Gems for the Week
November 3 - 7
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3)
Our Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of the refiner's fire. It is with the most precious metals that the assayer takes the most pains, and subjects them to the hot fire, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mould. The old refiner never leaves his crucible, but sits down by it, lest there should be one excessive degree of heat to mar the metal. But as soon as he skims from the surface the last of the dross, and sees his own face reflected, he puts out the fire. (Arthur T. Pierson)
N.J. Hiebert # 3146
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3)
He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,
As He watched by the precious ore,
And closer He bent with a searching gaze
As He heated it more and more.
He knew He had ore that could stand the test,
And He wanted the finest gold
To mould as a crown for the King to wear,
Set with gems with a price untold.
So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Tho' we fain would have said Him 'Nay,'
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
And it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,
But our eyes were so dim with tears,
We saw but the fire - not the Master's hand,
And questioned with anxious fears.
Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above,
That bent o'er the fire, tho' unseen by us,
With a look of ineffable love.
Can we think that it pleases His loving heart
To cause us a moment's pain?
Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,
Than was needed to make it pure.
(Author Unknown)
N.J. Hiebert # 3147
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus . . .let us draw near." (Hebrews 10:19,22)
Access to God's presence and fellowship, the right and the power to make that our abiding dwelling-place, to live our life there, has been provided in Christ: let us draw near, here let us abide. God does in very deed mean that every child of His should always dwell in His presence. (Andrew Murray - Let Us Draw Near)
N.J. Hiebert # 3148
"The spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you." (1 Peter 4:14)
Mankind wants rest. They pursue it desperately and in the pursuing have even less rest. Christ offers rest to us. In matchless grace, He says, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest." The dove that Noah released from the ark found no resting place for its feet. But at the Lord's meeting with John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended and rested on Christ. The same Holy Spirit dwells in us and gives us rest as we rejoice in our Saviour. (R.E. Harlow)
N.J. Hiebert # 3149
"My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"Thou hast a little strength." (Revelation 3:8)
What marvelous display of love comes out to fill the soul with joy at the very time that the Lord is teaching us our own nothingness and misery. When one sees the thought of God and of Christ, in the breaking down of the flesh in us, how one should joy in Him and rejoice! Better, saith Christ, be a poor weak creature in utter weakness, than have any amount of power without "my strength." (Gleanings of G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 3150
