"Think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
- How consistently we see in the history of God's people that those who were great in their littleness became little in their greatness.
- The minute the words of our lips are beyond our spiritual condition, we are in the place of danger.
- If personal communion be not diligently maintained, the higher our position, the greater our danger and the more disastrous our fall. (C.H. Mackintosh)
- Beware of a half truth. It may be the wrong half.
- Everyone of us gets as much of Christ as we want, and our lives show how much we want. (H.E. Hayhoe)
- John did not draw near to get the Lord's mind, but because he was leaning on His bosom, he got the mind of the Lord. (T.C.N. - Things to Think About)
N.J.Hiebert — 9606
"Slothfulness (laziness) casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15)
Even before Adam sinned, he had responsibility. He was called to till and keep the garden (Eden), planted exceptionally by Jehovah Elohim with every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. When fallen, as the ground was cursed on his account, he had to eat of it all the days of his life with toil. Thorns and thistles it yielded unbidden, so that man had to eat bread in the sweat of his face all his diminishing life.
Slothfulness therefore ill became his position, and all the more when he faced adversity through his own fault. The sun arises, and the wild beasts get away to their dens, but man goeth forth to his work till the evening; and, as he is, it is well ordered for him. But slothfulness traverses all, and casts into a deep sleep while it is day, and pays the penalty. If any will not work, neither let him eat. The idle soul
shall suffer hunger. (William Kelly - The Proverbs)
N.J.Hiebert — 9607
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and has redeemed
us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation . . . worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
…and they fell down and worshiped Him that liveth forever and ever.
Revelation 5:9-14
We’ll sing of the Shepherd that died
That died for the sake of the flock :
His love to the utmost was tried,
But firmly endured as a rock.
2 When blood from a victim must flow,
This Shepherd by pity was led
To stand between us and the foe,
And willingly died in our stead.
3 Our song, then, for ever shall be
Of the Shepherd who gave Himself thus;
No subject's so glorious as He,
No theme so affecting to us.
4 Of Him and His love will we sing,
His praises our tongues shall employ
Till heavenly anthems we bring
In yonder bright regions of joy. (T. Kelly)
N.J.Hiebert — 9608
"Consider the lilies of the field..." (Matthew 6:28)
NOT ARTIFICIAL MAN MADE lilies of the hothouse, but lilies of the open field exposed to wind and rain. They may not look as good, sometimes frayed and torn by tempest, too much sun or too much rain, bedraggled maybe, but real lilies.
Some Christians who have wrestled long with the powers of darkness and suffered the pressures of this age may not be as elegant as manufactured varieties or sheltered souls who have not been in the thick of the fight. Paul was perhaps not an impressive sight physically. Some of the things he wrote indicate such limitations.
Compared to some of the scribes in all their fancy garb, he looked like the itinerant
battle-scarred veteran - this Gospel vagabond on the earth - that he was. The list he gives us of what he had been through (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) would make that abundantly clear. We need more lilies of the field out in the wind and weather.
(Vance Havner - All the Days)
N.J.Hiebert — 9609
"It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every Word of God."
(Luke 4:4)
It is the written Word Jesus ever uses, and Satan is powerless. What amazing importance Jesus gives the Scriptures! God now acts by the Word, and Satan is resisted morally in this way. A man cannot be touched by Satan while the Word is simply used in obedience. "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth Him not" (1 John 5:18).
It was not as an exercise of divine authority He dismissed Satan, but the enemy is proved unable to grapple with obedience to the Word of God. If he cannot take out of the path of obedience, he has no power. What more simple? Every child of God has the Holy Spirit acting by the Word to keep him. (J.N. Darby - The Man of Sorrows)
N.J.Hiebert — 9610
June 16
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)
Just a word about "your own salvation." The farmer very likely gets the hired man to cultivate his corn and soybeans for him. But you and I cannot do that. We must each cultivate our own salvation. It is like the shield of faith: each must carry his own shield. You remember Goliath had a man that went before him to carry his shield (1 Samuel 17:41) and it cost him his life. So, in the same way, self-judgment and communion are terribly individual things, into which another can scarcely enter.
(G. Christopher Willis - Sacrifices of Joy Being Meditations on Philippians)
N.J.Hiebert — 9611
"The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God."
