Gems worth pondering
September 27
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
(James 5:16)
An important part of praying is a willingness to become part of the answer.
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"Let another man man praise thee and not thine own mouth; a stranger and not thine own lips."
(Proverbs 27:2)
You can't push yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.
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"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
(James 3:5)
The tongue - being a wet spot, is very apt to slip.
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(SELECTED)
N.J. Hiebert - 3840
September 28
"Behold the Man!" (John 19:5)
"Behold your king!" (John 19:14)
It is a remarkable instance of the sovereignty of God that a pagan Roman governor should be compelled to quote Scripture twice on that sad morning of the crucifixion. Little did Pilate know, when he called their attention to the lowly Man with the purple robe, and to the King with the thorn crown, that he was quoting from Zechariah 6:12 and 9:9. How true the word of that word of the psalmist, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee" (Psalm 76:19). (JIM FLANIGAN).
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Them anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah What a Saviour!
(PHILIP P. BLISS)
N.J. Hiebert - 3841
September 29
"Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very
bitterly with me . . . Go unto the vessels, and drink . . ."
(Ruth 1:20; 2:9)
Naomi felt that God had stopped the flow of blessing in her life. But the word bitterly here is expressed in the Hebrew as a "trickle" or a "drop." Instead of a fountain springing up within her, she was down to a drop-by-drop experience in her life. But Ruth responded to those drops, meager though they were, and was abundantly blessed, for when she arrived in the land of blessing, she was encouraged to drink deeply. The Gentile woman in Matthew 15:21-28 asked only for the crumbs. What blessing is waiting for those who seek after God, even though they know little of Him! (L. NICHOLSON)
N.J. Hiebert - 3842
September 30
"Let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth."
(1 John 3:18)
Every so often when I walk into my office in the morning, I find a surprise on my desk. Not long ago the item was a sunflower coffee mug dropped off by a fellow employee. She had seen it in a shop and knew it would cheer up my wife - so she bought it and left it on my desk with an encouraging note.
It was my pleasure to take that gift home to my wife Sue and give it to her in the name of the woman who wanted to encourage her.
This person could have simply thought about my wife. She could have talked to someone about her in a positive way. But those things don't come close to providing the encouragement that comes from taking action.
In 1 John 3:18, John talked about what we are to do when we see others in need. He told us to have active compassion: "Let us not love in word neither, in tongue, but in deed." When we see a need, it's good to talk about it, but we must also do something about it. We are instructed: "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22).
Ask the Lord to place someone on your heart to help in Jesus' name. Then take action. Make a difference today. Send a card. Give a gift. Offer a ride. Make a call. Love in deed is love indeed. (DAVE BRANON)
Lord, when I learn that someone is hurting,
Help me know what to do and to say;
Speak to my heart and give me compassion,
Let Your great love flow through me today.
(K. DE HAAN)
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Compassion is love in action.
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(Our daily Bread, RBC Ministries, copyright (2007), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.)
N.J. Hiebert - 3843
