July 21
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
Christ could never lack divine wisdom. But with us it is very possible that wisdom may be lacking, even when will is subject, and we truly desire to do the will of God. Therefore the promise follows, "if any of you lack wisdom..."(quoted above). Absence of will, obedience, and the spirit of confiding dependence which waits on God, characterize the new life.
We pass through tribulation in the world; but this life develops itself in these qualities. But it is necessary this confidence should be in exercise; otherwise we can receive nothing. It does not honour God to distrust Him. Such a man is double-minded, like a wave of the sea driven by the wind. (v.1:6) He is unstable, (v.1:8) because his heart is not in communion with God; he does not live in a way to know Him; such an one is, of course, unstable.
If a believer keeps in the presence of God, near Him, he knows Him, and will understand His will; he will not have a will of his own, and will not wish to have one; not only on the ground of obedience, but because he has more confidence in the thoughts of God concerning Him than he has in his own will.
Faith in the goodness of God gives courage to seek and to do His will. We have in Christ Himself a perfect and beautiful example of these principles of the divine life. Tempted by Satan, He has no will of HIs own; it does not stir; but He shows that man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. It is absolute and perfect obedience. The will of God is not only the rule but the sole motive for action.
When the tempter desires Him to throw Himself down from the temple, to see whether God will be true to His promises, Jesus will in no way be tempted; He cannot question His faithfulness. He waits quietly for the power of God, whenever the occasion may present itself for manifesting it, in the path of His will. Brief Exposition of the Epistle of James - J. N. Darby
N.J. Hiebert - 20377
July 22
And God said, let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4
Let the light into your hearts! Well, the light has come, in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. "God is light"--bear that in mind--and "in Him is no darkness at all." But, since God is light, the light reveals the true relation of things. Light first of all shows where man is, and for that purpose Light came into the world. "That was the true Light ,which coming into the world lightens every man" (John 1:9). You must not understand by that statement that every man was converted.
Oh no! The light was there, and was for everybody, but alas, nobody had eyes to see it, until God had wrought in the heart and opened the eyes; that is the solemn side of the truth. Sin has plunged us in such a condition of distance from God, that really we do not see who Christ is, or what He is, until God opens our eyes. When Paul appears before Agrippa he says, that the Lord had commissioned him to go to "the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified, by faith that is in me"
(Acts 26:17,18).
Now would you like to have light? Would you like to have peace? Light will discover to you your lost condition; for it exposes you. Yes, but I will tell you what takes place after the light makes manifest to you that you are a poor, wretched, hell-deserving sinner. The next thing that light will do, is to reveal that "God is love," and that He has given His blessed Son for your salvation. Light will reveal your guilt, and Love will blot it all out. Light will make manifest your lost condition, and love will meet it. God is light, and God is love. Both are seen in Jesus. Seekers for Light - W. T. P. Wolston, M.D.
N.J. Hiebert - 20378
July 23
THE SOVEREIGN REMEDY FOR DESPONDENCY
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11
(1) The cure for the depression occasioned by overwork--is rest;
(2) For that caused by introspection--heart-
(3) And for that which is sometimes brought on by trial--a view of the beneficent purposes which God is accomplishing by its means.
But referring once more to Psalm 42:11, we have a sovereign remedy for despondency which never fails. "Hope Thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him..." Hope lightens the heart and enable us endure; praise brightens the face and enables us to sing away what we cannot reason away "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23).
The volume of praise may be very small to begin with; but if you keep lifting up the face to God that volume will steadily increase. Bless God for starlight and He will give you moonlight; praise Him for moonlight and He will give you sunlight; thank Him for sunlight, and you shall yet come to that land where they need not the light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light for ever and ever.
On that bright strand the blood-washed ones of Jesus
Are safe, no more the weary feet shall roam;
They find at last all that the heart has longed for,
Within God's house at home.
George Henderson
N.J. Hiebert - 20379
July 24
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