Gems for the Week
June 20 - 24
"Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee."
(2 Chronicles 20:12)
Jehoshaphat was compassed about but not covered for the uplook was good. When Elisha was surrounded by the enemy, he looked up to behold the angels of the Lord encamping around about him from above. Satan can wall us around, but he cannot roof us over. When Isaiah looked back at the past and around at the present, he found hope in the upward look: "Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down." (Isaiah 64:1) Circumstances may limit our outreach but not our upreach. Keep looking up! (Vance Havner - All the Days)
N.J. Hiebert # 2649
"When He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith,
And let all the angels of God worship Him." (Hebrews 1:6)
"They fell down and worshiped Him." (Matthew 2:11)
What does it mean to worship? Originally the Greek word had the thought of prostrating oneself and kissing the feet or kissing the ground at the feet. It symbolized appreciation, loyalty, and submission to the person being worshiped. Jesus accepted such when He was here. It is still our privilege to worship Him. Let us do so in spirit and in truth today. (Donald Norbie)
Worship, honour, power, and blessing
Thou art worthy to receive;
Loudest praises, without ceasing,
Meet it is for us to give.
N.J. Hiebert # 2650
"For I know nothing by myself . . ." (1 Corinthians 4:4)
It is ever a fatal mistake when we measure the difficulties of service by what we are. The question is what God is; and the difficulties that appear as mountains, looming through the mists of our unbelief, are nothing to Him but the occasion for the display of His omnipotent power. (Edward Dennett)
N.J. Hiebert # 2651
"Let your moderation be know unto all . . . the Lord is at hand."
(Philippians 4:5)
Make sure you put enough on, while making sure you don't put too much on, or put anything on that in any way would draw attention away from the Lord on to yourself. (Michel Payette - Le Lien Fraternal - Meditation 122)
N.J. Hiebert # 2652
"Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear My words." (Jeremiah 18:2)
As the potter slowly pulled the cylinder up from the ball of clay, he had to exert pressure both on the inside as well as the outside. Even pressure from both directions is required if the wall of a clay vessel is to acquire the necessary strength, smoothness and thickness it needs.
Often a believer the Lord is preparing for service in some special work is allowed to go through severe trials and difficulties (from inside and outside) as he or she is being formed for some special ministry.
We see this happening in many Old Testament Saints' lives such as Joseph, Nehemiah, Daniel, and others and in the New Testament we find the same. The Apostle Paul was beaten, hungry, the object of murderous plots - multitudes of pressures - yet all these outside trials were allowed by the Lord in the forming process of the beloved Apostle's life.
(Note 2 Corinthians 11:28) (In the Potter's Hands)
N.J. Hiebert # 2653
