May 16
"For who hath despised the day of small things?"
(Zechariah 4:10)
Little masteries achieved,
Little wants with care relieved,
Little words in love expressed
Little wrongs at once confessed,
Little graces meekly worn,
Little sights with patience borne,
These are treasures that shall rise
Far beyond the shining skies.
(Unknown)
It is the little words you speak, the little thoughts you think, the little things you do or leave undone, the little moments you waste or use wisely, the little temptations which you yield to or overcome - the little things of every day that are making or marring your future life. (Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)
Be not dismayed what're betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
(Civilla D. Martin)
All through the Bible there is a wonderful care of little things. God noticing them and bringing them to perfectness of meaning. "He putteth my tears in His bottle"; that is condescension. "None of His steps shall slide," as if He numbered step by step all the going of His people. One of those people said, "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising," and "Thou hast beset me behind and before." (Joseph Parker)
If the firefly's lamp and the cricket's chirp and the sparrow's fall are of interest to Thee, help us to learn from these, Thy creatures, their lesson of trust and service. (Unknown)
N.J. Hiebert # 3340
May 17
"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers,
neither be thou envious against
the workers of iniquity." (Psalm 37:1)
The first exhortation is to peacefulness of spirit, and it is general and applies to the state of the mind. "Fret not thyself." When self-will and the desire of present satisfaction mingles itself with the love of righteousness, when one desires righteousness (and partly sometimes, through fear of the power of evil), and is selfish through peace-loving interests, one is apt to fret oneself because evil has its way. All this is the same spirit of unbelief with other desires. But it is unbelief and self-will. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. We are neither to fret, which is distrust, nor be envious, which is even worse and self-interest. Then comes the positive direction in what spirit we are to walk. What is the resource against the power of evil? "Trust in the Lord and do good." You will reap the fruit of it according to promise. (J.N. Darby - Practical Reflections on the Psalms)
N.J. Hiebert # 3341
May 18
"And I will give him the morning star." (Revelation 2:28)
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16)
"The morning star" is the symbol of the church's hope. There is beauty in this thought, derived as it is in the verses noted above.
The characteristics of the morning star are brilliancy and solitariness. It glitters beautifully, off in its distant sphere, but it is all alone. It does not command the notice of the world as the sun does. It is only the watchman that sees it. The season for its appearing is quite its own - it is neither night nor day. It fills a moment that is quite its own, and it is only the watchman, or the child of the morning, the one that is up before the sun, that has to do with it.
Is there not a voice in this, dear Christian? Does it not tell your inmost soul of a coming, that is to precede the sunrise - of the coming of One, Who does not belong to the world, for a redeemed people who wait for their Saviour. (TCN)
N.J. Hiebert # 3342
May 19
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)
Seven Salvation Superlatives
1. Jesus gives us not only life, but life more abundantly! (John 10:10)
2. My cup of blessing is not only full, but it runs over! (Psalm 23:5)
3. God not only saves, but He saves to the uttermost! (Hebrews 7:25)
4. God not only gives joy, but joy unspeakable! (1 Peter 1:8)
5. God not only supplies our needs, but gives exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20)
6. We not only win the battle, but we are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37)
7. We are not only "children of God" but heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:17)
(C.M.A.)
N.J. Hiebert # 3343
May 20
"He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30)
The Lord Jesus made it clear that He was on His way to the cross. Even to one who asked to follow Him, He responded, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay (Gk., klino) His head." Foxes live in holes on earth, but there was nowhere on earth to lay His head. Birds live in nests in the heavens, but there was nowhere for Jesus to lay His head. Only there, on the cross, between heaven and earth, was found the place where the Lord Jesus bowed (Gk., klimo) His head for you, for me. (Rex Trogdon)
N.J. Hiebert # 3344
May 21
"Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul,
that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? . . .
Is there not yet any of the house of Saul,
that I may show the kindness of God unto him?
(2 Samuel 9:1,3)
King Saul had not been kind to David, but all that is forgotten. David remembers the one lovely thing that came from that house. "Whatsoever things are . . . lovely . . . think on these things" (Philippians 4:8); leave the rest - forget them - that is the word that shines forth here.
Would it not be good to get into the way of looking out for chances to show kindness over and above duties? These words might be well written up, if not on the walls of our rooms, then on the walls of our hearts. "is there any that I might show him kindness? Is there any that I might show the kindness of God unto him?" (Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)
N.J. Hiebert # 3345
May 22
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
(Luke 19:10)
Until a man is lost he cannot be found. Christ died for sinners, and one must first be a sinner before he can be saved. One would suppose that Jesus would call unto Himself "good" people. But then He would not have come to this world, for when He came unto this world there were no "good" people in it. All were sinners, all were lost, all were under condemnation. David says about all of us, "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Psalm 14:3) Have you seen yourself as a lost sinner?
The great George Whitfield had a wayward brother who one night heard the evangelist preach and came under deep conviction. Meeting with some friends for lunch after the service, he burst out in tears, and unable to eat or drink cried out, I am a lost man." A Christian lady at the table replied, "What did you say?" "I said I am a lost man!" "I am so glad of that," replied the lady," I am so glad you are lost!" Amazed and surprised, the miserable man cried, "How can you be so cruel, so heartless to say you are glad I'm lost?" But she replied, "Yes, I'm so happy you are lost, I'm so happy about it for the Bible says, 'The Son of man is come to save that which was lost' " (Matthew 18:11). With tears streaming down his cheeks he saw the light and cried out, "then He came to save me - for I am that lost one." And then and there he received Christ and was saved. An hour later he was dead - but not until after he had been found.
If you have never done so - then take your place as a sinner NOW - and trust Christ to save you. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3346
