Bible Gems

March 31

"The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether . . . .Moreover by them is Thy servant warned." (Psalm 19:9,11)

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
(Philippians 2:14)

- We murmur at a thousand things in our lot, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness, and thereby question the care, the love and the wisdom of Him who orders all our path, and lose the blessed sense of His presence with us.

- When people become slaves to a fad they soon become tyrants.

- When knowledge enters the head it exalts me.  When knowledge enters the heart it humbles me.

- Nothing has so corrupted Christianity as the acceptance of worldly help for the furtherance of its objects.

- May we never bridge over the chasm between the world and us, and we shall never seek to do so if we can adopt the language of the apostle,

"God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world." (Galatians 6:14)
(Edward Dennett)

N.J. Hiebert # 3660

April 1

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  (Philippians 1:21)

Someone has said, "Life is what you are alive to."  A child may come alive when you talk about a baseball game or an ice-cream cone.  A teenager may come alive when you mention cars or dates.  Paul wrote, "For me to live is Christ."  Christ was Paul's life and he was alive to anything that related to Christ.  So should it be with every believer.
We are raised with Christ.  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."  (Colossians 3:1)  It is possible to be alive and still live in the grave.  During World War II, several Jewish refugees hid in a cemetery, and a baby was actually born in one of the graves.  However, when Jesus gave us His life, He lifted us out of the grave and set us on the throne in heaven!  Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and we are seated there "in Christ."  (W.W.W.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3661

March 29

"And He (God) said, what hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. . . . A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. . . . And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord . . . he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son Enoch." (Genesis 4:10,12,16,17)

We have the true history of the world and its practical principles in Cain.  He had slain his brother, and was cast out of the presence of God, despairing of grace, and refusing to humble himself.  By the judgment of God he was made a vagabond (restless wanderer) on the earth, but such a condition did not suit him. He settled down where God had made him a vagabond, and he called the city after the name of his son, to perpetuate the greatness of his family.  That his city should be deprived of all the delights of life would have been unbearable; therefore, he multiplied riches for his son.  Then another member of the family invented instruments of music; another was the instructor of aritificers (craftsman, inventor) in brass and iron.  The world being cast out of from God, sought to make its position pleasant without God, to content itself at a distance from Him.  (The Christian Truth - Vol. 20 - March 1957)  

N.J. Hiebert # 3658

March 30

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."
(John 13:34-35)

THE NEW COMMANDMENT

Christ's aim, on the night of His betrayal, was to introduce a new dynamic conception of love into the hearts of His disciples.  Under law the Israelite was to love his neighbour as himself (Leviticus 19:18).  Under grace the disciple is to love his neighbour as Christ loved him (John 13:34).  And so it comes about, that the matchless affection which the Lord Jesus has for His own, becomes the pattern and foundation, the model and standard, of their love for the brethren (1 John 3:16).  By the manifestation of such love they would declare and attest their discipleship (John 13:35).  (Henry Durbanville - His Last Words)  

N.J. Hiebert # 3659

March 27

"But a faithful man who can find?"  (Proverbs 20:6)

FAITHFUL being true
to oneself

to one's new nature

to any promise given and

to any trust committed.

TIMOTHY ". . . who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord."  (1 Corinthians 4:17)

EPAPHRAS ". . . for you a faithful minister of Christ."  (Colossians 1:7 - Philemon 23)

TYCHICUS ". . . the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord." (Colossians 4:7)

ONESIMUS ". . . the faithful and beloved brother."  (Colossians 4:9)

SILVANUS ". . . The faithful brother."  (1 Peter 5:12)

ANTIPAS ". . . My faithful martyr."  (Revelation 2:13)

But Above All

JESUS CHRIST ". . . the faithful witness."  (Revelation 1:5)

". . . the same commit thou to faithful men."  (2 Timothy 2:2)

God's approbation:  "Well done, good and faithful servant."  (Matthew 25:21)
(Selected)
____________________________________________________________

