight. Paul Gerhardt
N.J.Hiebert - 9139
It is quite certain that those who are whole hearted for Christ desire to be in His company. They instinctively wend their way to the spot where He is known to be. Is there such a spot on earth? Yes, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of the them." Matthew 18:20.
No one who is truly conscious of the greatness and excellency of His Person, and of the blessedness of communion with Him, would willingly be absent from that favoured place.
We read that of old, "They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42). Alas that there should be such a lack of continuing steadfastly now! "In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12) and can we suppose that He fails to notice whether we are there or not to join in the song He leads?
"This do in remembrance of Me"? (1 Corinthians 11:24)
The Lord is Near - 2007
We go to meet the Saviour, His glorious face to see;
What manner of behaviour doth with this hope agree?
May God's illumination guide heart and walk aright;
That so our preparation be pleasing in His sight. Paul Gerhardt
N.J.Hiebert - 9139
March 3
And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken." Genesis 21:1
Here we have accomplished promise--the blessed fruit of patient waiting upon God. None ever waited in vain. The soul that takes hold of God's promise by faith, has gotten a stable reality which will never fail him. Thus was it with Abraham; thus was it with all the faithful from age to age; and thus will it be with all those who are enabled, in any measure, to trust in the living God.
Oh! it is a wonderful blessing to have God Himself as our portion and resting-place, amid the unsatisfying shadows of this scene through which we are passing,--to have our anchor cast within the vail,--to have the word and oath of God--the two immutable things--to lean upon, for the comfort and tranquility of our souls.
When God's promise stood before the soul of Abraham as an accomplished fact, he might well have learned the futility of his own effort to reach that accomplishment. Ishmael was of no use whatever, so far as God's promise was concerned. He might, and did, afford something for nature's affections to entwine themselves around, thus furnishing a more difficult task for Abraham to perform afterwards; but he was in no wise conducive to the development of the purpose of God, or to the establishment of Abraham's faith, quite the reverse.
Nature can never do aught for God. The Lord must "visit," and the Lord must "do," and faith must wait, and nature must be still, yea, must be entirely set aside as a dead, worthless thing, and then the divine glory can shine out, and faith find in that outshining all its rich and sweet reward.
Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (v.2) Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9140
Here we have accomplished promise--the blessed fruit of patient waiting upon God. None ever waited in vain. The soul that takes hold of God's promise by faith, has gotten a stable reality which will never fail him. Thus was it with Abraham; thus was it with all the faithful from age to age; and thus will it be with all those who are enabled, in any measure, to trust in the living God.
Oh! it is a wonderful blessing to have God Himself as our portion and resting-place, amid the unsatisfying shadows of this scene through which we are passing,--to have our anchor cast within the vail,--to have the word and oath of God--the two immutable things--to lean upon, for the comfort and tranquility of our souls.
When God's promise stood before the soul of Abraham as an accomplished fact, he might well have learned the futility of his own effort to reach that accomplishment. Ishmael was of no use whatever, so far as God's promise was concerned. He might, and did, afford something for nature's affections to entwine themselves around, thus furnishing a more difficult task for Abraham to perform afterwards; but he was in no wise conducive to the development of the purpose of God, or to the establishment of Abraham's faith, quite the reverse.
Nature can never do aught for God. The Lord must "visit," and the Lord must "do," and faith must wait, and nature must be still, yea, must be entirely set aside as a dead, worthless thing, and then the divine glory can shine out, and faith find in that outshining all its rich and sweet reward.
Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (v.2) Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9140
March 4
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8
David and Goliath's unequal battle--the shepherd lad without a sword or spear meeting the mighty giant of the Philistines striding proudly with his spear and sword and shield to mortal combat in the valley of Elah--is one of the striking pictures in the Old Testament of Golgotha.
David was misjudged by his brethren. Eliab, his eldest brother, said in anger, "Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle" (1 Samuel 17:28) What stinging sarcasm and evil surmising! How untrue the charge of pride and idle curiosity! David was one of the noblest examples of meekness and lowliness in the Scriptures.
