"One thing have I desired . . . to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple." Psalm 27:4
Jesus! Thou art enough the mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life--to calm the soul, Thy love--its fear dispel.
O fix our earnest gaze so wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied, we elsewhere none may see.
A heart possessed of Christ is fortified against the most seductive allurements of the world. The state of our souls may be discerned by the effect produced upon us by the name of Jesus.
Christ Himself is to be our great example of faith, of a life of dependence upon God. If the holiest man that ever lived were to fill our vision it would only hinder and not help us.
Whenever we speak to one another of Christ He will always be one of the company. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." (Malachi 3:16). Do our hearts long for His presence? Then let us speak together of Him more.
We feed on Christ by the appropriation of Him in every character that He is presented to us. The whole life of our blessed Lord as man is compressed into the words, "He humbled Himself." (Philippians 2:8)
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him."(Matthew 17:5) Christ is the sole authority in the Kingdom. Edward Dennett
N.J.Hiebert - 9157
March 21
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21
We are indeed to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7), but such submission does not mean timid cringing as under a tyrant. God is not a taskmaster but our Father.
When trials come, we may submit because we have to and there is nothing else we can do. A better word here is acceptance. We accept God's dealings as Job did though we may not understand.
It is not mere resignation to what cannot be helped but taking what comes, convinced that it is part of the "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28) All The Days - Vance Havner
N.J.Hiebert - 9158
We are indeed to submit ourselves to God (James 4:7), but such submission does not mean timid cringing as under a tyrant. God is not a taskmaster but our Father.
When trials come, we may submit because we have to and there is nothing else we can do. A better word here is acceptance. We accept God's dealings as Job did though we may not understand.
It is not mere resignation to what cannot be helped but taking what comes, convinced that it is part of the "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28) All The Days - Vance Havner
N.J.Hiebert - 9158
March 22
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:9
We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
First, He loves us. Then the discovery of this leads us to love Him, Then, because He loves us, He claims us, and desires to have us wholly yielded to His will, so that the operations of love in and for us may have no hindrance. Then, because we love Him we recognize His claim and yield ourselves.
Then, being thus yielded, He draws us nearer to Him and admits us, so to speak, into closer intimacy, so that we gain nearer and truer views of His perfections. Then the unity of these perfections becomes clearer to us.
Now we not only see His justice and mercy flowing in an undivided stream from the cross of Christ, but we see that they never were divided, though the strange distortions of the dark, false glass of sin made them appear so, but that both are but emanations of God's Holy love.
Then having known and believed this holy love, we see further that His will is not a separate thing, but only love (and therefore all His attributes) in action; love being the primary essence of His being, and all the other attributes manifestations and combinations of that ineffable essence, for God is love.
He hath loved thee, and He knows all thy fears and all thy foes;
Victor thou shalt surely be ever through His love to thee.
Rest in quiet joy on this--greater love hath none than His:
And may this thy life-song be, love to Him that loveth thee!
Francis Ridley Havergal
N.J.Hiebert - 9159
1 John 4:9
We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
First, He loves us. Then the discovery of this leads us to love Him, Then, because He loves us, He claims us, and desires to have us wholly yielded to His will, so that the operations of love in and for us may have no hindrance. Then, because we love Him we recognize His claim and yield ourselves.
Then, being thus yielded, He draws us nearer to Him and admits us, so to speak, into closer intimacy, so that we gain nearer and truer views of His perfections. Then the unity of these perfections becomes clearer to us.
Now we not only see His justice and mercy flowing in an undivided stream from the cross of Christ, but we see that they never were divided, though the strange distortions of the dark, false glass of sin made them appear so, but that both are but emanations of God's Holy love.
Then having known and believed this holy love, we see further that His will is not a separate thing, but only love (and therefore all His attributes) in action; love being the primary essence of His being, and all the other attributes manifestations and combinations of that ineffable essence, for God is love.
He hath loved thee, and He knows all thy fears and all thy foes;
Victor thou shalt surely be ever through His love to thee.
