I am not what I was,"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12,13
I am not what I shall be, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 .
I am not what I should be, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Ephesians 4:1.
I am not what I would be, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12,13.
But, by the grace of God, I am, what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
When I trace the way He's led me in the many years gone by,
Kept us thru the many trials, sent us succour from on high,
Kept us in the sore temptations, when the tempter's voice was heard,
In my soul I hear Him whisper; Child of God, hold fast my Word.
When I look into the future, think of what I yet may meet,
And of how the subtle tempter, spreads his snares to catch my feet.
Then my eyes will turn to Jesus seated on the Father's throne,
See Him there my intercessor pleading for His feeble one.
(From the Archives of Tom Dear)
N.J. Hiebert - 9017
November 1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving...1Timothy 4:1-3
Behind this apostasy there is the direct influence of seducing spirits leading to the doctrines of demons in contrast to the truth. The apostate is not simply a neglecter of the truth, nor a rejector of the truth. He is one who, having made a profession of the faith, deliberately gives up the truth and takes up some other religious creed as being superior to Christianity.
The demons speak lies while professing to maintain the truth. The devil we know "is a liar." (John 8:44) and beguiled our first parents by speaking lies in hypocrisy. The fact that the truth has no power over their souls and that they give heed to doctrines of demons clearly proves that their consciences are so seared that they are no longer able to distinguish between good and evil.
Apostasy, then, involves not only the giving up of the truth but also the adoption of error--the doctrine of demons. In place of the truth the apostate affects a religion of the flesh which professes to be of the very highest sanctity. They make the assumption of extraordinary purity by forbidding to marry, and great self-denial by abstinence from meats.
In reality, having turned from the faith, they deny God as our Saviour, and in refusing marriage and meats, they deny God as the Creator. This means the loss of all true piety which fears God, and in result opens the door to licence and wantonness. These seducing spirits, pandering to the pride of the flesh, hold out before men the promise of the greatest sanctity in order to lead them into the deepest corruption.
1 Timothy - An Expository Outline - Hamilton Smith
N.J. Hiebert - 9018
Behind this apostasy there is the direct influence of seducing spirits leading to the doctrines of demons in contrast to the truth. The apostate is not simply a neglecter of the truth, nor a rejector of the truth. He is one who, having made a profession of the faith, deliberately gives up the truth and takes up some other religious creed as being superior to Christianity.
The demons speak lies while professing to maintain the truth. The devil we know "is a liar." (John 8:44) and beguiled our first parents by speaking lies in hypocrisy. The fact that the truth has no power over their souls and that they give heed to doctrines of demons clearly proves that their consciences are so seared that they are no longer able to distinguish between good and evil.
Apostasy, then, involves not only the giving up of the truth but also the adoption of error--the doctrine of demons. In place of the truth the apostate affects a religion of the flesh which professes to be of the very highest sanctity. They make the assumption of extraordinary purity by forbidding to marry, and great self-denial by abstinence from meats.
In reality, having turned from the faith, they deny God as our Saviour, and in refusing marriage and meats, they deny God as the Creator. This means the loss of all true piety which fears God, and in result opens the door to licence and wantonness. These seducing spirits, pandering to the pride of the flesh, hold out before men the promise of the greatest sanctity in order to lead them into the deepest corruption.
1 Timothy - An Expository Outline - Hamilton Smith
N.J. Hiebert - 9018
November 2
WHAT KIND OF FAITH?
According to your faith be it unto you. Matthew 9:29
Do I have the right kind of faith? "If you have any faith at all, you may be sure it is the right kind." Do not waste time taking your faith apart and putting it back together. Do not expect saving faith to be some strange, different kind. You believe in Christ with faith like the faith you use when you trust someone or something else.
It is the object that makes the difference. If you have any uncertainty about the matter, come to a definite decision. Trust Christ now. It may help you to put down the time and place. You must have confidence in the decision and consider it settled. But do not confuse faith in your faith with faith in the Saviour. Faith has no value of its own, it has value only as it connects us with Him.
It is a trick of Satan to get us occupied with examining our faith instead of resting in the Faithful One. Go to Him just as you are as best you know. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37) Vance Havner
O what a Saviour that He died for me! from condemnation He hath made me free;
'He that believeth on the Son' saith He, 'Hath everlasting life'
All my iniquities on Him were laid, all my indebtedness by Him was paid;
All who believe on Him, the Lord hath said, 'Have everlasting life.'
