Gems from the Weekend
June 18 - 20
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." (Philippians 3:7,8)
Let us especially mark the words, "what things were gain to me." The Apostle is not speaking of his sins, of his guilt, of things of which, as a man, he might justly be ashamed. No; he is referring to his gains, his honours, his distinctions - his religious, his intellectual, his moral, his political advantages - of such things as were calculated to make him an object of envy to his fellows. All these things he counted but loss that he might win Christ. (The Young Christian)
N.J. Hiebert # 2283
"For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven." (Paslm 119:89) "Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:11)
These are in good truth golden sentences for the present moment. They set forth the true place for the Word; namely, settled in heaven, and hidden in the heart. Nor is this all; they also link the heart on to the very throne of God by means of His own Word, thus giving to the Christian all the stability and all the moral security which the divine Word is capable of imparting. (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 2284
"And the angel answered and said unto her (Mary), the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
The nature of the Lord Jesus was holy and in no wise sinful. He was therefore born in a manner altogether singular. Without doubt He was born of the virgin, but not this made Him sinless, for the virgin was in herself sinful like any other. She was, however, a believer of remarkable simplicity and purity of character; yet she needed a Saviour, and she had the same Saviour as we in her own Son. But well she knew that her Son was unlike any other son in the way in which He became flesh. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit. He, not she, was therefore immaculate. it is well to adhere to the truth. For in daring to add to revealed truth, superstition only invents a falsehood which gives Christ's unique place to another; and God will surely judge the blasphemy. (Wm. Kelly)
N.J. Hiebert # 2285
