Gems from November 21- 30, 2016

November 21

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, 

bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, 

meekness, long-suffering . . .”

(Colossians 3:12) 

That is the end of all true “doing to death”—the end is life, not death; a life of uttermost love,

love that cannot help loving any more than the sun can help shining, 

or the river flowing, or the trees putting forth green leaves. 

The bond that holds God’s children together is love, just love.

One unkind deed, one unkind word, one thought even that 

moves towards unkindness, is fatal to the quality of

love we must have if His love is to be in us.

It is not a little thing to love like this.

Lord, evermore give us this love.

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael) 

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November 22

"Hezekiah . . . broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made.”

(2 Kings 18:4)

It is always good to look back on times of blessing and deliverance.

There is, however, a danger of remaining there and living on past blessings.

The children of Israel had even come to worship the brazen serpent, 

the provision, rather than the provider.

God wants us to move on and experience His enabling and deliverance 

today and in the future, as we endeavour to serve Him.

Remember, His mercies are new every morning.

(Brian Russell)

New mercies, each returning day, hover around us while we pray;

New perils past, sins forgiven, new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

(John Keble)

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November 23

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." 

(Psalm 34:4,6)

Once we overheard a conversation that passed between two Christians that we shall not easily forget.  One was aged, and had been prosperous, but in the decline of life misfortune overtook him through the dishonesty of another.  We can see him now as he stood in the doorway, his shining face set off by an abundance of white hair.

As they parted, his friend said to him, quoting from Psalm 34, “Well, remember, ’This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him our of all his troubles.’ “ “Ah,” he said (and they were the last words we ever hear him utter), “He has done a greater thing for me than that:  “He has delivered me from all my fears.”

Yes, it is surely a greater thing to be delivered from all our fears than saved out of all our troubles.  It is those fears that cast such a dark cloud over many a life.  And yet how often they are groundless fears!  But if trouble actually does come, and the trial is upon us, then let us remember the words of the Psalm already quoted

He cried just as if he had fallen into some pit, or was being washed out to sea.  And this is just how we must cry to God in our trouble.

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Psalm 56:3).

“I will trust and not be afraid.” (Isaiah 12:2).

“Trust in Him at all times.” (Psalm 62:8).

(Angels in White - Russell Elliot)

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November 24

“Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth . . .”

(Hebrews 12:6)

Everybody is not passing smoothly through this life, 

though some may be more so than others. . . .

But, after all, it is only “for a season” 

and if “need be.”

Do not make yourself uneasy: 

the One who holds the reins of the need-be is God.

He does not take pleasure in afflicting.  

If there is the need for it we go through the

trial, but it is only for a moment.

(J. N. Darby)

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November 25

"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and

he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” 

(Luke 14:11)

There are two ways in which God humbles us.

By the discovery of what is in our hearts, and by the discovery of what is in His heart—

and nothing so humbles us as to discover what is in His heart—but humble myself  

as I may, I do not believe I ever get down to my true level—to the place in which God sees me.

It should be a continual process.

There is a difference between being humble, and being humbled.   

I am humble when I am in God’s presence, occupied with what He is.

I am humbled when I am compelled to look at myself,

for self is always a sad sight.

(W.T.P. Wolston)

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November 26

“My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” 

(Song of Solomon 5:10)

To know Jesus is present salvation, peace, and happiness.

To know that my sins are blotted out by these “ruddy” drops—

yes, blotted out, I say blotted out for ever, is perfect blessedness.

They have no existence now before God, the Judge of sin.

Pardoned I am—I know I am, God says it.

But to know that my sins are blotted out is a deeper thought still.

Christ abolished sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Like the pebble that has been cast into the depths of the sea, our sins are 

untraceable—they are buried in the deep waters of God’s forgetfulness.

And God has been so glorified in the work of His blessed Son,

that it is now a righteous thing with God, as well as 

gracious, to bless all who believe in Jesus.

He can now indulge His love by meeting in grace the chief of 

sinners, who bows to the name of the once lowly,

but now exalted Son of man.

(Andrew Miller)

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November 27

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High 

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

(Psalm 91:1)

“JESUS,” 

was always conscious of His Father’s 

presence and the most natural thing was to speak to Him.

So closely is the life of the road connected with the invisible goal that prayer

has been established as a special means of communication between the two.

Prayer is that preparation for the travelers’ benefit so unique 

that it stands alone in the tale of their blessings.

It is cooperation with God. 

In prayer we align ourselves to the purposes of God 

and He is able to do things through us that He could not do otherwise.

(S. D. Gordon - Traveling Toward Sunrise)

Prayer is so simple;

It is like quietly opening a door

and slipping into the very presence of God.

There is the stillness 

To listen to His voice,

Perhaps to petition, 

Or only to listen;

It matters not

Just to be there

In His presence

Is prayer.

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November 28

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?

Let hin show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, 

glory not, and lie not against the truth.”

(James 3: 13,14)

A wise man is a man of faith, a man subject to and taught of God. Such

an one will manifest his true spiritual state by good behaviour.

His speech will be with meekness of wisdom.

This will be when faith is in the ascendency and the old, corrupt 

nature is kept in the place of death by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God.

Where it is otherwise one may well be ashamed before God and man.

