September 11
By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27
You cannot see the loving eyes of your Lord or see His hand stretched out to help you. And yet you are trusted to go on just as if you saw. You are trusted to endure as seeing Him who is invisible, your Redeemer, your Captain and your Lord.
There is no life that is not surrounded at times with difficulties. We are not called to be weaklings but warriors. So let no one be surprised when the enemy comes in like a flood. But there is no need ever to be overwhelmed.
There is not one word in the Bible to tell us to expect to be overwhelmed, for the moment the enemy comes like a flood, that very moment "the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." (Isiah 59:19) and makes us strong to endure as seeing Him who is invisible.
I find much comfort in Psalm 138:3, “In the day when I cried Thou answeredst
me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”
"In the day that I cried:” That does not mean the day after, or an hour or two, or even a minute after, but that very day, that very hour, that very minute. God hears us the moment we cry and strengthens us with the only kind of strength that is
of any use at all. Candles in the Dark - Amy Carmichael
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Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint hearted. Isaiah 7:4
Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be be quiet from
fear of evil. Proverbs 1:33
Be still, my heart, for faithful is your Lord,
And pure and true and tried His holy Word;
Through stormy flood that rages as the sea,
His promises your stepping-stones shall be.
I will not seek to know the future years,
Nor cloud today with dark tomorrow’s fears;
I will but ask a light from heaven, to show
How, step by step, my pilgrimage should go.
Selected
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Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king
had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. 2 Chronicles 34:18-19
Judging The Word Or The Word Judging Us
Here we have a tender conscience bowing under the action of the Word of God.
This was one special charm in the character of Josiah. He was, in truth, a man
of a humble and contrite spirit who trembled at the Word of God.
Would that we all knew more of this! Josiah had no question whatever in his mind
as to the genuineness and authenticity of the words which Shaphan had read in
his hearing.
We do not read of his asking, “How am I to know that this is the Word of God?”
No, he trembled at it; he bowed before it; he was smitten down under it; he rent
his garments. He did not presume to sit in judgment upon the Word of God, but
he allowed the Word to judge him.
Thus it should ever be. If man is to judge Scripture, then Scripture is not the Word
of God at all; but if Scripture is in very truth the Word of God, then it must judge
man. And so it is, and so it does. It lays bare the very roots of his nature. It opens up the foundations of his moral being. It holds up before him the only faithful
mirror in which he can see himself perfectly reflected.
This is the reason why man does not like Scripture, cannot bear it, seeks to set it aside, delights to pick holes in it, dares to sit in judgment upon it. It is not so in reference to other books. No, but Scripture judges them, judges their ways, their
lusts. Hence the enmity of the natural mind to that most precious and marvellous
Book. There is a power in Scripture which must bear down all before it. All must bow down under it, sooner or later. C. H. Mackintosh
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WE SEE JESUS
But we see Jesus . . . crowned with glory and honour. Hebrews 2:9
When we focus on our Lord Jesus, we must include thoughts of His suffering at
Calvary. That work opened the way to a relationship with Him, providing for the
many privileges from the divine side. But we do not remain at Calvary. We
cannot even stay by the empty tomb.
At the cross, we find it empty. If we go to the tomb, it is also empty. In either
case we are concerned with Christ as dead. However, if by faith, we look into heaven, we see the exalted Man, crowned with glory and honour.
Knowing that the cross is empty and the tomb is empty, that sight provokes
our rejoicing and promotes worship. In looking into heaven there is investment
in the present and future realities. Hadley Hall
Gazing on the Lord in glory, while our hearts in worship bow,
There we read the wondrous story of the cross—its shame and woe.
Every mark of dark dishonour heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow,
All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow told in answering glory now.
On that cross alone—forsaken—where no pitying eye was found;
Now to God’s right hand exalted, with Thy praise the heavens resound.
Did Thy God e’en then forsake Thee, hide His face from Thy deep need?
