And when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him." Joshua 6:5
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. Hebrews 11:30
The shout of steadfast faith is in direct contrast to the moans of wavering faith, and to the wails of discouraged hearts. Among the many "secrets of the Lord," I do not know of any that is more valuable than the secret of this shout of faith. The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."
He had not said, "I will give," but "I have given." It belonged to them already; and now they were called to take possession of it. But the great question was, How? It looked impossible, but the Lord declared His plan.
Now, no one can suppose for a moment that this shout caused the walls to fall. And yet the secret of their victory lay in just this shout, for it was the shout of a faith which dared, on the authority of God's Word alone, to claim a promised victory, while as yet there were no signs of this victory being accomplished. According to their faith God did unto them so that, when they shouted, He made the walls to fall.
God had declared that He had given them the city, and faith reckoned this to be true. And long centuries afterwards the Holy Spirit recorded this triumph of faith. Hannah Whitehall Smith
"Faith can never reach its consummation,
Till the victor's thankful song we raise;
In the glorious city of salvation,
God has told us all the gates are praise."
N.J.Hiebert - 9717
The shout of steadfast faith is in direct contrast to the moans of wavering faith, and to the wails of discouraged hearts. Among the many "secrets of the Lord," I do not know of any that is more valuable than the secret of this shout of faith. The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."
He had not said, "I will give," but "I have given." It belonged to them already; and now they were called to take possession of it. But the great question was, How? It looked impossible, but the Lord declared His plan.
Now, no one can suppose for a moment that this shout caused the walls to fall. And yet the secret of their victory lay in just this shout, for it was the shout of a faith which dared, on the authority of God's Word alone, to claim a promised victory, while as yet there were no signs of this victory being accomplished. According to their faith God did unto them so that, when they shouted, He made the walls to fall.
God had declared that He had given them the city, and faith reckoned this to be true. And long centuries afterwards the Holy Spirit recorded this triumph of faith. Hannah Whitehall Smith
"Faith can never reach its consummation,
Till the victor's thankful song we raise;
In the glorious city of salvation,
God has told us all the gates are praise."
N.J.Hiebert - 9717
October 1
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself, for it. Ephesians 5:25
You cannot go beyond that. That is a self-denying love, a love that makes one willing even to lay down his life for another. You remember that striking story about the wife of one of Cyrus' generals who was charged with treachery against the king. She was called before him and after trial condemned to die.
Her husband, who did not realize what had taken place, was informed of it and came hurrying in. When he heard the sentence condemning his wife to death, he threw himself prostrate before the king and said, "O Sire, take my life instead of hers. Let me die in her place!" Cyrus was so touched that he said, "love like that must not be spoiled by death," and he gave them back to each other and let the wife go free.
As they walked happily away the husband said, "Did you notice how kindly the king looked upon us when he gave you a free pardon?" "I had no eyes for the king," she said; "I saw only the man who was willing to die for me."
That is the picture that you have here. It is as though the apostle can scarcely speak on this subject but that it brings before him the One who has won his own heart, and he must tell us more about Him. This glorious Head of the Church, gave up His own precious life for the Bride of His heart the Church.
H. A. Ironside
The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace-
Not at the crown He giveth, but on his piercèd hand:
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land.
Mrs. Cousins
N.J. Hiebert - 9718
October 2
RUNNING OR REELING
When thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Proverbs 4:12
This promise does not stand alone; it is reiterated and varied. God knew our constant, momentary need of it. He knew that without it we must stumble, and fall too: that we have not the least power to take one step without a stumble--or rather, that we have no power to take one single onward step at all.
And He knew that Satan's surest device to make us stumble would be to make us believe that it can't be helped. We have thought that, if we have not said it. But "what saith the Scripture?" "When thou runnest" (the likeliest place for a slip), "Thou shalt not stumble." "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved." "He will keep the feet of His saints." "He led them . . . that they should not stumble."
Can we say, "Yea, hath God said?" to all this? Leave that to Satan; it is no comment for God's children to make upon His precious promises. If we do not use the power of faith, we find the neutralizing power of unbelief.
Yes! He knows the way is dreary,
Knows the weakness of our frame,
Knows that hand and heart are weary;
He, in all points, felt the same.
He is near to help and bless;
Be not weary, onward press.
Frances Ridley Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 9719
When thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Proverbs 4:12
This promise does not stand alone; it is reiterated and varied. God knew our constant, momentary need of it. He knew that without it we must stumble, and fall too: that we have not the least power to take one step without a stumble--or rather, that we have no power to take one single onward step at all.
