Gems for March - wk 1
March 1
"The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." (John 10:13,14)
Nothing reaches the heart but what is from the heart, or pierces the conscience but what comes from a living conscience. (William Penn)
In the morning I was more engaged in preparing the head than the heart. This has been frequently my error, and I have always felt the evil of it, especially in prayer. Reform it, Oh Lord! Enlarge my heart, and I shall preach. (Robert Murray McCheyne)
A sermon that has more head infused into it than heart will not come home with efficacy to hearers. (Richard Cecil)
The heart makes the preacher. Men of great hearts are great preachers. Men of bad hearts may do a measure of good, but this is rare. The hireling and the stranger may help the sheep at some points, but it is the good shepherd with the good shepherd's heart who will bless the sheep and answer the full measure of the shepherd's place. (E.M. Bounds)
N.J.H. # 2902
March 2
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is: for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out
her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her
leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of
drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."
(Jeremiah 17:5-8)
Let nothing shake your confidence in the unalterable love of your Lord. Come what may - let the furnace be ever so hot; let the waters be ever so deep; let the shadows be ever so dark; let the path be ever so rough; let the pressure be ever so great - still hold fast your confidence in the perfect love and sympathy of the One who has proved His love by going down into the dust of death - down under the dark and heavy billows and waves of the wrath of God, in order to save your soul from everlasting burnings.
Be not afraid to trust Him fully - to commit yourself, without a shadow of reserve or misgiving, to Him. Do not measure His love by your circumstances. If you do, you must, of necessity, reach a false conclusion. Judge not according to the outward appearance. Never reason from your surroundings. Get to the heart of Christ, and reason out from that blessed centre.
Never interpret Hs love by your circumstances; but always interpret your circumstances by His love
. Let the beams of His everlasting favor shine upon your darkest surroundings, and then you will be able to answer every infidel thought, no matter whence it comes. (C.H. Mackintosh - Bethany - Misc. Writings - Vol. 6)
N.J.H. # 2903
March 3
"It is finished " (John 19:30)
What a wonderful resounding cry left the Saviour's lips at Calvary! It is hard to imagine what was contained in those precious words. The Father's work was completed to His eternal satisfaction. His sufferings on the cruel cross were finished. The mighty battle with the enemy of souls was over in glorious victory. All the ritual of religious ceremony came to an end. The one sacrifice for sins was offered and God provided salvation, cleansing and forgiveness to all who will put their trust in Him. Have you trusted this wonderful Saviour? If not, why not do so today before it is too late! (Jim Paul)
Here we rest in wonder viewing while upon the cross we gaze,
See our trespasses forgiven and our songs of triumph raise.
(Fanny J. Crosby)
N.J.H. # 2904
March 4
We rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and
patience experience, and experience hope, and hope
maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is
shed abroad in out hearts by the Holy Ghost,
which is given unto us." (Romans 5:3-5)
When the love of God is known, and the will broken, there is confidence in God. We know that all comes from Him, and that He makes all work together for our greatest blessing. Thus the trying of our faith works patience. But patience must have her perfect work: otherwise the will revives, also confidence in self, instead of having it in God. We act without God, and apart from His will, we do not wait upon Him, or in any case impatience and the flesh show themselves in us.
Job was subject for a long time, but patience did not have her perfect work. Saul waited long for Samuel, but he could not wait quietly till Samuel came, and he lost the kingdom. He did not wait for the Lord, conscious that he could do nothing of his own will, and apart from God: Patience had not her perfect work. (J.N. Darby - Brief Exposition of the Epistle of James)
N.J.H. # 2905
March 5
"I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." (Psalm 23:8)
FOR ALL ETERNITY. In the clear light of the New Testament we can assert that every child of God will infallibly dwell in "the House of the Lord" for all eternity; "In My Father's House," said the Lord Jesus, "are many mansions. . . I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). And, after He accomplished redemption, we find Him linking us with Himself in the unspeakably blessed relationship which this verse sets forth: "I ascend unto My Father and your Father" (John 20:17; Galatians 3:26). "And if I go," He continues, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also" (John 14:3). This is confirmed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where the apostle, describing the events which will take place at the second coming of our Lord, declares that we "shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord". What a strong and sure hope; what a grand and glorious destiny! The hope is strong and sure because the anchor will never drag (Hebrews 6:19); and the cable will never snap (John 10:35); and the destiny is grand and glorious because when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2)
. Then HE shall be satisfied, for He shall see of the travail of His soul (Isaiah 53:11); and then WE shall be satisfied, for we shall awake with His likeness (Psalm 17:15) (George Henderson - The Pearl of Psalms)
He and I, in that bright glory,
One deep joy shall share,
Mine to be forever with Him,
His that I am there.
N.J.H. # 2907
March 6
"Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are
His delight." (Proverbs 12:22)
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul. As a good man said, one should think twice before speaking once. If any offend not in word, he is a perfect man (of thorough integrity), able to bridle the whole body also. How much of sorrow and shame he spares himself, and others who avenge a little folly by despising the wisdom they themselves lack! On the other hand, he that goes about blatant, opening his lips wide to tell all he thinks, feels, or hears of others, shall have the destruction which his malicious folly deserves. (William Kelly - The Proverbs)
N.J.H. # 2908
March 7
"For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:10,11)
Is not that a glorious entrance? That is the privilege of every Christian. It is not a question of endowment, gift, or ability, but it is a question of the heart being occupied with the Christ of God - living in the enjoyment of what we have as God's people, bought with the precious blood of Christ. I believe each one of us is privileged to have an abundant entrance. It is put into our own hands. We all know that the ability must come from Him. We know it is a matter of grace from first to last, and none of us are going to take any credit in the matter; but may we not rather trust ourselves unreservedly to Him and claim the grace He so gladly gives that we may have the joy of an abundant entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (C.H. Brown)
N.J.H. # 2909
