Gems worth pondering
October 15
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
- People with a heart for God have a heart for people.
- The joy of living comes from a heart of thanksgiving.
- In the desert of grief, God provides an oasis of grace.
- Selfish gratification will lead to spiritual stagnation.
- Running with patience is perseverance in the "long run."
(SOME THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER - R.K.)
N.J. Hiebert - 3858
October 16
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Love That Exceeds
The ascending affections are never equal to the descending. A child never loves a parent with the intenseness with which a parent loves his child. Yes, and more than this - the parent is satisfied to have it so. A father is satisfied to know that his love will never get its "recompense in the same" from the bosom of the child.
Our heavenly Father knows that His love will ever be the larger. He will ever be the One to "exceed" - as David with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:41). For He is in the higher place; and that place will maintain its rights and attributes. And it is among the attributes of the descending affection (which comes out of the higher place), to flow with the richer and more generous current; and all that faith has to do is to allow this, and to rejoice that it is so. Faith ascends to God, and makes that journey in silence. (TCNL)
N.J. Hiebert - 3859
October 17
"This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15:12)
D.L Moody pointed out, the words which delineate the lovely traits of character set forth in Galatians 5, are but various forms of love.
- Joy is love exulting;
- Peace is love in repose;
- Long-suffering is love enduring;
- Kindness is love in society;
- Goodness is love in action;
- Faithfulness is love on the battlefield;
- Meekness is love at school;
- Self-control is love in training.
(HENRY DURBANVILLE)
N.J. Hiebert - 3860
October 18
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
(Psalm 119:105)
The Bible is all for the Christian, but not all about him. God in government, or Messiah and the kingdom, might express the general character of the Old Testament, while God in grace, or Christ and the Church, would characterize the New Testament. Moses, by inspiration of God, opened the canon of divine revelation; Paul completed the subjects of which it treats -
"I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God." (Colossians 1:25).
John closed it with the Revelation. This blessed Book is assailed on every hand - its inspiration is openly denied, its divine authority unblushingly called in question, and its heavenly doctrines made the sport of an unbelieving world. Yet its subjects are grand, momentous, and divine; its themes are heavenly and eternal. It is the Word of God, and therefore it lives and abides forever. (W. SCOTT)
N.J. Hiebert - 3861
October 19
"Like a lamb dumb . . . so opened he not His mouth."
(Acts 8:32)
"Philip opened his mouth . . . and preached . . . Jesus."
(Acts 8:35)
Philip was able to open his mouth as the result of the Lord remaining mute at His trial. "When He was reviled, he reviled not again" (1 Peter 2:23). He was about to die an atoning death for a world of sinners who stood with their mouths stopped and guilty before God. How thrilled must Philip have been that day to open his mouth and make known the gospel, especially to one whose ear and heart were wide open to receive it. Is your mouth open? (W.P.W. MCVEY)
N.J. Hiebert - 3862
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
- People with a heart for God have a heart for people.
- The joy of living comes from a heart of thanksgiving.
- In the desert of grief, God provides an oasis of grace.
- Selfish gratification will lead to spiritual stagnation.
- Running with patience is perseverance in the "long run."
(SOME THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER - R.K.)
N.J. Hiebert - 3858
October 16
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Love That Exceeds
The ascending affections are never equal to the descending. A child never loves a parent with the intenseness with which a parent loves his child. Yes, and more than this - the parent is satisfied to have it so. A father is satisfied to know that his love will never get its "recompense in the same" from the bosom of the child.
Our heavenly Father knows that His love will ever be the larger. He will ever be the One to "exceed" - as David with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:41). For He is in the higher place; and that place will maintain its rights and attributes. And it is among the attributes of the descending affection (which comes out of the higher place), to flow with the richer and more generous current; and all that faith has to do is to allow this, and to rejoice that it is so. Faith ascends to God, and makes that journey in silence. (TCNL)
N.J. Hiebert - 3859
October 17
"This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15:12)
D.L Moody pointed out, the words which delineate the lovely traits of character set forth in Galatians 5, are but various forms of love.
- Joy is love exulting;
- Peace is love in repose;
- Long-suffering is love enduring;
- Kindness is love in society;
- Goodness is love in action;
- Faithfulness is love on the battlefield;
- Meekness is love at school;
- Self-control is love in training.
(HENRY DURBANVILLE)
N.J. Hiebert - 3860
October 18
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
(Psalm 119:105)
The Bible is all for the Christian, but not all about him. God in government, or Messiah and the kingdom, might express the general character of the Old Testament, while God in grace, or Christ and the Church, would characterize the New Testament. Moses, by inspiration of God, opened the canon of divine revelation; Paul completed the subjects of which it treats -
"I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God." (Colossians 1:25).
John closed it with the Revelation. This blessed Book is assailed on every hand - its inspiration is openly denied, its divine authority unblushingly called in question, and its heavenly doctrines made the sport of an unbelieving world. Yet its subjects are grand, momentous, and divine; its themes are heavenly and eternal. It is the Word of God, and therefore it lives and abides forever. (W. SCOTT)
N.J. Hiebert - 3861
October 19
"Like a lamb dumb . . . so opened he not His mouth."
(Acts 8:32)
"Philip opened his mouth . . . and preached . . . Jesus."
(Acts 8:35)
Philip was able to open his mouth as the result of the Lord remaining mute at His trial. "When He was reviled, he reviled not again" (1 Peter 2:23). He was about to die an atoning death for a world of sinners who stood with their mouths stopped and guilty before God. How thrilled must Philip have been that day to open his mouth and make known the gospel, especially to one whose ear and heart were wide open to receive it. Is your mouth open? (W.P.W. MCVEY)
N.J. Hiebert - 3862
