Gems worth pondering
February 18
" . . . They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." (Act 4:13)
Some years ago, at a social function, one of England's leading actors was asked to recite for the pleasure of his fellow guests. He consented and asked if there was anything special that his audience would like to hear. After a moment's pause, an aged minister arose and said,"Could you, sir, recite the Twenty-Third Psalm?"
A strange look passed over the great actor's face. He paused for a moment, and then said, "I can, and I will upon one condition - after I have recited it, you, my friend, will do the same."
Impressively, the great actor began the Psalm. His voice and his intonation were perfect. He held his audience spell bound, and as he finished, a great burst of applause broke from the guests.
Then, as it died away, the aged minister arose and began to recite. His voice was not remarkable; his intonation was not faultless. When he finished, no sound of applause broke the silence, but there was not a dry eye in the room, and many heads and hearts were bowed in reverential awe!
The great actor rose to his feet. His voice shook with uncontrollable emotion as he laid his hand upon the shoulder of the aged minister, and said to the audience, "I have reached your eyes, and ears, my friends. This man has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: "I know the twenty-third Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd." (Traveling Toward Sunrise)
N.J. Hiebert # 3619
February 19
"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me."
(Genesis 32:24-26)
Such will ever be the happy effect of a thorough acquaintance with our hearts. Jacob now gets his name changed; he must not be any longer know as the "supplanter," but as a "prince," having power with God through the very knowledge of his weakness; for "when I am weak, then am I strong." We are never so weak as when we fancy ourselves strong. Peter never displayed more lamentable weakness than when he fancied he had uncommon strength; had he felt somewhat of Jacob's happy condition when his sinew shrank, he would have thought, acted, and spoken differently differently. "Lord I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison, and to death." (Luke 22:33) (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 3620
February 20
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God." (James 4:6,7)
The Christian is always solemnly bound to submit himself to the revealed mind of God. To plead circumstances as an excuse for doing wrong, or for neglecting any truth of God, is simply flying in the face of divine authority, and making God the author of our disobedience. (Christian Truth - Vol. 23 - March 1970)
N.J. Hiebert # 3621
