May 21
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)
1 To "hope to be better" is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.
2.To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in yourself.
3.To be discouraged is unbelief - as to the Father's purpose and plan of blessing for you.
4. To be proud is to be blind! For we have no standing before God in ourselves.
5.The lack of divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion.
6. Real devotion to the Father arises, not from man's will to show it; but from the discovery that blessing has been received from Him while we were yet unworthy and un-devoted.
7. To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God's order and preach Law, not Grace.
The Law made man's blessing depend on devotion; Grace confers undeserved,
unconditional blessing: our devotion may follow, but does not always do so in proper measure. (W.R. Newell)
N.J.Hiebert — 9585
"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8)
In our childhood days we were taught to sing, "Pity my simplicity." Simplicity of the right kind calls not for pity, but for admiration and imitation, and most assuredly it will receive the Lord's commendation at the last.
Men are becoming too wise to be simple; this explains why some find it hard to credit the story of Peter walking on the sea. To all such we are disposed to say in the words of Paul: "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you?" (Acts 26:8). Take God into account, and every difficulty disappears; leave Him out, and difficulties bristle around us hopelessly.
(W.W. Fereday - Peter the Apostle)
N.J.Hiebert — 9586
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth…they went backward, and fell to the ground." (John 18:4,6)
The Lord Jesus was fully aware of their intentions, yet He went forth to meet His captors because His hour had not yet come, every previous attempt on His life had utterly failed. Even then, when He identified Himself with the noble "I AM" of Deity, His enemies went backward and involuntarily collapsed before Him. The power of this simple statement proved they took Him only because He had voluntarily submitted to their evil purpose. (Garry W. Seale)
N.J.Hiebert — 9587
"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
(Colossians 2:3)
Hidden things are not in plain sight. We must search for them - delve into secret recesses, and often dig deeply. Then let us search the Scriptures - not satisfied with a mere surface reading, but seeking, with the Spirit's guidance, the rich and manifold treasures that are hidden in Christ and His precious Word. (Christian Truth)
N.J.Hiebert — 9588
"A certain man found him, and, behold, he (Joseph) was wandering in the field." (Genesis 37:15)
It is worth while, in our reading of the Scriptures, to observe the presence and working of God in the ordinary affairs of everyday life. For instance, in Genesis 37, Joseph is seen on his way to visit his brethren in obedience to his father's command, but is unable to find them It so happened that the "certain man" had heard Joseph's brethren say they were going to Dothan, and thus he was able to direct Joseph on his way.
Now, what believer would dare to say that the finding and directing of Joseph as here recorded happened by chance, and that God had nothing to do with the "certain man" finding him in that field. (Selected)
"He everywhere hath sway
And all things serve His might."
N.J.Hiebert — 9589
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Forgiveness is not the same as the curse, and paying a debt is very different from demanding the money. It is quite just to demand payment, but if the debtor has nothing to pay, he is ruined; whereas, if he pays, he is set free. Christ has done more; not only does He pay the debt, but He has acquired glory for those that believe.
Not only has He freed the debtor from his debts, but He has given him an immense fortune in God's presence." (J.N. Darby - Notes on Mark's Gospel)
N.J.Hiebert — 9590
"The love of Christ constraineth us." (2 Corinthians 5:14)
What was the power that made Levi leave all and follow Christ? Not the command: the power did lie in the word itself, but it was the presentation of Christ Himself to Levi. You cannot get separation apart from the presenting of the Person. This is the reason of failure in separation — it must begin with the heart. If you want to help souls you must present Christ to them. How should I separate a quantity of steel filings from a heap of dust? By picking them out? No, I should only defile my hand. By holding a powerful magnet to them, and all would instantly be attracted and drawn out of the dust. It is Christ revealed to us that detaches us from this world. (Edward Dennett)
N.J.Hiebert — 9591
"Did not our heart burn within us, when He (JESUS) talked with
us by the way?" (Luke 24:32)
Are you walking in the light of the affections of that Lord Jesus who loved you and washed you from your sins in His own blood? Is that name of JESUS causing a vibration in your heart as you walk along the wilderness? (G.V. Wigram)
N.J.Hiebert — 9592
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
If only we are self-emptied, our every act may emit a sweet odor to God. The smallest as well as the greatest services may, by the power of the Holy Ghost, present the fragrance of Christ. The paying of a visit, the writing of a letter, the public ministry of the Word, the giving a cup of cold water to a disciple, giving to the poor, yea, the commonplace acts of eating and drinking all may emit the sweet perfume of the name and grace of Jesus. (Extract)
N.J.Hiebert — 9593
"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." (1 Peter 2:22)
He did ever those things that pleased God. From the manger of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary His whole life was in perfect accordance with the will of God. He lived but to glorify God. His every thought His every word. His every look, His every movement, emitted an odor of ineffable sweetness which ascended to the throne and refreshed the heart of god. "Again and again the heavens were opened upon this blessed One; and the voice of the eternal Father bore witness to Him in such accents as these: pleased." (C.H. Mackintosh)
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I an well pleased”
N.J.Hiebert — 9594
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Death and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o’er Jesus,
There they spent there utmost power.
First fruits of the resurrection,
He is risen from the tomb;
Now we stand in new creation,
Free, because beyond our doom.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
“Buried” in His grave we lay,
One with Him in resurrection,
Now “in Him” in heaven’s bright day.
(Mrs. J. A. Trench)
N.J.Hiebert — 9595
“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:6
Some thoughts to consider as prepared by Ralph Klassen.
- To lead others to Jesus, you must first learn to follow Him.
- There are no dead ends on the road of obedience to God.
- Spiritual growth requires the solid food of God’s Word.
- Some people go through life standing at the complaint counter.
- What we know of God encourages us to trust Him in all we don’t know.
N.J.Hiebert — 9596
“Remember them which have the rule (leaders) over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God… Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls… Salute all them that have the rule over you. (Hebrews 13:7,17,24)
It is a fatal mistake to speak against the very feeblest and humblest of God’s servants. If the servant does wrong — if he is in error, if he has failed in everything — the Lord Himself will deal with him; but let the fellow-servants beware how they attempt to take the matter into their hands, lest they be found like Miriam (Numbers 12:1), meddling to their own hurt.
If we have not been able to discover the good thing in our brother and fellow-servant; if our eye has only detected the crooked thing; if we have not succeeded in finding the vital spark amid the ashes — the precious gem among the surrounding rubbish; if we have only seen what was of mere nature, why, then let us with a loving and delicate hand, draw the curtain of silence around our brother, or speak of him only at the throne of grace. “Speak evil of no man” (Titus 3:2) (Food for the Desert)
N.J.Hiebert - 9597
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