Gems for the Week
November 18 - 22
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."
(2 Corinthians 8:9)
Time is short, remember "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich" (in all the glory which He had with the Father before the world was), "yet for your sakes He became poor" (even to the shedding His precious blood on Calvary's cross to make us His own and fit us for Himself), "that ye through His poverty might be rich." (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3161
"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God,
and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
There are two things which constitute the joy of a Christian. The first is the hope of the coming of the Lord; the second is present communion and fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these two cannot be separated without loss to our souls, for we cannot have all the profit without both of them. If we are not looking for the coming of the Lord, there is nothing whatever that can separate us in the same way from this present evil world; neither will Christ Himself be so much the object before the soul; nor yet shall we be able, in the same measure, to apprehend the mind and counsels of God about the world. (Christian Truth - Vol. 14 - February 1991)
N.J. Hiebert # 3162
"Why have I found grace in thine eyes,
that thou shouldest take knowledge of me,
seeing I am a stranger?" (Ruth 2:10)
These words of Ruth, a Gentile stranger, long ago, could be repeated by any Christian believer today. Like Ruth, a woman who by nature had no claims on God's covenant with Israel, so we were partakers of Adam's fallen nature, but now we have been brought near to God. Best of all, she came to know and love Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, and hence was overcome with thankfulness. When we consider that we too have been redeemed by Christ's saving grace, when many all around us are perishing, we might exclaim, "Why have I found grace in Thy sight?" (Robert Steele)
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
N.J. Hiebert # 3163
"Aristarcus my fellow prisoner." (Colossians 4:10)
Aristarchus - "my fellow prisoner," He had endured hardship for Christ. He knew what it was to suffer for Christ. He had identified himself with a man of God. At the close of his own life, Paul said, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Those wounds and scars that Paul had in his body showed that he had suffered for Christ. Aristarchus had the honour of sharing some of those sufferings for his Lord and Master. Folks, that is a privilege. If we suffer, we are going to reign. Have you ever had the privilege of suffering for Christ? I wonder if we try to avoid it. Oh, remember, "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Shame on us if we seek to avoid that path. Shame on us if we keep our mouths closed when we should speak. Shame on us if we would rather not be associated with those who are godly, if we are ashamed to be characterized as a saint. (C.H. Brown)
N.J. Hiebert # 3164
"Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which
he seemeth to have." (Luke 8:18)
A man's heart reveals itself, no matter how concealed. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" - for in the heart the revelation of Christ when it hits the conscience, creates turmoil until reconciled. The Spirit of God in us requires us to be doing God's plan not just what we think should be done. Sometimes we bury ourselves with activity instead of listening and waiting for instruction. Sometimes we sit still under the guise of waiting in our laziness and ignore His commands for action. The Lord keeps accurate accounts and rewards accordingly. (B.R)
N.J. Hiebert # 3165