Though poor and needy, I can trust my Lord, though weak and and sinful, I believe His word; O blessed message! every child of God, 'Hath everlasting life.'
Though all unworthy, yet I will not doubt, for him that cometh, He will not cast out,
He that believeth, O! the good news shout, 'Hath everlasting life.' J. McGranahan
N.J. Hiebert - 9019
According to your faith be it unto you. Matthew 9:29
Do I have the right kind of faith? "If you have any faith at all, you may be sure it is the right kind." Do not waste time taking your faith apart and putting it back together. Do not expect saving faith to be some strange, different kind. You believe in Christ with faith like the faith you use when you trust someone or something else.
It is the object that makes the difference. If you have any uncertainty about the matter, come to a definite decision. Trust Christ now. It may help you to put down the time and place. You must have confidence in the decision and consider it settled. But do not confuse faith in your faith with faith in the Saviour. Faith has no value of its own, it has value only as it connects us with Him.
It is a trick of Satan to get us occupied with examining our faith instead of resting in the Faithful One. Go to Him just as you are as best you know. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37) Vance Havner
O what a Saviour that He died for me! from condemnation He hath made me free;
'He that believeth on the Son' saith He, 'Hath everlasting life'
All my iniquities on Him were laid, all my indebtedness by Him was paid;
All who believe on Him, the Lord hath said, 'Have everlasting life.'
Though poor and needy, I can trust my Lord, though weak and and sinful, I believe His word; O blessed message! every child of God, 'Hath everlasting life.'
Though all unworthy, yet I will not doubt, for him that cometh, He will not cast out,
He that believeth, O! the good news shout, 'Hath everlasting life.' J. McGranahan
N.J. Hiebert - 9019
November 3
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20,21.
The blood of the Lamb cleanses the conscience from every speck and stain of sin, and sets it, in perfect freedom, in the presence of a holiness which cannot tolerate sin. In the cross, all the claims of divine holiness were perfectly answered; so that the more I understand the latter, the more I appreciate the former.
The higher our estimate of holiness, the higher will be our estimate of the work of the cross. "Grace reigns, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord." Hence the Psalmist calls on the saints to give thanks at the remembrance of God's holiness. This is a precious fruit of a perfect a redemption. Before ever a sinner can give thanks at the remembrance of God's holiness, he must look at it by faith, from the resurrection side of the cross.
We see Adam as a type of Christ; but he is not merely to be viewed typically, but personally--not merely as absolutely shadowing forth "the second Man, the Lord from heaven," but also as standing in the place of personal responsibility. In the midst of the fair scene of creation, the Lord God set up a testimony, and this testimony was also a test for the creature.
It spoke of death in the midst of life. "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Strange, solemn sound! yet it was a needed sound. Adam's life was suspended upon his strict obedience. The link which connected him with the Lord God was obedience, based on implicit confidence in the One who had set him in his position of dignity--confidence in His truth--confidence in His love. He could obey only while he confided. C. H Macintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 9020
The blood of the Lamb cleanses the conscience from every speck and stain of sin, and sets it, in perfect freedom, in the presence of a holiness which cannot tolerate sin. In the cross, all the claims of divine holiness were perfectly answered; so that the more I understand the latter, the more I appreciate the former.
The higher our estimate of holiness, the higher will be our estimate of the work of the cross. "Grace reigns, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord." Hence the Psalmist calls on the saints to give thanks at the remembrance of God's holiness. This is a precious fruit of a perfect a redemption. Before ever a sinner can give thanks at the remembrance of God's holiness, he must look at it by faith, from the resurrection side of the cross.
We see Adam as a type of Christ; but he is not merely to be viewed typically, but personally--not merely as absolutely shadowing forth "the second Man, the Lord from heaven," but also as standing in the place of personal responsibility. In the midst of the fair scene of creation, the Lord God set up a testimony, and this testimony was also a test for the creature.
It spoke of death in the midst of life. "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Strange, solemn sound! yet it was a needed sound. Adam's life was suspended upon his strict obedience. The link which connected him with the Lord God was obedience, based on implicit confidence in the One who had set him in his position of dignity--confidence in His truth--confidence in His love. He could obey only while he confided. C. H Macintosh
N.J. Hiebert - 9020
November 4
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5.
