Gems worth pondering
March 18
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
(Psalm 27:1)
You have fought with your foes again and again with undaunted courage, but you have never gained the victory. Pause, for a moment, and ask this simple question. What am I to learn by this sorrowful experiment? . . . it is that the enemy is too strong for you, that you cannot cope with his power. . . . If you continue upon the present line of effort it is only to court defeat in the future as in the past. Your case is, as far as your own strength is concerned, hopeless. If, on the other hand, you . . . come to the end of your own strength, it will bring rest to your soul, because . . . you will understand that your help, strength and succour come from . . . Christ and not from yourselves. Oh, the unspeakable blessedness of such a discovery! Ceasing henceforward to struggle, you will know what it is to rest in Another, and be able to take up the song of David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation." (Edward Dennett)
N.J. Hiebert - 4012
March 19
"Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth . . ." (Isaiah 41:15)
As servants of Christ we also need to be "sharp threshing instruments with teeth." A great deal of preaching has very few "teeth." We should be faithful in pointing out the wickedness of mankind and the exceeding sinfulness of sin that men may realize where they stand before God. So preaching needs to have "teeth," else it may be absolutely powerless and colourless, and saved or unsaved can sit and listen to it and enjoy it. (H.A. Ironside- Isaiah)
N.J. Hiebert - 4013
March 20
"And Peter answer Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." (Matthew 14:28,29)
This walk has no other foundation than, "if it be Thou"; that is to say, Jesus Himself. There is no support, no possibility of walking, if Christ be lost sight of. All depends on Him. (J.N. Darby - Footprints for Pilgrims)
N.J. Hiebert - 4014
March 21
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
(Hebrews 11:6)
Pleasing God is the highest service. This was Enoch's service. It is a healthy sign when saints are zealous of good works, but I believe there is nothing so likely to sap the soul as the satisfaction one derives from feeling that one is useful. . . . When you have been much in active service you need to go to the "desert to rest awhile" with the Lord. The soul who does not seek this, and long for it, is the soul that needs it most. (J.B.S - Footprints for Pilgrims)
N.J. Hiebert - 4015
March 22
"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: PRIDE, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
(Proverbs 8:13)
- Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals.
- At every trifle take offense, that always shows great pride or little sense.
- Pride perceiving humility honourable, often borrows her cloak.
- Pride defeats its own end, by bringing the man who seeks esteem and reverence into contempt.
(A Collection of Wise Sayings - From a reader - R.K)
N.J. Hiebert - 4016
March 23
"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
(1 Timothy 2:8)
You can pray for any need - for lengthened life, as Hezekiah did;
- For help, as Daniel did;
- For mercy, as David did;
- For rain, as Elijah did;
- For a son, as Hannah did;
- For grace, as Paul did.
You can pray, too, anywhere - In the deep, like Jonah;
- On the sea or housetop, like Peter;
- On your bed, like Hezekiah;
- In the mountain, like Jesus;
- In the wilderness, like Hagar;
- In the street, like Jairus;
- In a cave, like David;
- On the cross, like the dying thief.
You can pray, too, anyhow - Short, as Peter and the Publican did;
- Long, like Moses at the consecration of the Tabernacle,
- Or Solomon at the dedication of the temple.
You can pray in your secret thoughts, as Nehemiah did before Darius;
- Or aloud, as did the Syro-Phoenician woman;
- In tears, as Magdalene did;
- In groans or songs, as David did.
You can pray any time - In the morning, as David did;
- At noon, as Daniel did;
- At midnight, as Silas did;
- In childhood, as Samuel did;
- In youth, as Timothy did;
- In manhood, as the Centurion did;
- In age, as Simeon did;
-In sickness, as Job did;
- Or in death, as did Jacob and the dying Christ.
(Robert G. Lee)
Careless prayer is presumption; commanded prayer is obedience.
N.J. Hiebert - 4017
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
(Psalm 27:1)
You have fought with your foes again and again with undaunted courage, but you have never gained the victory. Pause, for a moment, and ask this simple question. What am I to learn by this sorrowful experiment? . . . it is that the enemy is too strong for you, that you cannot cope with his power. . . . If you continue upon the present line of effort it is only to court defeat in the future as in the past. Your case is, as far as your own strength is concerned, hopeless. If, on the other hand, you . . . come to the end of your own strength, it will bring rest to your soul, because . . . you will understand that your help, strength and succour come from . . . Christ and not from yourselves. Oh, the unspeakable blessedness of such a discovery! Ceasing henceforward to struggle, you will know what it is to rest in Another, and be able to take up the song of David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation." (Edward Dennett)
N.J. Hiebert - 4012
March 19
"Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth . . ." (Isaiah 41:15)
As servants of Christ we also need to be "sharp threshing instruments with teeth." A great deal of preaching has very few "teeth." We should be faithful in pointing out the wickedness of mankind and the exceeding sinfulness of sin that men may realize where they stand before God. So preaching needs to have "teeth," else it may be absolutely powerless and colourless, and saved or unsaved can sit and listen to it and enjoy it. (H.A. Ironside- Isaiah)
N.J. Hiebert - 4013
March 20
"And Peter answer Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." (Matthew 14:28,29)
This walk has no other foundation than, "if it be Thou"; that is to say, Jesus Himself. There is no support, no possibility of walking, if Christ be lost sight of. All depends on Him. (J.N. Darby - Footprints for Pilgrims)
N.J. Hiebert - 4014
March 21
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
(Hebrews 11:6)
Pleasing God is the highest service. This was Enoch's service. It is a healthy sign when saints are zealous of good works, but I believe there is nothing so likely to sap the soul as the satisfaction one derives from feeling that one is useful. . . . When you have been much in active service you need to go to the "desert to rest awhile" with the Lord. The soul who does not seek this, and long for it, is the soul that needs it most. (J.B.S - Footprints for Pilgrims)
N.J. Hiebert - 4015
March 22
"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: PRIDE, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
(Proverbs 8:13)
- Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals.
- At every trifle take offense, that always shows great pride or little sense.
- Pride perceiving humility honourable, often borrows her cloak.
- Pride defeats its own end, by bringing the man who seeks esteem and reverence into contempt.
(A Collection of Wise Sayings - From a reader - R.K)
N.J. Hiebert - 4016
March 23
"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
(1 Timothy 2:8)
You can pray for any need - for lengthened life, as Hezekiah did;
- For help, as Daniel did;
- For mercy, as David did;
- For rain, as Elijah did;
- For a son, as Hannah did;
- For grace, as Paul did.
You can pray, too, anywhere - In the deep, like Jonah;
- On the sea or housetop, like Peter;
- On your bed, like Hezekiah;
- In the mountain, like Jesus;
- In the wilderness, like Hagar;
- In the street, like Jairus;
- In a cave, like David;
- On the cross, like the dying thief.
You can pray, too, anyhow - Short, as Peter and the Publican did;
- Long, like Moses at the consecration of the Tabernacle,
- Or Solomon at the dedication of the temple.
You can pray in your secret thoughts, as Nehemiah did before Darius;
- Or aloud, as did the Syro-Phoenician woman;
- In tears, as Magdalene did;
- In groans or songs, as David did.
You can pray any time - In the morning, as David did;
- At noon, as Daniel did;
- At midnight, as Silas did;
- In childhood, as Samuel did;
- In youth, as Timothy did;
- In manhood, as the Centurion did;
- In age, as Simeon did;
-In sickness, as Job did;
- Or in death, as did Jacob and the dying Christ.
(Robert G. Lee)
Careless prayer is presumption; commanded prayer is obedience.
N.J. Hiebert - 4017
