"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
There are two things which constitute the joy of a Christian. The first is the hope of the coming of the Lord; the second is present communion and fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these two cannot be separated without loss to our souls, for we cannot have all the profit without both of them.
If we are not looking for the coming of the Lord, there is nothing whatever that can separate us in the same way from this present evil world; neither will Christ Himself be so much the object before the soul; nor yet shall we be able, in the same measure, to apprehend the mind and counsels of God about the world.
(Christian Truth - Vol. 14. February 1991)
N.J.Hiebert — 9532
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,
that ye through His poverty might be rich.
(2 Corinthians 8:9)
Time is short, remember "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich" (in all the glory which He had with the Father before the world was),
"yet for your sakes He became poor" (even to the shedding His precious blood on Calvary's cross to make us His own and fit us for Himself), "that ye through His poverty might be rich." (Selected)
N.J.Hiebert — 9533
"There came a messenger unto (King) Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-ham-mahlekoth" (that is, the rock of divisions or escape). And David went up from thence." (1 Samuel 23:27-29)
Saul was pressing David very close. It seemed as if Saul had captured his long pursued quarry on this occasion — "Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them" (verse 26)”.
But suddenly a messenger appeared, saying to Saul, "Haste thee, and come." Saul was called away, and thus one of the spots of David's greatest danger became henceforth a monumental place of divine deliverance; for in all this the believer sees God's intervention in David's escape. Are there not places in our own experience over which we too might write as truly as these Hebrews did, the long and difficult word, "SELA-HAM-MAHLEKOTH"?
God was no more David's deliverer than He is the deliverer in these days of those who put their trust in Him. Let us not forget the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:29-30)
(Christian Truth - Vol. 21 - March 1968)
N.J.Hiebert — 9534
"Whatsoever things are true." (Philippians 4:8)
The Word says of us: "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). If a man constantly thinks of something, the time will come when he cannot stop thinking of it: and woe be it to him, if these thoughts are evil and impure and false.
Our thoughts form us; and it is “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34) And let us not forget that our thoughts are formed by what we read, and look at, and hear. How much about us is superficial, or false. Our newspapers, the radio, the magazines about the house: do these help us to meditate on whatsoever things are true?
Do we realize what a terrific influence these things have on our children, as well as on ourselves? And how much of all this is not true, but utterly false, as we very well know. Little wonder the Spirit of God exhorts us to think on, to meditate on, to calculate, “whatsoever things are true”.
The Word here tells us to calculate. Let us calculate the awful loss to one who does not heed this admonition. It may mean the loss of a soul: if not your own soul, it may be the soul of one you love even better than yourself. It has been well said:
"Light obeyed increaseth Light.
Light refused, but bringeth night.
Who shall give us power to choose,
If the love of Light we lose?"
(G. Christopher Willis - Sacrifices of Joy -Philippians)
N.J.Hiebert — 9535
Jesus, when He had cried again with aloud voice, yielded up the ghost . . . and behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. (Matthew 27:50-54)
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, it is finished: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus He gave up the ghost.”
Luke 23:46
His be “the Victor’s name,“ Who fought the fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honour claim, His conquest was their own.
By weakness and defeat He won the meed and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath His feet by being trodden down.
Bless, bless the Conqueror slain, slain in His victory;
Who lived, who died, who lives again — for thee, His church, for thee!
Whitlock Gandy
N.J.Hiebert - 9536
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
“But what things were gain to me,
those I counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)
“ But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
- The first step in a person’s salvation is knowledge of their sin.
- In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
- To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else.
(R.K. — Some thoughts to Consider)
N.J.Hiebert — 9537
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.
