June 8
"I bare you on eagle's wings, and brought you unto Myself." (Exodus 19:4)
Fearing to launch on "full surrender's" tide,
I asked the Lord where would its waters glide
My little bark, "To troubled seas I dread?"
"Unto Myself," He said.
Weeping beside an open grave I stood,
In bitterness of soul I cried to God:
"Where leads this path of sorrow that I tread?"
"Unto Myself," He said.
Striving for souls, I loved the work too well;
Then disappointments came; I could not tell
The reason, till He said, "I am thine all;
Unto Himself I call."
Watching my heroes - those I loved the best -
I saw them fail; they could not stand the test,
Even by this the Lord, through tears not few,
Unto Himself me drew.
Unto Himself! No earthly tongue can tell
The bliss I find, since in His heart I dwell;
The things that charmed me once seem all as naught;
Unto Himself I'm brought.
(Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3363
June 9
"Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him . . . Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." (Deuteronomy 4:35,39)
It is an amazing thing that God, the creator of all things, takes an interest in man. His purpose for Israel is rehearsed here, established at present but formed in the past through the patriarchs. Chosen not through any particular strength or merit of their own, merely because He declared it to be and made it so. They were chosen because of the faithfulness of their fathers much like the believer is chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. (B.R. - Meditations on Deuteronomy)
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June 10
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed out
transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)
See how mightily God wishes us to rest in His forgiveness; the complete removal of our sins - cast into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19); placed upon the head of the scapegoat, which was let go to wander in the wilderness, "in a land not inhabited." The God of all mercy says, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17) He does not want to remember them. For the righteous God, the question was settled for eternity at Calvary, and we rest in His satisfaction. Worship Him who alone is worthy! (R.E. Harlow)
N.J. Hiebert # 3365
June 11
". . . I (Paul) persecuted the church of God and wasted it . . . but when it pleased God, who . . . called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood . . ." (Galatians 1:13-16)
- The soul that has found all its springs in God, can, without any demur, retire from all creature streams.
- The moment we confer with flesh and blood, our testimony and service are marred, for flesh and blood can never obey.
- If we merely act from impulse, when the impulse subsides, the acting will subside also.
- True devotedness will ever be founded upon, and governed by, divine principle.
- Whenever devotedness passes beyond divinely appointed bounds, it is suspicious.
- It is easy to make a show of devotedness, when there is no demand for it.
- Nothing can be more thoroughly worthless than a spirit of empty pretension.
(Food for the Desert)
N.J. Hiebert # 3366
June 12
"I (Jesus) will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3)
In the Father's house above, there is no distinction. People often say to me, "Oh, if I can just get into Heaven and get a seat behind the door, I can be satisfied. I know I don't deserve anything better."
You don't deserve to get there at all. I don't deserve to go there. But I am not going there because I deserve to go, but I am going to Heaven because I have been born again and the Lord Jesus Christ has prepared a place for me, and the Father's house has the same welcome for all the Father's children.
(H.A. Ironside - Gospel of John)
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June 13
"In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
(John 14:2,3)
The description of Heaven - "In my Father's house are many mansions."
The assurance of it - "If it were not so, I would have told you."
The furnishing of it - "I go to prepare a place for you."
The safe conduct to it - "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself."
The glory of it - "That where I am, there ye may be also."
The manna and the springing well
Suffice for every need:
And Eschol's grapes the story tell
Of where our path doth lead."
(From - His Last Words - Henry Durbanville)
N.J. Hiebert # 3368
