Gems for the Week
May 9 - 14
"The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
Our power in drawing others after the Lord mainly rests in our joy and communion with Him ourselves. (J.G. Bellett)
N.J. Hiebert # 2607
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1)
The Lord Jesus was always in perfect, sweet intimacy with God. The Lord was the One over whom God had opened the heavens and openly declared: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." He was always in fellowship with God. Even in the first three hours on the cross, when most around Him hurled abuse and mockery at Him, He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. What must it have been for Him in those three hours of darkness when God hid His face! On the cross He bore all our sins. He who knew no sin, in whom was no sin, who never sinned, was made sin for us, forsaken by a Holy and Righteous God. Never before had He stooped to such depths. No wonder there was darkness over all the earth!
None can enter into the depth of suffering Christ endured in those three hours of darkness. It's wholly beyond out comprehension. Yet we stand in awe with hearts bowed in praise, adoration, and worship. He is worthy. (A. Blok)
N.J. Hiebert # 2608
"In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6)
Be assured that God knows how to manage His own affairs. He has shown it. (JND)
N.J. Hiebert # 2609
"Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Can you spread out no wants before Christ, the Giver, the Healer? Believers grieve the Spirit by not using Christ, and then God must compel them to do it. (G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 2610
"Let us go on unto perfection." (Hebrews 6:1)
It is as I increase in divine growth that I the more need Christ, and find Christ for everything. The more I grow the more I seek Him, because I want more; and the more I find the more I seek: hence seeking Him is the real mark of growth. (Footprints for Pilgrims)
N.J. Hiebert # 2611
"But Jesus said unto Him, Judas,
betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48)
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the
kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6)
There is a danger that the enemy (world) will try to betray us with a kiss. The young man, void of understanding, was led astray by the flattery of the strange woman (Proverbs 6:24). Beware! The enemy is very subtle and attractive to the old nature, but that pathway leads to misery. Cheer up ye saints of God, there is victory! By God's grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit, "the much fair speech" of the world should have no attraction or effect upon us. (Milton Haack)
Take the world, but give me Jesus, all its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever, thro' eternal years the same. (F. Crosby)
N.J. Hiebert # 2612
