My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Proverbs 1:10
Shun the man who tempts. Avoid the woman who allures to evil. A ship or a boat laden with gunpowder hoists a red flag, and other vessels give her a very wide berth. Do the same in respect of moral peril. Never run into danger.
There was a boy named Robert, whose father had for some time noticed a change for the worse in his conduct. One day he saw him with a number of bad boys. This suggested to him the cause.
That evening he brought in from the garden six beautiful apples, put them on a plate, and gave them to Robert. He was thankful for his father's kindness. "Now", said his father, "you must lay them aside for a few days to ripen."
Just as he was putting them away his father laid on the plate a seventh apple, which was much decayed, and desired him to allow it to remain there.
"But the rotten one will spoil the others." "Oh, do you think so? Why should not the first apples make the bad one good?" And with these words he went out of the room.
The lad understood it all; no interpreter was required; he took the wise hint, and often it was helpful to him in resisting sin.
The incident is apparent, but impressive. Lay it to heart, young friends. Do sinners entice? "Refrain thy foot from their path, walk not thou in the way with them." (Proverbs 1:15). Stories on the Book of Proverbs - J. L. Nye
Those who are young, O God, make them thine own;
Hear from Thy blest abode, make them Thine own;
Now in their early days, turn them to Thy blest ways,
Save from the giddy maze, make them Thine own. A Midlane
N.J. Hiebert - 9696
There was a boy named Robert, whose father had for some time noticed a change for the worse in his conduct. One day he saw him with a number of bad boys. This suggested to him the cause.
That evening he brought in from the garden six beautiful apples, put them on a plate, and gave them to Robert. He was thankful for his father's kindness. "Now", said his father, "you must lay them aside for a few days to ripen."
Just as he was putting them away his father laid on the plate a seventh apple, which was much decayed, and desired him to allow it to remain there.
"But the rotten one will spoil the others." "Oh, do you think so? Why should not the first apples make the bad one good?" And with these words he went out of the room.
The lad understood it all; no interpreter was required; he took the wise hint, and often it was helpful to him in resisting sin.
The incident is apparent, but impressive. Lay it to heart, young friends. Do sinners entice? "Refrain thy foot from their path, walk not thou in the way with them." (Proverbs 1:15). Stories on the Book of Proverbs - J. L. Nye
Those who are young, O God, make them thine own;
Hear from Thy blest abode, make them Thine own;
Now in their early days, turn them to Thy blest ways,
Save from the giddy maze, make them Thine own. A Midlane
N.J. Hiebert - 9696
September 10
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me? John 18:23
No one is able to attribute evil words to the Lord Jesus. Even when officers were sent to arrest Him, they returned empty-handed, excusing themselves with the assertion "Never man spake like this Man" (John 7:46).
The few words that Christ uttered at His trials before both Jews and Gentiles were peerless indicators of His innocence.
What is more, His statements from the cross manifested divine love, mercy, and holiness (in contrast to the reviling spectators and the cursing malefactors).
The Father registered His verdict on His Son's words and works by raising Him from the dead and exalting Him to His own right hand (Acts 2:33,36).
K. R. Keyser
Thy lips the Father's name to us reveal;
What burning power in all Thy words we feel,
When to our raptured hearts we hear Thee tell
The heavenly glories which Thou knowest so well.
That precious stream of water and of blood
Which from Thy pierced side so freely flowed,
Has put away our sins of scarlet dye,
Washed us from every stain, and brought us nigh.
J. G. Deck
N.J. Hiebert - 9697
No one is able to attribute evil words to the Lord Jesus. Even when officers were sent to arrest Him, they returned empty-handed, excusing themselves with the assertion "Never man spake like this Man" (John 7:46).
The few words that Christ uttered at His trials before both Jews and Gentiles were peerless indicators of His innocence.
What is more, His statements from the cross manifested divine love, mercy, and holiness (in contrast to the reviling spectators and the cursing malefactors).
The Father registered His verdict on His Son's words and works by raising Him from the dead and exalting Him to His own right hand (Acts 2:33,36).
K. R. Keyser
Thy lips the Father's name to us reveal;
What burning power in all Thy words we feel,
When to our raptured hearts we hear Thee tell
The heavenly glories which Thou knowest so well.
That precious stream of water and of blood
Which from Thy pierced side so freely flowed,
Has put away our sins of scarlet dye,
Washed us from every stain, and brought us nigh.
