Gems from January 1-5, 2005
January 1
"Men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself." (Psalm 49:18)
Men love something. Trace the course of Judas. What was it that led him astray? He loved money, not so uncommon an evil. In this he was the world's prudent man. But observe the progress of corrupt nature; a little circumstance in John 12:3-6 may help us to see the connection. Satan suggests a way to gratify the lust there. Well, he goes on, and what is his next step? Satan puts it into his heart to betray his Master. Judas, it may be, thinking that the blessed One would have been delivered in some way, as at other times, and thus he get his money and yet save his character, consents. Man will excuse himself by any folly. Sin has its progress with a defiled conscience. Hypocrisy now enters; he sits with Jesus at the table (goes on with religiousness) even after he had sold him. Mark, too, it was "after the sop" that Satan entered, never nearer to Christ in form. Now he is hardened against even the relentings of nature; he goes out and betrays the Son of man with a kiss. Here then is the progress of corrupt nature toward this fearful consummation - first, lust; second, a means of gratifying it in his office of bearer of the bag (all this goes on along with religiousness, in the very company of Christ, from day to day); third, he is led to the ultimate character of his crime, at a time and in circumstances of most blessing to a true disciple; fourth, the heart is hardened, so that the betrayal takes place even with a kiss, the token of affection. Sinning and religiousness go on together. Where the power of godliness is not, nearness to godly things is only the more dangerous. (Christian Truth - Vol. 13)
N.J. Hiebert # 2116
January 2
"For to me to live is Christ." (Philippians 1:21)
It is exceedingly important in these days to have Christ the centre of everything to us, so as to be able to say, "to me to live is Christ;" to be walking in the light of His glory shining down upon our path, in everything that glory kept uppermost; not to be allowing two lives in us, the life of the flesh and the life of the Spirit, but to be sinking the life of the flesh, and having only the life of Christ living in us. (G.V. Wigram - Gleanings from the Teaching of G.V.W.)
N.J. Hiebert # 2117
January 3
"It is written." (John 4:4)
If we could put down self in every way and entirely, we should find rest in all circumstances. If we walked as Christ did, we should see God and our Father in everything. Privations, temptations, difficulties - God and our Father in all. Subjection to His word in everything - saying, "It is written," makes the bitterest thing sweet. Christ has pledged Himself that I shall have rest, He reveals the Father to me, that is the blessing He has shut me into. All blessing comes from Christ teaching every day to find rest by seeing God and my father in everything.
(G.V. Wigram)
N.J. Hiebert # 2118
January 4
"And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, ...Blessed are all thy that wait for Him." (Isaiah 30:18)
Did you ever put these two "waits" together like that? Perhaps there is a fear at the back of your mind just as a fear is sometimes at the back of mine. Perhaps nobody knows of it, or would only smile if they heard it. Never mind: read these words and let them lead you into peace. (Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)
N.J. Hiebert # 2119
January 5
If any man thirst, let him come unto ME and drink" (John 7:37).
A nobleman about to be executed asked for a glass of water, but when it was handed to him he trembled so that he could not drink. The prince said, "Your life is safe until you have drunk that water." Taking the prince at his word, he dashed the glass to the ground. The water could not be gathered up again, so the nobleman's life was saved. This was faith; just simply receiving the words uttered, and acting upon them; the result was salvation to his body.
Exactly in the same manner is it that we have to take God's words and act upon them. Trusting God is not like a drowning man catching at straws. It is no hanging on the words of a fitful, capricious prince, but trusting the faithful word of a gracious and faithful God, who means what He says, and who says what He means; who never makes a mistake, nor draws back from His word. (The Sower - Vol. 23 - 1913)
"I heard the voice of Jesus say,
'Behold, I freely give
The living water - thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live."
N.J. Hiebert # 2120
