Gems worth pondering
May 28
"And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli (Priest). And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see . . . and the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, speak; for Thy servant heareth." (1 Samuel 3:1,2,10)
The Lord always sends refreshment in times of drought. When there was no guidance He sent the prophet Samuel. We must be careful as believers not to have our senses dulled by the prevailing compromise and complacency that we cannot hear God when He calls. We cannot be sleeping but should always be awake and aware of His presence and listen to others for advice on how to prepare our hearts for His Word. (B.R. - Meditations on 1 Samuel)
N.J. Hiebert # 3718
May 29
"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
(Romans 12:2)
If ever there was a day when it was important for every professed follower of Christ to stand fast and to be true to his profession, I believe it is the present day. There is no answer to infidelity like the life of Christ displayed by the Christian. Nothing puts the madness of the infidel and the folly of the superstitious more to shame and silence than the humble, quiet devoted walk of a thoroughgoing, heavenly minded, divinely taught Christian. It may be in the unlearned and poor and despised; but, like the scent of the lowly violet, it gives its perfume abroad, and both God and man take notice of it.
In the experience of almost every believer, there is some turning point, where he either goes onward in devotedness to the Lord, or sinks down into a mere commonplace Christian. Not one of us is too obscure to be tried as to whether we will seek God's honour or present things first.
God is very jealous of all man's substitutes and imitations of the power of the Holy Spirit. In stripping ourselves of such things, we may seem to others to be throwing away our influence and our usefulness. But what is usefulness? What is "doing good"? It is dong the will of God. (Christian Truth - Vol. 19 -1966)
N.J. Hiebert # 3719
May 30
"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."
(John 12:31)
Two things give character to all true service in the present day. One is, the world has rejected Christ; and the other, God has rejected the world.
These two facts, if practically acted upon, would materially alter the character of that which professes to be the service of God, as well as the labours of many who render true service of God in some respects, but whose chief efforts are now misdirected. "In every good work doing the will of God." A work may be good in itself, but if it is not according to the will of God for the present moment, then it loses its savour to Him, and is deprived of its true value. (H.N.)
N.J. Hiebert # 3720