If bitter envying and strife are ruling in the heart it indicates an unsubdued will and life out of 

harmony with God.  For this there is no reasonable excuse, for abundant provision has 

been made in order that one may be freed from such bondage.

God waits to bestow all needed wisdom to enable us to rise triumphantly 

above the evil tendencies of our natural hearts.

We shall always fail if we seek to be guided by our own

minds or by the wisdom of the flesh.

(H.A. Ironside)

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November 29

“I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

(Genesis 24:27)

Abraham’s servant had been charged with a difficult assignment—

“Find Isaac a wife”.

He needed to convince a young woman to travel to a place 

she’d never been,

marry someone she didn’t know,

and live in a land she’d never seen!

Facing such a daunting task, the servant prayed for guidance and direction.

His journey proved successful, and he rejoiced, 

knowing it was God who had led him.

Wise is the Christian who first seeks, then commits to the Master’s way.

It is here we learn what trusting God is all about, and it’s here 

we’ll experience His divine interventions! 

(D. Manera)

I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all;

But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.

(M. Luther)

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November 30

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

(1 Peter 1:7-8)

JOB - Above this book you may write:

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace:

Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.” (Cowper)

Its keywords are found in two New Testament texts: 

“Patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:12). 

“Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10).

The noble book of Job, that gave to the ancient world the first hint of the solution of

the mystery of pain, by detaching from it the hitherto inescapable association  

of a curse; which teaches man to believe that the divine author of all 

we suffer and all we enjoy is our ever blessed Lord.

For there is no strength without trial, no wisdom without experience of God and evil;

no refinement without pain; no progress without self-dissatisfaction;

nothing permanent that costs us nothing.

(The Wonderful Word - George Henderson)

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December 1

Gems from November 10- 21, 2016

November 10

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud,

thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee."   

(Isaiah 44:22)

“Who is God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by transgression . . .

He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.  

He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will 

subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins

into the depth of the sea."

(Micah 7:18-19)

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:17)

  

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

(1 John 1:7)

From these words which tell of the consciousness of shortcomings in the past,

and of absolute uncertainty regarding the future, we turn to the joy 

and confidence that characterize the Word of the Lord.

There I find the revelation of One Who cancels the past with its failure and

shortcoming, and gives us assuring words.

As regards the future, we possess a threefold assurance:

(a) We know that we have eternal life- 

“. . . that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

(b) We know where we are going-

“We have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1).

(c) We know what we are going to be like.

“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).

(In Pastures Green - George Henderson)

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November 11

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.”

(Romans 4:20)

FAITH DOES NOT nervously go over the same committal again and again.

Faith goes on from there ruggedly believing that what God has promised He will perform.

Abraham did not even consider what were really impossibilities.

He considered God, not circumstances.

So did Hannah when “she went her way and her countenance was no more sad.” 

So did Paul in the storm at sea, when he said, “I believe God.”

It is a mark of unbelief, not of faith, when we uneasily look around  

us and keep reminding God that we are depending on Him.

We are trusting Him more when, instead of constantly reminding Him, we move on 

to do the next thing and the next, counting it all as good as done.

A father would be grieved if his child kept on asking, 

“Are you sure you will take care of me?”

A trusting child goes on about other things and wastes no time trying to trust its father.

You are not really trusting until you quit trying.

The more you examine your faith, the sicklier it will be.

Don’t look at your faith.  Look at Jesus!

(Day by Day - Vance Havner)

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November 12

“. . . The people had a mind to work.”

(Nehemiah 4:6)

In the morning when thou findest thyself unwilling to rise, consider thyself presently,

if it is to go about a man’s work, that I am stirred up; or was I made for this,

to lay me down and make much of myself in a warm bed.” 

(Marcus Aurelius  121-180  AD)

Sunshine and sleep have no inter-fitness.

Moonlight and ploughing are badly matched.

The youth of the world who have reached the mountain summit were not 

pushed into their place of triumph; they worked their way there! 

God never called a lazy man to do a task for Him—

He’s looking for the men who work with energy and vim.

For men like that are sure to win a cause they undertake.

He doesn’t want the lazy kind, He wants men wide awake.

So if you’re called to do a task, to help Him right some wrong,

You just be glad that you are called to help His cause along.

(Edward H. Kessler - Mountain Trailways for Youth)

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November 13

Trust in Christ

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:

because he trusted in Thee.”

(Isaiah 26:3)

All the way my Saviour leads me—what have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whatever befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. 

(The Treasures of Fanny Crosby)

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November 14

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom,

and instruction, and understanding.”

(Proverbs 23:23)

How do you buy truth?

First of all one must recognize it as truth,

and ultimate reality.

Then one must pay the price to obtain it;

they must be willing to obey that truth. 

Next they make the decision to obtain it for themselves.

Their life should then be formed by that truth.

Jesus said, 

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6).

   Is that true?

Is He the Son of God and the only Saviour of sinners?

Are you willing to pay the price of following Him?

Then receive Him as Lord and Saviour  

and begin to follow Him today.

(Donald L. Norbie)

Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved, and we should love Him too;

And trust in His redeeming blood, and seek His will do.

(C.F. Alexander)

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November 15

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

(Romans 8:8)

There can be nothing of man for God.

His works, his nature,—all are inadmissible in the presence of God.

Nothing but the grace of God will do in the presence of God.

