Gems for December - wk 1
December 1
"When we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."
(Isaiah 53:2)
That is the One who grew up in this world before God as "a root out of a dry ground," as a "tender plant." In Him God saw every beauty; in Him from first to last, God had delight, and from Him continually a sweet savor rose up. It was a savor of obedience - not a legal obedience, but the obedience of love.
How is it that in this poor world, this vast world, there are those who do see beauty in Him, and who do desire Him, whom the beauty of the Lord attracts? What has made it to be thus with you and with me and with every believer far and near? Who gave us the anointed eye, the opened ear? Who gave us the receiving and understanding heart? We sing it in a hymn:
"To Thee our all we owe;
The precious Saviour, and the power
That makes Him precious too."
N.J.H. # 2813
December 2
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed." (Psalms 103:2-5)
Whether an atheist denying the existence of God, or a believer overlooking the blessings of God, the contradiction is obvious, even as it is unabashedly ignored. To overlook the good in our lives is to state that there is no one to thank. To grumble is to emphatically declare that there is someone to hold responsible. But which will it be?
The countless hints or kindness that surround us in moments of beauty, glimpses of order, and felt provision are rumors that tell us we are not alone. We are not orphans or nomads roaming the earth. A grateful soul is widened to wonder as it follows the sunbeam up to the sun. It is possible, with practice, to see only the beam of light and not the source that offers it.
Matthew Henry who at an old age was mugged on the street corner wrote in his diary, "Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed." (Selected)
N.J.H. # 2814
December 3
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."
(Psalms 119:11)
I would, in earnest affection, and in the deep sense of personal responsibility to my reader, exhort him to give diligent heed to the importance of close - I had almost said severe - adherence and reverent subjection to the Word of God. Let him try everything by that standard, and reject all that comes not up to it; let him weight everything in that balance, and cast aside all that is not full weight - let him measure everything by that rule, and refuse all deviation. If I could only be the means of awakening one soul to a proper sense of the place which belongs to the Word of God, I should feel I had not written for naught or in vain. (C.H. Mackintosh)
N.J.H. # 2815
December 4
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called."
(1 Timothy 6:20)
Science is knowledge arranged in an orderly way. It is not mere theory unsupported by facts. When people talk about the science of Evolution they misuse the word, for evolution is not a science, because it is contrary to fact. When they talk of certain other sciences which deny the truth of the Bible, they are using the word in a wrong way. An hypothesis is one thing; science is another. "Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so-called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith." These false theories turn people away from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ and leave them in error and confusion of mind. It was never more important to give heed to such admonitions than in this day when science is glorified and revelation is denied. (H. A Ironside)
N.J.H. # 2816
December 5
"Ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Jesus values each redeemed one,
And their praise and worship too;
Every service that they render,
Precious is in heaven's view.
Be not weary, faint not, fear not,
God assures in language plain,
Any service done for Jesus,
Never will be done in vain.
(Grace Wills -Taken from "Gems for the Singing Pilgrims")
N.J.H. # 2817
December 6
"He (Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him,
'We have found the Messias,' which is, being interpreted,
the Christ." (John 1:41)
I once read about a pen that had unusually good sales success in its first year on the market. And it was accomplished with very little paid advertising. Its success was due to word-of-mouth approval. Business men, office workers, and housewives used the pen, liked it, and told others about it.
Some years ago, a car manufacturer used a motto in its advertising that stressed the importance of word-of-mouth recommendations. It simply said, "Ask the man who owns one." There's nothing quite like a personal testimony from a satisfied customer.
In the gospel of John, we read about Andrew, who went to his brother Peter (Simon) and exclaimed, "We have found the Messiah." He then "brought him to Jesus." (1:41-42) Andrew's personal encounter with Christ and the realization that He was the Messiah prompted him to introduce Peter to the Saviour.
When we witness to unsaved people and tell them what God says about their lost condition and need of a Saviour, we should personally recommend the Lord Jesus to them. We have the opportunity to tell them what He has done for us and how He has satisfied our deepest spiritual need.
That's the best advertising of all. (RWD)
When witnessing, if people ask,
"How do you know it's true?"
Remember that they can't deny
What Christ has done for you. (Sper)
We are Christ's "Letters of Recommendation" to a lost world.
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (1993), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.
N.J.H. # 2818
