Gems for the Week
January 26 - 30
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
The heart is established in peace when it recognizes God's hand. The Lord gets credit through praise for all He has done for us. He controls the monarchs, rising above them in grace and mercy. He provides for His people through all the changes and circumstances of earth during these times when man's strength has failed, yet in weakness has called upon God to help. (B.R. - Meditations in Isaiah)
N.J. Hiebert # 3230
"He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39)
O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guard and guide me through the storm;
Defend me from each threatening ill;
Control the waves; "Peace be still."
Amid the roaring of the sea
My soul still hangs her hope on Thee;
Thy constant love, Thy faithful care,
Are all that save me from despair
(Anon)
N.J. Hiebert # 3231
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
(2 Corinthians 4:3,4)
Men did not ignore or refuse God's Word because the facts of life deny HIM or contradict His existence. They deny Him because they are the "enemies in . . . mind by wicked works" (Colossians 1:21). They want a life free from divine restraint.
The question has been asked, "Why are so many educated people unbelievers?" The answer is: "For the same reason that so many uneducated people are unbelievers."
At the cross of Calvary the heart of man was fully exposed, and it has never changed. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ in all its horror was the act of the human heart. All were represented - the whole world - around the cross (compare Acts 4:26, 27). The cross presented man's fullest hatred, and there this was met by God's fullest love.
Why then will men not look at the crucified One and live? Why do they utter the words of the fool, "No God"? Because they are the captives of Satan, the "god" and "prince" of this world (compare 2 Corinthians 4:3,4; John 12:31). (Jim K. - Christian Truth - Vol. 23 - August 1970)
N.J. Hiebert # 3232
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:9-11)
This is the glorious answer of God to the love and obedience of His dear Son. He went down to the lowest depth; now He is raised to the highest possible height. Shall not our hearts exclaim, He is worthy! He is worthy! (E.A.)
N.J. Hiebert # 3233
"By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer."
(Psalm 17:4)
As the end approaches, the power of the enemy (Satan) is increasing, and he often seeks to display such by imitation. We are warned of this in 2 Timothy 3:8, where we are told of how the magicians of Egypt, under Satan's power, withstood Moses by imitation. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."
This is the character of the last days.
The Christian who would be kept in an evil day, must learn the importance of meeting all the attacks of the enemy by the written Word of God. (H.E. Hayhoe)
N.J. Hiebert # 3234
