Gems for the Week
October 1 - 5
"Ye shall not go out with haste." (Isaiah 52:12)
I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry - we must be doing - so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, "Stand still," or "Sit still," or "Be still," unless He is going to do something.
This is our trouble in regard to our Christian life; we want to do something to be Christians when we need to let Him work in us. Do you know how still you have to be when your likeness is being taken?
Now God has one eternal purpose concerning us, and that is that we should be like His Son; and in order that this may be so, we must be passive. We hear so much about activity, May be we need to know what it is to be quiet. (Crumbs)
N.J. Hiebert # 2752
"Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently (agonizing ) for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis." (Colossians 4:12,13)
Such was Epaphras! Would there were hundreds like him in this our day! We are thankful for preachers, thankful for writers, thankful for travelers in the cause of Christ; but we want men of prayer, men of the closet, men like Epaphras. We are happy to see men on their feet preaching Christ; happy to see them able to ply the pen of a ready writer in the noble cause; happy to see them making their way, in the true evangelistic sprit, into "the regions beyond" ; happy to see them, in the true pastoral spirit, going again and again to visit their brethren in every city. God forbid that we should undervalue or speak disparagingly of such honorable services; yea, we prize them more highly than words could convey. But then, at the back of all we want a spirit of prayer - fervent, agonizing, persevering prayer. Without this, nothing can prosper.
- A prayerless man is a sapless man.
- A prayerless preacher is a profitless preacher.
- A prayerless writer will send forth barren pages.
- A prayerless evangelist will do but little good.
- A prayerless pastor will have but little food for the flock.
We want men of prayer, men like Epaphras, men whose closet walls witness their agonizing labors. These are, unquestionably, the men for the present moment. (C.H. Mackintosh - Miscellaneous Writings - Vol. 4)
N.J. Hiebert # 2753
"It is finished." (John 19:30)
"It is enough" (Genesis 45:28)
Jesus has died and the work is finished. His tomb is empty now and the Saviour is alive and in glory. He Himself has surveyed His labor and says simply and profoundly, "It is finished." Old Jacob rejoiced to see the sure evidence that Joseph was alive and exalted in the Egyptian court. We borrow his words as we look up to see Jesus risen and exalted in the heavens, and we say, simply and gladly, "It is enough!" (Jim Flanigan from Choice Gleanings)
I seek no other argument,
I want no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And rose again for me.
N.J. Hiebert # 2754
"Consider HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:3,4)
The cross, in one aspect, was martyrdom. Jesus was as much a martyr at the hand of man as He was a victim at the hand of God. It is as a martyr we see him here - and as such we are put in company with Him. "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." You have no deeper enemy than your own heart to strive against. It was sin in the Pharisees - sin in the multitude - sin in the chief priests - that carried the Lord Jesus to the cross. But He never had a bit of sin in Himself to strive against. It was sin in others. (J.G. Bellett - Musings on the Epistle to the Hebrews)
N.J. Hiebert # 2755
"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He (Jesus) was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:37,38)
If a storm arise, and if Christ appear asleep, and insensible to the danger - though "He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" - as disciples we are in the same boat with Him. The Lord give us to rest on that with undivided, undistracted hearts, for Christ is in the boat, as well as the water. (J.N. Darby)
N.J. Hiebert # 2756