J. G. Deck
N.J. Hiebert - 9697
September 11
LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ENEMY OF YOUR SOUL
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11
The devil is declared in the Scriptures to be an enemy of God and of all men. Because he is a spirit he is able to "walk up and down in the earth" at his pleasure. Job 1:7
While we must not underestimate the strength of our foe, we must at the same time recognize that we need not live in constant fear of him! If he cannot make skeptics of us he will make us devil-conscious and thus throw a permanent shadow across our lives, for there is but a hairline between truth and superstition.
We should learn the truth about the enemy, but we must stand bravely against every superstitious notion he would introduce about himself. The truth will set us free but superstition will enslave us!
The scriptural way to see things is to set the Lord always before us, put Christ in the center of our vision; and if Satan is lurking around he will appear on the margin only and be seen as but a shadow on the edge of the brightness. It is always wrong to invert this - to set Satan in the focus of our vision and push God out to the margin. Nothing but tragedy can come from such inversion!
The best way to keep the enemy out is to keep Christ in! The sheep need not be terrified by the wolf; they have but to stay close to the shepherd. The instructed Christian whose faculties have been developed by the Word and the Spirit will practice the presence of God moment by moment!
Renewed Day By Day - A. W. Tozer
N.J. Hiebert - 9698
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11
The devil is declared in the Scriptures to be an enemy of God and of all men. Because he is a spirit he is able to "walk up and down in the earth" at his pleasure. Job 1:7
While we must not underestimate the strength of our foe, we must at the same time recognize that we need not live in constant fear of him! If he cannot make skeptics of us he will make us devil-conscious and thus throw a permanent shadow across our lives, for there is but a hairline between truth and superstition.
We should learn the truth about the enemy, but we must stand bravely against every superstitious notion he would introduce about himself. The truth will set us free but superstition will enslave us!
The scriptural way to see things is to set the Lord always before us, put Christ in the center of our vision; and if Satan is lurking around he will appear on the margin only and be seen as but a shadow on the edge of the brightness. It is always wrong to invert this - to set Satan in the focus of our vision and push God out to the margin. Nothing but tragedy can come from such inversion!
The best way to keep the enemy out is to keep Christ in! The sheep need not be terrified by the wolf; they have but to stay close to the shepherd. The instructed Christian whose faculties have been developed by the Word and the Spirit will practice the presence of God moment by moment!
Renewed Day By Day - A. W. Tozer
N.J. Hiebert - 9698
September 12
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
I had the inestimable privilege of being brought up in a Christian home. I feel sure the well-being of a nation lies in the proportion of Christian mothers it possesses. The mind of a child is plastic, and takes impression for good or evil at a very early age. One does forget a good deal of what was learned at a mother's knee but the impression lasts through life, and cannot be thrown off.
Many a young person has broken loose from the restraints of a Christian home, who in the end found early impressions too insistent to be disregarded, and live to thank God for the prayers and training of a Christian mother. When I was only eleven years old I made a profession of faith in Christ. Looking back it was a very feeble and shallow start that was made. As I grew up to manhood many a time I was tempted to give up Christianity, but something held me back.
Infidel doubts assailed me. Any attack on the Bible distressed me and shook my confidence. Such questions as, Why does God allow evil? Why does He allow the devil to work such mischief in the world? Why was I born in sin and shapen in iniquity? crowded into my mind and shook my foundations.
But all this only in the end led me to a stronger hold on Christ as my Saviour. It is said that a young sapling gets firmer hold of the soil as the result of fierce winds loosening the roots. When the storm is over, the loosened roots have room to push farther out, and take a firmer grip. The life and safety of a tree lie in the fact that there is as much out of sight below the surface as there is above ground. The taller the tree the longer and more far reaching the roots.
So it is with the Christian. Nothing will stand the assault of the enemy save a true heart-knowledge of the Lord as Saviour, a true faith-grip of the gospel of the grace of God. There must be an out-of-sight hold on divine reality before there can be effective Christian life and testimony. A.J. Pollock
N.J. Hiebert - 9699
September 13
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you . . . let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27.
The favourite song of Bert Frizen's mother was "Jesus Whispers Peace. " During college Bert went to serve in the military during World War 2 and was involved in the famous Battle of the Bulge. This battle took place near the borders of Belgium, Luxembourg and France during December 1944 and January 1945. It was the largest land battle in which USA forces participated, involving more than a million soldiers from Germany, Great Britain and America - 180,000 were wounded, captured, or killed in this terrible battle.
