Gems for the Week
August 13 - 16
"His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." (Psalm 112:7)
In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear,
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?
(A.WARING)
N.J. Hiebert # 2703
"Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss (wrong motives), that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:2,3)
True prayer is not asking God to do what we want, but first of all it is asking Him to enable us to do that which He would have us do. Too often we endeavor by prayer to control God instead of taking the place of submission to His holy will. Thus we ask and receive not; because if God answered by giving what we desire we would but consume it on our lusts, or pleasures. To pray aright there must be a separated life, with God Himself before our souls as the supreme object of our affections. (H.A. Ironside - Notes on James and Peter)
N.J. Hiebert # 2704
"Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quick sands, strake sail,
and so were driven." (Acts 27:17)
Often when believers find themselves in great difficulties caused by self-will and disobedience, there is an urge to make promises to do better or to be more watchful the next time. Perhaps renewed efforts are made to read the Bible or pray or to be more faithful in attending the (prayer, Bible reading, etc.) meetings. All of these things, good in themselves, are examples of the helps and undergirdings that those on the centurion's ship used, trying to lessen further damage.
Making resolutions to do better, after the hurt and sorrow your self-will has marked your life - is not the happy and peaceful way to journey. Seeking the Lord's help to please Him before the storms come and so that they do not come, is far preferable. (Douglas Nicolet - The Journey of Life)
N.J. Hiebert # 2705
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)
1. To "hope to be better" is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.
2. To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in yourself.
3. To be discouraged is unbelief - as to the Father's purpose and plan of blessing for you.
4. To be proud is to be blind! For we have no standing before God in ourselves.
5. The lack of divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion.
6. Real devotion to the Father arises, not from man's will to show it; but from the discovery that blessing has been received from Him while we were yet unworthy and undevoted.
7. To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God's order and preach Law, not Grace. The Law made man's blessing depend on devotion; Grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing: our devotion may follow, but does not always do so - in proper measure.
(W.R. NEWELL)
N.J. Hiebert # 2706
