Bible Gems

May 31, 2005 at 00:26 o\clock

Summer

by: soundwords

There will be limited entries this summer.  For regular daily messages by email, contact njhiebert@sympatico.ca or visit http://www.hulen.org - Gathered Treasure

May 30, 2005 at 14:32 o\clock

Gems from the Weekend

by: soundwords

May 28-30
"And when (Jesus) had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered.  And when the tempter cam to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  But (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:2-4)
Satan has power against pretension, against knowledge, but no power against obedience, if we are acting by the Word, with no will of our own.  With Jesus, Satan was baffled, the strong man was bound, and the way in which He bound him was by simple obedience - "It is written."  (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 2262

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."  (James 1:22)
    At the end of his initial consultation with a client, the famous psychoanalyst Alfred Adler would ask a perceptive question: "And what would you do if you were cured?"  The patient would give an answer.  Adler would listen, then get up, open the door, and reply, "Well, then do it!"
    How do you get God's truth into your life?  The answer is as obvious as it is ignored.  In God's strength, and in loving obedience to Him, just do it!  (H.W.R.)
N.J. Hiebert # 2263
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."  (1 John 1:1)
God manifest in the flesh!  He was audible, visible and touchable.  Yet despite this revelation His own rejected Him.  They despised His teaching and stopped their ears.  They refused to see who He was and acknowledge that His miracles were of God.  Instead of embracing Him, they took Him and with wicked hands nailed Him to a tree.  Centuries later we have come to know this Word of Life as the Saviour of our souls. Thank God that He came to earth to endure the cross and conquer sin and death for us!  (Crawford Paul)
N.J. Hiebert # 2264

May 27, 2005 at 14:26 o\clock

Gem for Friday

by: soundwords

May 27
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." 
(Psalm 119:105)
 
Scripture is throughout a moral book.  God speaks to us according to this, not according to the(after all) petty discoveries of science.  I call it petty, because it is occupied only with material things.  All knowledge is the proof of ignorance; for what man has learned, he did not know before.  Yet, if he has rightly learned it, it was before, and he did not know it.  As Pascal has said, All matter never produced a thought, and all intellect never produced charity."  (Christian Truth - Vol. 19 - December 1962)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2261

May 26, 2005 at 14:30 o\clock

Gems for Wednesday / Thursday

by: soundwords

May 25 - 26
"Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."  (Matthew 24:44)
"Ready to every good work." (Titus 3:1)
 
Ready feet to do Thy will,
Ready hands to serve Thee still,
Ready mind Thy voice to hear,
Ready drooping hearts to cheer.
 
Ready if to lose or gain,
Ready if 'tis joy or pain,
Ready still to watch and pray,
Ready all the livelong day.
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2259

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:30-31)
 
Mankind by tradition has often asked what they "must do" for salvation.  Many "do" good works: give sacrificially; observe sacraments; be a good neighbour or citizen; try to be moral; and so on.  But even if we did all these things, we still  would not have done enough.  Through the glorious gospel call, we are not asked to "do" anything but believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  God does not ask us to even understand all gospel truth; only believe it, and "thou shalt be saved."  Are you saved?  (R.J. Steele)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2260

May 25, 2005 at 00:15 o\clock

Gems for Monday / Tuesday

by: soundwords

May 25
"He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull." 
(John 19:17)
 
His cross?  How could it be His cross?  He is the One for whom God the Father rent the silent skies to proclaim: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  God the Holy Spirit, through the pen of John, wrote: "In Him is no sin."  God the Son, with full honesty stated, "I do always those things that please the Father."  An openly critical human throng could not respond to His challenge, "Which of you convinces Me of sin?"  That cross was not His but ours.  But He made it His to pay the penalty of our sin.  What a Saviour!  (David J. Logan)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2257

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  (Colossians 3:2) 
 
How earnestly should we seek as members of the household of God, to give a right impression of what He is by our temper, spirit, style and manner!  If men of the world - those with whom we come in contact from day to day in the practical details of life - if they see us looking sour, morose, downcast - if they hear us giving utterance to doleful complaints about this, that, and the other - if they see us occupied about our own things - grasping, griping driving as hard bargains as others - if they see us grinding our employees with heavy work, low wages and poor fare - what estimate can they form of Him whom we call our Father and our Master in heaven?"  (C.H. Mackintosh)  
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2258