No one, but God alone, knows the value of Christ.

(Hunt’s Sayings)

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November 16

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider:

God also hath set the one (thing) over against the other, 

to the end that man should find nothing after him.”

(Ecclesiastes 7:14)

Too often we see life’s prose, but not its poetry.  Too often we miss the inspiration of the songs.

How manifold are our sorrows, but how manifold are His gifts!

Sin is here, but so is boundless grace; the devil is here, but so is Christ; 

the sword of judgment is crossed by Mercy’s sceptre.

God everlastingly sets Mercies over against Miseries!  His interventions are never mistimed.  

He never comes at the wrong season.  God has the affairs of the world in His hands.  

.(Selected)

With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove.

And aye the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love.

I’ll bless the Hand that guided, I’ll bless the Heart that planned,

When throned were glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s land.

(Samuel Rutherford)

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November 17

“And the government shall be upon His shoulder . . . And of the increase

of His government and peace there shall be no end.”

(Isaiah 9:6-7)

Isaiah anticipates Christ’s kingdom and reveals two characteristics 

of His millennial reign—its strength and its duration.

We live in days of weak and changing governments, but all this will  

change when the Lord establishes His Kingdom. It will be characterized by strength,

“And He shall rule them with a rod of iron” (Revelation 2:27).

Not only so, but, 

“His government and peace shall endure forever” 

We, as the Lord’s people, enjoy the beneficence of His reign in our hearts in the 

present, and we look forward to that day when the entire cosmos will bow the knee to Him.

(W.H. Burnett)

Grant us Thy peace, bid dangers cease, and Thou, Thy mercy sending,

Christ, give us rest, where, with the blest, Thy reign is never ending.

(Anon)  

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November 18

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

(Matthew 16:24)

TODAY WE ARE BESET by easy ways to do everything:

playing the piano becomes a game, mathematics 

is fun, you can learn without work, become 

a master of anything without drudgery, 

become an instant artist, 

a genius overnight.

But our Lord did not call us to a sanctified picnic and a glorified hayride.

We do not become saints in our sleep.

The old masters of the deeper life found the way straight and narrow with a

cross now and crown hereafter.

In position, one becomes a saint instantly, but in condition the being is followed

by the becoming and that is not fun. 

(All the Days - Vance Havner)

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November 19

“Think (Meditate) upon these things.”

(Philippians 4:8)

Delay is not denial. 

God will come in at the right moment.

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5).  

God is behind everything, and there is nothing behind God.

Faith and God see alike.  God has Christ before Him—not sin; and faith has the same object as God

“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace . . . 

But if not . . . we will not serve thy gods . . ."(Daniel 3:17-18)—the dignity of faith.

"God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, 
and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Whatever humbles me, helps me.  Not a particle of pride will enter glory 

“The proud He knoweth afar off” (Psalm 138:6).

(A.J. Pollock)

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November 20

“Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, 

Why do ye look one upon another? . . . get you down thither, and buy for us . . .”

(Genesis 42:1-2)

So long as the hills were green and the pastures clothed with flocks;

so long as the valleys were covered over with corn and rang with the songs of reapers—

just so long Jacob might have mourned alone; but Reuben, Simeon, and the 

rest of them would have been unconcerned and content.

But when the mighty famine came, the hearts of these men were opened to conviction;

their carnal security was shattered; and they were prepared for certain spiritual

experiences of which they never would have dreamed.

Yes; and they were being prepared for the meeting with Joseph.

It is so that God deals with us.     

God breaks up our nest.  He loosens our roots.

He sends a mighty famine which cuts away the whole staff of bread.

And at such times, weary, worn, and sad, we are prepared to confess our sins,

and to receive the words of Christ, when He says, 

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give your rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Is your life just now passing through a time of famine?  Do your supplies threaten to fail?

Does your heart fail you, as you look forward to the disasters that menace you?

Yet take courage; this is simply the motion of the current which is drifting you to Christ and to a better life. 

In after-days those men looked back upon that time of sore straitness as the best thing that could have happened to them:

nothing less would have brought them to Joseph.

Yes, and the time is coming when you will bless God for your times of sorrow and misfortune.  You will say, “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept Thy word” (Psalm 119:67).  

(F.B. Meyer)

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November 21

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, 

bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, 

meekness, long-suffering . . .”

(Colossians 3:12) 

That is the end of all true “doing to death”—the end is life, not death; a life of uttermost love,

love that cannot help loving any more than the sun can help shining, 

or the river flowing, or the trees putting forth green leaves. 

The bond that holds God’s children together is love, just love.

One unkind deed, one unkind word, one thought even that 

moves towards unkindness, is fatal to the quality of

love we must have if His love is to be in us.

It is not a little thing to love like this.

Lord, evermore give us this love.

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael) 

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November 22

Gems from November 1- 10, 2016

November 1

“The prayer of the upright is His delight.”

(Proverbs 15:8)

It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; 

nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be;

nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; 

nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be—

which God cares for.

Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much.

There is nothing that makes us love someone as praying for him,

 and when you can do this sincerely for anyone, you have fitted your 

soul for the performance of everything that is kind and civil toward him.

Be daily on your knees in a solemn, deliberate performance of this devotion, praying for others in such form, with such length, importunity and earnestness 

as you use for yourself; and you will find all little, ill-natured passions 

die away, your heart will grow great and generous.

