Gems for the Week
June 16 - 19
"Then said she, (Naomi) Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how
the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until
he have finished the thing this day." (Ruth 3:18)
Do we speak like Naomi? Do we have this blessed consciousness of the love of Jesus for us? Do we wait for Him as the One who will not rest until he will have completed the matter today? This "today" stands for the daily expectation of our Lord. He wants to have us with Himself. Yet a little patience, for He that is coming will come and will not delay! (H.L. Rossier)
N.J. Hiebert # 2645
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you
into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
which is not another; but there be some that trouble you,
and would pervert the gospel of Christ."
(Galatians 1:6,7)
There are many men today who tell you they preach "another good news." Do not believe them. It may be different, but it is not "another good news." There is only one "good news" sent to us by God, and that is "Christ died for out sins." (1 Corinthians 15:3) Everything else that calls itself "good news" is false. It is counterfeit. It is not THE "good news" at all. Paul reminds them that it is God Himself who had called them, and He called them "in grace," not "in law," or "to law." They had quite forgotten their calling. If it is not God Himself who has called them, and if it is not in grace alone, then it is not the true "good news" but only a false imitation, for there "is not another." (G.C. Willis - Beautiful Grace)
N.J. Hiebert # 2646
"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden,
that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into His
garden, and eat His pleasant fruits." (Song of Solomon 4:16)
That very heat that removes the fair traces of spring, produces the mellowed and matured fruits of autumn. Thus it is also in the christian life. (Food for the Desert)
N.J. Hiebert # 2647
"And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it."
(1 Corinthians 12:26)
When my sons were young, one of them stubbed his toe and grimaced with pain. Seeing him trying bravely to bear the agony of those moments, I said, "Son, I'm truly sorry. My toe hurts for you."
Lifting his head, he looked at me and responded, "Dad, your toe doesn't really hurt, does it?"
No, I didn't sense any physical pangs, yet I did share his suffering. I even wished his ache could somehow be transferred to my body.
The Apostle Paul said that all believers in Christ are part of "one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13). And if one part suffers, "all the members suffer with it." (verse 26)
Are you grieved when a brother or sister in Christ is in trouble? Does it bother you when a believer stumbles into sin and is brought under the chastening hand of the Lord? Do you experience sorrow of heart when a child of God is passing through the deep waters of affliction and trial? If not, ask the Lord right now to help you become the kind of person who can share the heartache of others and sympathize with them.
Yes, to every Christian we meet who is in some kind of distress, we should be ready to say from our heart, "I hurt for you." (Richard De Haan)
The hurting ones need sympathy,
The need to know we're there;
A quiet word, tender touch
Assures them that we care. -D. De Haan
Empathy = your pain in my heart.
Our Daily bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2005), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.
N.J. Hiebert # 2648