1 Corinthians 11:26
THE MEMORIAL WHICH CHRIST LEFT TO US
The institution of the Lord's Supper must be regarded, by every spiritual man, as a peculiarly touching proof of the Lord's gracious care and considerate love for His Church. From the time of its appointment until the present hour, it has been a steady, though silent, witness to a truth which the enemy has sought to corrupt and set aside: that redemption is an accomplished fact to be enjoyed by the weakest believer in Jesus. Centuries have rolled away since the Lord Jesus appointed "the bread and the cup." Notwithstanding all the heresy, all the schism, all the controversy and strife, this most expressive institution has been observed by the saints of God in every age.
True, the enemy has succeeded, throughout a vast section of the professing Church, in wrapping it up in a shroud of dar superstition. Yet it still speaks to every spiritual mind, the same deep and precious truth, it shows the Lord's death till He come. The body has been broken, the blood has been shed once, no more to be
repeated; and the breaking of bread is but the memorial of this emancipating truth.
With what profound interest and thankfulness should the believer contemplate "the bread and the cup." There is the setting forth of truths most precious and glorious: grace reigning; redemption finished; sin put away; everlasting righteousness brought in; the sting of death gone; eternal glory secured; "grace and glory revealed as the free gift of God; and the unity of the "one body”.
What a feast! It carries the soul back and shows us the Master Himself, in the same night in which He was betrayed, sitting at the supper table, and there instituting a feast which from that memorable night, until the dawn of the morning, should lead every believing heart, at once, backward to the cross, and forward to the glory.
C. H. Mackintosh
N.J.Hiebert — 9538
"For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him." (Colossians 1:16)
"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
(1 Peter 2:24)
God alone has a right to act as He pleases. He had an only Son, of whom He could say, "He is all my delight;" and if He would make that Son the One on whom all His wrath should fall, who could dare to say to God, "What doest thou?" He is God, and He alone had a right to do what He liked and do it how He liked. If He had a plan in connection with that Son, He must have the cooperation of that Son to carry out His plan, and He had it. Christ came to the cross to die there.
(Gleanings From the Teachings of G.V. Wigram)
N.J.Hiebert — 9539
“For in vain the net is spread in the sight of anything which hath wings.”
Proverbs 1:17 (JND Trans.)
And just like God’s seraphim had six wings (Isaiah 6:2), God has two with which He covers us as He shelters us under His wings (Psalm 17:8 - 36:7 - 57:1 - 91:4), He has two with which He carries us as He places us on His wings (Exodus 19:4), and two He gives to us as the eagle as He renews our strength to fly high above, in spite of our earthly circumstances (Isaiah 40:31).
How wonderful to have His wings! Michel Payette - Le Lien Fraternal - Meditation 127
N.J.Hiebert — 9540
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
If we are really, and always, and equally ready to do whatsoever the King appoints, all the trials and vexations, arising from any change in His appointments, great or small, simply do not exist.
If He appoints me to work there, shall I lament that I am not to work here? If He appoints me to wait indoors today, am I to be annoyed because I am not to work out of doors? If I meant to write His messages this morning, shall I grumble because He sends interrupting visitors, rich or poor, to whom I am to speak to them, or "show kindness" for His sake or at least obey His command, "Be Courteous"?
If all my members are really at His disposal, why should I be put out if today's appointment is some simple work for my hands or errand for my feet, instead of some seemingly more important doing of head or tongue?
(Francis Ridley Havergal - 1902)
N.J.Hiebert — 9541
"Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
(1 Corinthians 10:12)
Had anyone told Peter on the day of his enthusiastic confession of the Master as "the Christ, the Son of the living God" that the moment would come when he would repudiate Him with oaths and curses, he would have been disposed to reply, in the words of another: "What, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" (2 Kings 8:13). But he did!
It was first a simple denial, in answer to the challenge of the maid who kept the High-Priest's door (Matthew 26:69-70). In answer to the questions of several in the porch, he added an oath to his second denial. Then, being identified by a relative of the man whose ear he cut off in the garden (John 18:26), he broke out into a regular volley of oaths and curses. "I know not this man of whom ye speak" (Mark 14:71).
