"Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."
(Psalm 119:11)
The word of God should not only be a check on our thoughts, but the source of them, which is a far deeper thing. We see it in Christ, the only perfect one. He only could say, "By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the path of the destroyer." (Psalm 17:4) "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."
There is preserving power in the word, to keep the feet from sliding, which those only know who receive the truth in the love of it. Merely having the word hid in the memory and mind will not do. There must be the action of the truth on the heart and conscience, separating from all defilement, otherwise its preserving power cannot be experienced.
There is nothing more dangerous than to use the Word when it has not touched my
conscience. I put myself into Satan's hands if I go beyond what I have from God, handling the Word apart from the guidance of the Spirit.
I know of nothing that separates more from God than truth spoken out of communion with God. (J.N.Darby)
N.J.Hiebert — 9513
"Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering:
so they went both of them together." (Genesis 22:8)
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)
Abraham and Isaac were united as they made their trek to the altar on the top of Mount Moriah. So too, in that long walk from heaven to Calvary, that place of divine sacrifice for our sin, God the Father and God the Son were in perfect harmony and total agreement in the great plan of salvation.
Who were the objects of this unified, unsurpassed, and undeserved love? You and me! How much we owe! (D. Logan)
Lest I forget Gethsemane; lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.
(J.E. Hussey)
N.J.Hiebert — 9514
"Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? ... Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? (2 Samuel 9:1,3)
King Saul had not been kind to David, but all that is forgotten. David remembers the one lovely thing that came from that house. "Whatsoever things are...lovely..think on these things." (Philippians 4:8); leave the rest - forget them - that is the word that shines forth here.
Would it not be good to get into the way of looking out for chances to show kindness over and above duties? These words might be well written up, if not on the walls of our rooms, then on the walls of our hearts. "is there any that I might show him kindness? Is there any that I might show the kindness of God unto him?"
(Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)
N.J.Hiebert — 9515
"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)
In His hand for salvation- Isaiah 59:1-2
In His hand for security- John 10:29
In His hand for succor- Ezra 8:31
In His hand for submission- 1 Peter 5:6
In His hand for service - Isaiah 49:1-4
In His hand for sustenance- Psalm 145:14-16
In His hand for severity- Hebrews 10:30-31
In His hand for supremacy- Acts 5:30-31
N.J.Hiebert — 9516
"When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:29,30)
Peter had a little faith in the midst of his doubts, says Bunyan; and so with crying and coming he was brought to Christ. But here you see that sight was a hindrance: the waves were none of his business when once he had set out; all Peter had any concern with, was the pathway of light that came gleaming across the darkness from where Christ stood.
If it was tenfold Egypt beyond that, Peter had no call to look and see. When the Lord shall call to you over the waters, "Come," step gladly forth. Look not for a moment away from Him.
Not by measuring the waves can you prevail; not by gauging the wind will you grow strong; to scan the danger may be to fall before it; to pause at the difficulties, is to have them break above your head. Lift up your eyes unto the hills (Psalm 121:1), and go forward - there is no other way. (Streams in the Desert)
N.J.Hiebert — 9517
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
Micah 6:8
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.
Colossians 2:6
We see many older people using a cane to help them walk safely, and I am one of them. In the spiritual context, we all want to carry on with our spiritual walk in accordance with the verses quoted above — humbly before God, and in the power of the new life within us. But, like the person who needs a cane we often stumble, fail to lean on the Lord and struggle to keep our life in balance. To walk properly
before God, we need to lean on the Spirit of God. He is like my cane.
Stability - For this we need firm footing and a solid foundation. It's much easier to walk safely when we select a clear path or solid sidewalk. The best path for the believer is upon the basis of the holy scriptures - certainly we find therein a firm footing and a solid foundation. “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to he strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…” Ephesians 3:16-17.
Support —there are many rich promises in the scriptures, and here is one of them: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling . . .” Jude 24 We little know just how much we are protected from. The Holy Sport is like a hedge around us, very often preventing us from stumbling into the ways of Satan.
(Lorne Perry) (More tomorrow)
N.J.Hiebert — 9518
About Walking - (Part 2 ) (The Holy Spirit is our constant resource)
Walking in the right direction - It is my frequent experience when out walking that my steps wander away from where I want to go. My cane helps get me back on track. When we fail to stay vigilant, our lives can quickly veer away from the narrow way that leadeth up to God. Matthew 7:13. If we quickly turn to the Lord, His Spirit will bring us back into line. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.
Balance - The older we get, the harder it is to maintain our balance. A cane can be a big help. It's something to lean on when you start to tip to one side or the other. Our spiritual life, at any age, can easily get out of balance. We do have to study, work, bring up children, etc., but we also need to spend time in the scriptures, in prayer and in worship. “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left.” Proverbs 4:26-27. Once more, it will be the Holy Spirit who will direct us in maintaining the desired balance.