Conscious of the sense of tears in things mortal, a true gentleman does not make life hard for anyone. "So long as I have been here," said President Lincoln, after his second election, "I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom". Someone has defined a gentleman as "one who never puts his feelings before the rights of others; or his rights before their feelings".
God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes. For, as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness; and laughter is one of the privileges of reason, being confined to the human species. These two things form part of the universal language of the human race--the language of looks.
Since Babel, (Genesis 11:9) men in different parts of the world do not understand one another's speech; but this one inarticulate language is understood everywhere. The newly born babe seems to bring some understanding of it with him into the world. The wise man affirms that a merry heart maketh a cheerfulness countenance, and doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 15:13; 17:22).
What is more refreshing than the merry laugh of a child? It is the bubbling up of the fountain of innocence and simplicity in the little one's heart. Did not our Master bid us to become as little children? (Matthew 18:3). Be assured then that you will make your own life happier and better, and through your happiness the lives of others happier and better, by using the faculty of humour to heal, to solve anger, to mitigate suffering, to cheer adversity, to save us from the wearing action of petty troubles, to arm us with the brightness of spirit which makes the best, and not the worst, of everything!
Winsome Christianity - H. Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 9021
Conscious of the sense of tears in things mortal, a true gentleman does not make life hard for anyone. "So long as I have been here," said President Lincoln, after his second election, "I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom". Someone has defined a gentleman as "one who never puts his feelings before the rights of others; or his rights before their feelings".
God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes. For, as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness; and laughter is one of the privileges of reason, being confined to the human species. These two things form part of the universal language of the human race--the language of looks.
Since Babel, (Genesis 11:9) men in different parts of the world do not understand one another's speech; but this one inarticulate language is understood everywhere. The newly born babe seems to bring some understanding of it with him into the world. The wise man affirms that a merry heart maketh a cheerfulness countenance, and doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 15:13; 17:22).
What is more refreshing than the merry laugh of a child? It is the bubbling up of the fountain of innocence and simplicity in the little one's heart. Did not our Master bid us to become as little children? (Matthew 18:3). Be assured then that you will make your own life happier and better, and through your happiness the lives of others happier and better, by using the faculty of humour to heal, to solve anger, to mitigate suffering, to cheer adversity, to save us from the wearing action of petty troubles, to arm us with the brightness of spirit which makes the best, and not the worst, of everything!
Winsome Christianity - H. Durbanville
N.J. Hiebert - 9021
November 5
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting own imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
I do not fight with merely human weapons. No, the weapons with which I war are not weapons of mere flesh and blood, but, in the strength of the Lord, they are mighty enough to raze all strongholds of our foes. I can batter down bulwarks of human reason; I can scale every crag-fortress that towers up bidding defiance to the true knowledge of God. I can make each rebel purpose my prisoner of war and bow it into submission to Christ.
He said not, thou shalt not be tempted; thou shalt not be travailed;
Thou shalt not be afflicted: But He said, "Thou shalt not be overcome!"
Julian of Norwick, A.D. 1373.
We are not here to be overcome, but we are to rise unvanquished after every knock-out blow, and laugh the laugh of faith--not fear.
Tempted on the sea of life; travailed sore, amid earth's strife;
Afflicted often, and sore dismayed; look up, faint heart, be not afraid ,
Thou shalt not be overcome!
God's ways are far beyond our ken; His thoughts are not the thoughts of men;
And He knoweth what is best for you. Hope on, my friend, He will bear you through.
Thou shalt not be overcome!
Though "the reason why" we cannot see, Our Father knows--'tis enough that we
But trust His love, when our eyes, are dim. Look up! Hold fast! though the fight is grim. We shall not be overcome!
Mary E. Thompson
N.J. Hiebert - 9022
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
I do not fight with merely human weapons. No, the weapons with which I war are not weapons of mere flesh and blood, but, in the strength of the Lord, they are mighty enough to raze all strongholds of our foes. I can batter down bulwarks of human reason; I can scale every crag-fortress that towers up bidding defiance to the true knowledge of God. I can make each rebel purpose my prisoner of war and bow it into submission to Christ.
He said not, thou shalt not be tempted; thou shalt not be travailed;
Thou shalt not be afflicted: But He said, "Thou shalt not be overcome!"