(William Law)

The prayers of godly men and women can accomplish 

more that all the military forces in the world.

“Prayer-craft is greater than aircraft!"

(Streams in the Desert)

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November 2

“But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”

(John 21:4)

This must have been an amazing morning for those 

tired, cold and weary disciples.

They toiled all night for fish to feed their hunger, to no avail.

Trusting in their own efforts and expertise as fishermen they came up with nothing.

But Jesus stood on the shore!  

What they needed, the Lord provided in the way He alone could.

The Creator of the universe had the fish ready on the fire.

He is still the same today—able to provide in unique 

ways to those who trust Him alone for their needs. 

(Jim Paul)

Every need He is supplying, plenteous grace He bestows;

Every day my way gets brighter, the longer I serve Him;

The sweeter He grows!

(Bill Gaither)

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November 3

Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

(Philippians 4:6)

Neglect of Prayer

When King Saul had given over inquiring after God, we hear him knocking 

at the devil’s door, and asking counsel of a witch.

Take heed of living near the tempter!

If Satan might have his wish, surely it would be this, 

that the creature might live prayerless.

Satan cannot but deny that great wonders have been wrought by prayer.

As the spirit of prayer goes up, so his kingdom goes down.

Satan’s stratagems against prayer are three.

First, If he can, he will keep you from prayer.

If that be not feasible, secondly, he will strive to interrupt you in prayer.

And thirdly, if that plot does not work, he will labour to hinder the success of your prayer.

(The Christian in Complete Armour - William Gurnall - 1617 -1679)

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November 4

“There was also a strife among them, which of 

them should be accounted the greatest.”

(Luke 22:24)

One of the saddest things in all the life of Jesus Christ was the fact that just before His 

crucifixion, His disciples should have been striving to see who should be the greatest.

It was His last night on earth, and they never saw Him so sorrowful before.

He knew Judas was going to sell Him for thirty pieces of silver.

He knew that Peter would deny Him.

And yet in addition to this, when going into the very shadow of the cross, 

there arose this strife as to who should be the greatest.

He took a towel and girded Himself like a slave, and He took a 

basin of water and stooped and washed their feet.

That was another object lesson of humility.

He said, “Ye call me Master and Lord,

and ye say well.”

(John 13:13)

If you want to be great in My kingdom, be servant of all.

If you serve, you shall be great.

(D. L. Moody)

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November 5

“A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.”

(Song of Solomon 4:12)

“This people have I formed for Myself.”

(Isaiah 43:21)

You have not given “all” to Jesus while you are not quite ready to be “only” for Him.

And it is no use to talk about “ever” while we have not settled the “only” and the “all.”

You cannot be "for Him" in the full and blessed sense, 

while you are partly “for” anything or anyone else.

For “the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself.”

You see, the “for Himself” hinges upon the “set apart.” 

There is no consecration without separation.

If you are mourning over want of realized consecration,

will you look humbly and sincerely into this point?

“A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse,” saith the Heavenly Bridegroom.

Set apart for Jesus!  Is not this enough,

Though the desert prospect open wild and rough?

Set apart for His delight,

Chosen for His holy pleasure,

Sealed to be His special treasure!

Could we choose a nobler joy? -

And would we if we might?

(Opened Treasures - Francis Ridley Havergal)

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November 6

"And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art thou?”

(Genesis 3:9)

God misses His child.

That hour of fellowship was much to Adam, 

and it was more to God.  God’s love craves fellowship.

How sad when that beautiful fellowship was broken by sin and disobedience .

God sought His child.

He did not wait till Adam found his way 

back to  His side, but He hastened in search of him. 

God knew the answer to the question, “Where art thou?”

but Adam didn’t understand that he was lost, condemned and

ready to die—just as many today don't realize it.

Still the good Shepherd is seeking lost sheep to 

bring them home to the eternal fold.

Have you come to Him?

(Milton Haack)

Seeking the lost, yes, kindly entreating,

Wanderers on the mountain astray;

Come unto Me, His message repeating, 

Words of the Master speaking today. 

(William A. Ogden)

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November 7

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of 

God which He hath testified of His Son. He that  believeth on the Son 

of God hath the witness in himself.”

(1 John 5:9-10)

That which makes heaven to be a heaven to the saint is just this—

that he finds the same Christ in heaven that he has in his  

own soul; and all the subtleties of infidelity cannot 

touch the soul that possesses Christ thus within.

No reasoning of an infidel can shake my confidence if I am happy 

in Christ; for if a man came to tell me there was no 

Christ, when my soul was happy in Him,

I should not believe him.

(J. N. Darby)

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November 8

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and 

lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  

For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

(Matthew 11:28-30) 

He alone had the secret of rest, and if there was that divine inexhaustible fulness in Him,

all the divine glory being in Him, and we having it revealed to us (for He says, 

“he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father“), 

to whom could He not, and to whom would He not give rest?

It is not the question, how much you have to bear, but of the Lord’s eye upon individuals.

When He looks on any one, even if it be a little child who does not yet feel 

its burden, He sees it and knows all that is connected with conflict. 

He sees a burden within each—sees everything that is against us.

 I may be like a ship wrecked between two seas; well, He says, 

“Come unto Me and I will give you rest.” 