And He knew that Satan's surest device to make us stumble would be to make us believe that it can't be helped. We have thought that, if we have not said it. But "what saith the Scripture?" "When thou runnest" (the likeliest place for a slip), "Thou shalt not stumble." "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved." "He will keep the feet of His saints." "He led them . . . that they should not stumble."
Can we say, "Yea, hath God said?" to all this? Leave that to Satan; it is no comment for God's children to make upon His precious promises. If we do not use the power of faith, we find the neutralizing power of unbelief.
Yes! He knows the way is dreary,
Knows the weakness of our frame,
Knows that hand and heart are weary;
He, in all points, felt the same.
He is near to help and bless;
Be not weary, onward press.
Frances Ridley Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 9719
October 3
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto Him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. Luke 22:61
Was it a look of anger, or withering scorn? Did it say, as it were, Contemptible miscreant, can you deny Me at such a moment? No, no, I believe it was a look of unutterable, albeit wounded, love. That look said, Peter, do you not know Me? I know you, Peter, and I love you, not withstanding your denial of Me. It was a look of tender changeless love. Peter lived on that look for the next three days, till he met his Master again in resurrection, and communion was restored.
Peter went out then, and "wept bitterly." Repentance did its proper work in his soul, as he saw his folly and sin in the light of his Lord's love. Here is the difference between repentance and remorse.
Repentance is the judgment of my sin that I have in the light of love, and grace known. Remorse is produced by viewing the sin in the light only of its probable results. Repentance begets hope, remorse leads only to despair. Repentance leads the soul back to God, remorse drives it to deeper sin, and further into Satan's hands.
This is all illustrated in the consequent pathway of Peter and Judas. Judas, who did not know what grace was, went out and, in remorse over his consummate wickedness, hanged himself; Peter, who did know what grace was, and who knew better than ever then how deeply the Lord loved him, went out and wept bitterly.
The last thing Peter had done was to deny his Master, and the next thing his Master did was to die for Peter; and if He had not died for Peter, he never could have been restored nor saved. W. T. P. Wolston
N.J. Hiebert - 9720
Was it a look of anger, or withering scorn? Did it say, as it were, Contemptible miscreant, can you deny Me at such a moment? No, no, I believe it was a look of unutterable, albeit wounded, love. That look said, Peter, do you not know Me? I know you, Peter, and I love you, not withstanding your denial of Me. It was a look of tender changeless love. Peter lived on that look for the next three days, till he met his Master again in resurrection, and communion was restored.
Peter went out then, and "wept bitterly." Repentance did its proper work in his soul, as he saw his folly and sin in the light of his Lord's love. Here is the difference between repentance and remorse.
Repentance is the judgment of my sin that I have in the light of love, and grace known. Remorse is produced by viewing the sin in the light only of its probable results. Repentance begets hope, remorse leads only to despair. Repentance leads the soul back to God, remorse drives it to deeper sin, and further into Satan's hands.
This is all illustrated in the consequent pathway of Peter and Judas. Judas, who did not know what grace was, went out and, in remorse over his consummate wickedness, hanged himself; Peter, who did know what grace was, and who knew better than ever then how deeply the Lord loved him, went out and wept bitterly.
The last thing Peter had done was to deny his Master, and the next thing his Master did was to die for Peter; and if He had not died for Peter, he never could have been restored nor saved. W. T. P. Wolston
N.J. Hiebert - 9720
October 4
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Many of the Lord's people were puzzled and distressed about how to act responsibly in the midst of a global pandemic. For the first few months it was relatively easy to simply comply with regulations, but later patience was wearing thin. We have questioned just how we are to go about following the Lord's scriptural instructions while at the same time obeying secular authority.
The over-riding guideline is to seek the mind of the Lord, first, individually, and then, collectively. We know the Lord would have only one answer to any question, but the difficulty comes up as we are all in varying states of soul and with variety of personal opinions.
There is this clear illustration from the story of Joseph and Mary's long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to comply with the Roman requirement to register for taxation in their birth town. You might think Mary may have begged off due to advanced pregnancy, but she didn't. Perhaps at the time they didn't remember Micah 5:2, "O thou Bethlehem Ephratah though Thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." But in obeying the authorities, it turned out they were fulfilling prophecy.
We can see that God has had several purposes in allowing this virus:
(1) To teach the world that He is over everything, including pandemics.
(2) To cause the unsaved to turn to Him in their anxiety.