N.J. Hiebert # 3656

March 28

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from trouble."
(Proverbs 21:23)

Valuable a faculty as good speech is, it is wise to spare the tongue as well as the mouth.  The time, the tone, the way, and the end, have all to be considered, lest a fair intention might not only fail, but provoke.  As the mouth has to beware of taking in beyond what is right and good, so the tongue of letting out what is not edifying.  To keep one's mouth and tongue as in God's presence is to keep the soul from troubles without end.  (William Kelly - The Proverbs)

N.J. Hiebert # 3657 

March 25

"Jesus answered and and said, 'I thank Thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes'."
(Matthew 11:25)

Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly.  A saint may not think clearly for a time, but he (she) ought to see clearly without any difficulty.  You cannot think a spiritual muddle clear, you have to obey it clear.  In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual things you can think yourself into cotton wool.  If there is something upon which God has put His pressure, obey in that matter - bring your imagination into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) with regard to it, and everything will become as clear as daylight.  The reasoning capacity comes afterwards, but we never see along this line - we see like children.  When we try to be wise, we see nothing  (Matthew 11:25).

The tiniest thing we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is quite sufficient to account for spiritual muddle, and all the thinking we like to spend on it will never make it clear.  Spiritual muddle is only made plain by obedience.  Immediately we obey, we discern.  (O.C.)

They that know God will be humbled;
They that know themselves cannot be proud.

Nothing sets a person out of the enemy's reach as does humility.

N.J. Hiebert # 3654

March 26

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word , and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." 
(John 5:24)

Note that the difference between a believer and unbeliever is right here.  An unbeliever is living in his day, and he has nothing but a long dark eternal night to look forward to; a Christian is now living in his night, and he has a grand morning that he is looking forward to.  The day is ahead, the glory is ahead, the best of life is ahead; it is not behind.  That is the teaching of Scripture.  For a man whose life is hid with Christ in God, judgment is already passed; he will not come into judgment.  Christ was judged for me, and judgment is behind me, not before me.  (Dwight L. Moody - Daily Gems)

N.J. Hiebert # 3655

March 23

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

AS  CORN  BEFORE  THE  WIND

There is no fear in love, so we draw near,
Thy perfect love, O Lord, has cast out fear.

As corn before the wind bends all one way,
So would we bow before Thy wind to-day.

Our several choices, Lord, we would forgo;
Breath of the living God, O great wind, blow.
(Amy Carmichael)

N.J. Hiebert # 3652

March 24

"The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me." (Psalm 42:8)

The most important victory has often come when we have been lost afraid of being beaten; the brightest songs when an evil day has forced us to lean on God.

To me partings go dreadfully deep.  In spirit all is well. . . .   Jesus is the bond which no distance breaks and no nearness can give without Him, and which will, blessed be His name, last for ever.

He weans us in every way from this world, that He may attach us to that one for which He has created us anew.

God's hand is always better than man's;  His seeming harshness even is better than the world's favour;  the spring which guides it is always love, and love directed by perfect wisdom, which we shall understand by-and-by.  (Pilgrims Portions for the Day of Rest - J.N. Darby)  

N.J. Hiebert # 3653

March 20

"He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
(John 11:25)

That is a very simple sentence, but let it be most carefully read.  Jesus did not say, he that believeth in Me thought he were dead, yet he shall live "again."  That would be resurrection.  He said, "though he were dead, yet shall he live."  In other words, he that believes in Me, though he die, by all appearances as interpreted on the level of the earthly, he is not dead.  He was saying, "Your brother is not dead.  He that liveth and believeth in Me shall never die."  That is the great Christian declaration.  We have hardly grasped its significance.  We say, "What has become of so and so?"  The reply is often, "He (or she) has died."  We still talk the pagan way.  They are not dead.  "He that believeth on Me, though he were dead" - the death is a fact so far as you see, but he is alive.  When our Lord recalled Lazarus, He talked to him as though he could hear Him.  He muttered no incantations over him.  He said, "Lazarus, come forth."  He expected to be heard.  Lazarus was not dead.  (J.C.M.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3649

