Gems for the Week
August 24
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you." (Exodus 12:13)
The Israelite was saved by blood alone, and not by his thoughts about it. His thoughts might be deep or they might be shallow; but, deep or shallow, they had nothing to do with his safety; he was not saved by his thoughts or feelings, but only by the blood. God did not say, "When you see the blood, I will pass over you." No; but, "When I see. . . . " What gave an Israelite peace was the fact that Jehovah's eye rested on the blood. God saw it, and that was quite enough.
The application of this to the question of a sinner's peace is very plain. Christ's blood has been shed as a perfect atonement for sin, and God's testimony assures the believer that everything is settled on his behalf. All the claims of justice have been fully answered, and the full tide of redeeming love rolls down from the heart of God along the channels which the sacrifice of Christ has opened for it.
To this truth the Holy Spirit bears witness. He ever sets forth the fact of God's estimate of the blood of Christ. He points the sinner's eye to the accomplished work of the cross. He declares that all is done; that sin has been put far away and righteousness brought nigh - so nigh that it is to all them that believe. Believe what? Believe what God says because He says it, not because they feel it. (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 3441
August 25
"Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." (Acts 5:4)
One sunny day, four high school boys couldn't resist the temptation to skip classes. The next morning they explained to their teacher that thy had missed her class because their car had a flat tire. To their relief, she smiled and said, "Well, you missed a quiz yesterday." But then she added, "Take your seats and get out a pencil and paper. The first question is: Which tire was flat?"
No one gets away with lying. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira thought they were lying only to Peter and the other believers. But the apostle said to them, "You have not lied to men but to God" (v.4).
Truth is one of the attributes of God. So when we tell a lie, we offend Him. And sooner or later He will uncover every falsehood - if not in this life, then at the final judgment, when we each give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:10-12).
We live in a highly competitive world, and sometimes we may be strongly tempted to shade the truth to get ahead. But the short-term gains from lying are worth little compared with the long-term benefits of telling the truth.
If you have deceived someone, confess it to that person and to the Lord. It may be humbling, but it's the first step to restoring integrity in your life. (Dennis De Haan)
The road that leads to misery
Is caused by a tongue that wags;
Beware of lying lips, my friend,
And a mouth that boasts and brags.
(Shade)
If you always tell the truth, you will never be trapped in a lie.
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2006), Grand Rapids, Mi, Reprinted permission.
N.J. Hiebert # 3442