How can you get away from that word?  Is anything beyond His 

power?  It is just there that we get the very essence of the gospel.  He

goes on: “Take my yoke upon you, learn of Me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

How was it that Christ found such perfect rest in the midst of all that was against Him?  

Ever quiet and at home in the midst of it all: and He says, “Learn of Me." 

   (Gleanings - G. V. Wigram)

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November 9

"I am my Beloved's--and my Beloved is mine!”

 (Song of Solomon 6:3)

The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the Father's beloved Son--He is the believer's beloved Saviour. 

Jesus is the object of a Christian's adoring love--as well as of his hearty trust. 

He loves Him--because He laid down His life to redeem him.

 He also loves Him for what He is in Himself. 

He loves Him for His personal glories, and for the excellence of His character:

"All human beauties--all Divine,

 In His Beloved meet and shine!"

He is to him the chief among ten thousand, and "altogether lovely.” 

What especially affords him satisfaction, is that he can claim Christ as his own—

and that Christ also claims him as His own! His joy is supreme, 

when with assurance he can say, "I am my Beloved's--and He is mine!"

Every believer who heartily receives Christ as his Saviour, his Substitute,

 and as his Lord and Master, and who unreservedly yields himself to Him—is 

warranted to claim Christ as His own, and to know also that he is Christ's.

"Oh! I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine!

 He brings a poor vile sinner, into His “house of wine”!

(“Every Day” Author Unknown, 1872)

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November 10

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud,

thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee."   

(Isaiah 44:22)

“Who is God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by transgression . . .

He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.  

He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will 

subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins

into the depth of the sea."

(Micah 7:18-19)

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:17)

  

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

(1 John 1:7)

From these words which tell of the consciousness of shortcomings in the past,

and of absolute uncertainty regarding the future, we turn to the joy 

and confidence that characterize the Word of the Lord.

There I find the revelation of One Who cancels the past with its failure and

shortcoming, and gives us assuring words.

As regards the future, we possess a threefold assurance:

(a) We know that we have eternal life- 

“. . . that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

(b) We know where we are going-

“We have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1).

(c) We know what we are going to be like.

“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).

(In Pastures Green - George Henderson)

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November 11

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.”

(Romans 4:20)

FAITH DOES NOT nervously go over the same committal again and again.

Faith goes on from there ruggedly believing that what God has promised He will perform.

Abraham did not even consider what were really impossibilities.

He considered God, not circumstances.

So did Hannah when “she went her way and her countenance was no more sad.” 

So did Paul in the storm at sea, when he said, “I believe God.”

It is a mark of unbelief, not of faith, when we uneasily look around  

us and keep reminding God that we are depending on Him.

 

We are trusting Him more when, instead of constantly reminding Him, we move on 

to do the next thing and the next, counting it all as good as done.

A father would be grieved if his child kept on asking, 

“Are you sure you will take care of me?”

A trusting child goes on about other things and wastes no time trying to trust its father.

You are not really trusting until you quit trying.

The more you examine your faith, the sicklier it will be.

Don’t look at your faith.  Look at Jesus!

(Day by Day - Vance Havner)

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November 12

Gems from October 20- 31, 2016

October 20

“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, 

rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” 

(1 Timothy 1:4)

Today we still need to beware of systems that do not build up our souls, 

but instead of that only serve to get Christians occupied with unprofitable questions.

There are some people who delight to argue.

John Bunyan has said, “Some love the meat; some love to pick the bones.”

And you will find people who delight in the bones of vital doctrines 

but get very little nourishment from the truth of God’s Word, 

because, instead of being occupied with Christ, 

they are occupied with various side issues.

Now Timothy was to warn the saints to beware of things like that.

That which builds up the people of God is heart-occupation with Christ.  

If we are taken up with Him we will become increasingly like Him.

(Selected)

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October 21

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father . . . comfort

your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:16,17)

The wonder is that the Lord condescends to use anything which 

He gives one to say, seeing that we so often adulterate it with our own thoughts.

It is so gracious of Him to give us any encouragement in our service, but I am convinced

that, in the issue, the fruit of our labours which we have not seen will be far

more abundant than that which we have been permitted to know of,

and hence it is that we have to scatter the seed in faith. 

I am certain that we must leave results until the judgment seat of Christ.

In the meantime our one desire must be to gain His 

approbation and be content with that.

Nothing else is worth seeking for.

(Edward Dennett)

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October 22

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness,

we lie, and do not the truth.”

(1 John 1:6)

"Will a believer be saved, no matter into what course of sin he may fall and die in?”

A true believer will, infallibly, be saved; but we consider that salvation includes, 

not only full deliverance from the future consequences of sin,

but from the present power and practice thereof.

And, hence, if we find a person living in sin, and yet talking about his assurance 

of salvation, we look upon him as not a saved person at all.

  

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him 

and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”

(John 1:6)

The believer may fall, but he will be lifted up;  He may be overtaken, but he will be restored;  

He may wander, but he will be brought back, because - 

“Christ is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, 

seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

(Hebrew 7:25)

Not one of His little ones shall perish. 

(C.H. Macintosh)

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October 23

Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.”

