Gems for the Week
December 6
"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31)
It was to Peter that the Lord said these words. At the Lord's command, Peter had left the boat and "walked on the water, to go to Jesus." There was faith in operation that he would actually go forth on the water at the Lord's bidding, but the wind and waves got his eye off the Lord; and he began to sink. How much like Peter we are! He could no more walk on smooth water than rough, and if, in this scene of trials and temptations, we assay to go forth in our own strength, we will meet the same disappointing experience. We need our eyes fixed on Him whether the seas are calm or rough. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3545
December 7
"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father." (1 John 1:3)
Fellowship with the Father is the soul's highest exercise. It is that most excellent and spiritual occupation wherein the believer loses himself in wonder, love and praise, as the Father unfolds to the child:
- All the purposes of His love,
- All the treasures of His wisdom,
- The possibilities of His power, and
- The exceeding riches of His grace.
Here it is I find my best
Seasons of delight and rest;
With His love my heart o'erflowing ,
And His peace passeth knowing -
This, ah, this, is heavenly joy,
Which doth now my soul employ.
(Choice Gleanings)
N.J Hiebert # 3546
December 8
"But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1:25)
"The Bible is an anvil that has worn out many hammers." This saying has been around for a long time, so long that its author has been lost to anonymity. And yet it remains true, for that anvil still stands today, impervious to the blows of another generation of hammer wielding infidels. And yet it seems today that its enemies have begun to use different tactics. If the anvil cannot be reduced to rubble by beating it with human reason or melted in the furnace of doubt, perhaps its strength can be reduced by chipping small pieces away, or its influence weakened by putting it away in the corner of the church's shop in favour of more modern machinery.
Thankfully, we know that God's Word is indeed his, and man's efforts to destroy, corrupt, or subvert it will continue to come to naught. God himself declares it so in Isaiah 55:11. "My word...shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Yet we are also given this solemn warning in Revelation 22:18,19. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." I would like to use the following as one small example among many of the importance of the accuracy of scripture, and how it could easily be twisted if even slightly changed.
The passage comes from Matthew 6:19 20. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." In other words, just as there are thieves on earth, there are thieves in heaven, but with one big difference--they do not steal in heaven! This is because the thief has been redeemed by and regenerated in Christ. What if verse 20 instead said something like this? "...where there are no thieves to break through or steal." With only a cursory glance it appears very similar, but upon closer examination it opens a tiny crack of doubt as to the salvation of thieves.
Thankfully, it is written as it is so that no thief has any doubt as to their eligibility for salvation, but can be assured of paradise just like the first thief to be saved as he hung beside the Lord himself on Calvary. It is an amazing thought to consider that save for the Godhead and the angels, all of heaven will be populated by sinners whose sins are covered and no longer sin!
(Submitted by a reader of the "Gems" - Alex Scharf)
N.J. Hiebert # 3547
December 9
"What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and Himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul." (Isaiah 38:15)
Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge aright, and is imparted by the Spirit, and He alone gives true understanding. Therefore, if we would learn the mind of God as revealed in His Word, there must be subjection of heart to the divine Teacher, and that self-judgment and self-distrust which leads one to walk softly before God; not in self-will or egotism, but in humility and lowly dependence on the One who inspired the Holy Scriptures, which alone can make wise the simple. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3548
December 10
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
There are two things in this exhortation. First, Timothy is to use diligence to commend himself, not to his hearers, but to God. This principle is the safeguard of all who are engaged in public service. As the Apostle says elsewhere, "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) And again, "As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4) Nothing else will keep the servants of God but to have Him before their souls, for then they will remember in all their service that it is His verdict of approval alone they have to seek. (Edward Dennett)
N.J. Hiebert # 3549
