Bible Gems

July 12

"Feed (shepherd) the flock of God which is among you."
(1 Peter 5:2)

One of the main thoughts in relation to shepherding is that of feeding.  This is why the verb "shepherd" is often translated "feed."  We learn some very important lessons from this.  First of all, no one will feed others if he himself is starving.  One must first be well nourished with the Word of God in order to be of help to others.   The flock of God has suffered much throughout history because of "shepherds" who themselves were badly nourished.  A shepherd must also be familiar with the pastures in order to lead the flock to them.  David was very happy because his Shepherd made him to lie down in green pastures and led him beside still waters.

Then shepherding also involves restoring the sheep that go astray.  There is a natural tendency with sheep to go astray.  Isaiah said: "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way."  And Peter said: "For ye were as sheep going astray but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (overseer) of your souls." (1 Peter 2:25)  But most beautiful of all are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he loose one of them, doth not . . . go after that which is lost, until he find it?  And when He hath found it, He layeth it on His shoulders, rejoicing." (Luke 15:3,4)

Shepherding then requires concern, compassion, and commitment.  It requires love for the sheep in spite of their tendency to wander away from the right path.  David was a shepherd and knew much about sheep.  But he also knew about himself as a sheep among the flock of God, and thus spoke of his Shepherd and said: "He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  May we learn lessons from our Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.  (A.M BEHNAM)

N.J. Hiebert  # 3763 

July 13

"If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him."
(John 14:23)

We have in this portion two things, the proof of love first, in having and keeping our Lord's commandments; and next, in keeping His words. . . . the more we weigh the words, the more evident and all-important is their truth.  It is clear our Lord was not speaking here simply of what is moral, or the ten commandments.  A man might be found most rigorous in that, like Saul of Tarsus, and yet not have a particle of love to Christ. . . .

This touches upon what is more closely personal.  We know that in ordinary life if there is any one we care for or love in a special way, a word from such a one will have immense weight on the spirit.  Where there is love, there is amazing quickness in knowing what the will is, what the desire is, - and bearing it in mind.  But on the other hand if there is frivolity of spirit, there will be carelessness and forgetfulness of what is desired; and this is true of us with the Lord. . .

Love to Christ will make us delight in His commandments.  Confidence in His love will make us not afraid of examining them; but on the contrary search into them as a light to our path.  But that is not enough. (John 14:21)   In the keeping of His commandments, there will be further manifestations of the Lord to the soul.  It is only as we walk in obedience that there is communion with the Lord. . . . Then you get the fullness of love in return. "I will manifest Myself unto Him."  Not only My will, but "Myself." . . .

He looks for love.  Warm expressions are not enough - they may not always be trusted - maybe rather a proof of want of reverence.  But He looks for our love.  And suppose the soul does love, how will it show itself?  Will there not be the desire to ponder every word, in whatever way the Lord Jesus shows His will?  Will there not be delight to be near Him, His love filling our hearts?  (The Bible Treasury - W.F.B.)

N.J. Hiebert  # 3764 

July 14

"I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.  These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
(Isaiah 42:16)

What a thought for me, a poor vessel carrying the incorruptible seed, that Christ is watching to lift me over every difficulty, to enable me to overcome.  The only way to be an overcomer is just to have faith in that Christ of God.  God can trust Christ to get us over all difficulties and extremities.  God is using the wilderness as the place where every step leaves traces of His mercies.  The whole place recalls to God the way He led each believer on to His paradise; the very difficulties being an occasion of nearer association with His Christ.  (GLEANINGS of G.V. WIGRAM))

N.J. Hiebert  # 3765 

July 15

"Then they said one to another, we do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace."  (2 Kings 7:9)

Four starving lepers (2 Kings 7:3-11) who had just found food, raiment, and riches in abundance, reminded themselves that others were also starving all around them:  "This day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace." So, they spread this good news to others.  God's people have even greater news to tell; how perishing sinners can have His gift of eternal life.  If we keep silence, then truly we do not well.  May God give us grace to open our mouths today.  (R.J. STEELE)

"Freely ye have received, so give,"  He bade, who hath given us all.
How shall the soul in us longer live, deaf to their starving call?
(A. ALEXANDER)

N.J. Hiebert  # 3766 

July 16

July 17

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38,39)  

When the apostle Paul wrote that nothing shall separate us from the love of God - "neither trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword" -- he was referring to struggles that were dangerously real to him and the people to whom he was writing.  And he said we are more than conquerors in the midst of such hardship, not because it isn't all that painful or because God will remove it form us, but because none of these things can take away our relationship with God in Jesus Christ.  His love is more enduring than famine or suffering.  It is stronger than death, as unyielding as the grave.  How do we put this in to words without trembling?

In the midst of a despair greater than most have know, one hymnist made an attempt.  In fear and trembling, he prayed:

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

When I find myself stumbling over words to describe the hope I profess, I am broken again by the mystery of it and my frequent misplacing of it.  I have been stopped by my loss of its realness, my overlooking of the immensity of Christ, the immovability of His love, the assurance of truth as a person.  In the silence of my tangled thoughts, the one behind the creeds  I profess bids me again to follow. 

- He has died;
- He has risen;
- He is coming again.

(A SlLICE of INFINITY)

N.J. Hiebert  # 3768