March 21

"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly."
(Proverbs 20:27)
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits."
(Proverbs 16:2)

"It is natural to man as he is to count right every way of his; but the solemn truth for everyone is that the Lord weighs not the acts only, but the heart.  All things are naked and laid bare to His eyes with whom we have to do; let us never forget it.  (William Kelly)

N.J. Hiebert # 3650

March 22

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (KINDNESS), goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
(Galatians 5:22,23)

Kindness comes from a lovely Greek word, "Chreestos."  Christ in Greek is "Christos."  The sound is almost the same.  In the old days, the people used to say that "Christians" (from the name Christ which we bear) were also "Chreestians" (from Chreestos, meaning KIND), because the Christians were known for their kindness to others.  This is just as it should be; and I hope that every one of us may be Chreestians, as well as Christians: This is the word, translated "easy", used by our Lord to describe His yoke.  We use "easy" in this sense for the comfot of an old, well-fitting shoe, that does not hurt the foot in any part; so should the Christian be to those with whom he has to do.  (G. Christopher Willis)

N.J. Hiebert # 3651

March 18

"I . . .  am persuaded . . . that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."
(Romans 15:14)

If only we are self-emptied, our every act may emit a sweet odour to God.  The smallest as well as the greatest services may, by the power of the Holy Spirit, present the fragrance of Christ.
 
- The paying of a visit,
- The writing of a letter,
- The public ministry of the Word,
- Giving a cup of cold water to a disciple,
- Giving something to a pauper,
- The common-place acts of eating and drinking.

All may emit the sweet perfume of the name and grace of Jesus.  (A.A.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3647 

March 19

"Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18)

One day Robert McLuckie, a most lovable Scotsman to the core, took me for a walk around Edinburgh Castle and glowed as he described its historical background and the tradition of his land as symbolized in that great citadel.  Then he took me into the throne room, and there in a casket lay the crown jewels of Scotland.  The central crown really drew my attention and admiration.  Turning to the guide who stood by with his long coat and many buttons, I queried, "How much is it worth?"

I was amazed at his reaction.  He was flaming angry.  "How much is it worth?" he reiterated.  "Yes," I said, "Thirty million, forty million?  Surely there must be some price on it."  "Young man," he said emphatically, "three thousand men died in one day to put that crown on the head of Robert, the Bruce.  If you want to put a price upon human blood you are welcome to try.  That crown is priceless!"  As he simmered down and Robert and I beat a hasty retreat, my friend smiled at me when we were at a safe distance and said, "You've got a sermon there, lad!"  He was right.  "If you want to put a price upon human blood you are welcome to try."  Surely if we cannot attempt to put a price upon the blood of Scotsmen who died in battle, how just how, can we put a price on the precious blood that stained the hill of Calvary?  Divine life, become human life that we might have everlasting life.  The answer is simple - it is priceless.  (Note the verse quoted above.)  That was the price of redemption for us; nothing less would satisfy God.  But that does.  Doesn't it satisfy you?  (Ruth a Foreigner Redeemed - Derick Bingham) 

N.J. Hiebert # 3648

March 16

"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments."
(Hebrews 11:36)

Faith enables God's children to accomplish what may seem impossible.  In this portion, we read that some did great things, while others endured great things.  For both it was tier faith in God that allowed them to take one more step toward eventual victory.  What will you put your faith in today, and where will it take you?  (Saju Mathew)

N.J. Hiebert # 3644

"Behold My servant, whom I uphold."  (Isaiah 42:1)

