Gems for the Week
June 11 - 15
"Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." (Hebrews 12:28)
An increasing number of evangelicals have a problem with the concept of "godly fear," but Scripture teaches it as a necessary ingredient to service. The absence of this fear produces unacceptable and irreverent service, that may please the flesh, but not God. People want to be "contemporary," but God wants us to be holy, reverent, and godly. A true knowledge of the Lord in His holiness, justice and wisdom will affect the way we serve. It will help us to consult Him and be driven by the desire to please Him according to His criteria, not ours. (Carl Knott)
N.J. Hiebert # 2640
"They have refreshed my spirit." (1 Corinthians 16:18)
Things to think about:
- Many a child waking frightened in the night has been comforted by a night-light. God's promises are night-lights to His people, and to their souls in the dark hours of bereavement and trial.
- Hudson Taylor was on one occasion lying very ill in Switzerland. To his wife he said, "I cannot read; I cannot pray; I can scarcely think." And then he added with a radiant smile, "but I can trust."
- Nothing satisfies love but the company of its object.
- It is not light that nourishes the soul, but love.
- The deeper the sense of the state from which we have been delivered, the more absorbingly intense our affection for the Deliverer.
- Delay in the things of God is always dangerous.
- There are some things we don't pray about - things that the Word plainly declares. (The Christian Newsletter)
N.J. Hiebert # 2641
"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always
behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
(Matthew 18:10)
I must move softly, I must keep
A watch upon my words and ways:
My children are so small, but these
Are the dear memory-making days.
The days when their young minds will take
A clear-cut picture of my face;
Some little word I say will make
An imprint time will not erase.
My hands, swift moving through the hours,
My feet that tread their daily round;
My thoughts (God help me!) in their hearts
Through after years will still be found.
I must walk softly, I must keep
A watch on all I do and say -
Perhaps thus guarded, I shall make
Some lovely memory today!
(Author not known)
N.J. Hiebert # 2642
"I think it meet . . . to stir you up
by putting you in remembrance." (2 Peter 1:13)
"Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain,
that are ready to die." (Revelation 3:2)
I remember coming into my room, one day, and seeing the fire very low, indeed, nearly out. On examining it more closely, I observed about half a dozen of dying embers scattered all over the bottom of the grate - quite too far apart to help one another, each fast fading away for want of a little help. What was to be done? To throw in a lot of fresh material would simply be to put the whole thing hopelessly out. The embers could not help the coals, and the coals could only quash the embers.
At once, I hit upon a very simple plan. I gently gathered the scattered embers close together, and the little bit of life in each soon made a good bit of life in all, and the little company of dying embers became quite a nice little collective fire, capable of acting on some fresh material.
Here, thought I, is a fine lesson for me. If I come to a place and find the Lord's beloved people in a very low, feeble, dying state, I must just seek to get them together for mutual help and blessing, in order that they may be in a condition to act on others outside.
This mutual help is of all importance. People are so prone to lean upon gifted men. And if they cannot have such, they get discouraged and scattered, instead of getting lovingly together and helping one another by their mutual faith. (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 2643
"For me to live is Christ." (Philippians 1:21)
Are you growing taller? Are you able to overlook some things you were unable to overlook last year? To overlook the sneering remark, the selfish, unkind deed? To overlook failure when you have done your best? To overlook dark days and still darker frowns?
Are you getting broader? Are you able to see more of the other side of things than you could see last year? Does your vision reach to the other side of men's faults and see their difficulties, temptations, and struggles? Are you learning to look on all sides of your plans and of the designs proposed to you by others?
Are you really growing? "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18) - a knowledge renewed by walking with our Lord. (Extract)
N.J. Hiebert # 2644