Julian of Norwick, A.D. 1373.
We are not here to be overcome, but we are to rise unvanquished after every knock-out blow, and laugh the laugh of faith--not fear.
Tempted on the sea of life; travailed sore, amid earth's strife;
Afflicted often, and sore dismayed; look up, faint heart, be not afraid ,
Thou shalt not be overcome!
God's ways are far beyond our ken; His thoughts are not the thoughts of men;
And He knoweth what is best for you. Hope on, my friend, He will bear you through.
Thou shalt not be overcome!
Though "the reason why" we cannot see, Our Father knows--'tis enough that we
But trust His love, when our eyes, are dim. Look up! Hold fast! though the fight is grim. We shall not be overcome!
Mary E. Thompson
N.J. Hiebert - 9022
November 6
And Nathan said to David, thou art the man. 2 Samuel 12:7
Nathan speaks in a parable, and in his blindness David does not detect that he himself is the one this account is about. The prophet says, there were two men in a city, the one rich and the other poor. One had many flocks and herds; the other had only one little lamb which he cherished. A traveler came to the rich man who, in order to spare his own flock, took the poor man's lamb and butchered and cooked it for the man that had come to him.
Let us watch out for this sort of traveler, for we are all prone to be visited by him. Certainly when he appears it is better to close the door against him. This traveler is lust, a passing desire, and not one that we habitually entertain and feed.
This traveler had entered King David's house, knowing he would find something to feed on there. Our hearts too ever contain that which it takes to succumb to Satan's temptations. David's anger was greatly kindled against the traveler: and he said to Nathan...the man that has done this thing is worthy of death.
"And Nathan said said to David, Thou art the man." How suddenly everything caved in! David had pronounced his own sentence; he deserves death! Yes, this blow reaches his heart, but it also goes down to the deepest recesses of his conscience, suddenly exposed, to the light.
David had preferred his sin to God. What a terrible thing! Do our consciences have nothing to say to us? Every natural heart has lusts that attract it. By "lusts" we mean not only the defiling things of the world but also the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"--pleasures, vanity, and ambition.
These things find easy access into a Christian's heart. How many days and years often pass without our shutting the door to them! Every time we open the door to this visitor we are despising the Lord Himself. This is the reason for God's judgment on His servants here. 2 Samuel - H.L. Rossier
N.J. Hiebert - 9023
Nathan speaks in a parable, and in his blindness David does not detect that he himself is the one this account is about. The prophet says, there were two men in a city, the one rich and the other poor. One had many flocks and herds; the other had only one little lamb which he cherished. A traveler came to the rich man who, in order to spare his own flock, took the poor man's lamb and butchered and cooked it for the man that had come to him.
Let us watch out for this sort of traveler, for we are all prone to be visited by him. Certainly when he appears it is better to close the door against him. This traveler is lust, a passing desire, and not one that we habitually entertain and feed.
This traveler had entered King David's house, knowing he would find something to feed on there. Our hearts too ever contain that which it takes to succumb to Satan's temptations. David's anger was greatly kindled against the traveler: and he said to Nathan...the man that has done this thing is worthy of death.
"And Nathan said said to David, Thou art the man." How suddenly everything caved in! David had pronounced his own sentence; he deserves death! Yes, this blow reaches his heart, but it also goes down to the deepest recesses of his conscience, suddenly exposed, to the light.
David had preferred his sin to God. What a terrible thing! Do our consciences have nothing to say to us? Every natural heart has lusts that attract it. By "lusts" we mean not only the defiling things of the world but also the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"--pleasures, vanity, and ambition.
These things find easy access into a Christian's heart. How many days and years often pass without our shutting the door to them! Every time we open the door to this visitor we are despising the Lord Himself. This is the reason for God's judgment on His servants here. 2 Samuel - H.L. Rossier
N.J. Hiebert - 9023
November 7
And I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Joshua 1:5
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken. Psalm 37:25
I am walking and talking with Jesus,
Each day as I journey along;
I'm NEVER alone, Hallelujah!
The joy of the Lord is my song.
ONE OF THESE DAYS
One of these days it will all be over, sorrow and laughter, and loss and gain,
Meetings and partings of friend and lover, joy that was ever so edged with pain.
One of these days will our hands be folded, one of these days will the work be done,
Finished the pattern our lives have molded, ended our labour beneath the sun.