Rest in quiet joy on this--greater love hath none than His:
And may this thy life-song be, love to Him that loveth thee!
Francis Ridley Havergal
N.J.Hiebert - 9159
March 23
For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Exodus 12:23
The "destroyer" was going to pass through the land of Egypt to kill the firstborn of every house. He was representative of Jehovah, an angelic being who had the power to destroy with death. Hence sometimes this "destroyer" is called, "the angel of death." This angel of death passed over the houses in Egypt that were marked with blood. The blood would signify to him that a death had already occurred in that house and so he would move on without inflicting judgment. However, no one had died except a lamb! (v.12:5)
The firstborn of each Israelite house was was safe, irrespective of their state or feelings. Imagine two different Israelite houses on that night in Egypt. In one, there was a boy who was afraid that he might die when the angel passed over; perhaps the angel wouldn't see the blood, or perhaps his parents had not applied the blood correctly or sufficiently.
In another house there was a boy who had full confidence that the angel would see the blood and pass over. In the morning light, both boys were very much alive. The destroyer did not look at the heart's state of the boys that night, with one in fear and trembling, the other confident and happy. He looked at one thing and one thing only: the blood. Our salvation is not due to our inward state but rather to Christ having made a propitiation for our sins.
During the night those in these Hebrew houses were also doing something else. They were feeding upon a roasted lamb (v.12:8). This would give them energy for the journey which lay ahed of them. This Lord's Day, let us once again appreciate the blood of the Lamb, and feed upon His grace in order to sustain us for the coming week.
Brian Reynolds - The Lord is Near
N.J.Hiebert - 9160
The "destroyer" was going to pass through the land of Egypt to kill the firstborn of every house. He was representative of Jehovah, an angelic being who had the power to destroy with death. Hence sometimes this "destroyer" is called, "the angel of death." This angel of death passed over the houses in Egypt that were marked with blood. The blood would signify to him that a death had already occurred in that house and so he would move on without inflicting judgment. However, no one had died except a lamb! (v.12:5)
The firstborn of each Israelite house was was safe, irrespective of their state or feelings. Imagine two different Israelite houses on that night in Egypt. In one, there was a boy who was afraid that he might die when the angel passed over; perhaps the angel wouldn't see the blood, or perhaps his parents had not applied the blood correctly or sufficiently.
In another house there was a boy who had full confidence that the angel would see the blood and pass over. In the morning light, both boys were very much alive. The destroyer did not look at the heart's state of the boys that night, with one in fear and trembling, the other confident and happy. He looked at one thing and one thing only: the blood. Our salvation is not due to our inward state but rather to Christ having made a propitiation for our sins.
During the night those in these Hebrew houses were also doing something else. They were feeding upon a roasted lamb (v.12:8). This would give them energy for the journey which lay ahed of them. This Lord's Day, let us once again appreciate the blood of the Lamb, and feed upon His grace in order to sustain us for the coming week.
Brian Reynolds - The Lord is Near
N.J.Hiebert - 9160
March 24
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it know unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:16-18
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were first faced with the challenge, they knew instinctively that they could not comply. Either God was God, or this idol was god, and they had no doubts as to what they had to do. However the system showed some patience with them. It gave them a cooling-off period, so to speak, to reconsider the awfulness of falling down into a furnace alive, and to imagine just what they would suffer before death took over.
So Nebuchadnezzar offered them a second chance to comply, and to worship his golden image. Faced with a situation like this, some might have reasoned that, since Nebuchadnezzar was a madman, they would not seriously give up their true God, but for the sake of peace, they could make a show of compliance. It would have been so much easier for them to go along with this charade, but here again they refused.
When we are first faced with a challenge to our faith, we tend to respond instinctively, and this usually proves to be the correct response. But given the opportunity to think it over, it is amazing just how many compromises come to mind--all of them with some seeming merit that would allow us to save face, and our masters to save face, and for everyone to end up happy.
After all, who wants to be branded a trouble-maker, and doesn't Scripture say that we are to submit to the powers that be? (1 Peter 2:13) But the Christian must reject any attempt to soften his position, or to compromise his faith. And we must be prepared to face the consequences of our non-compliance.
