Gems from January 16-19, 2005
January 16
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men... who will have all men to be saved." (1 Timothy 2:1,4)
We are to pray, not only in view of the good of all saints, but also in view of the blessing of all men.
The world may at times persecute God's people and seek to vent upon them all the hatred of their hearts towards God. Unless we walk in self-judgment, such treatment would arouse the flesh in resentment and retaliation. Here we learn that it is "good and acceptable in the sight of God" to act and feel towards all men, as God Himself does, in love and grace. Thus we are to pray for "all men", not simply for those who govern well, but also for those who use God's people despitefully (Luke 6:28). We are to pray, not for retributive judgment to overtake the persecutors of God's people, but that in sovereign grace they may be saved. (Hamilton Smith)
N.J. Hiebert # 2131
January 17
"There they crucified HIM." (Luke 23:33)
The ultimate crime! The supreme blasphemy! The vilest obscenity! The grossest stupidity! Sinners defiled and dead to God, actually nailed "Him" to the wood. He, the loveliest Man who ever walked the dust of earth. He healed their broken-hearted, dried their tears, and blessed their little children. He brought the Word of heaven to their hearts and would open heaven to their souls. Who were "they"? People like you and me. But, praise the Lord, He did it to procure forgiveness for people like you and me. (J. Boyd Nicholson)
N.J. Hiebert # 2132
January 18
"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6)
John Wesley found himself in a coach travelling with an officer who was an agreeable conversationalist except that profanity punctuated his talk. When they stopped to rest the horses, Wesley took the officer aside and said he had a great favour to ask. The officer was willing to do what he could. Replied Wesley "As we have to travel together some distance, if I should so far forget myself as to swear, I beg that you will kindly reprove me." The officer immediately saw the force of the request. The reproof acted like a charm. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 2133
January 19
"...even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13)
The following story is told about Sir Eardley Wilmot, an English baronet, widely known as a leader and a man of great personal dignity and force of character: "Having been a distinguished chief of justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Sir Wilmot was often consulted in regard to perplexing social questions. On one occasion a statesman came to him very excited over an injury inflicted upon him. He used strong epithets in describing the malicious attack. 'Is not my indignation righteous?' he asked impetuously. 'Will it not be manly to resent such an injury?' 'Yes,' was the calm reply, 'it will be manly to resent it, but it will be godlike to forgive it!' "
These words were well spoken. If practiced in our daily relationships they would soothe irritations and remove misunderstandings which mar our fellowship as believers and hinder our testimony before the world. The Bible says, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31, 32). This example of forgiveness silences every objection and excuse we might raise. In view of God's great love and His offer to pardon the very ones who crucified His Son, who can refuse to forgive another! And, when forgiveness is granted, we should also forget! Dear old Dr. William Pietsch used to say, "Too many folks bury the hatchet with the handle sticking out." That isn't the way God forgives. He has promised that "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17)! This is true forgiveness. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 2134