Bert Frizen, wounded during one of the attacks, lay on the battlefield, slipping in and out of consciousness. At one point, with his eyes closed, he started singing his mother's favourite hymn as best he could. When he opened his eyes, he saw a German soldier standing over him with a drawn bayonet. Bert understood enough German to know that the soldier was saying to him, "Sing it again; Sing it again." Sing es noch enimal; sing es noch einmal.
He continued singing this beautiful song:
"There is a name to me most dear, like sweetest music to my ear;
For when my heart is troubled, filled with fear, Jesus whispers peace.
When grief seems more than I can bear, my soul weighed down with heavy care,
And I am sorely tempted to despair, Jesus whispers peace." D. Warren
He felt himself being gently lifted in the arms of the enemy soldier, who carried him to a rock ledge where the American medics found him a short time later.
Mr Frizen returned home and graduated from college in 1947. Even in life's most difficult situations we can call upon Jesus to whisper peace to our hearts. How Sweet the Sound - George Beverly Shea
N.J. Hiebert - 9700
The favourite song of Bert Frizen's mother was "Jesus Whispers Peace. " During college Bert went to serve in the military during World War 2 and was involved in the famous Battle of the Bulge. This battle took place near the borders of Belgium, Luxembourg and France during December 1944 and January 1945. It was the largest land battle in which USA forces participated, involving more than a million soldiers from Germany, Great Britain and America - 180,000 were wounded, captured, or killed in this terrible battle.
Bert Frizen, wounded during one of the attacks, lay on the battlefield, slipping in and out of consciousness. At one point, with his eyes closed, he started singing his mother's favourite hymn as best he could. When he opened his eyes, he saw a German soldier standing over him with a drawn bayonet. Bert understood enough German to know that the soldier was saying to him, "Sing it again; Sing it again." Sing es noch enimal; sing es noch einmal.
He continued singing this beautiful song:
"There is a name to me most dear, like sweetest music to my ear;
For when my heart is troubled, filled with fear, Jesus whispers peace.
When grief seems more than I can bear, my soul weighed down with heavy care,
And I am sorely tempted to despair, Jesus whispers peace." D. Warren
He felt himself being gently lifted in the arms of the enemy soldier, who carried him to a rock ledge where the American medics found him a short time later.
Mr Frizen returned home and graduated from college in 1947. Even in life's most difficult situations we can call upon Jesus to whisper peace to our hearts. How Sweet the Sound - George Beverly Shea
N.J. Hiebert - 9700
September 14
I am the light of the world: He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the the light of life. John 8:12
"THE LIGHT THAT FAILED."
What wonderful ways can God use to bless and refresh His weary ones!
Who would ever dream this glaring advertisement of a play (The Light That Failed) upon a billboard, being employed as a messenger of God! Yet one, who had suffered sore bereavement caught sight of these words, and blessed God for the light that NEVER fails.
Earthly light, be it health or the joy of friends, or the love of husband or wife or parent or child, will fail, but the Christian has a portion that never fails.
Saul of Tarsus was converted by that "Light from Heaven, above the brightness of the sun," Acts 26:13, controlled by it, comforted by it and he found it indeed the light that never failed. It is in hours of deepest darkness that it shines with its brightest and most inward light in our hearts.
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18).
Oh! for more of that blessed shining.
A. J. Pollock
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
N.J. Hiebert - 9701
"THE LIGHT THAT FAILED."
What wonderful ways can God use to bless and refresh His weary ones!
Who would ever dream this glaring advertisement of a play (The Light That Failed) upon a billboard, being employed as a messenger of God! Yet one, who had suffered sore bereavement caught sight of these words, and blessed God for the light that NEVER fails.
Earthly light, be it health or the joy of friends, or the love of husband or wife or parent or child, will fail, but the Christian has a portion that never fails.
Saul of Tarsus was converted by that "Light from Heaven, above the brightness of the sun," Acts 26:13, controlled by it, comforted by it and he found it indeed the light that never failed. It is in hours of deepest darkness that it shines with its brightest and most inward light in our hearts.
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18).
Oh! for more of that blessed shining.
