Gems worth pondering
April 24
"And He is before all things." (Colossians 1:17)
Jesus Christ is:
- First in rank,
- First in pre-eminence,
- First in the eternal purposes of God.
The great Apostle saw himself as the "least of all," a "wretched man," (where does that leave us?) and without hope. But, by redeeming grace, the lowly wretch is placed in the One who is before all and higher than all. Now we find our place is in the heavenlies. More than that: we are heirs of God and joint heirs with the Foremost One. This is incomprehensible! Yet, it is pure delight both to Him and to us. Is He not worthy of our worship and adoration? (Doug Kazen)
N.J. Hiebert # 3684
April 25
"There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." (Proverbs 13:7)
Walking in a vain show is natural to man as he is, but it does not always put on the same mask. The most prevailing snare is to pretend to have more than one possesses; but we must be prepared also for some pretending to have less than they have, in order to escape a duty, or from other selfish motives.
The knowledge of Christ who is the Truth is the only sure means of making the believer truthful in deed as in word. But even he has no force beyond the constant dependence of faith. To be content with the fact that one believed is a snare and may be ruinous; faith is unreal, if it be not a living faith and a believing life. (William Kelly - The Proverbs)
N.J. Hiebert # 3685
April 26
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day." (Romans 13:13)
- Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom.
- You can never lose anything that really belongs to you, and you can't keep that which belongs to someone else.
- The elegance of honesty needs no adornment.
- There is no right way to do something wrong.
(A Collection of Wise Sayings - R.K.)
N.J. Hiebert # 3686