"To see the battle"? There was no battle till David came. There would have been no battle had he not come. David was there because his father sent him. David was there because he was needed there.
David despised Goliath. "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (v.17:26). David was fired with zeal for the dishonour that was done to the name of God. "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied" (v.17:45).
See the courage and the confidence of David as he meets the towering giant. "David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine" (v.17:48). How soon it was all over! Goliath, like Dagon his god, lay stretched out with his face upon the earth. In the forehead of his pride, Goliath was pierced with the stone from David's sling. Before the men of Israel could scarcely get their breath, there was David standing on the carcass of the giant, swinging above his head the sword he had pulled from Goliath's sheath. . . . "But there was no sword in the hand of David" (v.17:50)
A Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J.Hiebert - 9141
David and Goliath's unequal battle--the shepherd lad without a sword or spear meeting the mighty giant of the Philistines striding proudly with his spear and sword and shield to mortal combat in the valley of Elah--is one of the striking pictures in the Old Testament of Golgotha.
David was misjudged by his brethren. Eliab, his eldest brother, said in anger, "Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle" (1 Samuel 17:28) What stinging sarcasm and evil surmising! How untrue the charge of pride and idle curiosity! David was one of the noblest examples of meekness and lowliness in the Scriptures.
"To see the battle"? There was no battle till David came. There would have been no battle had he not come. David was there because his father sent him. David was there because he was needed there.
David despised Goliath. "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (v.17:26). David was fired with zeal for the dishonour that was done to the name of God. "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied" (v.17:45).
See the courage and the confidence of David as he meets the towering giant. "David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine" (v.17:48). How soon it was all over! Goliath, like Dagon his god, lay stretched out with his face upon the earth. In the forehead of his pride, Goliath was pierced with the stone from David's sling. Before the men of Israel could scarcely get their breath, there was David standing on the carcass of the giant, swinging above his head the sword he had pulled from Goliath's sheath. . . . "But there was no sword in the hand of David" (v.17:50)
A Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J.Hiebert - 9141
March 5
Take care of him. Luke10:35
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Has anyone else ever stood before you and said, "Give me your care"? Many have come, it may be, and asked for your friendship, or your society, or your entertainment, or for some benefit; but did anyone want your care? No; they would not like you to bring your care into their company.
"Come with a bright face," they say; "make us happy with your sparkling wit and lively conversation." But here is One who asks for your company in order to relieve you of your care. He does not even say, "Cast your care away," but He invites you to cast it upon Him. Could anything be more calculated to touch us? And He says "all" your care.
It is not even that He promises to help us to bear it. This word carries us infinitely beyond that. Often we try to bear our cares, and ask God, as it were, to carry us and our cares.
We are like the man of Ganton, of whom we read, that he was riding to market with a sack of flour, when suddenly he was filled with remorse at the weight his horse had to carry; so without getting off, he lifted the sack upon his own back.
Foolish man, to add to his own burden without lightening that of his horse! And are we any wiser when we keep the burden that we might cast upon God, and instead of riding to heaven without a featherweight of care, we go heavily laden. Angels in White - Russell Elliott
N.J.Hiebert - 9142
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Has anyone else ever stood before you and said, "Give me your care"? Many have come, it may be, and asked for your friendship, or your society, or your entertainment, or for some benefit; but did anyone want your care? No; they would not like you to bring your care into their company.
"Come with a bright face," they say; "make us happy with your sparkling wit and lively conversation." But here is One who asks for your company in order to relieve you of your care. He does not even say, "Cast your care away," but He invites you to cast it upon Him. Could anything be more calculated to touch us? And He says "all" your care.
It is not even that He promises to help us to bear it. This word carries us infinitely beyond that. Often we try to bear our cares, and ask God, as it were, to carry us and our cares.
We are like the man of Ganton, of whom we read, that he was riding to market with a sack of flour, when suddenly he was filled with remorse at the weight his horse had to carry; so without getting off, he lifted the sack upon his own back.