Daniel - William Burnett
N.J.Hiebert - 9161
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were first faced with the challenge, they knew instinctively that they could not comply. Either God was God, or this idol was god, and they had no doubts as to what they had to do. However the system showed some patience with them. It gave them a cooling-off period, so to speak, to reconsider the awfulness of falling down into a furnace alive, and to imagine just what they would suffer before death took over.
So Nebuchadnezzar offered them a second chance to comply, and to worship his golden image. Faced with a situation like this, some might have reasoned that, since Nebuchadnezzar was a madman, they would not seriously give up their true God, but for the sake of peace, they could make a show of compliance. It would have been so much easier for them to go along with this charade, but here again they refused.
When we are first faced with a challenge to our faith, we tend to respond instinctively, and this usually proves to be the correct response. But given the opportunity to think it over, it is amazing just how many compromises come to mind--all of them with some seeming merit that would allow us to save face, and our masters to save face, and for everyone to end up happy.
After all, who wants to be branded a trouble-maker, and doesn't Scripture say that we are to submit to the powers that be? (1 Peter 2:13) But the Christian must reject any attempt to soften his position, or to compromise his faith. And we must be prepared to face the consequences of our non-compliance.
Daniel - William Burnett
N.J.Hiebert - 9161
March 25
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the almighty God; walk before Me. Genesis 17:1
"Walk before Me." This is true power. To walk thus, implies our having nothing whatever before our hearts save God Himself. If I am founding my expectation upon men and things, I am not walking before God, but before men and things.
It is of the utmost importance to ascertain who or what I have before me as an object. To what am I looking? On whom or what am I leaning, at this moment? Does God entirely fill my future? Have men or circumstances aught to do therein? Is there any space allotted to the creature?
The only way in which to get above the world is to walk by faith, because faith so completely fills the scene with God that there is no room for the creature--no room for the world. If God fills up my entire range of vision, I can see nothing else; and them I am able to say, with the Psalmist,
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence, I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:5,6) This word "only" is deeply searching. Nature cannot say this. Not that it will, save when under the direct influence of a daring and blasphemous scepticism, formally shut out God altogether; but it assuredly cannot say, "He only." Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9162
"Walk before Me." This is true power. To walk thus, implies our having nothing whatever before our hearts save God Himself. If I am founding my expectation upon men and things, I am not walking before God, but before men and things.
It is of the utmost importance to ascertain who or what I have before me as an object. To what am I looking? On whom or what am I leaning, at this moment? Does God entirely fill my future? Have men or circumstances aught to do therein? Is there any space allotted to the creature?
The only way in which to get above the world is to walk by faith, because faith so completely fills the scene with God that there is no room for the creature--no room for the world. If God fills up my entire range of vision, I can see nothing else; and them I am able to say, with the Psalmist,
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence, I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:5,6) This word "only" is deeply searching. Nature cannot say this. Not that it will, save when under the direct influence of a daring and blasphemous scepticism, formally shut out God altogether; but it assuredly cannot say, "He only." Genesis - C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert - 9162
March 26
And Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? John 21:15
"The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." (Luke 24:34) This was confirmed long after by the apostle Paul, when he wrote to the Corinthians that the risen Christ appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:5) Wonderful love that with tender mercy gave the first interview to the most failing disciple.
In the first interview Peter's conscience was relieved; in (John 21) his heart is restored. Then the Lord dealt with the outward failure; now He deals with the inward root--confidence in his love to Christ. The threefold question thoroughly exposes this root. It is as if the Lord said, After all that has happened, do you still maintain, Peter, that you "lovest Thou Me more than these" (John 21:15)
With the second question, the Lord says nothing of the other disciples: it is simply now, "Lovest thou Me?" With the third question, the Lord, using a different word, asks, Art thou attached to me? By his third answer Peter puts himself entirely into the Lord's hands, saying, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I am (attached) to Thee." (v.17) It is as if Peter said, "I cannot trust my love, or talk of my love, or what I will do, but Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest my heart. I will leave Thee to estimate my love, and tell me what to do.
