Gems for the Week
July 1 - 5
"He that believeth shall not make haste." (Isaiah 28:16)
"The king's business requireth haste." (1 Samuel 21:8)
He that believeth shall not make haste
In useless hurry his strength to waste;
Who walks with God can afford to wait,
For he can never arrive too late.
He that believeth shall not delay;
Who carries the word of the King on its way
Keeps pace with the Pleiades' marching tune,
And he can never arrive too soon.
He that believeth shall walk serene,
With ordered steppings and leisured mien;
He dwells in the midst of eternities,
And the timeless ages of God are his.
(Annie Johnson Flint)
N.J. Hiebert # 2660
"But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him." (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Why should one envy another? It would be quite as reasonable to charge the sun, moon, and stars, with taking too much upon them, when they shine in their appointed spheres, as to charge any gifted servant of Christ therewith, when he seeks to discharge the responsibility which his gift most surely imposes upon him. (Food for the Desert)
N.J. Hiebert # 2661
"What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:37)
What marked those three hundred men which Gideon selected? When they stooped to drink, they did not put their mouths to the surface of the water, but scooped up the water and lapped, putting their hand to their mouth. Why? They could not be very watchful with their heads down and lips to the surface of the water; they would not know much about what was going on around them. These men were on the watch, and while refreshing themselves their eyes were scanning the horizon, ready for any surprise the enemy might seek to bring upon them. "Watch" is the word for us. (From an address by C.H. Brown)
N.J. Hiebert # 2662
"Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few." (2 Kings 4:3)
These words were uttered by the prophet Elisha in the ear of a distressed widow who had come to him with her tale of sorrow. And, assuredly, the words of God's prophet did but express the grace of the prophet's God. He knew well on whose behalf he was speaking - on whose grace he was counting - on whose treasury he was drawing. He did not say, Take care you do not borrow too many. He knew this was impossible. Faith never yet overdrew its account on God's bank. It has "unsearchable riches" to its credit there. Faith never yet brought an empty vessel to God that He had not oil to fill. In the case of this widow, the oil only ceased to flow when there was no longer an empty vessel to receive it. The source was exhaustless; it was faith's promise to keep the channel open. It is the business of faith to "open thy mouth wide." God's part is to "fill it." We cannot expect too largely from God. (Christian Truth - Vol. 20 - 1967)
N.J. Hiebert # 2663
"He (Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with a towel wherewith He was girded."
(John 13:4,5)
Jesus rose from the table, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel, knowing as the beloved apostle has said, that the Father had given all things into His hands, that He had come from God, and was going to God. He then went round as the servant of them all to wash their feet. Was not this a sight to move their hearts? The Lord of glory whom angels delighted to serve was there meekly serving twelve men of humble birth - Peter, James, John . . . and Judas too. The Son of God had come down to serve them all! "I am among you as He that serveth." (W.J. Hocking)
N.J. Hiebert # 2664