In Thy face, once marred and smitten, all His glory now we read.
Gazing on it we adore Thee, blessèd, precious, holy Lord;
Thou, the Lamb, alone art worthy, this be earth’s and heaven’s accord.
Rise our hearts, and bless the Father, ceaseless song e’en here begun,
Endless praise and adoration to the Father and the Son. Miss C. Thompson
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Absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
AT HOME
Two striking words are used here, one meaning to be away from home, the
other to be among one’s own people. The Christian is a pilgrim in a strange
land.
What joy it is to come home from weeks among strangers! The believer
belongs to another country and what a prospect we have of going home!
The true disciple can never make himself feel at home in this world. He is
in a backslidden condition if he begins to integrate into the society of this age.
My dear wife’s favourite song was ”This World Is Not My Home.” She is at home tonight and I am still making my way through these lowlands. I know what
Paul means. “We are confidant, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the
body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
I am anxious to become an absentee from this poor earth and “Present!” with the
Lord. Vance Havner - All The Days
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Then David said unto the messenger, thus shalt thou say unto Joab, let not this thing displease thee for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. And 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 11:25-27)
The story, instead of ending, only is beginning . . . 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 was evil in the sight of Jehovah.
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” so that we may be led “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: “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right
hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11)
Meditations on 2 Samuel H. L. Rossier
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Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in
the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16
Be assured that God knows how to manage His own affairs. He has shown it.
The Lord Jesus was in this world “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
(Isaiah 53:3). A world of sin in contrast with His holiness, a world of sorrow and
suffering in contrast with His love could not but be for His heart a source of
sorrow and pain.
Christ as man was born of the Holy Ghost: His life was the expression of the Holy Spirit. He cast out devils by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:28). His words were
Spirit and life. By the Holy Spirit He offered Himself without spot to God.
(Hebrews 9:14).
Finally, the power of the Holy Spirit was shown in the greatest and most perfect
way in the Lord’s resurrection. “Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened
by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18).
His faithfulness to His church and people who trust in Him is infallible, and He
cannot but help you in all for which you look to Him.
J. N. Darby - Footprints for Pilgrims.
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THE DESIRED HAVEN
I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6.
Blessèd conclusion to a blessèd theme! Dark valleys may be required to be
travelled (v4); malignant foes may have to be encountered (v.5); but beyond the former, and in a scene where the latter can never enter—a realm where all is harmony, and light, and love—we shall live eternally—”I will dwell in the
House of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
For All Eternity. In the clear light of the New Testament we can assert that every child of God will infallibly dwell in the house of the Lord for all eternity. “In My Father’s House,”
said the Lord Jesus, “are many mansions . . . I go to prepare a place for you”
(John 14:2).
“And if I go, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” (John 14:3).
This is confirmed in (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), where the apostle, describing
the events which will take place at the second coming of our Lord, declares
that we “shall be caught up… to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
What a strong and sure hope; what a grand and glorious destiny! The hope is
strong and sure because the anchor will never drag. (Hebrews 6:19)
Then He shall be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11) and then we shall be satisfied, for we
shall awake with His likeness. (Psalm 17:15).
He and I, in that bright glory, one deep joy shall share,
Mine to be forever with Him, His that I am there.
Francis Bevon
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And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned,
Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. Luke 24:15
Jesus Himself drawing near was journeying with them. How good and comforting
it is to know that the fact of His Presence did not depend on their feeling Him
near. He was near; He was journeying with them.
If even for an hour that blessed Presence seems far distant, and we are (as they
were) cast down and in trouble, the quickest way to recover is to do what they
did. They came to a stand (v17).
There was a pause for quietness, then questions and time given for answers; and
then “abide with us.” (v29).
“As he sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and break and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him.”
Luke 24:30-31) Whispers of His Powers - Amy Carmichael
Abide with Me: fast falls the even-tide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, Oh abide with me!