No longer is Peter telling the Lord in self-confidence what he is ready to do, but it is the Lord in infinite grace telling His restored disciple what He will enable him to do. The Lord, as it were, says, "You no longer trust in your love to do great things for Me, you have left it to Me; then go forth and "Feed My sheep" (v.17), "Glorify God" (v.19). and "Follow Me." (v.19).
The Lord seems to say, Time was when you thought you loved Me more than these other disciples; now go forth and show your love by feeding My sheep that I love. H. Smith
N.J.Hiebert - 9163
"The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." (Luke 24:34) This was confirmed long after by the apostle Paul, when he wrote to the Corinthians that the risen Christ appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:5) Wonderful love that with tender mercy gave the first interview to the most failing disciple.
In the first interview Peter's conscience was relieved; in (John 21) his heart is restored. Then the Lord dealt with the outward failure; now He deals with the inward root--confidence in his love to Christ. The threefold question thoroughly exposes this root. It is as if the Lord said, After all that has happened, do you still maintain, Peter, that you "lovest Thou Me more than these" (John 21:15)
With the second question, the Lord says nothing of the other disciples: it is simply now, "Lovest thou Me?" With the third question, the Lord, using a different word, asks, Art thou attached to me? By his third answer Peter puts himself entirely into the Lord's hands, saying, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I am (attached) to Thee." (v.17) It is as if Peter said, "I cannot trust my love, or talk of my love, or what I will do, but Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest my heart. I will leave Thee to estimate my love, and tell me what to do.
No longer is Peter telling the Lord in self-confidence what he is ready to do, but it is the Lord in infinite grace telling His restored disciple what He will enable him to do. The Lord, as it were, says, "You no longer trust in your love to do great things for Me, you have left it to Me; then go forth and "Feed My sheep" (v.17), "Glorify God" (v.19). and "Follow Me." (v.19).
The Lord seems to say, Time was when you thought you loved Me more than these other disciples; now go forth and show your love by feeding My sheep that I love. H. Smith
N.J.Hiebert - 9163
March 27
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh (achieving) for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17
Is achieving for us. The question is repeatedly asked--Why is the life of a Christian drenched with so much blood, and blistered with so many tears? The answer is to be found in the word "achieving"; These things are achieving for us something precious. They are teaching us not only the way to victory, but better still the laws of victory. There is a compensation in every sorrow, and the sorrow is working out the compensation. It is the cry of the dear old hymn:
"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee,
E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me."
Joy sometimes needs pain to give it birth. Fanny Crosby may never have written her beautiful hymn, "I Shall See Him Face to Face," were it not for the fact that she had never looked upon the green fields nor the evening sunset nor the kindly twinkle in her mother's eye. It was the loss of her own vision that helped her to gain her remarkable spiritual discernment.
It is the tree that suffers that is capable of polish. When the woodman wants some curved lines of beauty in the grain he cuts down some maple that has been gashed by the axe and twisted by the storm. In this way he secures the knots and the hardness that take the gloss.
It is comforting to know that sorrow tarries only for the night; it takes its leave in the morning. A thunder storm is very brief when put alongside the long summer day. "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5) Songs in the Night
N.J.Hiebert - 9164
Is achieving for us. The question is repeatedly asked--Why is the life of a Christian drenched with so much blood, and blistered with so many tears? The answer is to be found in the word "achieving"; These things are achieving for us something precious. They are teaching us not only the way to victory, but better still the laws of victory. There is a compensation in every sorrow, and the sorrow is working out the compensation. It is the cry of the dear old hymn:
"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee,
E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me."
Joy sometimes needs pain to give it birth. Fanny Crosby may never have written her beautiful hymn, "I Shall See Him Face to Face," were it not for the fact that she had never looked upon the green fields nor the evening sunset nor the kindly twinkle in her mother's eye. It was the loss of her own vision that helped her to gain her remarkable spiritual discernment.