(John 17:17)

The important question is not so much to know what is wrong as to learn from the Lord what is right. (A.N. Groves)

My business is love others, not to seek that others love me. (Robert Chapman)

It is better to speak to God for men than to speak to men for God.

How grand it would be if we could forget our troubles as readily as we forget our blessings—

or at least could recognize the former as the latter, as we one day shall.

Faithful men do not have a following, but their faith does. (D.E. Rule)

What God does in us while we wait is usually more important than the thing we are waiting for.

Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity. (A. Rogers)

There is an old saying, “What we possess possesses us.”

that is too true in the natural sense; but it also

ought to be true in the spiritual sense.

Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments,

despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.

(J.S. Baxter)

(Things to Think About)

(John Kaiser)

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October 24

"Is it well with thee?”

(2 Kings 4:26)

This question is asked, not by intrusive inquisitiveness, 

but by friendly interest and kindness. 

Surely then the candid reader will give it  

that attention which its importance demands. 

It is well with all who are in Christ—

whatever their outward circumstances may be. 

But it is ill with all who are out of Christ . . . however moral their character,

however amiable their disposition, or however prosperous their earthly estate. 

In Christ—there is safety, life, and peace! 

Out of Him—there is darkness, danger, and death! 

(Author unknown - 1872)

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October 25

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to 

that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

(2 Corinthians 8:12)* 

It is important to remember that there is no 

no “much" or “little" in God’s sight,

except as relatively to our means and willingness.  

(Note verse quoted above.)*

He knows what we have not, as well as what we have.

He knows all about the low wages in one sphere,

and the small allowance, or the fixed income

with rising prices in another.

And it is not a question of paying to God what can be squeezed  out of these,

but of giving Him all, and then holding all at His disposal, and taking

His orders about the disposal of all.

(Francis Ridley Havergal)

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October 26

“And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the 

LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

(Genesis 39:3)

No doubt Potiphar was intrigued with this foreigner, this Hebrew servant (v. 17).

He was watching and observing his every move.

Obviously, Joseph must have talked, but his testimony appeared to be more through 

his behaviour, not his beliefs—his works, more than his words.

Whatever Potiphar saw in Joseph was a reflection of God Himself.

Someone else was looking also (see v. 7), but she had a completely different set of eyes.

Think no one is watching us?

At work, at home, at play?

Think again!

(N. Craig Funston)  

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory that overcomes the world!

(John Yates) 

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October 27

Apostolic Lodgings

“Up into an upper room.”

(Acts 1:13)

"Paul dwelt . . . in his own hired house, and received all that came unto him.”

(Acts 28:30)

Two houses art thou given wherein to dwell; 

Happy art thou, if both thou uses well.

To one thou climbest high, with willing feet,

Above the world, thy risen Lord to meet.

The other to the busy street stands open free,

That sin-sick men may come to meet with thee.

The breath of Heaven thy “upper room” delights;  

Thy “hired house” the groans of earth invites.

So with a dual grace thy life is crowned:

Communion pure, and sympathy profound;

Love to thy Lord, and love to all around.

(Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait)

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October 28

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

(James 1:20)

When a part of the body is injured,

the pain causes tensions, 

and tensions in their 

turn cause pain.

It is the same with anger and resentment.

A good bath of forgiveness makes us ready for peace and joy.

But if we give ourselves over to hatred and resentment,

we will receive the opposite of peace and joy.

(This Day is the Lord’s - Corrie Ten Boom)

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October 29

“We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: 

shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?”

(Hebrews 12:9)

Madame Guyon used to say that the only difference she knew in places was where she realized 

most of the presence of God; so will it be with ourselves when we have no

will of our own, and when we have no home but God’s presence.

If we knew the heart of God we would never question any of His dealings with us,

nor should we ever desire His hand lifted off us till 

we have learned all He would teach us.

Paul says, “Through evil report and good report”, (2 Corinthians 6:8) he did not stop to explain; a true

servant of God has not time for that, and to defend yourself only leads to further charges.

We are never to seek to vindicate ourselves when it is a personal matter, but

when the Lord’s name is dishonoured for His glory we may speak. 

(Edward Dennett - Footprints for Pilgrims)

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October 30

"Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren

 . . . and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.”

(Genesis 37:2) 

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, 

because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.”

Genesis 37:3)

And when his brethren saw that their father loved Joseph more that all his brethren,

they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”

(Genesis 37:4)

And so with Christ, confessing His unique place with the Father, He can say,  

“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). 

Immediately the hatred of the Jews is called forth and 

“they  sought the more to kill Him,”  

and at once the Lord declares that 

“the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things.”

The beloved of the Father is hated by man.

Even so when the Lord witnessed  against the evil of the world,

 and bore witness to His coming glories, like Joseph,

He drew upon Himself the hatred of the world. 

(Hamilton Smith)

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October 31

“The prayer of the upright is His delight.”

(Proverbs 15:8)

It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers,

 how eloquent they may be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; 

nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be;

nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; 

nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be—

which God cares for.

Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much.

There is nothing that makes us love someone as praying for him,

 and when you can do this sincerely for anyone, you have fitted your 

soul for the performance of everything that is kind and civil toward him.

Be daily on your knees in a solemn, deliberate performance of this devotion,

praying for others in such form, with such length, importunity and earnestness 

as you use for yourself; and you will find all little, ill-natured passions 

die away, your heart will grow great and generous.

