Gems for the Week
October 15 - 16
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends." (John 15:15)
A Christian lady visited a blind girl whom she had taught to read the Bible in raised letters. She said: "I went into her room one morning, and before I had time to reach her hand and let her know that someone was present, I found her speaking to the Lord about a verse she had just spelled out - 'Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.' Lifting her sightless eyes to Him she said, 'Oh, I like to hear Thee say that! I ONLY knew before that You were my Friend, the sinner's Friend - I did not know that we were friends of Yours!' " (T.M.O.)
"A friend of Jesus! Oh, what bliss, that one so vile as I
Should ever have a Friend like this to lead me to the sky;
A Friend when other friendships cease, a Friend when others fail,
A Friend who gives me joy and peace, a Friend who will prevail."
N.J. Hiebert # 3127
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not."
(1 John 2:1)
God has been perfectly satisfied, as to all the believer's sins, in the cross of Christ. On the cross a full atonement was presented for every jot and tittle of sin, in the believer's nature, and on his conscience. Hence, therefore, God does not need any further propitiation (atonement). He does not need aught to draw His heart toward the believer. We do not require to supplicate Him to be "faithful and just," when His faithfulness and justice have been so gloriously displayed, vindicated, and answered in the death of Christ. Our sins can never come into God's presence, inasmuch as Christ, who bore them all and put them away, is there instead. But if we sin, conscience will feel it, must feel it; yea, the Holy Spirit will make us feel it. He cannot allow so much as a single light thought to pass unjudged."If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 3128
