THOUGHTS FOR THE QUIET HOUR

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Luke 10:39 (New King James Version)

39. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’[a] feet and heard His word.

"AT JESUS FEET" is our place of privilege and of blessing.

Here it is that we are to be educated and fitted for the practical duties of life. Here we are to renew our strength while we wait on HIM and to learn how to mount up with wings as eagles; here we are to become possessed of that true knowledge which is power; and here we are to learn how real work is done and to be armed with the true motive power to do it.

Here we are to find solace amid both the trials of work ---- they are not few ---- and the trials of life in general. Here we are to anticipate something of the blessedness of heaven amid the days of earth, for to sit at HIS feet is indeed in heavenly places, and to gaze upon HIS glory is to do what we shall never tire of doing yonder.

(W. Hay Aitken)

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Matthew 14:22 (New King James Version)
22. Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

JESUS constrained them to go. One would think that if ever there was a certain promise of success in a mission, it was here. Surely, here, if anywhere, a triumphant issue might have been confidently predicted; and yet here, more than anywhere, there was seeming failure. HE sent them out on a voyage, and they met such a storm as they had never yet experienced. Let me ponder this, for it has been so with me, too. I have sometimes felt myself impelled to act by an influence which seemed above me ---- constrained to put to sea. The belief that I was constrained gave me confidence, and I was sure of a calm voyage. But the result was outward failure. The calm: the sea raged, the winds roared, the ship tossed in the midst of the waves, and my enterprise was wrecked before it could reach the land.

Was, then my divine command a delusion? No, nor yet was my mission a failure. HE did send me on that voyage, but HE did not send me for my purpose. HE had one end, and I had another. My end was the outward calm; HIS was my meeting with the storm. My gain was to gain the harbor of material rest; HIS was to teach me there is a rest even on the open sea.

(George Matheson)

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1 Peter 1:23
23. " having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever."

The Word abides!

The Jews hated it but it lives on, while the veil was torn away from the shrine which the Shekinah had forsaken and while Jerusalem itself was destroyed.

The Greek derided it, but it had seen its philosophy barren and his Acropolis in ruins.

The Romans threw it into the flames, but it rose from its ashes and swooped down upon the falling eagle.

The reasoner cast it into the furnace, which his own negligence had heated "seven times more than what was customary," but it came out without the smell of fire.

The formalist fastened serpents to poison it, but it shook them off and felt no harm.

The infidel cast it overboard in a tempest of sarcasm, but it rode gallantly upon the crest of the proud waters.

And it is living still, in the loudest swelling of the storm.
It has been speaking all the while.
It is speaking now!

(Punshon)

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2 Kings 6:17 (New King James Version)
17.--- And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This is the prayer we need to pray for ourselves and for one another, "LORD, open our eyes that we may see"; for all the world around us, as well as around the prophet, is full of GOD's horses and chariots, waiting to carry us to places of glorious victory. And when our eyes are thus opened, we shall see in all the events of life, whether great or small, whether joyful or sad, a "chariot" for our souls. Everything that comes to us becomes a chariot the moment we treat it as such; and, on the other hand, even the smallest trial may be a Juggernaut car to crush us into misery or despair , if we so consider them. It lies with each of us to choose which they shall be. It all depends, not upon what these events are, but upon how we take them. If we lie down under them, and let them roll over us and crush us, they become Juggernaut cars, but if we climb up into them, as into a car of victory, and make them carry us triumphantly onward and upward, they become the chariots of GOD.

(Smith)

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Galatians 2:20 (New King James Version)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I expect to pass through this world but once.
Therefore, if there be any kindness I can show
or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being
let me do it now;
let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again

(Marcus Aurelius)

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Hebrews 12:6 (New King James Version)
6. For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

Earthly prosperity is no sign of the special love of heaven, nor are sorrow and care any mark of GOD's disfavour. GOD's love is robust, true, and eager --- not for our comfort, but for our lasting blessedness. It is bent on achieving this, and it is strong enough to bear misrepresentation and rebuke in its attempts to attune our spirits to higher music.

It comes instructing us. Let us enter ourselves as pupils in the school of God's love. Let us lay aside our own notions of the course of study; let us submit ourselves to be led and taught; let us be prepared for any lessons that may be given from the blackboard of sorrow; let us be assured of the inexhaustible tenacity of HIS love as to dare to trust HIM, though HE slay us. And let us look forward to that august moment when HE will give us a reason for all life's discipline, with a smile that shall thrill our souls with ecstasy and constrain sorrow and sighing to flee away forever.