A. J. Pollock
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
N.J. Hiebert - 9701
September 15
"Thy brother . . . for whom Christ died." Romans 14:15
Let us say to ourselves, softly and tenderly as such a name requires, "My brother . . . for whom Christ died." My "weak brother . . . for whom Christ died" (1 Corinthians 8:11).
How terrible it is that we can "destroy," or cause to "perish," our brother. Surely it means this much, if not more, a wasted life, that might have been fragrant with Christ, a missing of the mark which God desired for him, a grieving of the heart of the Christ who died for him. Who can measure all this?
Many and diverse are the conditions of our beloved brethren for whom Christ died; many are young and tender; many ignorant and ill-instructed; many sick, sorrowful, weary and heavy laden: many scattered and driven away; many lame, halting and stumbled. Have we tried to help them, have we with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, and forbearing them in love, sought to heal and restore, to teach and to build up, that we may seek to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
Mark the tenderness of that man of God, Paul: "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse (nursing mother) cherisheth her children."
(1 Thessalonians 2:7)
O God, melt these stony hearts of ours! Cause us in our dealings with our brethren, to reflect some tiny portion of the tender grace which Christ shows every day to us, ever remembering that Christ died for them, and loves them as He loves us. S.L.J. Bible Truth Depot - Los Angeles
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more. Fanny Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 9702
Let us say to ourselves, softly and tenderly as such a name requires, "My brother . . . for whom Christ died." My "weak brother . . . for whom Christ died" (1 Corinthians 8:11).
How terrible it is that we can "destroy," or cause to "perish," our brother. Surely it means this much, if not more, a wasted life, that might have been fragrant with Christ, a missing of the mark which God desired for him, a grieving of the heart of the Christ who died for him. Who can measure all this?
Many and diverse are the conditions of our beloved brethren for whom Christ died; many are young and tender; many ignorant and ill-instructed; many sick, sorrowful, weary and heavy laden: many scattered and driven away; many lame, halting and stumbled. Have we tried to help them, have we with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, and forbearing them in love, sought to heal and restore, to teach and to build up, that we may seek to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
Mark the tenderness of that man of God, Paul: "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse (nursing mother) cherisheth her children."
(1 Thessalonians 2:7)
O God, melt these stony hearts of ours! Cause us in our dealings with our brethren, to reflect some tiny portion of the tender grace which Christ shows every day to us, ever remembering that Christ died for them, and loves them as He loves us. S.L.J. Bible Truth Depot - Los Angeles
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that are broken will vibrate once more. Fanny Crosby
N.J. Hiebert - 9702
September 16
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15
Is that beast better, that hath two or three mountains to graze on, than a little bee, that feeds on dew or manna, and lives upon what falls every morning from the storehouse of heaven, clouds, providence?
Whate'er God does is well,
Whether He gives or takes!
And what we from His hand receive
Suffices us to live.
He takes and gives, while yet He loves us still;
Then love His will.
Be content to be a child, and let the Father proportion out daily to thee what light, what power, what exercises, what straits, what fears, what troubles He sees fit for thee. Daily Strength for Daily Needs
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
The wealth in every mine,
He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches more than tongue can tell
He is my Father so they're mine as well.
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
I know that He will care for me.
John Peterson
N.J. Hiebert - 9703
Matthew 4:4
A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15
Is that beast better, that hath two or three mountains to graze on, than a little bee, that feeds on dew or manna, and lives upon what falls every morning from the storehouse of heaven, clouds, providence?
Whate'er God does is well,
Whether He gives or takes!
And what we from His hand receive
Suffices us to live.
He takes and gives, while yet He loves us still;
Then love His will.
Be content to be a child, and let the Father proportion out daily to thee what light, what power, what exercises, what straits, what fears, what troubles He sees fit for thee. Daily Strength for Daily Needs
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
The wealth in every mine,
He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches more than tongue can tell
He is my Father so they're mine as well.
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
I know that He will care for me.
John Peterson
N.J. Hiebert - 9703
September 17
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9).
A GLASS OF MILK
Years ago a poor young man was trying to work his way through medical school. His part-time job barely covered college costs and room rent. Not infrequently he went without food for a day.
One day, school and his job had been particularly busy and tiring and he was quite hungry. Walking to his room he became so hungry he decided to buy some food, but he only found one lone nickel in his pocket. Deeply discouraged he began to consider quitting medical school. Passing by wealthy homes, he decided to stop at one and ask for some food.
