"God created . . . every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew." (Genesis 2:3,5)
Examine a flower. Marvel at its beauty and aroma. The best artisan cannot duplicate its excellent qualities. And small wonder! For all plants and flowers were created by the Divine hand before they ever touched earth. Indeed, God worked on their creation (Genesis 1:3), then He planted a garden where they grew. All that the best of earth's gardeners can do is simply replicate and perpetuate the beauty and value that originated directly from the Creator. (Doug Kazen)
N.J. Hiebert # 2523
"There was no water . . . and the people chode with Moses . . . It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink." (Numbers 20:2-5)
It is deeply touching to find Moses, again and again, on his face before God. It was a sweet relief to make his escape from a tumultuous host and betake himself to the only One whose resources were adequate to meet such an occasion. "They fell upon their faces; and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them." They (Moses & Aaron) do not appear,on this occasion, to have attempted any reply to the people; "They went from the presence of the assembly" and cast themselves upon the living God. They could not possibly have done better.
Who but the God of all grace could meet the ten thousand necessities of wilderness life? Well had Moses said, at the very beginning, "If Thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence." Assuredly, he was right and wise in so expressing himself. The divine presence was the only answer to the demand of such a congregation; but that presence was an all-sufficient answer. God's treasury is absolutely inexhaustible. He can never fail a trusting heart.
God delights to be used; He never grows weary of ministering to the need of His people. If this were ever kept in the remembrance of the thoughts of our hearts, we should hear less of the accents of impatience and discontent, and more of the sweet language of thankfulness and praise; but desert life tests every one. It proves what is in us, and, thanks be to God, it brings out what is in Him for us. (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 2524
"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom
Jesus loved." (John 13:23)
Do I find reason for enjoying that expression, again and again repeated, "that disciple whom Jesus loved," and for delighting also in the thought that such a truth finds its illustration among the saints now, as it did in the midst of the apostles in earlier days.
The love with which we have to do is too perfect to be partial. It does not act irregularly or carelessly. We are all the objects of it. Thomas is not neglected because John is thus loved. But because this love is real, it is moved in this way by a John. But when I see a John leaning on Jesus while I myself am at a distance, let me have grace to look still, and to delight in the vision, and to say, It is good for me to be here. If I am not in the same experience, still it is blessed to enjoy the thought that another is there. Peter was gladdened by the vision of a glory in Moses and Elias, though it was all beyond him. So is my happy and thankful spirit to entertain the thought of my more heavenly brother pressing the bosom of our common Lord. (J.G. Bellett)
N.J. Hiebert # 2525
"As He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
"Ye are complete in Him." (Colossians 2:10)
"Accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6)
It is most needful in handling any truth of God to cultivate the habit of calmly weighing all our conclusions in the balance of Holy Scripture. In this way we are preserved from the evil of hastily seizing one side of a question and using it in such a way as to mar the integrity of divine truth, and damage the souls of men.
Such is the case as between the perfect acceptance in Christ of the believer and of his confession of sins to his God and Father whenever he has sinned. It is quite true that all our sins were atoned for on the cross; and hence the very moment we believe, through grace, on the Son of God, we pass out of a condition of guilt and condemnation into a condition of perfect forgiveness and acceptance. The believer is united to Christ. He is complete as to his standing before God.
We can never lose this perfect standing. It is impossible that a single member of Christ's body can ever for one moment be out of that condition of perfect favour in which he has been set by God's free grace in union with a crucified, risen, and glorified Head.
"If we." believers,"confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It will not do for a believer to commit sin, and say, Oh! my sins are all forgiven, and I need not trouble myself with this matter. A single sin is sufficient to interrupt the believer's communion. What is he to do? Let him pour out his heart in confession. And what follows? Full forgiveness and cleansing according to the faithfulness and justice of God. (Christian Truth - Vol. 15)
N.J. Hiebert # 2526