(3 To teach us believers that we need to be more and more cast upon Him for direction. Lorne Perry
Whom have we Lord but Thee soul-thirst to satisfy?
Exhaustless spring! the waters free! all other streams are dry.
Our hearts by Thee are set on brighter things above;
Strange that we ever should forget Thine own most faithful love.
Yet oft we credit not, He freely gives as God,
Though well we know our happy lot in trusting to His blood. Mary Bowley
N.J. Hiebert - 9721
Many of the Lord's people were puzzled and distressed about how to act responsibly in the midst of a global pandemic. For the first few months it was relatively easy to simply comply with regulations, but later patience was wearing thin. We have questioned just how we are to go about following the Lord's scriptural instructions while at the same time obeying secular authority.
The over-riding guideline is to seek the mind of the Lord, first, individually, and then, collectively. We know the Lord would have only one answer to any question, but the difficulty comes up as we are all in varying states of soul and with variety of personal opinions.
There is this clear illustration from the story of Joseph and Mary's long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to comply with the Roman requirement to register for taxation in their birth town. You might think Mary may have begged off due to advanced pregnancy, but she didn't. Perhaps at the time they didn't remember Micah 5:2, "O thou Bethlehem Ephratah though Thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." But in obeying the authorities, it turned out they were fulfilling prophecy.
We can see that God has had several purposes in allowing this virus:
(1) To teach the world that He is over everything, including pandemics.
(2) To cause the unsaved to turn to Him in their anxiety.
(3 To teach us believers that we need to be more and more cast upon Him for direction. Lorne Perry
Whom have we Lord but Thee soul-thirst to satisfy?
Exhaustless spring! the waters free! all other streams are dry.
Our hearts by Thee are set on brighter things above;
Strange that we ever should forget Thine own most faithful love.
Yet oft we credit not, He freely gives as God,
Though well we know our happy lot in trusting to His blood. Mary Bowley
N.J. Hiebert - 9721
October 5
FAITH AND PRAYER
And Saul . . . as he journeyed . . . suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? . . . And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord . . . arise and go into the street and enquire in the house of Judas . . . for one called, Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold he prayeth. Acts 9:1-11
True faith is prayerful; prayer is the child of faith. As the creature cannot pray without faith, so with faith he cannot but pray. The new creature (like our infants in their natural birth) comes crying into the world: and therefore Christ tells it for great news of Ananias of Saul, a new-born believer, "Behold, he prayeth!"
Faith enables the soul to persevere in prayer. The sincere believer hath that in him which makes it impossible he should quite give over praying. Prayer is the very breath of faith; stop a man's breath, and where is he then?
Faith may live in a storm, but it will not suffer a storm to live in it. As faith rises, so the blustering wind of the discontented troublesome thoughts go down. Faith relieves the soul in prayer of that which oppresses it; whereas the unbelieving soul still carries about it the cause of its troubles, because it had not strength to cast forth its sorrows and roll its cares upon God.
William Gurnall - 1617 - 1679
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles, He is a kind and compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end.
I must tell Jesus, Jesus can help me. Jesus alone. Elisha Hoffman
N.J. Hiebert - 9722
And Saul . . . as he journeyed . . . suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? . . . And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord . . . arise and go into the street and enquire in the house of Judas . . . for one called, Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold he prayeth. Acts 9:1-11
True faith is prayerful; prayer is the child of faith. As the creature cannot pray without faith, so with faith he cannot but pray. The new creature (like our infants in their natural birth) comes crying into the world: and therefore Christ tells it for great news of Ananias of Saul, a new-born believer, "Behold, he prayeth!"
Faith enables the soul to persevere in prayer. The sincere believer hath that in him which makes it impossible he should quite give over praying. Prayer is the very breath of faith; stop a man's breath, and where is he then?
Faith may live in a storm, but it will not suffer a storm to live in it. As faith rises, so the blustering wind of the discontented troublesome thoughts go down. Faith relieves the soul in prayer of that which oppresses it; whereas the unbelieving soul still carries about it the cause of its troubles, because it had not strength to cast forth its sorrows and roll its cares upon God.
William Gurnall - 1617 - 1679
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles, He is a kind and compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end.
I must tell Jesus, Jesus can help me. Jesus alone. Elisha Hoffman
N.J. Hiebert - 9722
October 6
O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill. Psalm 43:3
Thy Holy scripture . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
2 Timothy 3:15
I am a spirit come from God, and retuning to God . . . I want to know one thing, the way to heaven . . . God Himself has condescended to teach me the way . . . for this very end He came down from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that Book! At any price, give me the Book of God!
