Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me

Monday, November 28, 2016

Me Last!

Among the truly popular girls I have known, one stands out preeminently. I never knew one person who did not find her just lovable.

Once during her Sophomore year in high school, a group of her chums were discussing mottoes and naming their favorites. "Hitch your wagon to a star!" and "To the stars through difficulties!" were favored.

Turning to Jessie, someone said, "Haven't you a motto?"

Yes, she said; it is this: "Me last!"

What do you mean by that? the others asked.

That's my motto, and I think it is a good one.

But what does it mean?

Then Jessie explained: "It means just what it says--'me last.'


That is, I am to think of myself last.

I am to put everyone else ahead of me, and then can look after myself when everybody else is taken care of.

The girls saw, and they knew that right there lay the secret of her popularity.

Mark 9:35  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.


John 13:4  He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

John 13:5  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

John 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
 

John 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.   

~J. C. Pittman~

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

"He Worketh"

                                                                                                        
The translation that we find in Young of "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass," reads: "Roll upon Jehovah thy way; trust upon him: and he worketh."

It calls our attention to the immediate action of God when we truly commit, or roll out of our hands into His, the burden of whatever kind it may be; a way of sorrow, of difficulty, of physical need, or of anxiety for the conversion of some dear one.

He worketh. When? Now. 

We are so in danger of postponing our expectation of His acceptance of the trust, and His undertaking to accomplish what we ask Him to do, instead of saying as we commit, "He worketh." "He worketh" even now; and praise Him that it is so.

The very expectancy enables the Holy Spirit to do the very thing we have rolled upon Him.

It is out of our reach. We are not trying to do it any more. "He worketh!"

Let us take the comfort out of it and not put our hands on it again.

Oh, what a relief it brings!

He is really working on the difficulty.

But someone may say, "I see no results." Never mind. "He worketh," if you have rolled it over and are looking to Jesus to do it.

Faith may be tested, but "He worketh"; the Word is sure!

~V. H. F.~

Psalm 57:2  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

The beautiful old translation says, "He shall perform the cause which I have in hand." Does not that make it very real to us today?

Just the very thing that "I have in hand"-my own particular bit of work today, this cause that I cannot manage, this thing that I undertook in miscalculation of my own powers-this is what I may ask Him to do "for me," and rest assured that He will perform it. 

The wise and their works are in the hands of God.

~Havergal~

The Lord will go through with His covenant engagements.

Whatever He takes in hand He will accomplish; hence past mercies are guarantees for the future and admirable reasons for continuing to cry unto Him.

~C. H. Spurgeon~

Saturday, November 19, 2016

We Would See Jesus

John 12:21  The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

When any great blessing is awaiting us, the devil is sure to try and make it so disagreeable to us that we shall miss it.

It is a good thing to know him as a liar, and remember, when he is trying to prejudice us strongly against any cause, that very likely the greatest blessing of our life lies there.

Spurgeon once said that the best evidence that God was on our side is the devil's growl, and we are generally pretty safe in following a thing according to Satan's dislike for it.

Beloved, take care, lest in the very line where your prejudices are setting you off from God's people and God's truth, you are missing the treasures of your life.

Take the treasures of heaven no matter how they come to you, even if it be as earthly treasures generally are, like the kernel inside the rough shell, or the gem in the bosom of the hard rock.

I have seen Jesus and my heart is dead to all beside, I have seen Jesus, and my wants are all, in Him, supplied.

I have seen Jesus, and my heart, at last, is satisfied, Since I've seen Jesus.

~A. B. Simpson~

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

"A Solitary Way"

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; a way not tracked; a path in which each has to walk alone; a road where no company cheers him, and without landmarks to direct his course.

This is a mark peculiar to the child of God...that the path by which he travels is, in his own feelings, a solitary way.

This much increases his exercises, that they appear peculiar to himself.

His perplexities are such as he cannot believe any living soul is exercised with; the fiery darts which are cast into his mind by the wicked one are such as he thinks no child of God has ever experienced; 

The darkness of his soul, the unbelief and infidelity of his heart, and the workings of his powerful corruptions, are such as he supposes none ever knew but himself. 

To be without any comfort except what God gives, without any guidance but what the Lord affords, without any support but what springs from the everlasting arms laid underneath...