May 24, 2005 at 14:12 o\clock

Gems from the Weekend

by: soundwords

May 21-24
"Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
 
We are a generation of boasters.  We are self-confident.  We like to bring forth our strong reasons.  We resent being placed in the infant class.  So it is when you take the gospel to those who are of great station in life, that you meet with opposition immediately.  You find yourself in an unfriendly atmosphere.  You are conscious of what is called in the business world, "sales resistance."  What a contrast we find to this when we get a group of little children together to talk about the Lord Jesus.  We are immediately conscious of the simplicity with which they listen to the sweet story of God's love in sending His Son to die for them.  (C.H. Brown - December 1961)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2254
"And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith." (Luke 17:5)
 
Perhaps some have prayed for more faith.  This is a common delusion as if some day they would become suddenly conscious of a great increase of that commodity.  It cannot be too clearly stated that God does not work in this way. He does not deal out faith to us in bulk.  It would be harmful, rather than helpful, if He did.  Faith, like money, is increased by circulation; or, like seed, it grows and gathers strength as our physical frame does by exercise.  When the disciples on one occasion said, "Lord, Increase our faith," the Lord Jesus in His reply laid down a fundamental principle which holds good for all time, and which we do well to ponder.  He shows it is not the quantity of faith, but just exercising what we have; and He mentions one of the smallest things, and tells them what they would accomplish with just so much faith.  "If ye had faith," He said, "as a grain of mustard seed."  (R.E.)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2255

"Lord, wilt thou that we (James and John) command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them... But (Jesus) turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."  (Luke 9:54,55)
 
    Satan tempts saints to unholy wrath, and they do not know and little think where they had their coal from to so heat them till Christ tells them, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."
    Use the bridle in the quantity of your words; incline rather to sparing than using them lavishly; for "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin." (Proverbs 10:19)
    We want to have the God of peace with us, so as to have humbleness about evil, affections occupied with good.  (Christian Truth - July, 1961)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2256

May 20, 2005 at 12:19 o\clock

Gem for Friday

by: soundwords

May 20
"Charity suffereth long (Love is patient), and is kind . . ."
(1 Corinthians 13:4)
 
    One of President Abraham Lincoln's earliest political enemies, Edward M. Stanton, was extremely harsh and critical.  On one speech, he called Lincoln a "low cunning clown."  He also called Lincoln "the original gorilla."  In fact, in another speech Stanton said, "it was ridiculous for people to go to Africa to see a gorilla when they could find one just as easily in Springfield, Illinois."  How hurtful would that be if that was said publicly about you?  Yet Lincoln never responded to that slander.  He never spoke a word against him.  He never retaliated.  He never criticized him!  Why?  Because love is patient.
    Lincoln never responded to Edwin M. Stanton, who attacked him repeatedly.  He refused to reciprocate the slander.  But when he was elected president and he needed a secretary of war, guess whom he chose?  He chose Edwin M. Stanton, the man who heartlessly defamed and disgraced Lincoln.  When his incredulous friends asked Lincoln why he had made this choice, he said, "Because he is the best man."
    Years later, as the slain president's body lay in state, Edwin M. Stanton looked into the coffin and said through his tears, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen."  His animosity was finally broken by Lincoln's long-suffering, nonretaliatory spirit.  Love is patient, kind, and a powerful antidote to a critical attitude.  (Selected)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2253

May 19, 2005 at 14:22 o\clock

Gem for Thursday

by: soundwords

May 19
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He did foreknow He also did predestinate to be conformed, to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."  (Romans 8:28,29)
 
God chooses my circumstances, my sicknesses, my sorrows, in view of what He is accomplishing. (Romans 8:28,29 - above) He thus chooses the circumstances for us that will best accomplish His purpose of conforming us to the image of His Son.  The consequence is that, if in the line of His purpose, I will never seek to change my circumstances.  In fellowship with the heart of God I will gratefully leave that to Him.  (Edward Dennett - Footprints for Pilgrims) 
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2252

May 18, 2005 at 14:41 o\clock

Gem for Wednesday

by: soundwords

May 18
"And lead us not into temptation, . . ."  (Matthew 6:13)
 
When tempted:
 