I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one Book. Here, then, I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone; only God is here. In His presence I open, I read His Book; for this end -- to find the way to heaven.
John Wesley
The Bible is the most wonderful Book in the world. It has changed the stream of history, and the gates of eternity swing upon the hinges of acceptance or rejection of its message. Like the crushing blows of a hammer, to which Jeremiah compares it (Jeremiah 23:29), it breaks the flinty hearts of rebellious sinners. Its fires melt the hardest, its waters cleanse the foulest soul, its light can penetrate the deepest darkness.
G. M. L.
God's Word is like a hammer, that breaketh the rock in twain;
A lamp to guide our footsteps, and a light on the stormy main;
A sword that has two edges, and a mirror ourselves to see--
O yes, this is the Book of books, The B-I-B-L-E!
W. B. Mackie
N.J. Hiebert - 9723
Thy Holy scripture . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation.
2 Timothy 3:15
I am a spirit come from God, and retuning to God . . . I want to know one thing, the way to heaven . . . God Himself has condescended to teach me the way . . . for this very end He came down from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that Book! At any price, give me the Book of God!
I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one Book. Here, then, I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone; only God is here. In His presence I open, I read His Book; for this end -- to find the way to heaven.
John Wesley
The Bible is the most wonderful Book in the world. It has changed the stream of history, and the gates of eternity swing upon the hinges of acceptance or rejection of its message. Like the crushing blows of a hammer, to which Jeremiah compares it (Jeremiah 23:29), it breaks the flinty hearts of rebellious sinners. Its fires melt the hardest, its waters cleanse the foulest soul, its light can penetrate the deepest darkness.
G. M. L.
God's Word is like a hammer, that breaketh the rock in twain;
A lamp to guide our footsteps, and a light on the stormy main;
A sword that has two edges, and a mirror ourselves to see--
O yes, this is the Book of books, The B-I-B-L-E!
W. B. Mackie
N.J. Hiebert - 9723
October 7
. . . they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. (Titus 3:8)
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
(1 Corinthians 4:2)
Men said the old smith was foolishly careful as he worked on the great chain he was making in his dingy shop in the heart of the great city. But he heeded not their words and only worked with greater painstaking. Link after link he fashioned, and at last the chain was finished and carried away. In time it lay coiled on the deck of a great ship which sped back and forth on the ocean.
There seemed no use for it, for the great anchor was never needed and the chain laid there coiled. So years passed. But one night there was a terrible storm, and the ship was in sore peril of being hurled upon the rocks. Anchor after anchor was dropped, but none of them availed. The chains were broken like threads. At last the mighty sheet anchor was cast into the sea, and the old chain was quickly uncoiled and run out until it grew taut.
All watched to see if it would bear the awful strain. It sang in the wild storm as the vessel's weight surged upon it. It was a moment of intense anxiety. The ship, with its cargo of a thousand lives, depended upon this one chain. What now if the old smith had worked carelessly even on one link of his chain!
But he had put honesty and truth and invincible strength into every part of it, and it stood the test, holding the ship in safety until the storm was over and the morning came. J. R. Miller.
Full many forms the "chain" may take: perchance 'tis some infirmity
That doth for thee thy fetter make; or duty-call or poverty;
If thou art His, -- then this thy rest, -- if in His will disposed to be, --
The "chain " may be a thing most blest, though, meantime, it so fetters thee.
And at the End it may be seen, when things, now dark, are all made clear,
The "chain" God's method kind hath been to hold us safe, -- to keep us near.
J. Danson Smith.
N.J. Hiebert - 9724
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
(1 Corinthians 4:2)
Men said the old smith was foolishly careful as he worked on the great chain he was making in his dingy shop in the heart of the great city. But he heeded not their words and only worked with greater painstaking. Link after link he fashioned, and at last the chain was finished and carried away. In time it lay coiled on the deck of a great ship which sped back and forth on the ocean.
There seemed no use for it, for the great anchor was never needed and the chain laid there coiled. So years passed. But one night there was a terrible storm, and the ship was in sore peril of being hurled upon the rocks. Anchor after anchor was dropped, but none of them availed. The chains were broken like threads. At last the mighty sheet anchor was cast into the sea, and the old chain was quickly uncoiled and run out until it grew taut.