Going up to a beautiful home he knocked on the side door expecting a servant to answer. Instead a very lovely young girl opened the door.
The young college student, overcome with shyness was unable to ask the beautiful little girl for food. Instead he asked if he might have a glass of water. Seeing his shabby, though neat, clothing and his weary expression the girl immediately went to the kitchen and poured him a glass of milk.
Drinking it he asked; "How much do I owe you?" "Why, nothing", she replied." We are Christians. Mother says we are never to accept money for a kindness".
Thanking her, he left. Robert Smith, though about to quit college, now refreshed and feeling much better, determined to finish his medical school studies.
Some years latter the little girl, now grown into a beautiful young woman, became critically ill with a rare disease. Her family doctor was unable to help her so she was sent to a special hospital in a near by city.
There, Dr. Robert Smith, a specialist in rare diseases was called for consultation. Hearing the name of the town the young woman came from, he went to her room. Though she did not recognize him, he immediately remembered who she was. Dr. Smith took charge of her care and after much effort and a very long time, she was fully restored to perfect health.
The day she was to leave the hospital, a bill was delivered to her room. She feared that the amount of her bill would require many years to repay. Trembling, she opened and looked at the bill. Written in red ink on the side of the paper was: "Paid in full with one glass of milk, (signed) Dr. Robert Smith". The Christian Shepherd - 2009 Doug Nicolet
N.J. Hiebert - 9704
A GLASS OF MILK
Years ago a poor young man was trying to work his way through medical school. His part-time job barely covered college costs and room rent. Not infrequently he went without food for a day.
One day, school and his job had been particularly busy and tiring and he was quite hungry. Walking to his room he became so hungry he decided to buy some food, but he only found one lone nickel in his pocket. Deeply discouraged he began to consider quitting medical school. Passing by wealthy homes, he decided to stop at one and ask for some food.
Going up to a beautiful home he knocked on the side door expecting a servant to answer. Instead a very lovely young girl opened the door.
The young college student, overcome with shyness was unable to ask the beautiful little girl for food. Instead he asked if he might have a glass of water. Seeing his shabby, though neat, clothing and his weary expression the girl immediately went to the kitchen and poured him a glass of milk.
Drinking it he asked; "How much do I owe you?" "Why, nothing", she replied." We are Christians. Mother says we are never to accept money for a kindness".
Thanking her, he left. Robert Smith, though about to quit college, now refreshed and feeling much better, determined to finish his medical school studies.
Some years latter the little girl, now grown into a beautiful young woman, became critically ill with a rare disease. Her family doctor was unable to help her so she was sent to a special hospital in a near by city.
There, Dr. Robert Smith, a specialist in rare diseases was called for consultation. Hearing the name of the town the young woman came from, he went to her room. Though she did not recognize him, he immediately remembered who she was. Dr. Smith took charge of her care and after much effort and a very long time, she was fully restored to perfect health.
The day she was to leave the hospital, a bill was delivered to her room. She feared that the amount of her bill would require many years to repay. Trembling, she opened and looked at the bill. Written in red ink on the side of the paper was: "Paid in full with one glass of milk, (signed) Dr. Robert Smith". The Christian Shepherd - 2009 Doug Nicolet
N.J. Hiebert - 9704
September 18
THE NET-MENDERS
He (Jesus) saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, . . . mending their nets and He called them. Matthew 4:21
James and John were brethren: by the Sea
They sat and searched their fishing nets to find
If there some broken strand or mesh might be,
Which they with patient, skilful hand might bind.
They were experienced fishers, and they knew
That gaping rents let goodly fishes through.
So, while their partners fished, they in the boat
Together sat, a-mending nets; and He
Who could the toil of busy Peter note,
And called the bold apostle, "Follow Me,"
Had also (Perfect Master!) work in view,
Suited for men like James and John to do.
Years have gone past - Still John, with watchful eye,
Observes lest things should fray with wear and strain;
Still seeks the mender's gentle art to ply,
Still seeks to "strengthen things that yet remain."
With cords of Love he threads his needed, Truth;
He heals the schisms who mended nets in youth.
O Lord, I pray that in these latter days,
When many strive, and rashly tear and rend,
Thou would'st raise up such men of tact and grace,
The things that crumble and would part to mend.
