Gems for September - wk 1
September 1
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God
in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Forgiveness is not the same as the curse, and paying a debt is very different from demanding the money. It is quite just to demand payment, but if the debtor has nothing to pay, he is ruined; whereas, if he pays, he is set free. Christ has done more; not only does He pay the debt, but He has acquired glory for those that believe. Not only has He freed the debtor from his debts, but He has given him an immense fortune in God's presence." (J.N. Darby - Notes on Mark's Gospel)
N.J.H. # 2721
September 2
"Thy love is better than wine." (Song of Solomon 1:2)
"The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." (Ephesians 3:19)
.
David says, "Wine maketh glad the heart" - it exhilarates. To the believer there is no more exhilarating joy than Christ's love, no cordial so sweet to his weary, fainting spirit. Christ's love captivates the affections of the heart - "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. . ." (Ephesians 3:17), calms the apprehensions of the mind "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?. . ." (Romans 8:35), and claims the activities of the life "For the love of Christ constraineth us." (2 Corinthians 5:14). Such love is better than any natural joy. (Adam Ferguson)
N.J.H. # 2722
September 3
"Lord, all my desire is before Thee." (Psalm 38:9)
Only a simple word. This afternoon, words would not come when I tried to pray, and this troubled me; and then it was as if He, Who is never far away, said, What does it matter about words, when all thy desire is before Me? Perhaps you, too, find that words will not come when you wish they would. So I pass on my comfort.
In St. Augustine's words: "To Him Who is everywhere, men come, not by traveling, but by loving." (Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)
N.J.H. # 2723
September 4
"He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a
towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into
a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to
wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded."
(John 13:4,5)
It was much more than a lesson in humility that the Lord Jesus sought to impart to His disciples when He arose from the last supper and proceeded to wash all their feet. The condescension on His part, as the Father's well-beloved Son into whose hands all things had been given, was amazing, and the lesson in lowliness and loving care was indeed profound; but there was immeasurably more than this in the act. His words to Peter in verse 7 indicate another meaning than that which was apparent at the moment. "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter."
The key to this remarkable incident is found in verse 3. "Jesus . . . knowing that He was come from God and went to God." A heavenly Person has thus been here, and has returned again to His glory on high, but one great object of His coming was to fit a company of sinful men to have part with Himself in His own blest abode for ever. His washing of the disciples' feet has thus a moral connection with the Father's eternal purpose of love concerning them. (W.W. Fereday - Peter the Apostle)
N.J.H. # 2724
September 5
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles* of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)
(*A "wile" is something that looks fair and innocent.)
Throughout the ages the saints have needed the armour of God, but in these closing days when "the darkness of this world" deepens "the wiles of the devil" increase, and Christendom is returning to paganism and philosophy, how deeply important it is to put on the whole armour of God to "withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand."
Let us then stand;
Having our loins girt about with truth, and thus be kept inwardly right in thought and affection;
Having on the breastplate of righteousness, so that we are consistent in all our practice;
Having our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, so that we walk in peace in the midst of a world of discord, strife and confusion.
Taking the shield of faith, so that we walk in daily confidence in God;
Taking the helmet of salvation, and thus realizing that God is making all things work together for our good and salvation;
Taking the sword of the Spirit, whereby we can meet every subtle attack of the enemy;
Lastly,
"praying always", so that we can use the armour in the spirit of constant dependence upon God. (Hamilton Smith - The Epistle to the Ephesians)
N.J.H. # 2725
September 6
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)
"Daily" - this is the trial. A man might heroically do it once for all, and he would have plenty of people to honour him, and books written about him, but it is terribly difficult to go on every day denying oneself, and no one knowing anything about it. (J.N. Darby)
N.J.H. # 2726
September 7
"To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good
I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil
which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:18,19)
If souls would be honest, many would confess that this has been their condition for years - a condition which brings no glory to God and no happiness to themselves. What is the cause? Simply the mistake of thinking that all depends upon their own efforts instead of accepting the truth that they are utterly without strength, and that, therefore, everything depends upon God. (Edward Dennett)
N.J.H. # 2727
