That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9,10.
Mark, it is first the heart, then the tongue. It is not head-work. That will not do here. It is all head work with zoology, geology, or physiology, but when you come to the knowledge of the Lord, it is heart-work. You have all got hearts, let Christ fill them.
Think of His love--do you not believe that blessed One? Do you ask me if I believe? Yes, I believe Him from the bottom of my heart; I believe He loved me, as the apostle Paul says, "The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20). What is the result of knowing and believing that? The tongue is loosed.
When a man's heart is touched, he believes, and then confesses Christ. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10) It is exceedingly simple. "Confession is made unto salvation." You get right with God first in your heart, and then put yourself right with men by your mouth.
Your tongue exalts Christ. The man who is saved, tells of it to other people. He rejoices to speak of Christ's grace, and to Christ's credit. There is no credit to him. It is all to the glory of Christ. You believe in Him with your heart, and with your mouth confession is made to salvation, for the Scripture says, "For whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:11)
Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J. Hiebert - 20216
February 11
He (Elijah) went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree . . . as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. . . . and he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. and he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights .
1 Kings 19:4-8
And what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was depressed.
The physical needed to be cared for. What many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment attended to. There are grand men and women who get where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master: "The journey is too great for thee," (verse 7) and I am going to refresh you. Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weakness.
I'm to tired too trust and too tired to pray,
Said one, as the overtaxed strength gave way.
The one conscious thought by my mind possessed,
Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest.
Will God understand, do you suppose.
If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,
Without an asking if I may,
Without ever trying to trust and pray?
Will God understand why think, dear heart,
When language to you was an unknown art,
Did a mother deny you needed rest,
Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?
Did she let you want when you could not ask?
Did she set her child an unequal task?
Or did she cradle you in her arms,
And then guard your slumber against alarms? - Ella Conrad Cowherd
N.J. Hiebert - 20217
February 12
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
Both the willing and the working are from God: there is no room to boast. And if it is of GOD, it cannot fail, for, "HE FAILETH NOT." (Zephaniah 3:5) Notice the two "days" that are mentioned in Philippians 1:5 & 6: "The first day", and, "Christ Jesus' day:" the beginning of the race, and the ending. "The first day" was the day when they heard the Gospel and believed it. When is "Christ Jesus' day"? The present time is called "Man's day" (1 Corinthians 3:13). But "Christ Jesus' day " (Philippians 1:6) is coming.
Now, man is allowed to a large extent to have his own way.
-Then, Christ Jesus will have His own way.
- Then, all enemies will be put under His feet.
- Then, He will gather all His own unto Himself.
- Then, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.
- Then, even our bodies will be fashioned like unto His glorious body.
- Then, we shall be conformed unto the image of His Son.
- Then, He will finish up the good work which He began in us at the first day.
(It is almost the same word as "It is finished" at the Cross.)
Well may the Apostle cry: "I AM PERSUADED, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38,39). Lord, Give us more of this "persuasion!"
Philippians - G. Christopher Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 20218
February 13
February 14
February 15
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