Gems for October - wk 4
October 25
"But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me." (Genesis 40:14)
Here we have a threefold request of Joseph - a man who is a wonderful illustration of the Lord. Surely the Lord would have us fulfill these requests for Him as well. Do we think upon Him daily and show kindness in His Name to those we meet? Do we mention Him to others? The butler forgot Joseph for two long years. May we never forget the One who died for us (John M. Clegg)
N.J.H. # 2776
October 26
"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." (1 Peter 2:22)
He did ever those things that pleased God. From the manger of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary His whole life was in perfect accordance with the will of God. He lived but to glorify God. His every thought, His every word, His every look, His every movement, emitted an odor of ineffable sweetness which ascended to the throne and refreshed the heart of God. Again and again the heavens were opened upon this blessed One; and the voice of the eternal Father bore witness to Him in such accents as these: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I an well pleased." (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J.H. # 2777
October 27
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
If only we are self-emptied, our every act may emit a sweet odor to God. The smallest as well as the greatest services may, by the power of the Holy Ghost, present the fragrance of Christ. The paying of a visit, the writing of a letter, the public ministry of the Word, the giving a cup of cold water to a disciple, giving to the poor, yea, the commonplace acts of eating and drinking - all may emit the sweet perfume of the name and grace of Jesus. (Extract)
N.J.H. # 2778
October 28
"And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Gideon) and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." (Judges 6:12)
Gideon was not handling a sword, but a flail - a humble instrument. "Thou mighty man of valour." It means ten thousandfold more to God to see you in the courage and energy of faith enjoying your portion in Christ, than to go over to the wars of the world and gain a mighty victory; God is far more interested in your spiritual welfare than in any victory you might achieve in this world. These are spiritual battles, and they are going to endure when all the nations locked in this present conquest have passed off the scene forever. They "are counted as the small dust of the balance" (Isaiah 40:15). That is the way God thinks of the rise and fall of the nations. (C.H. Brown)
N.J.H. # 2779
October 29
"We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:9)
If ever there were a day in which we need to look entirely to the Lord, and to Him alone, it is the day in which we live; and by faith we look up to Him, the Leader of our salvation, to Him whose arms were once extended upon the cross as He bare our sins, and who ever lives to lead us through every difficulty to the eternal glory. It may be said that the people of God are so dispersed, and many other things; but we know that His arm is not shortened. It may be a severe lesson to learn - that of mistrusting man, and our own selves most of all - but a blessed lesson after all; and we look toward Him in the excellent glory, and to the God of glory who has placed Him at His right hand, praying that we may glorify Him for the rest of the journey in the desert. May we be found walking in true dependence, prayerfully, and with true confidence in Him. (E.L. Bevir)
N.J.H. # 2780
October 30
"We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech (were pleading) you by (through) us." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
In answer to a Roman centurion's earnest pleas to heal his desperately ill slave, Jesus started to go to the man's house. The man, however, said that he was unworthy of such attention. He said, "Only speak a word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me." (Matthew 8:8-9) If he, an officer in the Roman army, could have things done by a word of command, surely Jesus, the great prophet of God, could do likewise.
A centurion had 100 men under his command. Above him was the senior centurion, and above the senior centurion, the 60 centurions of the Roman legion. Above the 60 centurions were the 6 tribunes, and above the 6 tribunes the 2 counsuls. Above the 2 counsuls was the emperor himself. It was because the Roman centurion stood in this long line of delegated authority that he was able to give orders and have them obeyed. He had authority because he himself was under authority.
Today, those of us who submit to Christ are men and women "under authority." Because of our relationship to Him, we have the authority to speak on His behalf, declaring forgiveness of sins to all who believe in Him.
Do we live and speak as people under authority? (HWR)
Am I a soldier of the cross?
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to won His cause
Or blush to speak His name? (Watts)
We can speak for Christ only when we listen to Christ.
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (1993). Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.
N.J.H. # 2781
October 31
"Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come,
and will not tarry." (Hebrews 10:37)
"A little while" - 'twill soon be past,
Why should we shun the promised cross?
O let us in His footsteps haste,
Counting for Him all else but loss!
For how will recompense His smile,
The sufferings of this "little while."
(J.G. Deck)
N.J.H. # 2782