All watched to see if it would bear the awful strain. It sang in the wild storm as the vessel's weight surged upon it. It was a moment of intense anxiety. The ship, with its cargo of a thousand lives, depended upon this one chain. What now if the old smith had worked carelessly even on one link of his chain!
But he had put honesty and truth and invincible strength into every part of it, and it stood the test, holding the ship in safety until the storm was over and the morning came. J. R. Miller.
Full many forms the "chain" may take: perchance 'tis some infirmity
That doth for thee thy fetter make; or duty-call or poverty;
If thou art His, -- then this thy rest, -- if in His will disposed to be, --
The "chain " may be a thing most blest, though, meantime, it so fetters thee.
And at the End it may be seen, when things, now dark, are all made clear,
The "chain" God's method kind hath been to hold us safe, -- to keep us near.
J. Danson Smith.
N.J. Hiebert - 9724
October 8
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
Ephesians 5:15
How is understanding to exercise itself? In the philosophy of the schools? I am to have an understanding of the will of the Lord. He keeps you, as a heavenly creature in company with Christ; as a man walking across the face of the earth, He keeps you equally with Christ. When he sends you into the field of battle He arrays you in Christ, He puts Christ upon you.
Who but the Spirit could come down into the traffic of such a world and keep Christ in your company through it all! So the old nature might get drunk with wine. (Ephesians 5:18). The new nature has the Spirit to fill himself with. If that is to be mortified, this is to be cultivated.
And how will this filling with the Spirit express itself? "In Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." (Ephesians 5:19). There is a vessel filled with the Spirit. It is the very same vessel, only transmuted (Transformed, changed from one nature into another). It was once filled with wine; now, in a spirit of thanksgiving, it is bubbling up with melody to the Lord. Ephesians -- J. G. Bellett
Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that did not satisfy,
And then I heard my Saviour speaking: "Draw from My well that never shall run dry."
There are millions in this world who are craving the pleasure earthly things afford,
But none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
So my brother if the things that this world gave you leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you if you yield to Him and humbly pray.
CHORUS: Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, come and quench the thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more; fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. Richard E. Blanchard Sr.
N.J. Hiebert - 9725
Ephesians 5:15
How is understanding to exercise itself? In the philosophy of the schools? I am to have an understanding of the will of the Lord. He keeps you, as a heavenly creature in company with Christ; as a man walking across the face of the earth, He keeps you equally with Christ. When he sends you into the field of battle He arrays you in Christ, He puts Christ upon you.
Who but the Spirit could come down into the traffic of such a world and keep Christ in your company through it all! So the old nature might get drunk with wine. (Ephesians 5:18). The new nature has the Spirit to fill himself with. If that is to be mortified, this is to be cultivated.
And how will this filling with the Spirit express itself? "In Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." (Ephesians 5:19). There is a vessel filled with the Spirit. It is the very same vessel, only transmuted (Transformed, changed from one nature into another). It was once filled with wine; now, in a spirit of thanksgiving, it is bubbling up with melody to the Lord. Ephesians -- J. G. Bellett
Like the woman at the well I was seeking for things that did not satisfy,
And then I heard my Saviour speaking: "Draw from My well that never shall run dry."
There are millions in this world who are craving the pleasure earthly things afford,
But none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
So my brother if the things that this world gave you leave hungers that won't pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you if you yield to Him and humbly pray.
CHORUS: Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, come and quench the thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more; fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. Richard E. Blanchard Sr.
N.J. Hiebert - 9725
October 9
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works. . . .
Psalm 131:3-4
. . . and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Satan wastes no ammunition on those who are dead in trespasses and sins.
Christians are far more strategic targets for him. Traveling all over the world, I saw Satan, with his timely shots, attacking Christians more than ever before. What a joy that we have so many promises in the Bible. We are holy, chosen, beloved, hidden in the hollow of His hand. We have a living Saviour, legions of angels. Count your many blessings!
Corrie Ten Boom
Oh, that mine eyes might closed be to what concerns me not to see;
That deafness might posses mine ear to what concerns me not to hear;
That truth my tongue might always tie from ever speaking foolishly;
That no vain thought might ever rest or be conceived within my breast;
That by each deed and word and thought glory may to my God be brought.
But what are wishes? Lord, mine eye on Thee is fixed, to Thee I cry.
Wash, Lord, and purify my heart and make it clean in ever part.
And when it's clean, Lord, keep it too, for that is more than I can do.
Thomas Elwood (1639)
N.J. Hiebert - 9726
Psalm 131:3-4
. . . and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Satan wastes no ammunition on those who are dead in trespasses and sins.