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Oh abide with me. H. Lyte
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Ye are complete in HIm. . . . Colossians 2:10
A friend sent to me a bookmark that reads:
Birds do not sing because they have an answer,
They sing because they have a song!
The birds do not have all the answers, but they sing because they have a song
within. We are told to consider the birds. They have their mishaps and miseries,
but not even a sparrow falls without God’s notice. (Matthew 10:29)
The Christian does not have all the answers to the whys that baffle and
perplex him, but He has the Answer in whom are gathered up all our problems.
We see yet not all things put under Jesus, but we see Him (Hebrews 2:8-9)
and He is our song.
“And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3
Vance Havner .
I have a song that Jesus gave me, it was sent from heaven above;
There never was a sweeter melody, ‘tis a melody of love.
I love the Christ who died on Calvary, for He washed my sins away;
He put within my heart a melody, and I know it’s there to stay.
‘Twill be my endless theme in glory, with the ransomed I will sing;
‘Twill be a song with glorious harmony, when the courts of heaven ring.
Elton Roth
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SEVEN STEPS DOWNWARD
Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: but made Himself of no reputation, (emptied Himself) and took upon
Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being
found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8
“He emptied Himself.” Remember it was when He was in the form of God
that He emptied Himself. It was love made Him empty Himself: of all His
outward glory: but let us remember that He never ceased to be God. That
Babe in the manger was Emmanuel, “God with us,” Just as truly God,—
upholding all things by the word of His power, as when “all things were
created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1 :16)
Could there be another step downwards, beyond death? We would not
have thought so: but the Father, Who looked down with perfect delight
on all that pathway, sees one more step: not only did He become
obedient unto death: but that death, was the death of a cross.
That last step tells out the awfulness, the horror, the shame, the anguish
of the death to which He became obedient. “Jesus…endured the cross,
despising the shame.” (Hebrews 12:2) There was probably no death
from which one so much shrink as “the death of the cross.” It was to
this, the lowest step that could be taken, that the Lord of Glory went.
Philippians - G Christopher Willis
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In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord . . . I remembered God, I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed . . . I am so troubled that I cannot speak. But I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old . . . Thy way is in the sea, and Thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest Thy people like a flock. (Psalm 77)
Have you noticed how, when you are in heaviness, you are always tempted to
think about yourself—your uselessness, your failures, your nothingness—yourself
in one way or another? . . . Straight against this is the word we have in this
Psalm.
When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God. I will turn my thoughts from
myself to my Father Who loves me and does not stop loving me, though I am
useless and a failure and less than nothing at all.
It may seem quite impossible that we should rise and triumph, but ”Thou art
the God that doeth wonders.” We do not understand this strange way; be
it so. “Thy way is in the sea.” Who can find footsteps in the sea? Even so,
even there, “Thou led Thy people like sheep.” Amy Carmichael
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Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; (respect) not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (unjust). 1 Peter 2:18
THE WORKPLACE
God puts high value on work. To work is an honourable thing. If you work for someone, how is the work environment? How does your employer treat the employees? How does your employer treat you?
We know that God is all about relationships. Our verse for today provides valuable advice for the employee (servant) as how he/she relates to the boss(es).
First it speaks of being subject to them. Their position of authority commands that.
I once had a Principal who had a doctor's degree already by his early thirties - he was Dr. "Doe." I had been teaching 7 years longer than he had been alive. What was I to do? Be subject to him - he was my boss! It provided a good object lesson for my students.
Next it tells us how to be subject to them - “with all respect.” Yes, when we interact with them we are to be respectful, in actions and in words. Is that always easy to do?
No, because it goes on to say, “not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” And, there may be employers who don’t see the big picture (or the details) as well as you do - yes that happens more than we realize. Still, we’re called to be subject and respectful, and here’s why:
For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” (verse 19)
Who knows but what, by our respectfulness, some might be drawn to the Christ they see in us. L.I.F.E. LINES - Fred Pratt
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