It is the tree that suffers that is capable of polish. When the woodman wants some curved lines of beauty in the grain he cuts down some maple that has been gashed by the axe and twisted by the storm. In this way he secures the knots and the hardness that take the gloss.
It is comforting to know that sorrow tarries only for the night; it takes its leave in the morning. A thunder storm is very brief when put alongside the long summer day. "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5) Songs in the Night
N.J.Hiebert - 9164
March 28
Thou art with me. Psalm 23:4
COMPANIONSHIP-- "Thou art with me". Till now, (Psalm 23:1-3) David had been speaking of the Shepherd; but as the valley of death's shade is approached he begins to speak to Him. Instead of saying "He" he says "Thou art with me."
The word of confidence which David uses here, is transmuted for us into a word of promises by our Lord. "I am with you always," He says (Matthew 28:20); and again, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Come dark valley or bright sunshine, green pasture or desert land--"I am with you always".
That is a fact, irrespective of the strength or weakness of our faith; apart from, and entirely independent of, what we feel. Our feelings may change as frequently as do the winds; our experience of the blessedness of the promise may rise or fall as frequently as do the tides; but the promise and the Promiser abide.
A man once came to a preacher, and said to him: "I was filled with joy in the meeting yesterday, and now it is all gone--all--and I do not know what to do. It is dark as night." "I am so glad," was the reply. He looked at the servant of Christ with astonishment, and said: "What do you mean?"
"Yesterday, God gave you joy, and today He sees you are resting on your emotions instead of on Christ, and He has taken them away in order to turn you to Christ. You have lost your joy, but you have Christ none the less. Did you ever pass through a railway tunnel?" "Yes, often." "Did you, because it was dark, become melancholy and alarmed?" "Of course not." "And did you, after awhile, come out again into the light?"
"I am out now," he exclaimed, interrupting the servant of Christ; "it is all right--feelings or no feelings." The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson
N.J.Hiebert - 9165
COMPANIONSHIP-- "Thou art with me". Till now, (Psalm 23:1-3) David had been speaking of the Shepherd; but as the valley of death's shade is approached he begins to speak to Him. Instead of saying "He" he says "Thou art with me."
The word of confidence which David uses here, is transmuted for us into a word of promises by our Lord. "I am with you always," He says (Matthew 28:20); and again, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Come dark valley or bright sunshine, green pasture or desert land--"I am with you always".
That is a fact, irrespective of the strength or weakness of our faith; apart from, and entirely independent of, what we feel. Our feelings may change as frequently as do the winds; our experience of the blessedness of the promise may rise or fall as frequently as do the tides; but the promise and the Promiser abide.
A man once came to a preacher, and said to him: "I was filled with joy in the meeting yesterday, and now it is all gone--all--and I do not know what to do. It is dark as night." "I am so glad," was the reply. He looked at the servant of Christ with astonishment, and said: "What do you mean?"
"Yesterday, God gave you joy, and today He sees you are resting on your emotions instead of on Christ, and He has taken them away in order to turn you to Christ. You have lost your joy, but you have Christ none the less. Did you ever pass through a railway tunnel?" "Yes, often." "Did you, because it was dark, become melancholy and alarmed?" "Of course not." "And did you, after awhile, come out again into the light?"
"I am out now," he exclaimed, interrupting the servant of Christ; "it is all right--feelings or no feelings." The Pearl of Psalms - George Henderson
N.J.Hiebert - 9165
March 29
Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3
I remember a brother of mine returning from America, where he had been nearly all his life. I was a boy when he left, and twenty-five years had rolled by.
Before he returned I had been converted, and of course I began to speak to him about his soul, as he was still unconverted. After a little conversation, he turned to me and said, "Christians are so inconsistent with their profession that they stumble me."
"I admit that,"I replied; "but I would ask you, is my inconsistency going to keep you out of hell?" "I would not think that for a moment," he had to confess. No, for the man who takes this ground I have a simple answer. It is this. You turn to the Lord, and be a consistent Christian.
Do not suppose because you see a flaw in the life of somebody else that that will justify your unbelief. Quite possibly you may say, I know somebody who professed to be converted, and he fell away, hence I do not believe in conversion. Very likely.
