Gems for September - wk 4
September 21
". . . whatsoever things are pure . . ." (Philippians 4:8)
Our school motto was: "Beati Mundo Corde:" the Latin for, "Blessed are the pure in heart." It would be hard to find a more suitable, or a more beautiful, motto for a boy's school. How did we measure up to it, bearing in mind that purity begins with our thoughts? How do we today measure up to it, when we think of it in this way? As we look around on all the filth about us in this filthy world, through which we must pass, we might be utterly discouraged, and say that God had set before us an impossible standard, that He does not expect us to meet. Let not such a thought find lodgment with us.
In the days of old there were various creatures which the people of Israel might not eat, for they were unclean: there were others that were clean. There were two marks by which a clean fish was known: it must have both fins and scales. The fins let it swim against the stream. There is a spot on the Columbia River where you may stand and watch the great fish leap up rapids, or small falls, several feet high. Similarly God has provided a power whereby you and I may "swim against the stream." But there are times when a fish must swim through filthy water: and to protect it, God has given it scales: which I suppose are 'shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near another, that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together that they cannot be sundered.' (Job 41:15-17). And, fitted with this armour, the fish can pass in safety through the filth. So God has provided a way for His Own to pass unscathed through all the filth around us: as well as the power to go against the stream. (G. Christopher Willis -Sacrifices of Joy)
N.J.H. # 2742
September 22
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus. . . ." (Philippians 2:5)
"Kenosis." This title comes from the Greek expression, rendered in our Authorized Version, "made Himself of no reputation" - an expression which really means "emptied Himself," or "divested Himself."
Doctrines are never presented in Scripture merely as dogmas to be accepted by the faithful on pain of expulsion from the Christian company. The most important doctrines are brought in by the Holy Spirit in what we might call an exceedingly natural way. I do not use the word "natural" here in contrast to "spiritual," but rather in the sense simply of sequence to the subject, introduced without special emphasis. In this particular instance before us, the doctrine of our Lord's self-emptying comes in simply as the supreme illustration of that lowliness of mind which should characterize all who profess to be followers of the Saviour.
(H.A. Ironside in Notes on Philippians)
N.J.H. # 2743
September 23
"Come now therefore, and I will send thee (Moses) unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh . . ." (Exodus 3:10,11)
When God tells me to do a thing, do I have to turn around for human help? When God told Moses that he should go down and deliver His people, was it an honour to God or obedience to God for Moses to plead and plead until He gave him Aaron as his helper? Did it not show weakness in Moses? And wherever you find that the Word of God commands your obedience, and you turn to human support, you may know at once that the seed of weakness has been introduced, and it will develop into more manifest failure. (S. Ridout - Overcoming in Days of Ruin - Lectures on the Book of Judges)
N.J.H. # 2744
September 24
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to
make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
I have been told that the deeper the water the larger the pearl. I don't know how that is, but I do know that from the greatest depths of sin the Lord Jesus Christ sometime gathers up His brightest jewels. PAUL was a persecutor, BUNYAN was a blasphemer, JOHN NEWTON was a libertine, the EARL OF ROCHESTER was an infidel; and yet the grace of God went plunging down through the fathoms of their abominations, until it found them and brought them up to the light. (T. De Witt Talmage)
N.J.H. # 2745
September 25
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
What a wonderful statement! It is not a question merely of what will be the justification of the believer when manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, but "now" there is nothing to condemn to those who are in Christ Jesus. If I look at myself in the flesh, it is, "O wretched man that I am!" If I look at what I am in Christ Jesus, there is now no condemnation. Dead to all that I am, as a child of Adam - dead to sin, dead to law, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Thus, being in and to another, to Christ Jesus raised from the dead, it is not only to bring forth fruit unto God, but "there is therefore now no condemnation." Do you get hold of this? Is there any condemnation possible to that risen Christ in the glory of God? Then, if you are in Him, how can there be condemnation to you? (Charles Stanley - Epistle to the Romans - 1885)
N.J.H. # 2746
September 26
"Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to Me shall never hunger." (John 6:35)
Field Marshal William Slim was leading the British forces during the Burma campaign of World War 2. Concerned about the men under his command, he learned that one soldier was extremely despondent over bad news from home. So the commander asked his senior chaplain to have a member of his staff talk to the soldier.
Shortly afterward, the field marshal sent for the senior chaplain. Keenly dissatisfied and upset, he said, "One of your chaplains went to see the man. He was very nice and they drank a cup of tea together, but he never showed the soldier what he needed to see." "And what was that?" the surprised chaplain asked. Field Marshal Slim answered, "The Man on the cross."
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35) When we interact with needy people, it's important to remember that Jesus is the answer to their loneliness, depression, and heartache. It's true that we must be pleasant and sociable, but we must also point them to the Man on the cross, the sin-bearing Saviour in whom there is forgiveness, strength, grace, and hope.
Yes, Jesus is the only answer to our basic need. (VCG)
I need Jesus, my need I now confess,
No friend like Him in times of deep distress;
I need Jesus, the need I gladly own.
Though some may bear their load alone,
Yet I need Jesus. (Webster)
ONLY CHRIST THE BREAD OF LIFE CAN SATISFY OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER.
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (1999), Grand Rapids, MI.
Reprinted permission.
N.J.H. # 2747
September 27
"Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you." (James 4:7)
- We never enter upon any service rightly unless we expect to encounter the opposition of Satan.
- The preacher has to learn that liberty is not power. The temptation is to rest satisfied in speaking with ease and freedom. Whenever this is the case it is Satan's opportunity, and thus we ought to be on our guard.
- There is nothing like boldness in the face of the adversary - "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
- Satan cannot touch the obedient believer. As long as he is kept in dependence and obedience all Satan's assaults are foiled.
- It is easier to keep the enemy out than it is to expel him after he has effected an entrance. (Edward Dennett)
N.J.H. # 2748
September 28
"Take heed how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given." (Luke 8:18)
If on hearing, I possess that which I hear . . . then it becomes a part of the substance of my soul, and I shall get more, for when the truth has become a substance in my soul, there is a capacity for receiving more. (J.N. Darby)
N.J.H. # 2749
September 29
"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not
His mouth . . . As a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
so He openeth not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
The Lord Jesus was uncomplaining in the acceptance of unjust suffering. Had He protested, it would have been to deny the vountariness of His offering of Himself. He was dumb even though, being innocent, He was charged as one who was guilty. Had Jesus uttered a word of sorrow or protest or anger or threat of reprisal, the whole work of atonement would have been in jeopardy. Never was silence so eloquent! (Adam Ferguson)
N.J.H. # 2750
September 30
"The fulness of the blessing of Christ." (Romans 15:29)
Being alone with Jesus is the sinner's first position, it is the beginning of his joy, and no one has a right to meddle with it. . . . Sin casts us upon God alone. . . . We must not surrender to any the right of God to talk with us alone about our sins. (J.G. Bellett)
N.J.H. # 2751
