Gems for the Week
April 26 - 30
"It is finished." (John 19:30) "It is enough." (Genesis 45:28)
In His own body on the tree the Lord Jesus finished the work. Redemption is complete. Nothing remains to be done, for nothing can be added to a finished work. The holy Sin-bearer has paid the penalty in full and has exhausted the judgment which was due to us. In confirmation of His acceptance of the sacrifice, God has raised Him from the dead, and, like old Jacob, we see the evidence of this and exclaim, "It is enough." (Jim Flanigan)
N.J. Hiebert # 2594
"And they (Orpah & Ruth) said unto her (Naomi), Surely we will return with thee unto thy people." (Ruth 1:10)
Naomi's daughters-in-law accompany her, moved by the thought of returning with her to her people. But this good intention is not enough, for nothing less than faith will do in order to enter into relationship with grace. The behavior of Orpah and of Ruth illustrates this principle. In appearance there is no difference at all between them. Both leave with Naomi and walk with her, thus demonstrating their attachment to her. Orpah affection is real: she weeps at the mere thought of leaving her mother-in-law; and full of sympathy, sheds still more tears when she finally leaves her. Orpah, the Moabite, also loves Naomi's people: "They said to her, We will certainly return with thee to thy people." But it is possible to have a very amiable character without having faith. Faith makes a gulf between these two women who are so similar in so many ways. Confronted with impossibilities, the natural heart draws back, whereas faith is nourished on impossibilities and so increases in strength. Orpah gives up a path which has no outcome. What could Naomi offer her? She was ruined, stricken by God, and filled with bitterness; did she yet have sons in her womb to give as husband to her daughters-in-law? Orpah kisses her mother-in-law and returns to her people and to her gods (v.15) (H.L. Rossier)
N.J. Hiebert # 2595
"The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness
of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25)
The cross of Christ is the fullest display of God's judgment of sin and of His love to the sinner. What men taunted as foolishness and weakness, the incarnate Word suffering on a cross, equally proves man's utter ruin and God's saving mercy. So did the Saviour endure the judgment of sin that the believer might be saved. Is it not then wiser and stronger than men? Did not the resurrection prove, does not the gospel proclaim, it to be so? (William Kelly - Notes on 1 Corinthians)
N.J. Hiebert # 2596
"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
(Daniel 12:4)
"How many of you are living too fast?" Everyone is quick to acknowledge that we have been pulled into the "fast lane" and that everyone is running to and fro! One of the reasons for this running to and fro is the emptiness so many people are experiencing. They go to every imaginable extreme to discover something worth living for. But for us who know Christ, that should not be!
So what has happened to us? Our calendars are packed full of events, activities, and programs, and we are failing to distinguish what is essential. With full schedules there is not time for families to enjoy doing things with one another; many families seldom sit down together, but instead eat on the run because everyone has to be somewhere doing something; also family worship has been crowded out. All our knowledge has not helped either - TV, videos, CD players, and computers have done more to create restlessness than we would like to admit. Is there an answer? Can we salvage something that has been taken away from us by our high-tech, high speed society?
1. First, we must recognize and acknowledge what has happened to us and our families, and then do something about it.
2. Second, we must determine what really matters and then get rid of what doesn't.
3. Third, we must spend much time in studying the Word, in prayer, and in the family spiritual life.
If you do these things, you may be criticized by other Christians and even by your own family, but remember that your family is your greatest earthly treasure. You will answer to God, not others, for what you do with it. Don't be afraid to be different! (J. Palmer)
N.J. Hiebert # 2597
"God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
"Remember one is given strength to bear what happens to one, but not the 100 and 1 different things that might happen." (C.S.L.)
Have you ever looked at someone else's misfortune and thought, "I couldn't handle that"? If so, you were exactly right. God has not given us the grace to handle what He has not yet asked us to bear. The grace promised to us in Scripture is available only in the present, and only when it is needed. After reminding us that Christ can sympathize with our weaknesses, the writer of Hebrews invites, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) A literal (albeit awkward) rendering of this verse from the Greek promises the Christian "grace for a well-timed help."
What does a well-timed help look like? More often than not, He chooses to help us endure rather than removing the trial.
The same Greek word translated as "help" (Hebrews 4:16) is translated as "ropes" in Acts 27:17. In this scene, Paul travels on a ship that gets caught in a violent storm. The wind and waves are so fierce that the sailors fear the ship will split apart. They pass ropes ("helps") under and around the creaking vessel in order to hold it together like a net. Sometime, the well-timed help that God provides doesn't calm the waves, but it holds us together until the storm dies down.
The psalmist describes God as "a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). He will not give us the help before we need it, and He may not remove us out of trouble, but He will be there with us to hold us together. When the troubles do come, we can approach His throne with confidence, fully expecting to receive the grace of his well-timed help. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 2598