Did you ever see a bad bank-note, or a bad half-crown? Does that bad bank note prove that all bank notes are bad? You are not so foolish as to believe that. What does a bad bank-note prove? A bad bank-note proves that there are millions of good ones, or the forger would not have troubled to produce it.
Similarly the devil produces counterfeits of the real article, called a Christian, and when you think that one inconsistent man proves that all are false, you are guilty of great folly. Seekers of Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J.Hiebert - 9166
I remember a brother of mine returning from America, where he had been nearly all his life. I was a boy when he left, and twenty-five years had rolled by.
Before he returned I had been converted, and of course I began to speak to him about his soul, as he was still unconverted. After a little conversation, he turned to me and said, "Christians are so inconsistent with their profession that they stumble me."
"I admit that,"I replied; "but I would ask you, is my inconsistency going to keep you out of hell?" "I would not think that for a moment," he had to confess. No, for the man who takes this ground I have a simple answer. It is this. You turn to the Lord, and be a consistent Christian.
Do not suppose because you see a flaw in the life of somebody else that that will justify your unbelief. Quite possibly you may say, I know somebody who professed to be converted, and he fell away, hence I do not believe in conversion. Very likely.
Did you ever see a bad bank-note, or a bad half-crown? Does that bad bank note prove that all bank notes are bad? You are not so foolish as to believe that. What does a bad bank-note prove? A bad bank-note proves that there are millions of good ones, or the forger would not have troubled to produce it.
Similarly the devil produces counterfeits of the real article, called a Christian, and when you think that one inconsistent man proves that all are false, you are guilty of great folly. Seekers of Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J.Hiebert - 9166
March 30
And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, if Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. Luke 23:39.
You would not have thought that the poor fellow would have talked in that strain; You would not have thought a man in his serious position, in the jaws of death as it were, would have railed in such a manner. Another scripture tells us that both the malefactors did it (Mark15:32).
I do not doubt both of them were hardened enough to mock at the Saviour; they did not, you will notice, taunt each other; they both, however, derided Christ.
Why, there is not a man that does not hate Christ at the bottom of his heart to begin with. Even a dying robber, just going to drop into a lost eternity, will spend his last breath in abusing Christ. But note this, Christ, will spend His last breath in praying for those who have abused Him.
If sin leads a man to abuse Christ, He in the goodness of His heart, spends His last breath praying for His murderers; and I think that was what wrought the great change in the heart of one dying thief, while the other dying wretch, untouched by grace, and abiding unbelief, says "If Thou be the Christ, save Thyself and us." (v. 39).There was, alas! no faith in him towards Christ. Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
There is a stream of precious blood which flowed from Jesu's veins;
And sinners washed in that blest flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that Saviour in his day;
And by that blood, though vile as he, our sins are washed away. William Cowper
N.J.Hiebert - 9167
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, if Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. Luke 23:39.
You would not have thought that the poor fellow would have talked in that strain; You would not have thought a man in his serious position, in the jaws of death as it were, would have railed in such a manner. Another scripture tells us that both the malefactors did it (Mark15:32).
I do not doubt both of them were hardened enough to mock at the Saviour; they did not, you will notice, taunt each other; they both, however, derided Christ.
Why, there is not a man that does not hate Christ at the bottom of his heart to begin with. Even a dying robber, just going to drop into a lost eternity, will spend his last breath in abusing Christ. But note this, Christ, will spend His last breath in praying for those who have abused Him.
If sin leads a man to abuse Christ, He in the goodness of His heart, spends His last breath praying for His murderers; and I think that was what wrought the great change in the heart of one dying thief, while the other dying wretch, untouched by grace, and abiding unbelief, says "If Thou be the Christ, save Thyself and us." (v. 39).There was, alas! no faith in him towards Christ. Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
There is a stream of precious blood which flowed from Jesu's veins;
And sinners washed in that blest flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that Saviour in his day;
And by that blood, though vile as he, our sins are washed away. William Cowper
N.J.Hiebert - 9167
March 31
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
How forgetful we are of that! The preacher goes out to face his audience to whom he has preached so frequently through the years, perhaps often from the very same passage of Scripture. He goes out with self-confidence, forgetting the need of prayer, of being before God for a time of heart searching lest anything, any root of bitterness, might have come up which might hinder the work of the Spirit of God.