In a world rife with sound bytes and instant images, we need to teach ourselves to behold, to meditate, to appreciate.  The wonders of our Saviour are not discerned in a moment, nor appreciated with a glance.  Worship of God does not pour out of a packet marked "just add water."  Worship is a precious gift - made valuable by the time invested in its creation.  Worship bathes the object of its focus in absolute love and appreciation.  Motivation must be strong to engender such emotion.  Does he motivate us so?  He can, if we take the time to behold and meditate on Him.  The Father holds Him up to us and commands us to behold.  Do we?  (S. McEachern)

N.J. Hiebert # 3645

March 17

"In Thy light shall we see light."  (Psalm 36:9)
"Christ is all, and in all."  (Colossians 3:11)

- Christ's yesterday was the accomplishment of redemption.
- His tomorrow is the having His church with Himself in glory.
- But He is a living Christ for today.

Christ cannot light a single spark in the heart of an individual, without that little tiny spark being for God.  He gives the light, and has ordained that every ray of it is to reflect something for God.  (Gleanings of G.V. Wigram)

N.J. Hiebert # 3646

March 12

"None did search or seek after them."  (Ezekiel 34:6)

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."  (Luke 19:10)

"He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death."  (James 5:20)

Speak gently to the erring ones:
We yet may lead them back,
With holy words and tones of love
From misery's thorny track.

One night when storms were beating in full fury, a wreck was firing the minute guns, and a life boat was manned and sent out.  Relay after relay rescued the whole crew but one; and the life boat was being manned for the last trip.   One young fellow, John Holden, stepped in.  "John, don't go,"  said his mother.  "Your father is dead, your brother William is lost at sea, I have no one left but you.  Surely you won't risk your life for only one?"  But John went.  Slowly the life boat disappeared amidst mountains of foam.  After anxious suspense the boat returned.  "Is the man saved?" was shouted from the shore.  "Yes," rang back the voice of John, "and go and tell mother, it is William."   (This story was found in my archives printed on a yellow stained sheet of paper - the author was not given)

N.J. Hiebert # 3641

March 13

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
(Psalm 118:24)

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be."
(Deuteronomy 33:25)

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong,
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time - but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave and the soul is not strong.
O Thou pitiful Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.
(Annie Johnson Flint)

N.J. Hiebert # 3642

March 14

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His purpose."
(Romans 8:28)

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

It may not, perhaps, be so easy to see this when the pressure is upon us.  When anxiously watching by the sick-bed of a beloved friend; or when treading the chamber of sorrow; or when laid on a bed of pain and languishing ourselves; or when overwhelmed by sudden tidings of the loss of our earthly all: under such circumstances it may not be so easy to see the glory of God maintained, and our blessing secured; but faith can see it for all that; and as for "blind unbelief," it is always "sure to err."  (C.H. Macintosh)

N.J. Hiebert # 3643

March 15

"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions. Others had trial of cruel mockings and
scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments."
(Hebrews 11:36)

Faith enables God's children to accomplish what may seem impossible.  In this portion, we read that some did great things, while others endured great things.  For both it was tier faith in God that allowed them to take one more step toward eventual victory.  What will you put your faith in today, and where will it take you?  (Saju Mathew)

N.J. Hiebert # 3644

March 9

"Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
(Colossians 1:20)
"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth."
(Philippians 2:10)

Notice that the things under the earth (i.e., the things in hell) are not named as being reconciled, but they are required to bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  How eternally better to bow the knee now while on earth and be reconciled to the Lord now, than to be forced to bow in hell and then be cast out into outer darkness forever.  (Tom Steere)

Jesus, before Thy face we fall - our Lord, our life, our hope, our all:
For we have nowhere else to flee - no sanctuary, Lord, but Thee!