In a word, to be in that state where the Lord alone must appear, and where he alone can deliver, is very painful.

But it is the very painful nature of the path that makes it so profitable.

We need to be cut off from resting upon an arm of flesh; to be completely divorced from all props to support our souls, except that Almighty prop which cannot fail.

And the Lord will take care that his people shall deal only with himself; that they shall have no real comfort but that which springs from his presence, and no solid testimonies but those which are breathed into their conscience from his own lips.

His object is to draw us away from the creature; to take us off from leaning on human pity and compassion...

And to bring us to trust implicitly on himself, "whose compassions fail not,"

To lean wholly and solely upon him, who is "very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

~J. C. Philpot~

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Lie Still And Trust

Psalm 27:13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

FAINT NOT!

How great is the temptation at this point!

How the soul sinks, the heart grows sick, and the faith staggers under the keen trials and testings which come into our lives in times of special bereavement and suffering.

I cannot bear up any longer, I am fainting under this providence. 

What shall I do? 

God tells me not to faint.

But what can one do when he is fainting?

What do you do when you are about to faint physically?

You cannot do anything.

You cease from your own doings. 
                                                  
In your faintness, you fall upon the shoulder of some strong loved one.

You lean hard. You rest. You lie still and trust.

It is so when we are tempted to faint under affliction.

God's message to us is not, "Be strong and of good courage," for He knows our strength and courage have fled away.

But it is that sweet word, "Be still, and know that I am God."

Hudson Taylor was so feeble in the closing months of his life that he wrote a dear friend: "I am so weak I cannot write; I cannot read my Bible; I cannot even pray. I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child, and trust."

This wondrous man of God with all his spiritual power came to a place of physical suffering and weakness where he could only lie still and trust.

And that is all God asks of you, His dear child, when you grow faint in the fierce fires of affliction.

Do not try to be strong. Just be still and know that He is God, and will sustain you, and bring you through.

God keeps His choicest cordials for our deepest faintings.

Stay firm and let thine heart take courage

Stay firm, He has not failed thee In all the past, And will He go and leave thee To sink at last?
 

Nay, He said He will hide thee Beneath His wing; And sweetly there in safety Thou mayest sing.

~Selected~

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Walk Without Stumbling

If the LORD will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it.

How greatly would they rejoice if they could give us a disgraceful fall, drive us from our position, and bury us out of memory!

They could do this to their heart's content were it not for One hindrance, and only one: the LORD will not suffer it; and if He does not suffer it, we shall not suffer it.

The way of life is like traveling among the Alps. Along the mountain path one is constantly exposed to the slipping of the foot.

Where the way is High the head is apt to swim, and then the feet soon slide; there are spots which are smooth as glass and others that are rough with loose stones, and in either of these a fall is hard to avoid.

He who throughout life is enabled to keep himself upright and to walk without stumbling has the best of reasons for gratitude.

What with pitfalls and snares, weak knees, weary feet, and subtle enemies, no child of God would stand fast for an hour were it not for the faithful love which will not suffer his foot to be moved.

 Amidst a thousand snares I stand Upheld and guarded by thy hand; That hand unseen shall hold me still, And lead me to thy holy hill.


~Charles Spurgeon~

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Avoid The Least Contagion Of Evil

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

In the Christian life, nothing is more essential than faithfulness.


It is that which stands foremost and distinguishes the true Christian from the false.

Without it, all other apparent signs of grace are but a sham and a pretense. 

Faithfulness is that which Christ mainly respects.

You must be true to Christ, and let nothing tempt you to seek other reward at the expense of losing His approval and His smile.


Often place yourself in His presence, and ask Him if what you do is pleasing in His sight.

Carefully must you watch against the very least thing that will cast a slur on the name of Him whom you love, or the Gospel which you profess.


Avoid the least contagion of evil...the very touch of anything that defiles. 

Turn away from all doubtful paths.

Let there be genuine, straightforward honesty and truth in all business transactions.

Suffer all loss, even unto death, rather than the loss of a good conscience.

By no means attempt to serve two masters, for nothing more surely will destroy all your peace and lead to final ruin.

To be faithful to Christ, it is also needful to use diligently for Him the talents committed to you.


