Gems for September - wk 2
September 8
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort (encouragement)." (2 Corinthians 1:3)
If we find our souls under pressure of the spirit of fear or bondage or uncertainty we may be sure that they have let go the gentle hand of faith. . . . This ought not to be so. We are to know that we have ever to do with love! (J.G. Bellett)
N.J.H. # 2728
September 9
"The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
The disfigured face of Jesus Christ radiated forth the essential glories of a God whose very essence is love and grace. Men spat upon that face (Matthew 26:67). Men struck that face (Luke 22:64). Men tore the beard from that face (Isaiah 50:6). Their abuse only made the glory glisten brighter. Some day in heaven we are going to gaze on that face and fall down in wonder and worship. What a prospect is ours! It could be today. If it is not, may we, through the eyes of faith, see that face and worship Him in spirit and truth. (John M. Clegg)
N.J.H. # 2729
September 10
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
I recall walking along a Texas creek many years ago with my brother-in-law, Ed and his 3 - year old son David. David had been collecting smooth, round stones from the stream while we walked. He called them "piggies," because their rounded shape reminded him of little pigs.
David had stuffed a number of "piggies" in his pockets, and after running out of pockets he began carrying them in his arms. After a while he began to stagger under the load and lag behind. It was obvious he would never make it back to the house without help, so Ed said, "Here, David, let me carry your piggies."
Reluctance clouded David's face for a moment, and then it lit up. "I know," he said. "You carry me and I'll carry my piggies!"
I've often thought of that incident and my own childish insistence that I must carry my own load. Jesus offers to take all of my burdens but I resist out of stubbornness and pride. "You carry me," I say, "but I'll carry my 'piggies.' "
How foolish it is to try to carry all your burdens on your own when Jesus asks you to cast "all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
Have you put all of your "piggies" in Jesus' strong arms today? (David Roper)
I would tell the Lord my longings,
Roll on Him my every care,
Cast upon Him all my burdens,
Burdens that I cannot bear. (Weigle)
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2004), Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted permission.
N.J.H. # 2730
September 11
"The Lord said unto Joshua . . . ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
. . . the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times . . . make
a long blast with the ram's horn . . . all the people shall shout with a great
shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat . . ." (Joshua 6:2-5)
It may be said, why not simplify the path? Why all these complications? Why go around the city every day, and seven times the seventh day? Why this procession with the ark and trumpets? Faith does not ask why? It does not reason as to the means God chooses to employ; it accepts them, enters into them, and obtains the victory instead of being beaten by the enemy. It was thus at the Passover and at the Red Sea. Do you say: Then faith is without intelligence? Not at all; it first submits and then understands. Faith will tell you the reason of the seven days, the ark, the procession, the trumpets, and the shouts of joy, but it will only tell you after submission to them, otherwise it would be intelligence and not faith. (H.L. Rossier - Meditations on the Book of Joshua)
N.J.H. # 2731
September 12
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come." (Revelation 22:17)
Every "come" in the Bible is the call of the Spirit. For "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and the "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." And every time that a still small voice in your heart says "Come," it is the call of the Spirit. Every time the remembrance of the Saviour's sweetest spoken word floats across your mind, it the Holy Spirit's fulfillment of our Lord's promise that "He shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." The last time those words, "Come unto Me," came into your mind, whether in some wakeful night hour, or suddenly and unaccountably amid the stir of the day, did you think that it was the very voice of the Holy Spirit speaking in your heart? Or did you let other voices drown it, not knowing that the goodness of God was leading you by it? (Francis Ridley Havergal - Opened Treasures)
N.J.H. # 2732
"The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto
Simon (Peter)." (Luke 24:34)
"I (Judas) have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent
blood." (Matthew 27:4)
.
Two men in the apostolic band sinned deeply - Peter and Judas; but how vastly different were the issues that flowed from their sins. Peter was a backslider; Judas was an apostate. The enemy tripped Peter; but he trapped Judas. Later on, the broken-hearted fisherman wept tears of repentance, and sobbed out his sorrow on the bosom of the Master Whom he so deeply revered. Judas, in the bitterness of remorse, hanged himself.
However deeply you may have fallen - despair not. If God were strict to mark iniquities, not one of us could stand; but there is forgiveness with Him that He may be feared and loved (Psalm 130:3-4). "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37) says our Saviour. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He frankly forgives (Luke 7:42). He abundantly pardons (Isaiah 55:7). Whitfield summed it up in one tremendous statement, when he said that God will receive even the devil's castaways. (Henry Durbanville - His Last Words)
N.J.H. # 2733