Forget the slander you have heard,
Forget the hasty, unkind word;
Forget the quarrel and the cause,
Forget the whole affair, because,
Forgetting is the only way.
Forget the storm of yesterday.
Forget the chap whose sour face
Forgets to smile in any place.
Forget that you're not a millionaire,
Forget the gray streaks in your hair.
Forget the coffee when it's cold.
Forget to kick, forget to scold,
Forget the plumber's awful charge,
Forget the doctor's bill is large;
Forget the repair man and his ways,
Forget the winter's blustery days.
Forget the neighbour's wagging tongue.
BUT DON'T
Forget God when day is done.
(Author Unknown)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2251

May 17, 2005 at 14:31 o\clock

Gem for Tuesday

by: soundwords

May 17

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2)
 
The servant is to proclaim "the word."  This is not simply the gospel to the sinner, but "the word" of God to both sinner and saint.  There is a necessity too for urgency in preaching as well as to preach at all seasons.  The word of God is for all people at all times.  "Conviction" and "rebuke" may be called for both among saints and sinners. But this can only be by the preaching of the word; for it is only the word that produces conviction.  We may seek to convict and rebuke by our own words and arguments only to find we irritate and call forth resentment.  Rebukes, if they are to be effectual, must be based upon the word of God.  For those who are willing to bow to the word and accept its convictions and rebukes , there is the word of encouragement. (Hamilton Smith - The Second Epistle to Timothy)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2250

May 16, 2005 at 14:27 o\clock

Gem for Monday

by: soundwords

May 16

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good report.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:1-3)

Only by faith is it possible for the just to live.  The things hoped for and the things not seen, which are now made manifest in full perfection by the gospel of Christ, can only be realized by faith, even as it was by faith that all the godly, since the beginning of the world, lived and suffered, obeyed and conquered.  In order to encourage, stimulate, and comfort them in the midst of trial and temptation, he brings before them in rapid but most vivid and comprehensive sketches the history of the fathers, whom they regarded with the profoundest reverence and affection, showing them that theirs also was the life of faith.  What was their greatness, but that they were men of God? and what made them men of God, but that they believed God, and waited for the fulfilment of His promise?  Faith was the characteristic feature of all the saints.  It is the attitude of heart, without which there is no communion with God, and without which we cannot please Him.  (Adolph Safir - Epistle to the Hebrews - Vol. 2)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2249

May 13, 2005 at 19:41 o\clock

Gems for the Weekend

by: soundwords

May 14
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets (ensnares) us." (Hebrews 12:1)
 
    In her remarkable book Teaching a Stone To Talk, Annie Dillard tells about the ill-fated Franklin Expedition of 1845.  The explorers sailed from England to find the Northwest Passage across the Arctic Ocean.
    They put aboard their two sailing ships a lot of things they didn't need: a 1,200-volume library, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware for each officer with his initials engraved on the handles.  Amazingly, each ship took only a 12-day supply of coal for their auxiliary steam engines.
    The ships became trapped in vast frozen plains of Arctic ice.  After several months, Lord Franklin died.  The men decided to trek to safety in small groups but none survived.
    One story is especially heartbreaking.  Two officers pulled a large sled more than 65 miles across the treacherous ice.  When rescuers found their bodies, they discovered that the sled was filled with "a great deal of table silver."
    By carrying what they didn't need, these men contributed to their own failure.  But don't we do the same?  Don't we drag baggage through life that we don't need?  Evil thoughts that hinder us?  Habits that drag us down?  Grudges that we won't let go?  Let's determine to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us" (Hebrews 12:1).  (HGB)
 
The world has lost its transient lure -
Its evil spell I shun;
I've set my course for higher things
Till earth's brief race is run  (HGB)
 
If your Christian life is a drag, worldly weights may be to blame.
 
OUR DAILY BREAD, RBC MINISTRIES, COPYRIGHT (1993), GRAND RAPIDS, MI. REPRINTED PERMISSION
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2247

"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full . . . and (Jesus) arose and rebuked the wind, and said Peace, be still." (Mark 4:37-39) 
 
It is not in gliding along the surface of a tranquil lake, that the reality of the Master's presence is felt; but actually when the tempest roars, and the waves roll over the ship.(Food for the Desert)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2248

May 13, 2005 at 14:18 o\clock

Gem for Friday

by: soundwords

May 13

"If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."  (James 4:15) 
 
