Gems for the Week
September 13 - 19
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25)
- How far is Christ practically formed in our hearts and minds? . . . so that His thoughts are our thoughts, His cares our cares, His subjects of interest our subjects of interest, and none other.
- You would not be easily startled by events if you saw all that you have in Christ to enable you to meet everything calmly.
- Has the restorative power of the Lord's coming got possession of your hearts?
- No sin the believer brings to God but when it comes to be weighed is not outweighed by the blood.
- God would have us to . . . count it a peculiar privilege to be whole-hearted for the Son of His love.
- Remember that there is no path for us smoother or broader than the path of the Son of man while in the world. (G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 2370
"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8)
"He made Himself low", or, "He made Himself very low." The word is used in old writings, speaking of the river Nile, "it runs low." As God, He emptied Himself: as Man, He made Himself low. This is a further step down downwards than being found in fashion as a man. . . He might have been found in fashion as a man, and have chosen to be an Emperor or mighty King: He might have chosen honour and wealth: but not so: "He made Himself low," "He humbled Himself." He could say, "I am meek and lowly in heart." But let us remember that this is "The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy." (Isaiah 57:15) After meditating on His path downwards, we can better understand His words that follow: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." How much most of us need to gaze upon Him, till we are in some measure changed into the same image, and have that mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus. (G. Christopher Willis - Sacrifices of Joy)
N.J. Hiebert # 2371
"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. . . . God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able."
(1 Corinthians 10:12,13)
- To desire blessing is easy, but the path to blessing is through waves and clouds and storms - that is, through the deepest exercises.
- The secret of many of our sicknesses and sorrows is that out hearts have not been true to the Lord. . . . We assume too much when we are sick; we take it for granted that all is well with us, and forget the hand of the Lord may be in the sickness to recover the hearts of His people.
- What is true of us is not always true to us. It is true of every believer that he is in Christ, but in order to be true to Him he must reach that position in his own soul experimentally. (Edward Dennett)
N.J. Hiebert # 2372
"Serving the Lord with all lowliness." (Acts 20:19)
- Every one of us that has been called of God finds more or less that he is isolated unto Him that called him . . . Christ was apart to God.
- Surely in our Father's house not those who have gone on well in this world, as you might have done . . . but those who have been called on service, will have most joy in their retrospect.
- If one could but be nothing, He might use us more. The carpenter can use his saw, or file, or hammer without fear of its boasting of the work being its own. If God used Hs children without a good deal of discipline to them accompanying they would be spoiled and boast in what was wrought as being theirs and not His. He loves us too much for that. (G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 2373
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us." (Hebrews 12:1)
There is no such thing recognised in scripture as a Christian doubting he is saved. And it is all a totally false pretension of humility. If my Father forgives me, and I doubt His forgiveness, I am not trusting Him. . . . Let a man fear temptation, doubt His own heart - that is another thing; but not doubt God, or fear God. (J.N. Darby)
N.J. Hiebert # 2374
"The God of all encouragement." (2 Corinthians 1:3)
David . . . when a stripling in the fight could say even to a giant (Goliath), "This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand," but afterwards said in his heart, "I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul." . . . Saul's hand which David feared was not so big as Goliath's hand which David despised; but then the Lord was not so large and full before the eye of David's faith afterwards as He had been before in the valley of Elah. (J.G. Bellett)
N.J. Hiebert # 2375
"When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
(Luke 22:53)
No longer did the Lord pass through their midst and go His way. No longer could it be said that His hour had not yet come. Events took place rapidly. Judas came near with his kiss of betrayal. Peter cut off the ear of one of those approaching. Defence was not the answer, said the Lord as He gave the man healing. The hour had come.
The Lord notified them, "This is your hour." Hatred had reached its zenith. The power of darkness was at work, inciting men to reject the One before whom they should rightfully have bowed. Had they not heard His authoritative words? Had they not observed His gracious and miraculous works? Did they not know who this was? It mattered not. The Lord's righteousness only illuminated the darkness of the human heart. Their hour stands recorded for all humanity ever since. They rapidly demanded His crucifixion upon a Roman cross. The Messiah had come and they had received Him not.
Let us ever be mindful that by the grace of God in the hour of the cross, the great atonement for mankind's sins was made. The solemn transaction between a holy God and Christ took place, making possible the salvation of every person who will believe that Christ died for his sins and who will receive Him as his own personal Savoir. (G.E. Wood - The Lord is near -1995)
N.J. Hiebert # 2376