N.J. Hiebert # 3638

March 10

"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
(Job 19:25)

Job's life was full of unimaginable pain.  He lost everything that men count dear: his family, his health, and his wealth.  His friends misunderstood all that was going on.  But amidst all the trials and misunderstandings, one bright hope lifted Job above his circumstances - one day, his Redeemer would appear.  This certainty kept Job from slipping beneath the waves:  He shall appear!  Centuries have past since Job's day, but the message of hope remains.  Amidst all our trials, the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord keeps us pressing on.  He has said, "I will come again."  (W.H. Burnett)

N.J. Hiebert # 3639

March 11

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1,2)

Now, as it is in the natural relationships of life, so it is in the spiritual.  Once a child is born into the world, a relationship is established between the father and the child which can never be broken.  And once we are the children of God, a relationship is established between God and us which is eternal.  Being brought into this blessing, God looks for a walk and conduct consistent with the position of favour in which His grace has planted us.  Having believed on His Son, our sins are all forgiven for His name's sake (1 John 2:12).  God will remember them no more forever (Hebrews 10:17).  And now we should live without sinning. 

The Spirit of God, who dwells in the believer, is the power to enable us to live to God, and to cease from sinning.  "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not" (or, in no way) "fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

Having believed in Christ, not only are our sins forgiven, but Christ having died to sin, we are dead with Him, and exhorted to reckon ourselves so, and alive to God in Christ Jesu, who lives to die no more.  We are delivered from the dominion of sin, called to yield ourselves to God, and to bring forth fruit to Him (Romans 6:11-13, 22)  (E.H.C.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3640

March 7

"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." (Proverbs 21:16)

The goodness of God leads to repentance, and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Christ attracts the heart, the one Mediator between God and men.  He is the way, the truth, and the life, always the Object of faith to the believer.  Here is the way of wisdom, and the man that wanders out of that way shall abide in the congregation of the dead, far from God.  (William Kelly)

N.J. Hiebert # 3636

March 8

"Then were they all of good cheer."
(Acts 27:36)

The words "good cheer" occur seven times in the New Testament.  God's desire for His children is that they be cheerful, sunshiny and joyous.  His desire for us is that we shall live in victory; that we shall be strong and of good courage, and that we shall move on from strength to strength, from victory to victory, from glory to glory.  And when we consider everything He has done for us, and all the provisions He has made for us, and all the resources we have in Him, we have every reason to be cheerful.

He wore a crown of thorns that I may wear a crown of glory!  (Submitted by a reader R.K.)

N.J. Hiebert # 3637

March 4

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."
(Ephesians 2:8,9)

Galatianism.  The attempt to mingle law and grace.  Galatianism takes many forms, but sooner or later it always ends up in a meaningless contradiction: "God's grace has made it possible for man to work for His acceptance and forgiveness" or "God loves us unconditionally if we keep all the rules."  Law is the realm of what you earn by your performance.  Grace is the realm of receiving a free gift.  How could you ever mingle the two?

Imagine if a friend came up to you one day and said, "I'm going to give you a car!  Absolutely free, for only $1000."

"Wait a minute," you say." "Did you say you're going to give me a car for free, or for $1000?"

"That's right," he says.  "Absolutely free, for only $1000!"

That's gibberish!  The word "free" by definition means with no payment due at all.  You can't work for a gift, or it's not a gift.  Even a payment of $1 takes it out of the realm of a gift.  A gift is not a gift unless it is free.  (Bob George)

N.J. Hiebert # 3633

March 5

"And he (Saul) trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"  (Acts 9:6)

The most harmful mistake we make concerning time is to think that it has somehow a mysterious power to perfect human nature and change the human personality.  We say of a foolish young man, "Time will make him wiser," or we see a new Christian acting like anything  but a Christian and hope that time will someday turn him into a saint. The truth is that time has no more power to sanctify a man than space has.  Indeed, time is only a fiction by which we account for change.  It is a transformation, not time, that turns fools into wise men and sinners into saints, Christ bringing it about by means of the changes he works in the heart!

Saul the persecutor became Paul the servant of God, but time did not make the change.  Christ wrought the miracle, the same Christ who once changed water into wine.  One spirtual experience followed another in fairly rapid succession until the violent Saul became a gentle, God-enamoured soul, ready to lay down his life for the faith he once hated.  It should be obvious that time had no part in the making of the man of God!