He rushes to the platform and delivers his message--but his message had no power because he was not consciously abiding in the living Vine. A young preacher had been called to preach and had much confidence in his own ability. The people were watching him as he entered.
He read his text, but his whole message went from him. He read the text again, and still he could not recall. He tried the third time, "I want to read my text again," hoping his message would come back. But all was blank so far as the message was concerned, and looking at the audience he said, "I am sorry; but I can't speak to you this morning."
Down the stairs he went with bowed head and broken step. At the close an old man came to him and said, "Laddie, if you had gone up the way you came down, you might have come down the way you went up!"
It is so easy to be self-confident and to believe that because we have done it before, of course we can do it again, and so we forget the need of constantly abiding, of ever being before Him in communion. And it is the same in every detail of Christian life.
"Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me." (John 15:4.) Gospel of John - H. A. Ironside
N.J.Hiebert - 9168
How forgetful we are of that! The preacher goes out to face his audience to whom he has preached so frequently through the years, perhaps often from the very same passage of Scripture. He goes out with self-confidence, forgetting the need of prayer, of being before God for a time of heart searching lest anything, any root of bitterness, might have come up which might hinder the work of the Spirit of God.
He rushes to the platform and delivers his message--but his message had no power because he was not consciously abiding in the living Vine. A young preacher had been called to preach and had much confidence in his own ability. The people were watching him as he entered.
He read his text, but his whole message went from him. He read the text again, and still he could not recall. He tried the third time, "I want to read my text again," hoping his message would come back. But all was blank so far as the message was concerned, and looking at the audience he said, "I am sorry; but I can't speak to you this morning."
Down the stairs he went with bowed head and broken step. At the close an old man came to him and said, "Laddie, if you had gone up the way you came down, you might have come down the way you went up!"
It is so easy to be self-confident and to believe that because we have done it before, of course we can do it again, and so we forget the need of constantly abiding, of ever being before Him in communion. And it is the same in every detail of Christian life.
"Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me." (John 15:4.) Gospel of John - H. A. Ironside
N.J.Hiebert - 9168
April 1
OVERCOMING FAITH
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
The storms of life come and go. The winter weather is but for a short season. The dark squalls and gusting winds are passing phenomena. When they are gone, the rainbow of God's blessing and reassurance reminds us of His presence. The unique peace which He alone can provide for His people pervades our spirits.
And the rest He promises us endures as our legacy. All of us have winter weather. We face those formidable interludes in life when everything looks dark and depressing.
We all have times when our days are strewn with the apparent wreckage of wrong choices and derelict decisions. The best of men and women know what it is to be stripped down to the bedrock of sheer survival.
Yet amid all such storms what a consolation to know our Father has His strong hand upon us for our own good. What an assurance to recognize that Christ can be counted on to control the final outcome of our apparent calamities. What a strength to see His gracious Spirit bring great glory and beauty out of what to us may have seemed only disastrous! Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller
N.J.Hiebert - 9169
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
The storms of life come and go. The winter weather is but for a short season. The dark squalls and gusting winds are passing phenomena. When they are gone, the rainbow of God's blessing and reassurance reminds us of His presence. The unique peace which He alone can provide for His people pervades our spirits.
And the rest He promises us endures as our legacy. All of us have winter weather. We face those formidable interludes in life when everything looks dark and depressing.
We all have times when our days are strewn with the apparent wreckage of wrong choices and derelict decisions. The best of men and women know what it is to be stripped down to the bedrock of sheer survival.