(William Law)

The prayers of godly men and women can accomplish 

more that all the military forces in the world.

“Prayer-craft is greater than aircraft!"

(Streams in the Desert)

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Gems from October 10- 20, 2016

“. . . the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)  

I remember reading years ago of a gentleman who said that one day in every month he went to a certain city, a place where there were great steel mills.  These mills were going constantly, pounding, pounding, pounding, and he wondered how people could sleep; but the citizens were so used to the noise that it did not bother them.

He could get no sleep during the one night a month which he spent in that town. Then one time, in the middle of the night, something happened to the electric power, and in a moment the mills stopped.  Suddenly the whole town woke up.  They were so used to the noise that it put them to sleep.

Well, the world has heard the gospel down through the centuries and still sleeps on.  But some day the “Church” of God will be gone, and the gospel as now preached will be silenced.  Then the world will wake up to find that it is just entering upon the day of the Lord. 

The day of the Lord will so come as a thief in the night. (Note verse quoted above, (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)

(H.A. Ironside)

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October 10

Crucified With Christ

"I am crucified with Christ;"

(Galatians 2:20-21)

Crucified with Christ were “our old man” (Rom 6.6), and “I” (Gal 2.20). 

There are only two races of people: Adam’s and Christ’s. “Our old man” refers to Adam’s race 

and anyone who is not “in Christ” (through faith) is “in Adam”. 

Sin had so corrupted Adam’s race that it was incapable of pleasing God, and at the cross He judged it. That judgment clearly extended to us individually as belonging to Adam’s fallen race.

This is a humbling thing. We have nothing of ourselves in which we can boast before God. 

The life we now live is through faith in the Son of God who “loved me, and gave Himself for me”. 

There were people around Galatia who were boasting in thinking that they could and should 

add to what Christ had done for them by law keeping, but Paul shows us that all 

that we have is from the Son of God because He gave Himself for us.

Somebody once said that the only reasonable response to “Himself for me” is, “me for Himself”. 

This is the response of love to the love of Calvary. 

He gave all and demands our all.

(Christian Living Today)

Were the whole realm of nature mine That were an offering far too small; 

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my heart, my life, my all! 

(Isaac Watts)

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October 11

Hast Thou Heard Him, Seen Him, Known Him?

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping . . . He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. . . . Jesus wept.”

(John 11:32-35) 

Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him? Is not thine a captured heart?

Chief among ten thousand own Him, joyful choose the better part.

Idols once they won thee, charmed thee, lovely things of time and sense;

Gilded thus does sin disarm thee, honeyed lest thou turn thee thence.

What has stripped the seeming beauty from the idols of the earth?

Not a sense of right or duty, but the sight of peerless worth.

Not the crushing of those idols, with its bitter void and smart;

But the beaming of His beauty, the unveiling of His heart.

Who extinguishes their taper till they hail the rising sun?

Who discards the garb of winter till the summer has begun?

'Tis the look that melted Peter, ’tis the face that Stephen saw,

'Tis the heart that wept with Mary, can alone from idols draw:

Draw and win and fill completely, till the cup o'erflow the brim;

What have we to do with idols who have companied with Him?

(Miss Ora Rowan - 1834-1879)

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October 12

The Three-Fold Promise

“They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall 

run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

(Isaiah 40:31)

Oh, wonderful promises given to those who wait on the Lord;

Strength for the faint who have fallen, power for weakness outpoured.

Blessed the three fold assurance thrilling the soul like a song:

They shall mount up as the eagles on wide wings and swift wings and strong;

Run with the stride of the racer, leaping unwearied and free,

Till he comes to the end of his journey and the crown of his effort shall see.  

But the word for the worn and the weary, who know not the rapture of wings, 

Who know not the joy of the runner, what infinite comfort it brings!

Walk and not faint; the slow steppings, the plodding dull round of the days,

The toil and the heat and the burden, the wearying halts and delays.

Oh, promise for those who are walking, who falter and stumble and fall,

The courage, the strength and the patience, this is the sweetest of all.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

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October 13

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,

and their sins and their iniquities will I

remember no more.”

(Hebrews 8:12)

The “I will” statements of God in Hebrews 8:8-12 are in stark contrast with the “I will” declarations of Lucifer.

"For thou  (Lucifer) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 

I will be like the most High.” 

(Isaiah 14:13-14)

God extends promises and covenants for the purpose of saving,

restoring, and blessing repentant sinners.

Satan had no goal of helping others, but rather desired 

heavenly preeminence, the worship of creation,

and the authority to rule it.

He wanted to be God.

May we humbly align our “I wills” to God’s will and follow 

His example of being others-focused in service.

To God be the glory!

(Warren Henderson)

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.”

(Fanny J. Crosby)

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October 14

“But now hath God set the members every one of them 
in the body, as it hath pleased Him.”

(1 Corinthians 12:18)

It is a mistake to suppose that all the members of the body of Christ are called 

to places of prominence, or that any member

can select his place in the body.

It is wholly and absolutely a matter of divine appointment.

It is not one man appointing another; still less is it a man 

appointing himself.

It is divine appointment, or nothing, yea, worse than nothing, 

a daring usurpation of divine rights.

(Food for the Desert)

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October 15

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is none else.”