Foolish man, to add to his own burden without lightening that of his horse! And are we any wiser when we keep the burden that we might cast upon God, and instead of riding to heaven without a featherweight of care, we go heavily laden. Angels in White - Russell Elliott
N.J.Hiebert - 9142
March 6
I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
(Psalm 119:14)
Joseph, a dear Christian and his wife, were driving on a highway on the outskirts of Beirut at a time of political unrest and war. He happened to see a large suitcase lying on the side of the road. In that part of the world with its war, terrorism and political unrest the only safe, wise thing to do would be to assume the suitcase was a roadside bomb and get away as fast and as far as possible.
But Joseph felt the Lord was compelling him to stop and pick up the suitcase. He did. When they arrived home he opened it to find that it was completely stuffed full of money. He also found an identification tag including a person's name, address and phone number.
Joseph's phone call was eventually answered. Identifying himself, Joseph asked to speak with the person whose name was written on the suitcase tag. A very sad sounding voice answered the phone. Joseph asked, "Sir, have you lost something?"
A tremulous voice responded; "Have you found it?" Further conversation revealed that the man and his family had been fleeing the country when, en-route, the suitcase was lost. A reunion with the suitcase and its owner was arranged. In a short time the relieved man man stood at Joseph's door. With him was his whole family, brought to meet such a rare person--a truly honest man.
As they sat talking together in Joseph's living room, he quietly said to the thankful family, "You may believe you have recovered your treasure. But remember, just how passing a treasure this really is. With the fragile state of our country, fighting, terrorism and political discontent, this suitcase full of money could easily become completely worthless
"I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). "The words that I speak unto you . . . they are life." (John 6:60) The Christian Shepherd - December 2006
N.J.Hiebert - 9143
Joseph, a dear Christian and his wife, were driving on a highway on the outskirts of Beirut at a time of political unrest and war. He happened to see a large suitcase lying on the side of the road. In that part of the world with its war, terrorism and political unrest the only safe, wise thing to do would be to assume the suitcase was a roadside bomb and get away as fast and as far as possible.
But Joseph felt the Lord was compelling him to stop and pick up the suitcase. He did. When they arrived home he opened it to find that it was completely stuffed full of money. He also found an identification tag including a person's name, address and phone number.
Joseph's phone call was eventually answered. Identifying himself, Joseph asked to speak with the person whose name was written on the suitcase tag. A very sad sounding voice answered the phone. Joseph asked, "Sir, have you lost something?"
A tremulous voice responded; "Have you found it?" Further conversation revealed that the man and his family had been fleeing the country when, en-route, the suitcase was lost. A reunion with the suitcase and its owner was arranged. In a short time the relieved man man stood at Joseph's door. With him was his whole family, brought to meet such a rare person--a truly honest man.
As they sat talking together in Joseph's living room, he quietly said to the thankful family, "You may believe you have recovered your treasure. But remember, just how passing a treasure this really is. With the fragile state of our country, fighting, terrorism and political discontent, this suitcase full of money could easily become completely worthless
"I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). "The words that I speak unto you . . . they are life." (John 6:60) The Christian Shepherd - December 2006
N.J.Hiebert - 9143
March 7
There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
(2 Peter 3:3-4)
It is always when people want to follow their own lusts that they begin to scoff. It may not be outward and gross lusts, but man wants to be independent, to gratify himself, and therefore he thinks he must get rid of God, get rid of His authority; and he would be glad to get rid of God out of the scene altogether if he could.
These scoffers say, The only thing that is durable and abiding is creation. It began far away in remote space; how it came we do not know exactly, but it came, and it goes on, and as for the promise of the coming of the Son of God, it is absurd. "Where is the the promise of His coming?" they say scoffingly. Judging by appearances, they say that there is no change since the beginning. This is false. The eye of man may not have detected any change, but the Word of God assures us that there has been.
But if they scoff at the Lord's coming, they are obliged to let in creation, and if creation comes in there must be the Creator, and who is the Creator? There they are silenced.