(F. B. Meyer)

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HIS kingdom rules over all...... Psalm 103:19

"His kingdom rules over all" Therefore you can find nothing which is not a matter for praise, since there's nothing which is not a matter of your LORD's gracious permission, planning or control "Over all." Nowhere can you step outside HIS realm, nor anything get beyond HIS care and government. "Over all." Thus take all as from GOD, hold as all from GOD, and by your gratitude give all back to GOD again, completing the circle, making HIM Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End of all things."

(Mark Guy Pearse)

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2 Peter 1:21 (King James Version)
21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Bible is the writing of the living GOD. each letter was penned by an Almighty finger. Each word in it dropped from everlasting lips. Each sentence was dictated by the HOLY SPIRIT. Granted that Moses was employed to write his histories with fiery pen, but GOD guided that pen. It may be that David touched his harp and let sweet psalms of melody drop from his fingers, but GOD moved his fingers in the living strings of his golden harp. Solomon sang canticles of love and gave forth words of consummate wisdom , but GOD directed his lips and made the preacher eloquent.

If I follow the thundering Nahum when his horses plough the waters, or Habbakkuk when he sees the Cushan in affliction; If I read Malachi when the earth is burning like an oven; if I turn to the smooth page of John who tells of love, or the rugged chapters of Peter who speaks of fire devouring GOD's enemies; if I turn aside to Jude, who launches forth anathemas upon the foes of GOD, everywhere I find GOD speaking. It is GOD's voice, not man's; the words are GOD's words ---- the words of the ETERNAL, the INVISIBLE, the ALMIGHTY, the JEHOVAH of ages. The Bible is GOD's Bible; and when I see it, I seem to hear a voice springing up from it, saying, "I am the BOOK of GOD. Man, read me. I am GOD's writing. Study MY pages for I was penned by GOD. Love me for HE is my AUTHOR, and you will see HIM visible and manifest everywhere."

(Spurgeon)

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Luke 10:29 (New King James Version)
29. But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

"Who is my neighbor?" Is it the sufferer, wherever, whoever, whatsoever he be. Wherever you hear the cry of distress, wherever you see anyone brought across your path, by the chances and changes of life,( that is the3 providence of GOD), whom it is in your power to help --- stranger or enemy to though he may --- he is your neighbor.

(A.P.Stanley)


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SONG OF SOLOMON 7:10
"I AM MY BELOVED'S AND HIS DESIRE IS TOWARD ME."

NOTHING HUMBLES THE SOUL LIKE SACRED AND INTIMATE COMMUNION WITH THE LORD,

YET THERE IS A SWEET JOY IN FEELING THAT HE KNOWS ALL AND NOTWITHSTANDING, LOVES US STILL.

(J. Hudson Taylor)


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1 Timothy 1:15-17 (New King James Version)
15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,[a]be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.


" ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE STRUCK THE HIGHEST NOTE OF PENITENCE CAN REACH THE HIGHEST NOTE OF PRAISE."

(MacDuff)

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PHILIPPIANS 4: 12 (New King James Version)
12. " I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (said apostle Paul)

It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining pot of prosperity. It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady hand, yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, "In all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry." When we have much of GOD's providential mercies, it often happens that we have but little of GOD's grace.

Satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry, so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of GOD. Take care that you ask in your prayers that GOD would teach you "how to be full."

(Spurgeon)

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Deuteronomy 1:2 (King James Version)

2. There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.

ELEVEN DAYS, AND YET IT TOOK THEM FORTY YEARS! HOW WAS THIS?

Alas, we need not travel far to know the answer. It is only too like ourselves. How slowly we get over the ground! What windings and turnings! How often we have to go back and travel the same ground, again and again. We are slow travelers because we are slow learners. Our GOD is a faithful and wise, as well as a gracious and patient TEACHER. HE will not permit us to pass cursorily over our lessons. Sometimes, perhaps, we think we have mastered a lesson, and we attempt to move on to another, but our wise TEACHER knows better, and HE sees the need of deeper plowing. HE will not have us mere theorists or smatterers; HE will keep us, if need be, year after year at our scales until we learn to sing.

( C. H. M.)

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