Teach us, O Lord, and let us not forget,
Both how to fish for men, and mend the net! Bells and Pomegranates - J. M.Tait
N.J. Hiebert - 9705
He (Jesus) saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, . . . mending their nets and He called them. Matthew 4:21
James and John were brethren: by the Sea
They sat and searched their fishing nets to find
If there some broken strand or mesh might be,
Which they with patient, skilful hand might bind.
They were experienced fishers, and they knew
That gaping rents let goodly fishes through.
So, while their partners fished, they in the boat
Together sat, a-mending nets; and He
Who could the toil of busy Peter note,
And called the bold apostle, "Follow Me,"
Had also (Perfect Master!) work in view,
Suited for men like James and John to do.
Years have gone past - Still John, with watchful eye,
Observes lest things should fray with wear and strain;
Still seeks the mender's gentle art to ply,
Still seeks to "strengthen things that yet remain."
With cords of Love he threads his needed, Truth;
He heals the schisms who mended nets in youth.
O Lord, I pray that in these latter days,
When many strive, and rashly tear and rend,
Thou would'st raise up such men of tact and grace,
The things that crumble and would part to mend.
Teach us, O Lord, and let us not forget,
Both how to fish for men, and mend the net! Bells and Pomegranates - J. M.Tait
N.J. Hiebert - 9705
September 19
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24
Take that word keep and hold it close to your heart tonight and tomorrow. It is one of the great and magnificent messages of the Gospel - "He is able to keep you from falling." Put into the word you all the weakness, all the unworthiness, all the sinfulness which belongs to man since the fall; yet, He is able to keep you. He does not underrate the disadvantage of its being you when He bids His messengers say He is "able to keep you from falling."
It would be impossible, utterly impossible, were it not undertaken by Infinite love. Look out, and up, then. Look up "from the depth" - the vast depth of your weakness, perhaps of your mysteriously inherited weakness.
Look out of your failure under some temptation, inward or outward, inherited so to speak from yourself, from your own unfaithfulness in the past. Look up, out of your ruined purposes - unto Himself. . .present Saviour, indwelling Power, He is able to keep you, that your feet shall not totter. They shall stand "in a large room;" they shall hold on straight, until at last they enter, step by step - for it is one step at a time even then - "through the gates into the city." H. C. G. Moule .
Each step I take I know that He will guide me;
To higher ground He ever leads me on.
Until some day the last step will be taken.
Each step I take just leads me closer home.
At times I feel my faith to begin waver,
When up ahead I see a chasm wide.
It's then I turn and look up to my Saviour,
I am strong when He is by my side. W. Elmo Mercer
N.J. Hiebert - 9706
Take that word keep and hold it close to your heart tonight and tomorrow. It is one of the great and magnificent messages of the Gospel - "He is able to keep you from falling." Put into the word you all the weakness, all the unworthiness, all the sinfulness which belongs to man since the fall; yet, He is able to keep you. He does not underrate the disadvantage of its being you when He bids His messengers say He is "able to keep you from falling."
It would be impossible, utterly impossible, were it not undertaken by Infinite love. Look out, and up, then. Look up "from the depth" - the vast depth of your weakness, perhaps of your mysteriously inherited weakness.
Look out of your failure under some temptation, inward or outward, inherited so to speak from yourself, from your own unfaithfulness in the past. Look up, out of your ruined purposes - unto Himself. . .present Saviour, indwelling Power, He is able to keep you, that your feet shall not totter. They shall stand "in a large room;" they shall hold on straight, until at last they enter, step by step - for it is one step at a time even then - "through the gates into the city." H. C. G. Moule .
Each step I take I know that He will guide me;
To higher ground He ever leads me on.
Until some day the last step will be taken.
Each step I take just leads me closer home.
At times I feel my faith to begin waver,
When up ahead I see a chasm wide.
It's then I turn and look up to my Saviour,
I am strong when He is by my side. W. Elmo Mercer
N.J. Hiebert - 9706
September 20
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Whatever your care, remember there is one all-sufficient remedy. It is found, first of all in obeying the injunction, "Be careful for nothing," and then accepting in their full meaning those blessed words, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."
Instead of being careful (anxious) we are to rejoice in the Lord, because He has control of every matter. All power is in His hands. "Be not afraid ." Twice the Lord Jesus uttered these reassuring words to His disciples, and under very different circumstances.
