The Task

But what things were gain to me these I counted, on account of Christ, loss. - Phil 3:7

To learn, and yet to learn, whilst life goes by,
So pass the student's days;
And thus be great, and do great things, and die,
And lie embalmed with praise.

My work is but to lose and to forget,
Thus small, despised to be;
All to unlearn—this task before me set;
Unlearn all else but Thee.

Gerhard Ter Steegen

Shut In

God sometimes shuts the door while heart to heart
He whispers some sweet message o'er and o'er,
Some tender message while we sit apart,
When God has shut the door.

God sometimes shuts the door, that so His word
Shall not be marred, or hurt, by earthly din,
And every softest syllable be heard,
When He has shut us in.

God shuts the door and shuts us in. How sweet
To feel that He would have us so alone;
And waiting in the silence at His feet
How precious He has grown.

God shuts the door; His love would have us so
In peaceful rest for just a little space,
That, when He opens it and bids us go,
We may recall His face.

God shuts us in; not harshly, but in love
The door is closed that keeps us fast within;
His yearning face bends closer from above
When He has shut us in.

God shuts us in. No longer now we beat
His barrier, impatient to be free.
Throb low, my heart,a secret, tender, sweet,
The Master speaks to thee.

Shut in, but not alone. O wondrous Guest!
His hand is on the latch, He speaks once more.
Lord, till I know in full Thy sweet behest,
I pray, hold fast the door.

Gussie Packhard DuBois

Divine dialogue

And God said,"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth." - Gen 1:26

But about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is,"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" - Matt 27:46

And Jesus, having cried with a loud voice, said,"Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, He expired. - Luke 23:46

The Bible is filled with accounts of conversation between the Persons of the triune God. The longest one being in John 17. What a privilege to be allowed a glimpse into the intimacy of the Son of God with the Father. In Genesis we find the first recorded conversation. It speaks of exclusiveness in creation and unity in the Godhead. It shows that the Lord Jesus is indeed the Word who was always with God. We find the Lord Jesus being in the centre of the creation account. In the gospels we find the last written conversation. In the extraordinary darkness, the Lord cried out, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me? It speaks of separation in the Godhead because the wrath of a Holy God was upon the Bearer of the sin of the whole world. I'm glad that it didn't end there. The Lord Jesus could go on to say that He committed His spirit into the Father's hands: For Thou wilt not leave My soul to Sheol, neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to see corruption (Ps 16:10). The conversation continues now that the Lord has resurrected, ascended and is seated at the right hand of God. But now the conversation is on our behalf: Whence also He is able to save completely those who approach by Him to God, always living to intercede for them.

Borrowed from Choice Gleanings

Lord's Day
JUNE 18

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father...all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die. - Deuteronomy 21:18, 21
I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. - Jn 17:4
This is My beloved Son. - Luke 9:35
He spared not His own Son. - Romans 8:32

The Old Testament is full of rebellious sons who shamed their fathers in many ways. The New Testament is full of the righteous Son who glorified His Father in every way. Out of love, many rebellious sons were spared. Out of love, one righteous Son was not. -- S. McE.

Jehovah bade His sword awake; O Christ it woke ‘gainst Thee.
Thy blood the flaming blade must slake; Thy heart its sheath must be.

Feet washing

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. - Gen 18:4

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 13:5

We have here the first and the last recorded occurrences of feet washing in relation to the Lord Jesus. The disciples didn't seem to have seen the opportunity that was presented to them. The opportunity to bow down in submission, to stoop low in surrender and to wash the Lord's feet in service. They didn't learn from their patriarch who was presented with the same opportunity but made full use of it. How true the words, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." All there is to learn about the Messiah is there in the Old Testament, including how He should be treated. But therein also lies how He would be treated.

The Real Miracle

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. - Luke 4:2

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. - John 19:28

"We're impressed that He miraculously provided wine at Cana and bread to the multitudes. But Christ had been sustaining others for as long as the creation existed. The truly astounding thought is that the One who could provide food and drink at will, began His ministry hungry and ended it thirsty." - James Martin (taken from UPLOOK, April 2006)

Meekness

But the man Moses was very meek, above all men that were upon the face of the earth. - Num 12:3

From this chapter alone we can learn from the three things Moses did as proof of his meekness:
1) In his writing, he does not hide but admits his mistake and weakness in taking a Cushite/Ethiopian woman as his second wife (vs 1-2).
2) He did not try to vindicate himself when questioned by his siblings but instead left it to God. God honoured that (vs 7-10).
3) He still prayed for his accusers (vs 13).

Defying Scriptures

But Peter said to Him, "Even if all should be offended, yet not I." - Mark 14:29

What was Peter thinking? He says this right after the Lord affirms that scripture will be fulfilled and quotes from Zechariah that the sheep will indeed be scattered. So what exactly was Peter saying? That he will defy what scripture clearly stated will happen? That the scripture did not apply to him?

Elsewhere the Lord says,
I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. - John 15:5

So when I live my life independent of the Lord, what am I saying? That I can defy what the Lord clearly says - without Him I can do nothing? Or am I saying that the Lord's words does not apply to me?

Heart in the bag

Man by himself is priced,
For thirty pieces Judas sold himself, not Christ.

Author unknown

Vanity of vanities

Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13

The expression 'under the sun' is used 29 times throughout Ecclesiastes and twice we find the phrase 'under the heavens'. The Preacher, in looking at the things of this world, concludes over and over again that all is vanity and a chasing after the wind. It is only in looking beyond the sun and above the heavens, unto God, that he finds true meaning to life in this world. Am I keeping my eyes fixed on things under the sun or do I seek the things which are above, where the Son is?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. - Helen H. Lemmel

Beauty's timing

He (God) hath made everything beautiful in its time... - Ecclesiastes 3:11

This verse follows a whole list of things that happens in its season under the heavens (vs 1-8). Among the things in that list is dying, breaking down, weeping, mourning and losing. Omnipotence is able to make even these things beautiful in its time.

Be Not Weary

Yes! He knows the way is dreary,
Knows the weakness of our frame,
Knows that hand and heart are weary;
He, 'in all points,' felt the same.
He is near to help and bless;
Be not weary, onward press.

Look to Him who once was willing
All His glory to resign,
That, for thee the law fulfilling,
All His merit might be thine.
Strive to follow day by day
Where His footsteps mark the way.

Look to Him, the Lord of Glory,
Tasting death to win thy life;
Gazing on 'that wondrous story,'
Canst thou falter in the strife?
Is it not new life to know
That the Lord hath loved thee so?

Look to Him who ever liveth,
Interceding for His own:
Seek, yea, claim the grace He giveth
Freely from His priestly throne.
Will He not thy strength renew
With His Spirit's quickening dew?

Look to Him, and faith shall brighten,
Hope shall soar, and love shall burn;
Peace once more thy heart shall lighten;
Rise! He calleth thee, return!
Be not weary on thy way
Jesus is thy strength and stay.

Frances Ridley Havergal

"Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." - Matt 11:28-29

His Way

God bade me go when I would stay
('Twas cool within the wood.)
I did not know the reason why.
I heard a bolder crashing by
Across the path where I had stood.

He bade me stay when I would go;
"Thy will be done," I said.
They found one day at early dawn,
Across the way I would have gone,
A serpent with a mangled head.

No more I ask the reason why,
Although I may not see
The path ahead, His way I go;
For though I know not, He doth know
And He will choose safe paths for me.

Maude E. Cramer

"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding:
Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle,
Lest they come near unto thee." - Psalm 32:9