"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (v.5,6) Simon Peter - W. T. P. Wolston
N.J.Hiebert - 9144
It is always when people want to follow their own lusts that they begin to scoff. It may not be outward and gross lusts, but man wants to be independent, to gratify himself, and therefore he thinks he must get rid of God, get rid of His authority; and he would be glad to get rid of God out of the scene altogether if he could.
These scoffers say, The only thing that is durable and abiding is creation. It began far away in remote space; how it came we do not know exactly, but it came, and it goes on, and as for the promise of the coming of the Son of God, it is absurd. "Where is the the promise of His coming?" they say scoffingly. Judging by appearances, they say that there is no change since the beginning. This is false. The eye of man may not have detected any change, but the Word of God assures us that there has been.
But if they scoff at the Lord's coming, they are obliged to let in creation, and if creation comes in there must be the Creator, and who is the Creator? There they are silenced.
"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (v.5,6) Simon Peter - W. T. P. Wolston
N.J.Hiebert - 9144
March 8
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by men, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;) Galatians 1:1
Paul was an apostle from the resurrection side of the cross: an apostle from the glory: and we will find that all his writings bear his character. "Our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven." (Philippians 3:20). Our inheritance is in heaven (Ephesians 1:11). We are to "seek those things which are above (Colossians 3:1). "Set your affections on things above". (Colossians 3:2).
Power and authority to raise the dead is certain proof of power and authority to send forth His servants. It was after His resurrection that the Lord said, "All power is given unto unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore." (Matthew 28:18,19).
May we each be able to say, That is the mark; that is the badge; that is the sign of the authority that sends me forth, even the resurrection power, the mighty power of God, the One that raised our Lord Jesus Christ out from among the dead.
This is the first time the epistle refers to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is to tell out that Paul's authority and apostleship are in resurrection power. It is this power, this authority, that we need today.
Paul's authority was not Christ and Peter; or Christ and the apostles; or Christ and any man. Paul's authority and commission were from Jesus Christ and God the Father alone. No man added anything to his authority or his commission. Meditations on Galatians - G. C. Willis
N.J.Hiebert - 9145
Paul was an apostle from the resurrection side of the cross: an apostle from the glory: and we will find that all his writings bear his character. "Our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven." (Philippians 3:20). Our inheritance is in heaven (Ephesians 1:11). We are to "seek those things which are above (Colossians 3:1). "Set your affections on things above". (Colossians 3:2).
Power and authority to raise the dead is certain proof of power and authority to send forth His servants. It was after His resurrection that the Lord said, "All power is given unto unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore." (Matthew 28:18,19).
May we each be able to say, That is the mark; that is the badge; that is the sign of the authority that sends me forth, even the resurrection power, the mighty power of God, the One that raised our Lord Jesus Christ out from among the dead.
This is the first time the epistle refers to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is to tell out that Paul's authority and apostleship are in resurrection power. It is this power, this authority, that we need today.
Paul's authority was not Christ and Peter; or Christ and the apostles; or Christ and any man. Paul's authority and commission were from Jesus Christ and God the Father alone. No man added anything to his authority or his commission. Meditations on Galatians - G. C. Willis
N.J.Hiebert - 9145
March 9
The Double Reason
"Fear not . . . thou art mine . . . I am thy God . . . thy Saviour" Isaiah 43:1-3
Fear not, though the dangers around thee,
Come close and look large and grow great;
I will make thee a way through the waters
Till their force and their fury abate;
I will walk through the furnace beside thee
And the flame shall not burn, but refine.
I have called thee and I have redeemed thee!
Fear not, thou art Mine.
Fear not; there is naught that can harm thee,
Though evils increase, more and more
Though the prey there is none to deliver
The spoil there is none to restore.
The power shall pass from the mighty,
The strength of the foe shall decline;
When I work, there is none that can hinder;
Fear not, I am thine.
Fear not; I have called thee and named thee,
Thou art precious and dear unto Me;
I have chosen thee, loved thee and saved thee
My praise and My glory to be.
I have given My life for thy ransom,
My blood is the seal and the sign;
Thy Saviour, Thy God, Thy Redeemer--
Fear not; thou art Mine; I am thine.