(Galatians 2:20)
It is by faith that God is honoured. It is enough for Satan if he succeeds in frightening us away from the pure and simple path of faith. Faith acts on God's behalf, and reveals Him in the midst of circumstances, instead of being governed by them. Its superiority over that which surrounds it is evident. What repose to witness this amid the mire of this poor world. It is characteristic of faith to reckon on God, not simply spite of difficulty, but spite of impossibility. (J.N. Darby)
N.J.Hiebert — 9612
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
The WORD never had a beginning. The SON is as truly eternal as the FATHER. To teach otherwise is to deny the very foundations of our faith. HE could not have beginning, for HE HIMSELF is the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13)
But it is not merely that HE was eternally in the Godhead. Scripture is equally insistent regarding His distinct Personality. This is implied in the expression “The WORD was with God.” We are told of Wisdom, in Proverbs 8:27, "When He prepared the heavens I was there." And again in verse 30, "I was by Him as One brought up with Him." The Eternal Wisdom and the Eternal Word are one and the same.
Throughout all the ages of the past CHRIST was a distinct Personality in the Godhead. There was communion between the FATHER and the SON.
But this does not imply the inferiority of the SON. Full Deity was HIS: "The WORD was GOD."Just as truly as the FATHER was GOD and the HOLY SPIRIT was GOD, so the WORD was GOD. More than this could not be said.
(H.A. Ironside - Gospel of John)
N.J.Hiebert — 9613
"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged."
(Colossians 3:21)
Father's should be gentle in order that the children's affections may not be estranged from them, and that they may not be induced to seek that happiness in the world which they ought to find in the domestic circle which God has formed as a safeguard for those who are growing up in weakness.
It is most important that warm affections be cultivated and intimacy maintained between fathers and their children, especially as the children grow up and become exposed to the influences of the world and distance easily comes in between the hearts of children and the parents.
While not neglecting firm discipline, parents, especially fathers, should embrace every opportunity of showing love to their children and thus win their filial affections and confidence. Impress upon them by deeds that they are loved, but at the same time that parental authority must be obeyed. These two things are most important. (R.K Campbell - The Christian Home)
N.J.Hiebert — 9614
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
The Father, from eternity, chose us, O Jesus Christ, in Thee,
In Thee, His well belovèd: and we, as given to Thee—Thy bride,
In Thee, Lord Jesus, can confide: Thy love remains unmovèd.
From Thee daily strength receiving—to Thee cleaving,
Blessèd Jesus! may we all shew forth Thy praises.
Before the world we’d make our boast, that Thou, in whom is all our trust,
Art Lord of life and glory; and soon Thou’lt bring us to that place
Where we shall see Thee face to face, and glorified adore Thee.
Amen!—be then praise and blessing—never ceasing to Thee given
Here, and when we come to heaven. Nicolai, 1598
N.J.Hiebert —9615
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25
Give me Thy strength for my day, Lord,
That wheresoever I go,
There shall no danger daunt me
And I shall fear no foe;
So shall no task o’ercome me,
So shall not trial fret,
So shall I walk unwearied
The path where my feet are set;
So shall I find no burden
Greater than I can bear,
So shall I have a courage
Equal to all my care;
So shall no grief o’erwhelm me,
So shall no wave o’erflow;
Give me Thy strength for my day, Lord,
Cover my weakness so.
Annie Johhnson Flint’s—Best loved poems
N.J.Hiebert - 9616
Ho, every one that thirsteth, COME ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; COME ye, buy, and eat; yea, COME buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)
Here, every thirsty, needy, penniless one is invited to come. It is the desire of the loving heart of God that he should come—come now—come just as he is and drink at the living fountain of water, so freely opened by the hand of redeeming love.
There is no hindrance. Grace has removed every difficulty out of the way. The very fact of God’s sending forth the invitation to come, proves that He has taken away every barrier. He would not, He could not say “come” if the way were not perfectly opened—perfectly free.
And not only so, but we may rest assured that when God says “come,” He means what He says. He expresses the language of His heart. In a word, not only is the way open, but God earnestly desires that every thirsty, needy, helpless soul that reads these lines should come now and drink—come and draw water out of those wells of salvation which are freely opened to every creature under heaven. Christian Truth.
N.J.Hiebert — 9617
No comments:
Post a Comment