Surely the Spirit of God had His reasons for giving us a fourfold (recorded in all the four gospels) account of Peter's miserable fall. It is an abiding warning against self-sufficiency in any of us. What Peter did yesterday, we may do tomorrow, unless upheld by infinite grace. (W.W. Fereday - Peter The Apostle)
N.J.Hiebert — 9542
"And they gathered it (manna) every morning, every man according to his eating." (Exodus 16:21)
There is no time like the early morning hour for feeding on Christ by communion with Him, and pondering His words. Once lose that, and the charm is broken by the intrusion of many things, though it may be they are all useful and necessary.
You cannot remake the broken reflections of a lake swept by wind. How different is that day from all others, the early prime of which is surrendered to fellowship with Christ! Nor is it possible to live to-day on the gathered spoils of yesterday. Each man needs all that a new day can yield him of God's grace and comfort. It must be daily bread. (F.B. Meyer)
N.J.Hiebert — 9543
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
The poet, Cowper, was subject to fits of depression. One day he ordered a cab, and told the driver to take him to London Bridge. Soon a dense fog settled down upon the city. The cabby wandered about for two hours, and then admitted he was lost.
Cowper asked him if he thought he could find the way home. The cabby thought that he could, and in another hour landed him at his door. When Cowper asked what the fare would be the driver felt that he should not take anything since he had not gotten his fare to his destination. Cowper insisted, saying, "Never mind that, you have saved my life.
I was on my way to throw myself off London Bridge." He then went into the house and wrote:
"God moves in a mysterious way His Wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps on the sea,
and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines of never — failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
and works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy,
and shall break in blessings on your head."
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust Him for His grace:
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain
(TAKEN FROM "SPRINGS IN THE VALLEY)
N.J.Hiebert — 9544
And Jesus said unto him (the thief) “today shalt thou be with Me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Jesus crucified was more than King—He was Saviour. The poor malefactor was a testimony to it, and the joy and consolation of the Lord’s heart—the first-fruits of the love which had placed them side by side, where, if the poor thief bore the fruit of his sins from man, the Lord of glory at his side was bearing the fruit of them from God.
Through a work unknown to man save by faith, the sins of His companion were forever put away, they no longer existed, their remembrance was only of the grace which had taken them away, and which had forever cleansed his soul from them, making him that moment as fit to enter paradise as Christ Himself his companion there! J.N.Darby
N.J.Hiebert — 9545
"Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" (Ruth 2:10)
These words of Ruth, a Gentile stranger, long ago, could be repeated by any Christian believer today. Like Ruth, a woman who by nature had no claims on God's covenant with Israel, so we were partakers of Adam's fallen nature, but now we have been brought near to God. Best of all, she came to know and love Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, and hence was overcome with thankfulness. When we consider that we too have been redeemed by Christ's saving grace, when many all around us are perishing, we might exclaim, "Why have I found grace in Thy sight?" (Robert Steele)
Marvellous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
N.J.Hiebert — 9546
"And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The Fair Havens;
nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea." (Acts 27:8)
Fair Havens - here was a place of safety. I want you to think of Fair Havens as a little
picture of blessings of true Christianity. These blessings and safety will be found in Christian homes, the assembly where you live, and in the example of faith of the believers with whom you associate.
Also think of this harbour as a little picture of the Christ of Christianity. The world sees nothing attractive in the Lord Jesus Christ, though it does willingly practice and embrace religion. But Fair Havens was the only place where protection from the coming storms of winter could be found - and it wasn't attractive.
Even if you have not been raised in a "Christian family," if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, then the grace of God has surely brought you, in Him, to a place of refuge from all you are sure to meet on your voyage. Ask Him - He who loves you with a Divine, eternal love - to make His Word good to you, that you might never stray from the place of safety that He has provided.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine Heart." (Jeremiah 15:16). Oh! do accept the safe shelter of the Fair Havens.
(D.N. - The Journey of Life)
N.J.Hiebert — 9547
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