One of these days will the heartache leave us, one of these days will the burden drop;
Never again shall a hope deceive us, never again will our progress stop.
Freed from the blight of the vain endeavour, winged with the health of immortal life,
One of these days we shall quit forever all that is vexing in earthly strife.
One of these days we shall know the reason, haply, of much that perplexes us now;
One of these days, in the Lord's good season, light of His peace shall adorn the brow.
Blessed, though out of tribulation lifted to dwell in His sun-bright smile,
Happy to share in the great salvation, well may we tarry a little while.
Christian Truth - December - 1966
N.J. Hiebert - 9024
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken. Psalm 37:25
I am walking and talking with Jesus,
Each day as I journey along;
I'm NEVER alone, Hallelujah!
The joy of the Lord is my song.
ONE OF THESE DAYS
One of these days it will all be over, sorrow and laughter, and loss and gain,
Meetings and partings of friend and lover, joy that was ever so edged with pain.
One of these days will our hands be folded, one of these days will the work be done,
Finished the pattern our lives have molded, ended our labour beneath the sun.
One of these days will the heartache leave us, one of these days will the burden drop;
Never again shall a hope deceive us, never again will our progress stop.
Freed from the blight of the vain endeavour, winged with the health of immortal life,
One of these days we shall quit forever all that is vexing in earthly strife.
One of these days we shall know the reason, haply, of much that perplexes us now;
One of these days, in the Lord's good season, light of His peace shall adorn the brow.
Blessed, though out of tribulation lifted to dwell in His sun-bright smile,
Happy to share in the great salvation, well may we tarry a little while.
Christian Truth - December - 1966
N.J. Hiebert - 9024
November 8
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
The Bible speaks much about the heart. It tells us that our lives will be lived out in relation to what we have in our hearts. What a warning this is for us. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". Matthew 6:21
We find many heart-revealing stories, both negative and positive, as we consider various people in the Bible.
Eve's heart was on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, even though it had been forbidden; Lot's wife's heart was tied to Sodom, which is seen by her turning around to look at the city as she fled its destruction; Achan's heart, was on the prohibitive spoils of Jericho.
The tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, seeing the lush pasture lands on the east side of the Jordan, requested these lands--for their inheritance rather than entering into the promised land--this revealed where their heart really resided.
In contrast, Abram left his family and homeland when called of God to go out, because he looked for a heavenly city. Rebekah eagerly left behind her family in order to be with Isaac her husband. Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their businesses and their family ties to follow the Lord, as did Levi, who instantly left his money table when called. Their actions demonstrated where their hearts were.
The Lord instructs us that He is to be more important to us than home, positions, family relationships, even more than our own lives. We are to take up our cross daily and follow Him. The Lord showed us His heart, by doing His Father's will, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2).
May He win and fill our hearts in devotion and surrender to Him: "Search me, O God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23). Albert Blok.
N.J. Hiebert - 9025
The Bible speaks much about the heart. It tells us that our lives will be lived out in relation to what we have in our hearts. What a warning this is for us. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". Matthew 6:21
We find many heart-revealing stories, both negative and positive, as we consider various people in the Bible.
Eve's heart was on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, even though it had been forbidden; Lot's wife's heart was tied to Sodom, which is seen by her turning around to look at the city as she fled its destruction; Achan's heart, was on the prohibitive spoils of Jericho.
The tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, seeing the lush pasture lands on the east side of the Jordan, requested these lands--for their inheritance rather than entering into the promised land--this revealed where their heart really resided.
In contrast, Abram left his family and homeland when called of God to go out, because he looked for a heavenly city. Rebekah eagerly left behind her family in order to be with Isaac her husband. Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their businesses and their family ties to follow the Lord, as did Levi, who instantly left his money table when called. Their actions demonstrated where their hearts were.
The Lord instructs us that He is to be more important to us than home, positions, family relationships, even more than our own lives. We are to take up our cross daily and follow Him. The Lord showed us His heart, by doing His Father's will, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2).
May He win and fill our hearts in devotion and surrender to Him: "Search me, O God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23). Albert Blok.
N.J. Hiebert - 9025
November 9
I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you . . . Colossians 2:1
With what do I strive in my prayers?