Man's own will is always evil.  Where there is the knowledge of good, the heart, or at least the state of man is evil, if He does it not.  Grace and love are lacking.  To seek self-interest, to do one's own will, to satisfy one's own desires, characterises the natural man.  To do good, to seek the good of others, and to serve them, is the fruit of love.  Now, if, when there is the knowledge of what is good, and the opportunity of doing it occurs, man does it not, it is a sign that the heart is evil; love for others, and the desire to do good is lacking.  Not to do good is sin; it shows the absence of grace and the activity of the natural will.  (J.N. Darby - Brief Exposition of the Epistle of James)  
 
N.J. Hiebert  # 2246

May 12, 2005 at 14:40 o\clock

Gem for Thursday

by: soundwords

May 12
"Why was this waste of the ointment made?  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and have been given to the poor."  (Mark 14:4,5)
The supper at Bethany gave occasion to the first conception of the treachery of Judas.  Satan put it into his heart.  It was a scene of love, but such a scene draws quickly out the hatred of those that  have no love.  Mary's worshipping affection for the person of the Lord and her sense of His danger led her on till the house of Bethany was filled with the sweet odour of the ointment she poured forth.  But Judas roused the carnal mind of the other disciples; he had no communion with her: Jesus was not precious in his eyes.  He, therefore, was carping where Jesus was the adored object of Mary.  It was so much taken from his own ill-gotten gains.  He only pleaded the cause of the poor, and stirred up the other disciples about it; so that "there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?"  But love, while it would lavish all, never wastes anything; self does, idle folly does, but love never.  (W. Kelly - Exposition of Mark's Gospel) 
N.J. Hiebert # 2245

May 11, 2005 at 14:38 o\clock

Gem for Wednesday

by: soundwords

May 11

"When the lawless cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach."  (Proverbs 18:3)
 
The casting off of restraint and acting in self-will results in shame and reproach.  He who would have the confidence of his brethren, and be esteemed by his friends, must manifest a spirit of subjection, on his own part, that bespeaks a sober-minded, thoughtful man, and one who values integrity.  The opposite spirit results in ignominy (disgrace, dishonour) at last, however high the head may be carried for a time.  (H.A. Ironside - Notes on Proverbs)    
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2244

May 10, 2005 at 16:38 o\clock

Gem for Tuesday

by: soundwords

May 10
"We would see Jesus." (John 12:21) 
"We have seen the Lord."  (John 20:25) 
"They shall see His face."  (Revelation 22:4)
 
Oh the joy of seeing Him whom our souls love!  Is it not the desire of all hearts as we gather to worship - "We would see Jesus"?  And when we have truly worshipped in the remembrance of Him, is it not our joy to say, "We have seen the Lord"?  So then we look forward, with eager anticipation, to that pleasure of pleasures in the eternal glory, "They shall see His face".  (Jim Flanigan)
 
When by the gift of His infinite grace
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there, and to look on His face,
Will through the ages be glory for me.
(Charles H. Gabriel)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2243

May 9, 2005 at 22:49 o\clock

Gem for Monday

by: soundwords

May 9
"Do not intreat me to leave thee, to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried.  Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part me and thee!"  (Ruth 1:16-17).
 
To accompany Naomi, to walk with her, live with her, and die with her who was the only possible link with God and His people for Ruth: this was the longing of this woman of faith.  But her thoughts go farther than simple association with Israel; she identifies herself with the people, whatever their state might be, in order to belong to the God of Israel, the true God who does not change: "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."  Having turned her back on Moab and its idols, she now belongs to a new cause with which she identifies, excluding every possibility of separation.  Only death can break such bonds.  Here we see how God and faith meet, understand one another, and unite together.  How clearly this account leads us to understand that faith is the only means of bringing sinful man into relationship with God!  Just as Ruth clung to Naomi, so faith clings to the Mediator, the object of God's counsels, who alone can give an assured relationship with the true God and an unshakable position before Him.  (H.L. Rossier)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2242

May 6, 2005 at 14:59 o\clock

Gems for the Weekend

by: soundwords

May 7

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3)
 
Do you excuse yourself for your shallowness on the ground that the circumstances in which you find yourself are not advantageous to the kind of a life that you would like to live?  You have reasoned it out and you think that it would be different if you were living in a different position.  There is not one thing lacking!  We have  complete equipment.  God is not going to put us into a position where we cannot live for Him and yet ask us to live for Him.  He has given us all things necessary; right in your present position God has given you the fullest resources to live for Him.  We do not have to wait until we are older, or know our Bibles better, before we begin to live for Him.  (C.H. Brown)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2240
 