Yet amid all such storms what a consolation to know our Father has His strong hand upon us for our own good. What an assurance to recognize that Christ can be counted on to control the final outcome of our apparent calamities. What a strength to see His gracious Spirit bring great glory and beauty out of what to us may have seemed only disastrous! Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller
N.J.Hiebert - 9169
April 2
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according His purpose. Romans 8:28
It is one of the greatest triumphs of God that He has given the knowledge of His perfect goodness to many a frail man, so that the most difficult circumstances, the deepest bereavement of sorrow or suffering, cannot shake His confidence. Even Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (Job 13:15)
But we are permitted to go a step further. We know that whatever is brought upon the believer by God is not merely the product of divine goodness, but the positive plannings of divine love. However severe the trial and deep the pain and trying the exercise, it does but the more convince us of that clear, warm love that makes no mistakes.
This love is so deeply concerned that the divine purpose should be worked out in us that it will not shrink from adopting means that may at the moment bring the tear to the eye and make the whole frame wince and quiver. "Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11).
Ask that dying saint, racked with pain, lying, it may be, in a damp cottage with no earthly comfort; ask that bereaved one, out of whose life has passed forever with the silence of death the object of deepest affection; and each will answer, with brightening eye and kindling voice "The Lord is good." Nahum 1:7
A. J. Pollock
We cannot always trace the way where Thou our gracious Lord, dost move;
But we can always surely say, that God is love.
When clouds hang o'er our darkened path, We'll check our dread, each doubt reprove; For here each saint sweet comfort hath, that God is love. J. Bowring
N.J.Hiebert - 9170
It is one of the greatest triumphs of God that He has given the knowledge of His perfect goodness to many a frail man, so that the most difficult circumstances, the deepest bereavement of sorrow or suffering, cannot shake His confidence. Even Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (Job 13:15)
But we are permitted to go a step further. We know that whatever is brought upon the believer by God is not merely the product of divine goodness, but the positive plannings of divine love. However severe the trial and deep the pain and trying the exercise, it does but the more convince us of that clear, warm love that makes no mistakes.
This love is so deeply concerned that the divine purpose should be worked out in us that it will not shrink from adopting means that may at the moment bring the tear to the eye and make the whole frame wince and quiver. "Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11).
Ask that dying saint, racked with pain, lying, it may be, in a damp cottage with no earthly comfort; ask that bereaved one, out of whose life has passed forever with the silence of death the object of deepest affection; and each will answer, with brightening eye and kindling voice "The Lord is good." Nahum 1:7
A. J. Pollock
We cannot always trace the way where Thou our gracious Lord, dost move;
But we can always surely say, that God is love.
When clouds hang o'er our darkened path, We'll check our dread, each doubt reprove; For here each saint sweet comfort hath, that God is love. J. Bowring
N.J.Hiebert - 9170
April 3
Uriah the Hittite is dead.
Then David said unto the messengers...
Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as the another...
When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."
2 Samuel 11:24-27
The story, instead of ending, only is beginning at this point. At the end of this chapter, so full of corruption and shame, we find a little expression, the only thing David had not thought of and the only one he ought to have remembered. "But the thing that David had done displeased (was evil in the sight of) the Lord." (v.27)
Let us take heed to our ways. It takes only an instant to fall, but to avoid falling we must constantly be on the alert in all that precedes the incident.
Yes, we must watch daily to avoid walking in "any grievous way". Lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:24). In this path all is peace for our souls; this is the path of life that leads to unclouded rejoicing in God's presence: "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11).
2 Samuel - H. L. Rossier
N.J.Hiebert - 9171
Then David said unto the messengers...
Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as the another...
When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."
2 Samuel 11:24-27
The story, instead of ending, only is beginning at this point. At the end of this chapter, so full of corruption and shame, we find a little expression, the only thing David had not thought of and the only one he ought to have remembered. "But the thing that David had done displeased (was evil in the sight of) the Lord." (v.27)
Let us take heed to our ways. It takes only an instant to fall, but to avoid falling we must constantly be on the alert in all that precedes the incident.
Yes, we must watch daily to avoid walking in "any grievous way". Lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:24). In this path all is peace for our souls; this is the path of life that leads to unclouded rejoicing in God's presence: "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11).
2 Samuel - H. L. Rossier
N.J.Hiebert - 9171
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