The Canopy of Love - Charity shall cover a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8. It was the love of the Lord Jesus that took care of our sins, and now it hovers above all that goes on in our lives, and affects every detail. Then what follows is its activity within us to extend that love to those around.
That activity is prompted by the Holy Spirit within us. An example is found in Acts 8:29: “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot.” Philip explained the scripture the official was reading aboard his chariot and the man was saved. A wonderful display of love, under the direction of the Lord by His Spirit. When we allow the Spirit to be active, there will be blessing. Lorne Perry
N.J.Hiebert — 9519
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers,they shall not overflow thee;
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt
not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)
We are never staying in the valley or the rough waters; we are always only passing through them, just as the bride in the Song of Solomon is seen coming up from the wilderness leaning upon her Beloved. (Song of Solomon 8:5)
So whatever the valley is, or however rough the waters are, we won't fear. Leaning upon our Beloved we shall come up from the wilderness and, as Psalm 84:6 says,
"Passing through the valley of weeping they make it a place of springs (make it a well).” even use the valley as a well, make it a well. We shall find the living waters there and drink of them. (Amy Carmichael - Candles in the Dark).
N.J.Hiebert — 9520
"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when
thou art rebuked of Him." (Hebrews 12:5)
The famous oriental philosopher, Lokman, while a slave, being presented by his master with a bitter melon, immediately ate it all. "How was it possible,”
said his master, "for you to eat so nauseous a fruit?" Lokman replied, "I have received so many favours from you, it is no wonder I should, for once in my life, eat a bitter melon from your hand."
The generous answer of the slave struck the master so forcibly, that he immediately gave him his liberty. Unlike Lokman's master, however, our God never chastens arbitrarily or unnecessarily. He always chastens for our profit,
"For they verily for a few days chastened us (as they thought best); but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness." (Hebrews 12:10); and the recognition of that grand fact will act as a mighty deterrent in the soul that is in danger of "despising the chastening of the Lord."
George Henderson - The Pearl of Psalms)
N.J.Hiebert — 9521
“... Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, feed me, I pray thee... for l am faint... and Jacob said, sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me... Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink... Esau despised his birthright.”
(Genesis 25:29-34)
Note the conduct of Esau in reference to the birthright, and all which it involved. The natural heart places no value on the things of God. To it, God's promise is a vague, valueless, powerless thing, simply because God is not known. Hence it is that present things carry such weight and influence in man's estimation.
Anything that man can see, he values, because he is governed by sight and not by faith. To him, the present is everything; the future is a mere uninfluential thing - a matter of the merest uncertainty. Thus it was with Esau. "I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" What strange reasoning! - the present is slipping from beneath my feet, I will therefore despise and entirely let go the future! - Time is fading from my view, I will therefore abandon all interest in eternity! "Thus Esau despised his birthright."
Man has no heart for the things of God. The present is everything to him. Food is better than a title to Canaan. Hence, the very reason why Esau made light of the birthright was the very reason why he ought to have grasped it with the greater intensity. The more clearly I see the vanity of man's present, the more I shall cleave to God's future. (C.H. Macintosh - Notes on Genesis)
N.J.Hiebert — 9522
"Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more." (John 14:19)
We must be broken off from the world. He gives us everything needed in the way, but never presents that as our end. This world is neither Canaan nor Egypt, but a wilderness.
By clinging to it we are not in the wilderness but in Egypt, and that is why we need chastening; for if we make a Canaan of this world, then it becomes Egypt to us. The moment we make it our home, and settle down in it, it is our Egypt.
The Lord must break our will. He says, "A little while and the world seeth Me no more." It is all done with. He puts a distinction between Himself and the world; therefore if we take Him we cannot have the world, and if we take the world we cannot have the enjoyment of Him - we cannot have both. "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." (2 Timothy 4:10)
(J.N. Darby - Lectures on the First Epistle of John)
N.J.Hiebert — 9523
"The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary." (Isaiah 50:4)
If God had passed over the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, I should have been able to say, Sin is no matter, but when I look at the cross I cannot. (J.N. Darby)
N.J.Hiebert — 9524
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)
An old gentleman who was leaving for the Continent called upon his lawyer to have his will attested. Everything in the will was clearly stated; and he concluded it with these words: "I wish to testify that I die trusting the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and hope that I am accepted by God for His sake."
The lawyer was a Christian man and said to him: "Mr.-, why do you only hope that you are accepted when God says that "He hath made us accepted in the beloved?" - Ephesians 1:6. He answered: "Because it would be presumption." "Well," said the solicitor, "if it be presumption, God has endorsed it." There is the word: "He hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Without another word, the aged man drew his pen through the word "hope" and wrote the word "KNOW." "I die trusting in the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and KNOW that I am accepted by God for His sake."
(George Henderson - In Pastures Green)
N.J.Hiebert — 9525
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