Gems for the Week
October 4
"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman (Eve), yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1)
The first question of the Bible belongs to Satan and he used it to project doubt on what God said. It was a leading question, designed not to provoke rational thought, but to instill doubt and invoke rebellion. The tactic worked on the woman, who quickly slid from the ground of faith into human reasoning. The first question was rank with unfairness, "Could God be good and yet limit you in such an unfair way?" Satan still tries the same tactics. Trust God. His Word alone is utterly trustworthy. (Warren Henderson)
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know "Thus saith the Lord." (L.S.)
N.J. Hiebert # 3482
October 5
"But he (Stephen) . . . looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God . . . and they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:55,59,60)
Looking at past failure, you will constantly find that it arose from settling things according to circumstances. I cannot settle anything myself; if I am in His presence, I get my guidance from the Lord in His circumstances - from the Son of God up there. It is a blessed fact that there is a Man in heaven, in the highest possible glory on the throne of God, and that Man has a heart to enter into everything, where His people would not be able to move for themselves. Is His heart less occupied, His eye less fixed on me than it was on Stephen? No; the curtain was drawn back for him, and I never expect that, but it is equally true to faith. (Gleanings From the Teaching of G.V Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 3483
