Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord, He shall save thee. Proverbs 20:22
BUT GOD
I know not, but God knows; Oh, blessed rest from fear!
All of my waiting days To Him are plain and clear;
Each anxious, puzzled "Why?" From doubt or dread that grows,
Finds answer in this thought: I know not but He knows.
I cannot, but God can; Oh, balm for all my care!
The burden that I drop His hand will lift and bear.
Though eagle pinions tire -- I walk where once I ran --
This is my strength, to know, I cannot but God can.
I see not, but God sees; Oh, all-sufficient light!
My dark and hidden way to Him is always bright.
My strained and peering eyes may close in restful ease,
And I in peace may sleep; I see not, but He sees.
Annie Johnson Flint
N.J. Hiebert - 10149
December 7
And it came to pass after awhile, that the brook dried up...and the word of the Lord came unto him, (Elijah) saying, arise, get thee to Zarephath...I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 1 Kings 17:7-9
Though Elijah was happily alone by the brook Cherith, he was not exempt from the deep exercise of soul consequent upon a life of faith. The ravens, it is true, in obedience to the divine command, paid him their daily visits, and Cherith flowed on in its tranquil and uninterrupted course, so that the prophet's bread was given him, and his water was sure, and thus, as far as he was personally concerned, he might forget that the rod of judgment was stretched out over the land.
But faith must be put to the test. The child of God must pass through the school of Christ, and having mastered, through grace, the difficulties of one, he must be called to grapple wth those of another. It was, therefore, needful that the soul of the prophet should be tried in order that it might be seen whether he was depending upon Cherith, or upon the Lord; hence, It happened after awhile that the brook dried up.
We are ever in danger, through the infirmity of our flesh, of having our faith propped up by circumstances, and when these are favourable, we think our faith is strong, and vice versa. But faith never looks at circumstances; it looks straight to God; it has to do exclusively with Him and His promises.
Thus it was with Elijah; it mattered little to him whether Cherith continued to flow or not. God was his fountain, his unfailing exhaustless fountain. No drought could affect God. Elijah's faith must still rest upon the same immutable basis. "I have commanded." How truly blessed is this! Circumstances changed; human things failed; creature streams are dried up, but God and His Word are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8) C. H. Mackintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 10150
December 8
O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring unto Thy holy hill. Psalm 43:3
I am a creature of a day. I want to know one thing--the way to Heaven; how to land safely on that happy shore.
God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came down from Heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me this 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
There is a chart whose tracings show
The onward course when tempests blow--
'Tis God's own Word! There, there is found
Directions for the homeward bound.
H.J.B.
N.J. Hiebert - 10151
December 9
This is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
1 Corinthians 11:24
Take notice of the word "remember." It is not a Christ as He now exists. His body is now glorified. That is not a remembrance. It is a remembrance of what He was on the cross, a body slain, shed blood, not a glorified body.
It is remembered, though, by those who are now united to Him in glory into which He is entered. As risen with Him in glory, they look back to that blessed work of love which gave them a place there. They drink also the cup of remembrance of Him.
In a word, it is Christ looked on as dead. There is not such a Christ now: it is the remembrance of Him. It is not only the value of His sacrifice, but also the remembrance of Himself. The apostle then shows us who it is that died. Impossible to find two words, the bringing together of which has so important a meaning--dead Christ.
How many things are comprised in that. He who is called the Lord has died! What love! What purpose! What efficacy! What results! The Lord Himself gave Himself up for us. We celebrate His death. J. N. Darby
We hear Thy voice, blest Saviour, "This do, remember Me"
With joyful hearts responding, we do remember Thee. G. W. Frazer
N.J. Hiebert - 10152
December 10
December 11
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