"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) 
 
    In a small art studio I observed the works of an artist who portrays western scenes and people.  An unfinished sketch on his easel reminded me of the story of a boy who sat at his mother's desk, drawing a picture.  Using a fountain pen and a bottle of black ink, he exhibited considerable talent in sketching a picture of a dog.  But he stopped drawing before giving the dog a tail.  When his mother noticed the picture, she asked, "Where is the tail?"  Looking up, he explained, "It's still in the bottle."
    As Christians, we are sometimes like that boy.  We don't always finish what we start.  Despite laying plans that honour the Lord, we fail to put them into practice or to follow them through to completion.  Perhaps we intend to devote more time to the reading and study of the Word of God.  Or maybe we resolve to be more faithful in praying for others.  And for a while we do better.  But then we let other things take priority.  We start the picture, but we don't finish it.
    When Deborah, Israel's fourth judge, sang her song of victory (Judges 5:2-31), she mentioned that the people of the tribe of Reuben had great resolves of heart (v.15).  But she also noted with dismay that they were content to sit "among the sheepfolds" (v.16).  They had not turned their plans into action.
    How rewarding it is to carry out a project to completion!  Our plans can't glorify God if they are "still in the bottle."  Let's take up the pen, fill it with ink, and finish what we start.  (P.R.V.)
 
If a task is once begun,
Never leave it till it's done;
Be the labour great or small,
Do it well or not at all.  (Anon)
 
Even if you are on the right track, you won't get anywhere if you just sit there.
 
OUR DAILY BREAD, RBC MINISTRIES, COPYRIGHT (1985), GRAND RAPIDS, MI  REPRINTED PERMISSION
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2241

May 6, 2005 at 02:58 o\clock

Gem for Friday

by: soundwords

May 6

". . . and that thou should give reward unto Thy servants and them that fear Thy name, small and great.  (Revelation 11:18)  "Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great."  (Revelation 19:5)
 
    It have enjoyed and been strengthened by the thoughts that have arisen in my soul from such verses, having a legal tendency to measure ourselves with others.  Be willing to be among the "small";    heaven has fitted itself for the accepting of "small" and "great" together.  Do not be uneasy if you judge yourself little in either fruitfulness, or devotedness, or grace, in comparison with others.  Be willing to enter heaven as a "small" one.  The glory has made its reckoning accordingly.  The millions of the saints are there, as well as apostles, prophets, and martyrs.  All the congregation, the small ones of Dan, as well as the princes of Judah, were alike in the shout of triumph when the glory appeared. Clement and others were not Paul in the measure of their labours, in the love of Christ, and energy of the Spirit; but they were Paul as having their names alike written in the book of life.  " . . . Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4:3)  
    The system of the glory has counted upon the small as well as the great.  "In my Father's house are many mansions." (John 14:2)  The Father constructed His house on the very plan of receiving the saints as well as Christ.  It was part of the original design.  It was built as a many mansioned house, because all that trust in Jesus were to be there just as surely as Jesus Himself.  (J.G. Bellett)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2239

May 5, 2005 at 19:01 o\clock

Gems for Thursday

by: soundwords

May 5

"Then shall I know even as also I am known."  (1 Corinthians 13:12)
 
Our life is full of mysteries.  Again and again the bewildered spirit asks, Why?  And to many of our questions there is no answer.  It has not pleased God to explain all His ways with us here and now.  Elihu said to Job, "He giveth not account of any of His matters" (Job 33:13).  But faith counts on His infinite LOVE and WISDOM, and knows that some day all will be made plain; and in the light of His presence we shall get the answers to all the questions that have perplexed us.  Then we shall know the hidden reasons for every trial, every sorrow; and we shall see that there was a "needs be" for all of His dealings with us.  We may be sure that, when we see everything from the divine standpoint, we shall be able to praise Him for all that now seems so bewildering.  Therefore we leave everything in His mighty hands.  His LOVE and GRACE are sufficient for us.  (Annon)  
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2237
 
"And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it."  (Numbers 11:9)
 
The manna was so pure and delicate that it could not bear contact with the earth.  It fell upon the dew and had to be gathered ere the sun was up.  Each one, therefore, had to rise early and seek his daily portion.  So it is with the people of God now.  The heavenly manna must be gathered fresh every morning.  (November 1966 - Christian Truth - Vol. 19)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2238