Gems worth pondering
April 6
"It came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him." (Luke 24:30-31)
Reasoning together of the crucifixion while on the Emmaus road, Jesus Himself drew alongside them. Devastated over the death of their beloved Friend, they must have greatly savoured the exposition of the Scriptures. Sometimes the only comfort after the death of a loved one is to speak of them and to hear of them; we can't get enough. This intriguing guest they invited home unwittingly became the host but only during the breaking of bread were their eyes opened and they recognized Him. He is our host now. (R.M.B.)
N.J. Hiebert # 3666
April 7
"In Gibeon the Lord appeared to (King) Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee." (1 Kings 3:5)
"Hitherto ye have asked nothing in My name; ask, and ye shall
receive that your joy may be full."
(John 16:24)
It is well for us that we are commanded to pray, or else in times of heaviness we might give it up. If God command me, unfit as I may be, I will creep to the footstool of grace; and since He says, "Pray without ceasing," though my words fail me and my heart itself will wander, yet I will still stammer out the wishes of my hungering soul and say, "O God, at least teach me to pray and help me to prevail with Thee." (C.H. Spurgeon)
Satan the Hinderer may build a barrier about us, but he can never roof us in, so that we cannot look up. (J. Hudson Taylor)
Since our God has opened the way to His throne of grace, and bidden us draw near and ask what He shall give us, let us prize the privilege and ask and receive that we may have fullness of joy.
N.J. Hiebert # 3667
April 8
"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
(Proverbs 27:1)
Procrastination is a snare which often results in ruin. Against this error this verse solemnly warns every one.
The present is given man in order that he may act in view of the future. To defer until the morrow what should be attended to today is the sad mistake which has destroyed untold thousands. The Old Spanish proverb says, "The road of by and by leads to the house of never;" while another trite saying reads, "The way to hell is paved with good intentions." The English are fond of quoting, "Procrastination is the thief of time;" and it is likely that every nation has some maxim intended to remind one of the warning of our verse. Yet, alas, how prone we all are to leave for to-morrow matters which should be settled at once!
In nothing is this more manifest than in regard to the great question of the salvation of the soul. Again and again Scripture presses upon men the importance of an immediate settlement of this matter of tremendous moment.
"Today if ye will hear His voice harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 3:7, 8)
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 1:18)
(H.A. Ironside)
N.J. Hiebert # 3668
