Gems for the Week
December 6 - 12
"He that hears you hears Me; and he that despises you despises Me; and he that despises Me despises him that sent Me." (Luke 10:16)
Christ is the ruler of His people. How does He rule them? By His Word, by His Spirit, according His truth. How do we show our subjection to Christ, and to His government? We show it by subjection to His word. People may talk of obedience to Christ, but obedience to Him is shown by obeying His word. They may talk about recognizing His headship here. We have His precious word, and all the truth that word unfolds to us, which is the command of our Ruler and of our Lord. I am to obey that word, whoever brings it to me, no matter if he is like the little messenger boy who brings a dispatch which conveys an order from the president to a general on the field. The messenger boy is nothing, but he brings the message, and if the general were to despise the boy so much that he would not read his message, he would be despising the one who sent him. So it is in the house of God. Whoever brings me the word, the will of Christ, a message from Him, the Head and Lord of His people, am I to discard it because I despise the instrument? I despise Christ if I do that. True government means Christ's government, and He governs through His word, and He brings His word to us through any instrument He may see fit to use. (S. Ridout - Lectures on the Book of Judges)
N.J. Hiebert # 2453
"The first day of the week . . . came Jesus and stood in the midst,
and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." (John 20:19)
The first day of the week (Sunday) should be a vital part of the believer's life. Why? Consider some of the significant events that occurred on the first day: the resurrection of our Saviour, the revelation of Him as the risen Lord, the impartation of peace to His fearful disciples, the meeting of the early Church for the Remembrance Feast, the gathering of God's people for preaching and refreshment from God's Word. How important is "the first day" to us? (Bob Cretney)
Yesterday, today, forever,
Jesus is the same;
All may change, but Jesus never -
Glory to His name.
- (A.B. Simpson)
N.J. Hiebert # 2454
"But we . . . are changed into the same image from glory to glory."
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
After the death of Gustavus the Great, king of Sweden, in 1632, the chief statesmen of the country met to decide the future government. Some proposed a republic. Others suggested the vacant throne be offered to the king of Poland. In the midst of the deliberations the Chancellor suddenly rose. "Let there be no talk of a republic or of a Polish king, " he said, "for the Great Gustavous has left an heir, a daughter 6 years of age." This was not generally known, and the statement was received with surprise. "How do we know that this is not a trick of yours?" one inquired. "We have never seen this child; we were not aware that Gustavous had one." "Wait a minute," replied the Chancellor, "and I will show you." Leaving the room, he returned with a little girl whom he placed upon the throne where only the rulers of Sweden might sit. The man who had expressed his disbelief pressed forward and gazed intently upon her face.
Then, turning to the assembly, he said "Comrades, I see in this child the features of the Great Gustavous. Look at her nose, her eyes, her chin; she is indeed the daughter of our king." This was enough. Young as she was, they acclaimed her "Christina, Queen of Sweden."
Then, turning to the assembly, he said "Comrades, I see in this child the features of the Great Gustavous. Look at her nose, her eyes, her chin; she is indeed the daughter of our king." This was enough. Young as she was, they acclaimed her "Christina, Queen of Sweden."
Child of God, do you have the Father's likeness and the traits of His family? They mark you as a Christian and are easily discernible. As an heir of God and joint heir of Jesus Christ, you are to bear the image of our Lord. Your conduct and Christian character are features which should distinguish you as a child of the King. Friend, can the world see the family likeness in you? (P.R.V.)
May Christ be seen in me, O Lord, Hear Thou my humble plea;
O take me, fill me, use me, Lord, Till Christ be seen in me. (DeHoff)
THE SUBJECTS OF THE KING SHOULD EVER DISPLAY THE MANNERS OF THE COURT.
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (1972), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.
N.J. Hiebert # 2455
"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly:
And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
(Proverbs 18:24)
None complain so loudly of the lack of love and friendliness on the part of others as those who manifest very little of either themselves. He who busies himself to show love will receive it back again. He who is himself a friend will find friends to reciprocate his kindness. But the true Friend, ["A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born to adversity (Proverbs 17:17)], is ever such. His heart is unchanged by the slights of the objects of his devotion. "There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." He always manifested love and grace in a world where all by nature were estranged from Him.
Let those who complain of lack of love on the part of fellow-saints imitate His holy example. Be concerned, not about receiving kindness, but about manifesting it, and "good measure, pressed down, shall men repay into your bosom." (H.A. Ironside - Notes on Proverbs)
N.J. Hiebert # 2456
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." (Song of Solomon 1:2)
What unsuspecting, pure, and impassioned affection breathes in this remarkable address. It is like the artless, yet ardent, kindling of affection between the nearest kindred when they meet after a long absence. So engrossed is the heart with its object, that forms, ceremonies, and all surrounding circumstances are entirely lost sight of. The happy consciousness of the place which she has in His heart carries her away. How few there are in this world that one could so unformally and affectionately address: and yet this is the language of a saved sinner to the holy Saviour. Do we understand this? No doubts, no fears are in the heart that can thus address the divine Bridegroom - the glorified Jesus in heaven. (Andrew Miller - Song of Solomon)
N.J. Hiebert # 2457
"Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land . . . " (Ruth 1:1)
God desires truth in the inner man. When we come together in this place of blessing and there rejoice in what the Lord gives us, when we render Him due thanks and sing His praises; then He sees whether our hearts are upright or whether our words are far above the practical state of our hearts. Sometimes in His dealings with us He has to send a famine so that we might be conscious of our need and judge ourselves in His searching light. (H.L. Heijkoop - The Book of Ruth)
N.J. Hiebert # 2458
"Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." (Philippians 3:1)
"Rejoice in the Lord." In a sense that sums up all the Apostle has to say: and as long as the saints are rejoicing in the Lord, they are safe. In Chapter 4:4, the Apostle writes even more strongly: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!" Some People seem to think to be a Christian is a sad thing, with all joy taken away. It is quite the reverse. A Christian who is walking with the Lord is filled with joy: yes, he may even be sorrowful, "yet always rejoicing." This joy is not the light and "frothy" joy of this world. It is a joy that accords with the Greek word "semnos," a word that is almost impossible to translate into English: the dictionary gives the meaning as: "grave, serious." But the "semnos" man "has a grace and dignity not lent him from earth; but which he owes to that higher citizenship which is also his." And so only four verses after Philippians 4:4, we find the Spirit telling us to think on things that are semnos. (Translated honest in our English Bible). Our Lord Jesus said: "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:11). It is out Lord's own joy with which we rejoice, even now, down here. (G. Christopher Willis - Meditations on Philippians - September 1963)
N.J. Hiebert # 2459