Christians are far more strategic targets for him. Traveling all over the world, I saw Satan, with his timely shots, attacking Christians more than ever before. What a joy that we have so many promises in the Bible. We are holy, chosen, beloved, hidden in the hollow of His hand. We have a living Saviour, legions of angels. Count your many blessings!
Corrie Ten Boom
Oh, that mine eyes might closed be to what concerns me not to see;
That deafness might posses mine ear to what concerns me not to hear;
That truth my tongue might always tie from ever speaking foolishly;
That no vain thought might ever rest or be conceived within my breast;
That by each deed and word and thought glory may to my God be brought.
But what are wishes? Lord, mine eye on Thee is fixed, to Thee I cry.
Wash, Lord, and purify my heart and make it clean in ever part.
And when it's clean, Lord, keep it too, for that is more than I can do.
Thomas Elwood (1639)
N.J. Hiebert - 9726
October 10
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
Beethoven was in the habit of playing his symphonies on an old harpsichord, as a test. They would thus be made to stand out in their true character, with nothing to hide their faults, or exaggerate their beauties.
Thus wisely may we test our character, endeavouring to ascertain how it manifests itself - not on great and rare occasions, or before the public eye, where there is a chance for display and applause - but in private, in the little, homely everyday duties, which attract no particular attention and reward us with no praise.
If in the retired nook of your own breast, in the regulation of your thoughts and feelings; if in the bosom of your family, in the monotonous round of home life each day, you preserve a sweet serene temper, and go forward cheerfully, taking a real pleasure in duty as duty, and in all these little matters honestly strive to serve and please the heavenly Master; if, in a word, your piety sounds well on such an unpretending harp, it is good, genuine, tested; it will one day win acclamation from a vaster and nobler throng than ever was thrilled by the genius of Beethoven.
Selected
Every character has an inward spring; let Christ be in it. Every action has a keynote; let Christ set it! Drummond
N.J.Hiebert - 9727
Beethoven was in the habit of playing his symphonies on an old harpsichord, as a test. They would thus be made to stand out in their true character, with nothing to hide their faults, or exaggerate their beauties.
Thus wisely may we test our character, endeavouring to ascertain how it manifests itself - not on great and rare occasions, or before the public eye, where there is a chance for display and applause - but in private, in the little, homely everyday duties, which attract no particular attention and reward us with no praise.
If in the retired nook of your own breast, in the regulation of your thoughts and feelings; if in the bosom of your family, in the monotonous round of home life each day, you preserve a sweet serene temper, and go forward cheerfully, taking a real pleasure in duty as duty, and in all these little matters honestly strive to serve and please the heavenly Master; if, in a word, your piety sounds well on such an unpretending harp, it is good, genuine, tested; it will one day win acclamation from a vaster and nobler throng than ever was thrilled by the genius of Beethoven.
Selected
Every character has an inward spring; let Christ be in it. Every action has a keynote; let Christ set it! Drummond
N.J.Hiebert - 9727
October 11
Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23
A traveler following his guide amid the Alpine heights, reached a place where the path was narrowed by a jutting rock on one side and a deep precipice on the other. The guide passed around, and then holding on to the rock with one hand, extended the other out over the precipice for the traveler to step upon, and so pass around the jutting rock.
He hesitated, but the guide called back saying, "That hand has never lost a man." The traveler stepped on to the hand and was soon safely past the danger.
It isn't that I cling to Him
Or struggle to be blest;
He simply takes my hand in His
And there I let it rest.
So I dread not any pathway,
Dare to sail on any sea,
Since handclasp of Another
Makes the journey safe for me.
Hold Thou my hand, O Lord,
Hold Thou my hand!
Mountain Trailways
N.J. Hiebert - 9728
A traveler following his guide amid the Alpine heights, reached a place where the path was narrowed by a jutting rock on one side and a deep precipice on the other. The guide passed around, and then holding on to the rock with one hand, extended the other out over the precipice for the traveler to step upon, and so pass around the jutting rock.
He hesitated, but the guide called back saying, "That hand has never lost a man." The traveler stepped on to the hand and was soon safely past the danger.
It isn't that I cling to Him
Or struggle to be blest;
He simply takes my hand in His
And there I let it rest.
So I dread not any pathway,
Dare to sail on any sea,
Since handclasp of Another
Makes the journey safe for me.
Hold Thou my hand, O Lord,
Hold Thou my hand!
Mountain Trailways
N.J. Hiebert - 9728
October 12
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