Gems for the Week
September 12
"And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, what mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover." (Exodus 12:26,27)
The Word of God has power as enacted by the Spirit of God to affect our lives. The practical side must be worked out by those who will apply it and do it making it a part of their lives. Sin, pictured as leaven, is always present around us and must be done away with to provide a clean vessel fit for the Master's use. What we do according to His Word stands as a question in the hearts of those who do not participate. Our children must not only know we stand for what we believe but they must see us standing and walking in the truth as we know it. (B.R. - Meditations in Exodus)
N.J. Hiebert # 3460
September 13
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3)
"Christ died for out sins." That is the brief record of the greatest and most wonderful event in God's moral universe. The patriot dies for his country; the martyr dies for his faith; the loving and devoted mother would willingly die for her suffering child; and "peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." (Romans 5:7)
Self-sacrifice is common enough, and it is noble, beautiful. But, the self-sacrifice of Christ! Is there anything to compare with it? Comparison is impossible.
It has no parallel, and can have none. It is altogether exceptional and unique. "Christ died for OUR SINS." Of no one else can that be said in the sense in which it is it said of Him. Of no one is it said. Of no other being in the universe could it be said. And it could not have been said of Him if He had not been God as well as man. And now, "Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified." (Acts 13:38) (Christian Truth - Vol. 15 - May 1962)
N.J. Hiebert # 3461
September 14
"For as he thinketh in his heart so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)
- Duties are more apt to lead the soul from God than open sin. Many a Christian has been ensnared by duties, whose heart would have shrunk from open sin. But we have only one duty in all the varying circumstances of life: to serve HIM.
- Hypocrisy is the pretension to be what I am not. Guile is the attempt to cloak what I really am.
- Love is the spring of obedience. Any obedience that does not spring from love is legality, servility and selfishness.
(TCN)
N.J. Hiebert # 3462
