Gems from January 26-28, 2005
January 26
"And the next [day] we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave [him] liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself." (Acts 27:3)
We look at Julius as a picture of each on the journey of life. He was given the charge of getting the prisoners to Rome safely and he will answer to Nero-Caesar for how he carried out that responsibility.
Julius had to decide how he was going to act towards Paul on the journey. Would he listen to and believe him, or despise him? He is openly courteous towards Paul in just the same way as many who are on life's journey are reverent - courteous, we might say - towards God and towards religion. But though respectful of these things, they do not attach themselves by faith to Christ. Julius was polite to Paul, gave him a certain amount of liberty to have fellowship with his friends, but he was not interested in listening to Paul or going with him.
It is not enough to be respectful of God and to treat His servants courteously. You must submit your thoughts to God's thoughts. You must, if you are to have a happy life's journey, fully and unreservedly attach yourself to and by faith embrace, the revealed mind of God as it has been given to us in the Bible. (Douglas Nicolet - The Journey of life)
N.J. Hiebert # 2141
January 27
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15)
Someone has wisely said, "Bad habits are like comfortable beds - easy to get into but hard to get our of." While the word "habit" doesn't appear in the Bible, the above verse seems to capture the idea expressed by it. James says that lustful thoughts lead to sinful acts, which in turn leave their mark on one's character. Good habits are wonderful servants, but evil habits become dreadful taskmasters.
The Heidelberg Herald published this thought-provoking story: "An elderly teacher, with a pupil by his side, took a walk through a forest. Suddenly he stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth was a full-sized tree. The tutor said to his young companion, 'Pull up the first plant.' The boy did so eagerly, using only his fingers. 'Now pull up the second.' The youth obeyed but found the task more difficult. 'Do the same with the third,' he urged. The boy had to use all his strength to uproot it. 'Now,' said the instructor, 'try your hand with the fourth.' The pupil put his arms around the trunk of the tall tree and couldn't even shake it leaves. 'This, my son, is just what happens with our bad habits. When they are young, we can remove them readily; but when they are old, it's hard to uproot them, though we pray and struggle ever so sincerely.' "
The holding power of sinful habits cannot be overemphasized. Take warning! Only the supernatural power of God can enable you to uproot them. (H.G.B.)
Most sinful habits gather
By small unseen degrees,
As brooks create large rivers,
So rivers run to seas.
(Dryden, alt.)
First WE make our habits, then our habits make US.
(Our Daily Bread, RIB Ministries, Copyright (1980), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission)
N.J. Hebert # 2142
January 28
"What shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the age?... Be ye also ready." (Matthew 24:3,44)
"What are the signs of Thy coming, And when shall the end-times be?"
Anxious, they questioned the Master, Curious, even as we.
Are these the signs of His coming That loom over sea and land,
That darken the earth and the heavens? Is the day so near at hand?
We know not; He hath not told us This secret of the Lord,
But all we need He hath left us To read in His sacred word.
And pulsing through the silence Like the far, faint throb of a drum;
"Watch, be ye also ready, For ye know not when I come."
Sweet as a sliver trumpet Through tumult and clamour clear;
"Watch, be ye also ready, For the time is drawing near."
(Annie Johnson Flint)
N.J. Hiebert # 2143