Flint's Best-loved Poems
N.J.Hiebert - 9146
"Fear not . . . thou art mine . . . I am thy God . . . thy Saviour" Isaiah 43:1-3
Fear not, though the dangers around thee,
Come close and look large and grow great;
I will make thee a way through the waters
Till their force and their fury abate;
I will walk through the furnace beside thee
And the flame shall not burn, but refine.
I have called thee and I have redeemed thee!
Fear not, thou art Mine.
Fear not; there is naught that can harm thee,
Though evils increase, more and more
Though the prey there is none to deliver
The spoil there is none to restore.
The power shall pass from the mighty,
The strength of the foe shall decline;
When I work, there is none that can hinder;
Fear not, I am thine.
Fear not; I have called thee and named thee,
Thou art precious and dear unto Me;
I have chosen thee, loved thee and saved thee
My praise and My glory to be.
I have given My life for thy ransom,
My blood is the seal and the sign;
Thy Saviour, Thy God, Thy Redeemer--
Fear not; thou art Mine; I am thine.
Flint's Best-loved Poems
N.J.Hiebert - 9146
March 10
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
When we come to realize how wretched the flesh within us is, then we need to see that God is teaching us to look away from ourselves and unto Christ. As we look unto Him, His moral features will be impressed upon us. Some of these features are obedience and dependence upon God, patience, meekness, self control, and many others. In Galatians 5:22-23, we see these features presented as the fruit of the Holy Spirit being worked out practically in the life of the believer.
Paul explains that our bodies which he calls "earthen vessels," contain this special treasure of Christ dwelling in every believer. Then, as the vessel is broken, as self is set aside, the light shines out.
Here is something else to consider: in 2 Corinthians 5:10, the apostle Paul reminds us that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Every thing we have done in our lifetime will be manifested then in the light of His holy presence.
Our motives, our self-seeking--even when it is mixed with our service for the Lord--will be manifested. What was done in secret or in public, at the work place or at home, in private counselling or in public preaching, all will be laid bare.
But remember, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, our sinful nature is no longer in us. Then we will be with and like Christ, and we will rejoice that our old selfish and sinful nature is once and forever gone. Only what was of Christ will remain forever. Day by day, as we walk our wilderness pathway here, let us seek to please Him, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" Hebrews 12:2. Jacob Redekop
N.J.Hiebert - 9147
When we come to realize how wretched the flesh within us is, then we need to see that God is teaching us to look away from ourselves and unto Christ. As we look unto Him, His moral features will be impressed upon us. Some of these features are obedience and dependence upon God, patience, meekness, self control, and many others. In Galatians 5:22-23, we see these features presented as the fruit of the Holy Spirit being worked out practically in the life of the believer.
Paul explains that our bodies which he calls "earthen vessels," contain this special treasure of Christ dwelling in every believer. Then, as the vessel is broken, as self is set aside, the light shines out.
Here is something else to consider: in 2 Corinthians 5:10, the apostle Paul reminds us that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Every thing we have done in our lifetime will be manifested then in the light of His holy presence.
Our motives, our self-seeking--even when it is mixed with our service for the Lord--will be manifested. What was done in secret or in public, at the work place or at home, in private counselling or in public preaching, all will be laid bare.
But remember, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, our sinful nature is no longer in us. Then we will be with and like Christ, and we will rejoice that our old selfish and sinful nature is once and forever gone. Only what was of Christ will remain forever. Day by day, as we walk our wilderness pathway here, let us seek to please Him, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" Hebrews 12:2. Jacob Redekop
N.J.Hiebert - 9147
March 11
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice. Jonah 2:1-2
Yes, wonder of wonders, God is ever ready to hear, and ever ready to forgive. The cloud and the darkness are all on our side: our God has not changed. One can but watch with adoring wonder to see the patience and wisdom of God in dealing with His erring servant. Time and again He gave him warning and opportunity to cry to Him for pardon and help.