Human nature is not fixed and for this we should thank God day and night!  We are still capable of change.  We can become something other than what we are.  By the power of the gospel the covetous man may become generous, the egotist lowly in his own eyes.  The thief may learn to steal no more, the blasphemer to fill his mouth with praises unto God.  (A.W. Tozer - Renewed Day By Day)

N.J. Hiebert # 3634

March 6

"Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
(James 2:10)

What man loves the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) ?  Who loves his neighbour as himself?  If a man sees a house on fire, who hopes it is his own house that is burning, and not his neighbour's?  Who has never coveted something that is not his?  Every honest man knows that he never has, and never can, keep these commands.  But the law is like a mighty chain.  If you break one link, the whole chain is broken.  But "Cursed is every one who does not remain constantly in all the things written in the book of the law to do them." (Deuteronomy 27:26).

Every man, woman and child who has ever lived (except our Lord), must come under that curse if he puts himself under law.  Remember, not only can the law not bless, neither can it forgive.  All the law can do to man is to curse him, and to condemn him.  The law said, "This do, and thou shalt live." (Luke 10:28;  See also Leviticus 18:5).  But no man yet, except our Lord Jesus Christ, could claim life by this method; so we read in the Old Testament: "The just, or righteous man, shall live on the principle of faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).  (G.C. Willis - Meditations on Galatians)    

N.J. Hiebert # 3635

March 1

"Ephriam is a cake not turned."  (Hosea 7:8)

In my early ministry I was inclined sometimes to be rather sarcastic.  The Bible tells us that Ephriam was "a cake not turned."  Pity an Ephriam in the ministry who tries to be hard-boiled to hide the fact that he is only half-baked!  A few years in the oven of God's chastening will work wonders.

I have paid a great price for a new note in my preaching.   When God consumes the dross and refines the gold in His children, they feel it.   When He operates He does not use an anesthetic.  He does not develop His saints in their sleep.  We wrestle with the  powers of darkness and we do not come from a wrestling match looking like we had just left a dress parade, well tailored and perfumed.  Artificial flowers may look better than real flowers because they have not been exposed to wind and rain.  God is not out primarily to make us happy but to make us holy - and holiness is not cheap.

There is compensation for our suffering if we are enabled to comfort others with our own comfort.

An overflowing heart if thou
Another's soul would reach;
An overflowing heart it is
That gives the lips full speech.
(Author Unknown)

One does not learn to sing or speak from the heart in the schools of men.  He finds it in the school of suffering but it pays off in the joy of sharing the Saviour's ministry to heal the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and setting at liberty the bruised.    (Vance Havner - Though I Walk Through the Valley)

N.J. Hiebert # 3630

March 2

"The Lord . . . will hear . . . from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand."  (Psalm 20:6)

Oh, I know that my name on Thy palms is graven ,
I remember the years of Thy hand, Most High!
How it has sheltered and held and guided
'Neath clouded heaven or open sky;
I lean on Thine arm and Thy hand upholds me.
Its power protects and its strength defends;
Still it shall hide me and keep and lead me
Till home is reached and the journey ends.

(Annie Johnson Flint's Best-Loved Poems)  

N.J. Hiebert # 3631

March 3

"Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps."  (Job 31:4)
"There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye
hath not seen: the lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it." 
(Job 28:7,8)

If you have only got faith to walk in the path of God, you will find He has a plan and counsel through it all.  If our hearts have courage to do God's will, all will turn out for blessing; we do not know how, but the secret thing is going on, that faith has to get hold of.  If I am walking in a straight path, the power of God is pushing me on; but if I am walking in a cross path, the power of God tumbles me over - it shows me that I am not going straight.  It is a great thing to be in the path of God's will, for I have all the power of God at my disposal.  If you walk in the path of God's will, God makes everything work together for your good.  We cannot get a thing that is outside of the power of God, though it may be He chastens us if crossing His path.  (J.N. Darby)

N.J. Hiebert # 3632