Whatever you have is but trust-money, for which the Lord will require an account.

Our gold and the silver, the years of our life, the influence we possess with others, our temporal comforts, our natural gifts, our spiritual advantages - all these are to be laid out at interest in the Lord's service.

You must be faithful also in carrying the cross, and in meeting reproach for Christ's sake, as you try to follow the Savior.


But the cross will last but a little while and then the gain will be eternal.

Faithful unto death!


Only so long will trial and temptation assail us.

A few more days and years perhaps we may have still to battle on.

A few more days of sorrow, mingled as He will have it, with seasons of quietness and joy - and our warfare will be accomplished and the victory won.

~George Everard-1874~

Friday, November 4, 2016

The Only Way To Obtain Relief Under The Manifold Cares That Often Encompass Our Path!

Casting the whole of your care all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on Him...

For He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
 
The remembrance of this word of Peter may help you to bring God into everything.

He can manage and undertake for you far better than you can for yourself. 

There is no load of anxiety for yourself or others, no strait in which you can be placed, no perplexities that can harass and bewilder you-but the Lord bids you to cast it upon Him and leave it trustfully in His hands.

The only way to obtain relief under the manifold cares that often encompass our path, is to cast them all on God.

We must bring them to our Father and leave them with Him! 

We must tell them out in the ear of our great High Priest and have confidence enough in Him to know that He will not neglect that which we commit to Him.

Casting all your cares upon Him, for HE CARES FOR YOU. Yes, this is our consolation.

Christ is the Friend who cares for us, thinks upon us, hears every sigh and groan, marks every tear, and knows every sorrow that weighs upon the mind.

Ah, it is a thought to cheer a believer at all times - what a Friend have I in Christ!

He is the Friend always near. Though banished far from home and kindred, Christ is always by my side.

I cannot see Him, but I know that He is here. 

He has promised me, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," and He will be as good as His Word.

Then I may add another thought: Christ is kinder than the kindest.

Could I gather together all the rays of kindness, pity, tender love, that have ever glowed in the heart of a mother toward her child, of a bridegroom toward the bride, of a brother to brother, of a friend to friend...

All combined would be but as one tiny sunbeam, compared to that wondrous love which is in the heart of Christ for His redeemed people!

Nor is it less comforting for me, to remember that He who cares for me is changeless in His faithfulness and love.

Oh, the marvelous sympathy, gentleness, loving-kindness which Christ daily shows me, and which I know will never cease!

Hence it is a most reasonable thing for me to cast all my cares on Him.

His presence, His kindness, His effectual power, His unswerving faithfulness  warrant me in leaving all in His hand. 

Oh, that I may ever have grace to flee to this refuge and hiding-place!

Oh, that every burden, every fear, every foreboding, every jot and tittle of my daily anxieties, may all be entrusted to His loving hand!

~George Everard-1882~

 

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Shield Of Faith~The Power That Protects Us

Ephesians 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

The armor of the ancients was of two different kinds, and both kinds were absolutely necessary.

It was partly armor for attack and partly armor for protection. 

Now very generally, in the New Testament, faith is one of the weapons of attack .

1John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We see that magnificently illustrated in the pageant of the eleventh of Hebrews.

But here, and it may be only here, Paul looks on faith in quite another light, for he sets it among the armor of protection. 

Faith is not here the power that leads to victory; it is the power that protects us in the battle.

It keeps us unembittered and serene amid the mysteries and buffetings of life.

To believe that love is on the throne and that through everything there runs a loving purpose, is in the deepest of all senses to be shielded.

How effectual that shielding is, is shown by the apostle's choice of words.

There are two words in the Greek tongue for shield; the one is common and the other rare.

The one connotes a little shield or target; the other a frame that covered the whole man.

Faith is not a partial protection; it casts its defense over the whole of life.

It is a means of safety for the intellect, as surely as for the passions of the heart.

It guards the feet when they are prone to wander, and the hands when they are growing weary, and the eyes when they are drawn to what is wrong.

The shield of faith is an all-embracing shelter.

Faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ is nothing less than a universal safeguard.

All was choicely shown to the Ephesians by the word which the apostle used when he bade them take up the shield of faith.

~George H. Morrison~