Gems for the Week
August 20 - 24
"And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." (John 1:46)
After all, we do not gain much by discussion. Let objectors or inquirers only get one personal interview with the Son of God, and that will scatter all their darkness, all their prejudice, and all their unbelief. The moment that Philip succeeded in getting Nathanael to Christ, the work was done. (D.L. Moody)
N.J. Hiebert # 3071
"And he (Andrew) brought him (Simon Peter) to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas,which is by interpretation, A stone." (John 1:42)
Cephas, the evangelist tells us, means "a stone." There was about to be a new thing commenced in the earth - the Church of God; and Peter was, through grace, to have a place therein. Let us note carefully his own words as to this - "To whom coming, as unto a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:4-5). Thus the Church of God is a spiritual structure, composed of persons who, like Peter, have come to Christ, and who, in virtue of the divine gift of eternal life, have been constituted living stones. Men's churches, Papal, National and non conformist alike, may contain many adherents who have never been in contact with Christ; the Church which Christ is building consists exclusively of those who have followed in the footsteps of Andrew and Peter, and who thus have life eternal in the Son of God. That no reader may misunderstand, let it be distinctly stated that that which Christ calls "My Church" in Matthew 16:18 is the aggregate of believing souls (of whatever name) from the day of Pentecost downwards. (W.W. Fereday - Peter the Apostle)
N.J. Hiebert # 3072
"Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand." (Psalm 73:23)
Excerpt of an Address to Young People
Yes, dear child of God, that is the One you have, the Lord. Do not worry about the prosperity of the ungodly; you have THE LORD. What intimacy, love, consideration, confidence that comes to you, and the preciousness of the Lord right by your side! That is the only way to be happy in this world - companionship with Christ - and you can have that. But let me tell you, if you want to enter upon a certain pathway of sorrow, just attempt to get your enjoyment the way the ungodly are getting it; and I promise you, you will have a full cup of bitterness before the end comes. You have heard too much truth, have had too much blessed ministry, you know too much of the way, to ever find your portion of happiness in the pathway of the ungodly in this world. True joy and happiness are found in companionship with Christ. (From The Young Christian)
N.J. Hiebert # 3073
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:5,6)
Note the little word "only." It is very searching. It will not do to say we are trusting in God, while the eye is all the while askance upon the creature. It is much to be feared that we frequently talk about looking to the Lord, while in reality we are expecting our fellow man to help us.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:9,10)
How needful to have the heart's deepest motive springs judged in the presence of God! We are so apt to deceive ourselves by the use of certain phrases which, so far as we are concerned, have no force, no value, no truth whatever. The language of faith is on our lips, but the heart is full of creature confidence. We talk to men about our faith in God, in order that they may help us out of our difficulties.
Let us be honest. Let us walk in the clear light of God's presence, where everything is seen as it really is. Let us not rob God of His glory, and our own souls of abundant blessing, by an empty profession of dependence on Him, while the heart is secretly going out after some creature stream. Let us not miss the deep joy, peace and blessing, the strength, stability and victory, that faith ever finds in the living God, in the living Christ of God, and in the living Word of God. Let us "Have faith in God." (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 3074
"I will make of thee (Abram) a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:2,3)
When Abraham tarried at Charran, God waited for him.
When Abraham went down into Egypt, He restored him.
When Abraham needed guidance, He guided him.
When there was a strife and a separation (from Lot), He took care of him.
(Food for the Desert)
N.J. Hiebert # 3075