(Isaiah 45:22)

UNTO JESUS and not to our position in the Christian Church, 

to the family to which to we belong, to our baptism,

to the education which we have received,

to the doctrine which we profess,

to the opinion which others have formed of our piety,

or to the opinion which we have formed of it ourselves.

Some of those who have prophesied in the Name

of the Lord Jesus will one day hear Him say: “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22, 23); 

but He will confess before His Father and before His angels

even the most humble of those who

have looked unto Him.

(Theodore Monod - 1874)

-Translated from the French by Helen Willis

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October 16

Stage by Stage

“And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment 

of the Lord: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.”

(Number 33:2)

Numbers 33 is a chapter in the Bible we might pass by without reflection. It appears to be nothing more than a long list of places tracing Israel’s pilgrimage from Rameses in Egypt to their arrival in the plains of Moab.  But it must be important because it’s the only section in Numbers that follows with the words: “Moses wrote . . . by the commandment of the Lord." 

Why keep a record of this?  Could it be that this list provides a framework upon which the Israelites emerging from the wilderness could retrace that forty year journey in their thoughts and recall God’s faithfulness at each location?

I envision an Israelite father, sitting near a campfire, reminiscing with his son: “I will never forget Rephidim! I was dying of thirst, nothing but sand and sage for hundreds of miles.  Then God directed Moses to take his staff and strike a rock—actually a hard slab of flint.  I thought, What a futile gesture; he’ll never get anything out of that stone.  But to my amazement water gushed out of that rock! A generous flow that satisfied the thirst of the thousands of Israelites.  I’ll never forget that day."

Psalm 114:8 “Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.”

Numbers 20:8 “Speak ye unto the rock . . . and it shall give forth his water . . .”

Reflect on your life—stage by stage—and remember all the ways 

God has shown you His faithful love.  

(David Roper) 

Count your many blessings, name them one by one. (Johnson Oatman Jr.) 

God’s faithfulness extends to all generations.

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“Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2016), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

October 17

“Be careful (anxious) for nothing.”

(Philippians 4:6)

It is always weakness to be fretting and worrying, 

questioning and mistrusting.  Can we gain anything by it?

Do we not unfit ourselves for action, and unhinge our minds for 

wise decision?  We are sinking by our struggles when we might float by faith.

Oh, for grace to be quiet!

Oh, to be still and know that Jehovah is God!

The Holy One of Israel must defend and deliver His own.

We may be sure that every word of His will stand, though the mountains should depart.

He deserves to be confided in. 

 Come, my soul, return unto thy rest, and 

lean thy head upon the bosom of the Lord Jesus.

Peace thy inmost soul shall fill 

Lying still!

(Streams in the Desert)

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October 18

"Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?

He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.

He saith unto him, Feed My lambs.” 

(John 21:15)

Three hundred years ago Samuel Rutherford wrote:

“No greater testimony of our love to Christ can be, than to feed carefully and faithfully His lambs.”

And Didon wrote: “We have a great need nowadays of self-sacrificing souls

 to teach the young generation by their very lives.”

The little children of Jerusalem, exactly like little children everywhere, 

noticed what their elders did, and did it too.

They did in the afternoon what their elders had done on Palm Sunday morning—

The children were crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David (Matthew 21:15). 

Children generally reflect those who are about them.

Their clear eyes look through what we say to what we are.

Often there is nothing of sacrifice in our task of bringing up children.

But our Lord Jesus knew what it would cost Peter to feed His 

lambs, and He knows what it costs some of us.

He overlooks nothing, forgets nothing. 

And He says of each hidden sacrificial act,

”Ye have done it unto Me” 

(Matthew 25:40). 

(Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael)

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October 19

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able 

to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” 

(Ephesians 6:16) 

A fiery dart is not a sudden desire to gratify some lust which arises from the flesh within; it is rather 

a diabolical suggestion from without that would raise a doubt as to the goodness of God. 

Satan hurled a "fiery dart” at Job when, in his terrible trial, his wife suggested that 

he should “curse God, and die.”  Job quenched this fiery dart with the shield

of faith, for he said, “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and 

shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:9-10). 

The devil still uses the trying circumstances of life in his endeavour to shake our confidence

in God and to drive us from God.  Faith uses these very circumstances to 

draw near to God and thus triumphs over the devil.

Again, Satan may seek to instil some abominable thought into the mind, 

some infidel suggestion that burns into the soul and darkens the 

mind. Such thoughts are not quenched by human reasonings, 

or by falling back on “feelings” or “experiences”, 

but by simple faith in God and His word. 

(Hamilton Smith)

N.J. Hiebert - 6411

October 20

“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, 

rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” 

(1 Timothy 1:4)

Today we still need to beware of systems that do not build up our souls, 

but instead of that only serve to get Christians occupied with unprofitable questions.

There are some people who delight to argue.

John Bunyan has said, “Some love the meat; some love to pick the bones.”

And you will find people who delight in the bones of vital doctrines 

but get very little nourishment from the truth of God’s Word, 

because, instead of being occupied with Christ, 

they are occupied with various side issues.

Now Timothy was to warn the saints to beware of things like that.

That which builds up the people of God is heart-occupation with Christ.  

If we are taken up with Him we will become increasingly like Him.

(Selected)

N.J. Hiebert - 6412

October 21

October 22