(a) With all that says to me, what is the use of your praying? So many others, who know more of prayer than you do, are praying, what difference does it make whether you pray or not? Are you sure that your Lord is listening? Of course He is listening to the other prayers, but yours are of such small account; are you really sure He is "bending His ear" to you?
(b) With all that suggests that we are asked to give too much time to prayer. There is so much to do. Why set aside so much time just to pray?
(c) With all that discourages me personally--perhaps the remembrance of past sin, perhaps spiritual or physical tiredness; with anything and everything that keeps me back from what occupied Paul so often--vital prayer.
"Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1)
What will help me most in this striving?
(a) The certain knowledge that our insignificance does not matter at all, for we do not come to the Father in our own name, but in the Name of His beloved Son. His ear is always open to that Name. Of this we can be certain.
(b) The certain knowledge that the suggestion that prayer is waste of time is Satan's lie; he is much more afraid of our prayer than of our work. (This is proved by the immense difficulties we always find when we set ourselves to pray. They are much greater than those we meet when we set ourselves to work.)
(c) The application of God's sure promises to meet our need. (Isaiah 44:22, 40:29-31,45:19, Psalm 27:8) "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:29) "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4).
Let us count on the greatness of God. Edges of His ways - Amy Carmichael
N.J. Hiebert - 9026
With what do I strive in my prayers?
(a) With all that says to me, what is the use of your praying? So many others, who know more of prayer than you do, are praying, what difference does it make whether you pray or not? Are you sure that your Lord is listening? Of course He is listening to the other prayers, but yours are of such small account; are you really sure He is "bending His ear" to you?
(b) With all that suggests that we are asked to give too much time to prayer. There is so much to do. Why set aside so much time just to pray?
(c) With all that discourages me personally--perhaps the remembrance of past sin, perhaps spiritual or physical tiredness; with anything and everything that keeps me back from what occupied Paul so often--vital prayer.
"Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1)
What will help me most in this striving?
(a) The certain knowledge that our insignificance does not matter at all, for we do not come to the Father in our own name, but in the Name of His beloved Son. His ear is always open to that Name. Of this we can be certain.
(b) The certain knowledge that the suggestion that prayer is waste of time is Satan's lie; he is much more afraid of our prayer than of our work. (This is proved by the immense difficulties we always find when we set ourselves to pray. They are much greater than those we meet when we set ourselves to work.)
(c) The application of God's sure promises to meet our need. (Isaiah 44:22, 40:29-31,45:19, Psalm 27:8) "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:29) "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4).
Let us count on the greatness of God. Edges of His ways - Amy Carmichael
N.J. Hiebert - 9026
November 10
CHRIST ENTERED OUR SORROWS
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Psalm 69:20
There is no comfort like the thought that Jesus has entered into all our sorrows. This is the very way God has met the need, and want, and wretchedness of our nature. Supposing that Adam had never fallen, we could not speak of God with the comfort that we now can, since He has come in sympathy to us, through the means of the incarnation of our blessed Lord.
The Lord Jesus having become a man is the source of all comfort. The Lord has entered into all the depths of sorrow, so as to give us all the depths of comfort, in order that we may know that God knows the very secret of our case.
He lets us see the feeling of Jesus in entering into it, and in the expression of His thoughts and feelings while in this place; so we come to see how He entered into all our sorrows. And this is the channel for all His love to flow into our souls. J. N. Darby - The Lord is Near
We think of Thy devotion, Thy blest obedience rare;
Thy holy, deep emotion, Thy grief that none could share. G. A. Lucas
N.J. Hiebert - 9027
There is no comfort like the thought that Jesus has entered into all our sorrows. This is the very way God has met the need, and want, and wretchedness of our nature. Supposing that Adam had never fallen, we could not speak of God with the comfort that we now can, since He has come in sympathy to us, through the means of the incarnation of our blessed Lord.
The Lord Jesus having become a man is the source of all comfort. The Lord has entered into all the depths of sorrow, so as to give us all the depths of comfort, in order that we may know that God knows the very secret of our case.
He lets us see the feeling of Jesus in entering into it, and in the expression of His thoughts and feelings while in this place; so we come to see how He entered into all our sorrows. And this is the channel for all His love to flow into our souls. J. N. Darby - The Lord is Near
We think of Thy devotion, Thy blest obedience rare;
Thy holy, deep emotion, Thy grief that none could share. G. A. Lucas
N.J. Hiebert - 9027
November 11