Once when they were in a ship on the sea "tossed with the waves, for the wind was contrary," and once when three of His disciples were with Him on the Mount surrounded by the glories of the Transfiguration. What a wide field is covered by these two events! The one has to do with everything that is around you, the other with everything that is above you.
Are you tossed on life's tempestuous sea, experiencing much that is contrary to you? "Be not afraid." Is it a question of the coming glories and your fitness for them? The same voice utters the same words. But the Lord Jesus was as much at home in the one as in the other, and He would make us at home. "Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:18
What a wondrous Person the Saviour is! He can make us feel at ease amid divine glories; and equally at ease amid all the circumstances of the path that leads to them."And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." If but we see Him, care will vanish. He is enough for us as to things temporal, and enough for us as to things eternal. Angels in White
N.J. Hiebert - 9707
Whatever your care, remember there is one all-sufficient remedy. It is found, first of all in obeying the injunction, "Be careful for nothing," and then accepting in their full meaning those blessed words, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."
Instead of being careful (anxious) we are to rejoice in the Lord, because He has control of every matter. All power is in His hands. "Be not afraid ." Twice the Lord Jesus uttered these reassuring words to His disciples, and under very different circumstances.
Once when they were in a ship on the sea "tossed with the waves, for the wind was contrary," and once when three of His disciples were with Him on the Mount surrounded by the glories of the Transfiguration. What a wide field is covered by these two events! The one has to do with everything that is around you, the other with everything that is above you.
Are you tossed on life's tempestuous sea, experiencing much that is contrary to you? "Be not afraid." Is it a question of the coming glories and your fitness for them? The same voice utters the same words. But the Lord Jesus was as much at home in the one as in the other, and He would make us at home. "Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:18
What a wondrous Person the Saviour is! He can make us feel at ease amid divine glories; and equally at ease amid all the circumstances of the path that leads to them."And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." If but we see Him, care will vanish. He is enough for us as to things temporal, and enough for us as to things eternal. Angels in White
N.J. Hiebert - 9707
September 21
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
Be careful for nothing . . . and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
There is a vast difference between the "peace of God", and "peace with God". We were lost sinners, and enemies in our mind by wicked works: how could peace with God be made? If I believe on Christ and what He has done, then I can boldly say that for Christ's sake, even my sins are forgiven: therefore I can add: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The value is not in the faith, but in our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot get the blessing without believing, but it is an answer to the worth of Christ in God's sight.
But beside this settled peace which we have through the work of Christ, there is the peace of God, which has nothing to do with the forgiveness of our sins: though that is in one sense the foundation of all our blessing: but this, "the peace of God", is peace amidst the circumstances through which we pass day by day: and it is a peace "surpassing every mind of man".
The Apostle was in prison, bound with a chain to a Roman soldier: yet he was filled with both joy and peace. And, as joy is the second, peace is the third fruit of the Spirit: and like joy it is a legacy left by our beloved Lord, before He returned to His Home in Glory: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you," (John 14:27).
It is, in very truth, a peace that surpasses every mind of man: mind, notice, not knowledge: for "The peace of God" lies in a higher sphere than intellect: a truth we do well to remember today. G. Christopher Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9708
Be careful for nothing . . . and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
There is a vast difference between the "peace of God", and "peace with God". We were lost sinners, and enemies in our mind by wicked works: how could peace with God be made? If I believe on Christ and what He has done, then I can boldly say that for Christ's sake, even my sins are forgiven: therefore I can add: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The value is not in the faith, but in our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot get the blessing without believing, but it is an answer to the worth of Christ in God's sight.
But beside this settled peace which we have through the work of Christ, there is the peace of God, which has nothing to do with the forgiveness of our sins: though that is in one sense the foundation of all our blessing: but this, "the peace of God", is peace amidst the circumstances through which we pass day by day: and it is a peace "surpassing every mind of man".
The Apostle was in prison, bound with a chain to a Roman soldier: yet he was filled with both joy and peace. And, as joy is the second, peace is the third fruit of the Spirit: and like joy it is a legacy left by our beloved Lord, before He returned to His Home in Glory: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you," (John 14:27).
It is, in very truth, a peace that surpasses every mind of man: mind, notice, not knowledge: for "The peace of God" lies in a higher sphere than intellect: a truth we do well to remember today. G. Christopher Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9708
September 22
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