Gems for the Week
January 1 - 6
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived
that they were unlearned (unschooled) and ignorant (ordinary) men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)
While driving in rush-hour traffic one day, I found myself behind a car with a bumper sticker. It had a yellow smiley face on it with these words: SMILE JESUS LOVES YOU.
Suddenly another car squeezed in front of the "smiley" car, forcing the driver to hit the brakes. With that, he shook his fist angrily, displaying anything but a smiley face. I felt ashamed, until I remembered my own impatience as a driver. The incident reminded me that our actions and reactions, more than the display of a sticker on our car, show whether we really know the Lord Jesus.
Acts 4 tells us that Peter and John faced opposition from local rulers, elders, and scribes as they proclaimed the good news of Christ. But their reaction caused their opponents to stat thinking. Even though Peter and John were not highly educated, the people marveled at their bold witness and realized that these two men had been with Jesus. There was no need for a bumper sticker. . . Their words and actions said it all.
Do you feel too untrained or timid to be a witness for God? If you'll spend time getting to know Jesus, He will empower you to impress others with Himself. You'll have boldness - without a bumper sticker. (Joanie Yoder)
For me 'twas not the truth you taught,
To you so clear, to me so dim;
But when you came to me, you brought
A deeper sense of Him. (Clelland)
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN BUMPER STICKERS.
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2004) Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted Permission.
N.J. Hiebert # 2479
"Pull me out of the net." (Psalm 31:4)
When fishermen trawl the seas they often find fish they do not want entangled in their nets. Many die before they can be cut free. Here the psalmist seems to have been deliberately trapped in a net and he is entangled in it, quite unable to release himself. Believers can become entangled in the nets of the world: the net of pleasure; the net of addiction; the net of immorality; the net of backsliding. The more they struggle the more entangled they become. There is only one way out of this. Cry, "O Lord, pull me out of the net"! He will. (Roy Hill)
Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free. (J. Edwin Orr)
N.J. Hiebert # 2480
"Hear thou my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way." (Proverbs 23:19)
Just one thing, O Master, I ask today,
Now that the old year has passed away,
And a promising new year, through grace of Thine,
With all the dreams of youth is mine -
Just one thing I ask as I onward go,
That I'll walk with Thee - not too fast, nor slow;
Just one thing I ask, and nothing more,
Not to linger behind, nor run before,
O Master! This is my only plea -
Take hold of my life and pilot me. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 2481
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
This world can be a fearful place, full of uncertainty and danger. Who knows what this past year has brought in life? Perhaps there was the loss of employment. A fatal accident may have claimed a loved one. A crippling illness may have struck. But for the one who knows God there is the peace of a child in the loving arms of his Father. Go forward in that peace and see what joys He has just around the corner for you. (Donald L. Norbie)
N.J. Hiebert # 2482
"Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world."
(2 Timothy 4:10)
What had secretly pained the Apostle Paul has come to light and borne fruit. Demas has given up the path of service and faithfulness to the Lord which in brighter days he had chosen. First, he had grown cold in heart; now his feet too have gone back. How sad! Yet, this is but the history of many dear young Christians who allowed something, probably very small at first, to come between their hearts and the Lord. For a time all may seem to go on well, and their brethren may think so; but if the heart goes after any other object, the feet will some day follow the heart.
We also learn from this verse the secret of what drew away the heart of Demas; he loved this present world. What a sad exchange! He had forsaken the fountain of living waters and hewn out a broken cistern that could not hold water (Jeremiah 2:13). This poor world had come between his soul and the Lord - this world of which we read, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John 2:15-17) (Christian Truth)
N.J. Hiebert # 2483
"He (Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with a towel, and girded Himself." (John 13:3,4)
If Satan can spoil an action by carrying us beyond the truth in dealing with sin (and it is difficult not to do this), he has triumphed.
You cannot wash a brother's feet with a club. You can make him black and blue, but this does not accomplish his cleansing. Nor is this a long distance action, as by a mop. You must be at his feet to really cleanse them. And do not forget the action of the "towel." The thing should be done so thoroughly that nothing is left even to suggest to you that the brother ever needed cleansing; otherwise, you are indulging lack of confidence, and he breach remains. Upon hearing another say, "I have no confidence in that brother," the one spoken to replied, "Have you any in yourself?" The truth has a reflex action, so when you direct it at another you may feel the edge of it yourself, and should.
"If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1) (Selected)
N.J.Hiebert # 2484