God does not give him up, even when the sight of death itself will not force him to yield. This God is our God; how much better for us to fall at His feet and pour out the whole story of our sin and failure, and cry to Him for mercy and forgiveness. We will surely find that, like, the writer of Psalm 116:1-2 (who had found trouble and sorrow), we too, may exclaim with adoring wonder, "I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live."
But let us listen further to Jonah's prayer. What an immense privilege to be able to stand by and hear this prayer out of the fish's belly: "For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas;" (v.2:3) There is not a suggestion that it was the sailors that cast him into the sea: No, Jonah knew better than that. It was God, and God only, who had cast Jonah into the sea, and he acknowledged it.
Why would God do such a thing as this? Was it cruel on His part to do so? Oh, no! This was the way home, and the only way home, for this particular prodigal son. It was not until he got into the fish, and had been there for three days and nights "that he came to himself"(Luke 15:17). Whether it is the pigs, or whether it is the fish, God has His ways to make His people come to themselves. Jonah - G. C. Willis
N.J.Hiebert - 9148
Yes, wonder of wonders, God is ever ready to hear, and ever ready to forgive. The cloud and the darkness are all on our side: our God has not changed. One can but watch with adoring wonder to see the patience and wisdom of God in dealing with His erring servant. Time and again He gave him warning and opportunity to cry to Him for pardon and help.
God does not give him up, even when the sight of death itself will not force him to yield. This God is our God; how much better for us to fall at His feet and pour out the whole story of our sin and failure, and cry to Him for mercy and forgiveness. We will surely find that, like, the writer of Psalm 116:1-2 (who had found trouble and sorrow), we too, may exclaim with adoring wonder, "I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live."
But let us listen further to Jonah's prayer. What an immense privilege to be able to stand by and hear this prayer out of the fish's belly: "For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas;" (v.2:3) There is not a suggestion that it was the sailors that cast him into the sea: No, Jonah knew better than that. It was God, and God only, who had cast Jonah into the sea, and he acknowledged it.
Why would God do such a thing as this? Was it cruel on His part to do so? Oh, no! This was the way home, and the only way home, for this particular prodigal son. It was not until he got into the fish, and had been there for three days and nights "that he came to himself"(Luke 15:17). Whether it is the pigs, or whether it is the fish, God has His ways to make His people come to themselves. Jonah - G. C. Willis
N.J.Hiebert - 9148
March 12
The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
If you reject Christ now you will have no desire to accept Him in that coming day. You are in the most dangerous position in which anyone could be. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1).
Some of the saddest funerals I have ever had to conduct in my life have been funerals of young men or women who were members of Christian families, who had often been pleaded with to come to Christ; but they had gone on in carelessness, hoping that everything would come out all right in the end. Then suddenly they were struck down, perhaps by accident, and they went out into eternity leaving no testimony,
Young men and young women, I plead with you, do not allow another day to pass without coming to Christ, lest the near future find you forever beyond all hope of mercy. God has given you the opportunity to believe the truth. He has presented His Word, but if you turn away from that truth and refuse to believe the gospel, then God Himself may give you up to judicial judgment that you should believe the lie of the man of sin and so be forever lost.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Thessalonians - H. A. Ironside
N.J.Hiebert - 9149
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
If you reject Christ now you will have no desire to accept Him in that coming day. You are in the most dangerous position in which anyone could be. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1).
Some of the saddest funerals I have ever had to conduct in my life have been funerals of young men or women who were members of Christian families, who had often been pleaded with to come to Christ; but they had gone on in carelessness, hoping that everything would come out all right in the end. Then suddenly they were struck down, perhaps by accident, and they went out into eternity leaving no testimony,
Young men and young women, I plead with you, do not allow another day to pass without coming to Christ, lest the near future find you forever beyond all hope of mercy. God has given you the opportunity to believe the truth. He has presented His Word, but if you turn away from that truth and refuse to believe the gospel, then God Himself may give you up to judicial judgment that you should believe the lie of the man of sin and so be forever lost.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Thessalonians - H. A. Ironside
N.J.Hiebert - 9149
March 13
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