Gems for the Week
November 28
"Behold I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12)
Although no true-hearted Christian renders service to the Lord Jesus for the sake or thought of reward, God has seen fit to promise rewards; and His object in doing so seems to be to win His people "from the pursuit of earthly riches and pleasures, to sustain them in the fires of persecution, and to encourage them in the exercise of Christians virtues." Five crowns, or forms of reward, are spoke of:
1. The Crown of joy - the soul-winner's reward. (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
2. The crown of righteousness - to lovers of His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
3. The crown of glory - the shepherd's reward. (1 Peter 5:1-4)
4. The incorruptible crown - the athlete's reward (Corinthians 9:25-27)
5. The crown of life - the martyr's reward. (Revelation 2:10)
(George Henderson - Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care)
N.J. Hiebert # 3537
November 29
"Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1)
Before Satan introduced lusts into man's heart, he produced distrust of God; when this was brought in, man was easily a prey - all was really done. So with what infinite goodness and surpassing grace God attracts and warrants confidence for the chief of sinners in Christ. (Extract)
N.J. Hiebert # 3538
November 30
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (James 1:26)
Worse still, as not only careless, but wicked, is the slander which gossips away a character in an afternoon, and runs lightly over a whole series of acquaintances, leaving a drop of poison on them all, some suspicion, or some ominous silence - 'Have you not heard?' - 'No one would believe it, but -!' and then silence; while the shake of the head, or the shrug of the shoulders, finishes the sentence with a mute meaning worse than words.
Do you ever think of the irrevocable nature of speech? The things you say are often said for ever. You may find, years after your light word was spoken, that it has made a whole life unhappy, or ruined the peace of a household. (Constance M. Whishaw - Being & Doing - 1902)
N.J. Hiebert # 3539
