Give Him Your Best

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

"All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them . . . they shall offer unto the Lord."    Numbers  18:12

     We have nothing that we have not received from the hand of the Lord.  Therefore, duty and true gratitude demand that we place our all unreservedly at His disposal.  We are to love God fully with all our mind, will, strength, and talents.  We are not to expect the Saviour to be satisfied with a few beggarly tokens of our affection now and then.

     Some years ago I read an article which told how Queen Mary used to make an annual visit to Scotland.  So beloved was this sovereign that she could move freely among the people and needed no protective escort.  One afternoon, while walking with some children, she went out rather far.  Dark clouds came up unexpectedly, so she stopped at a nearby house of a commoner to borrow an umbrella.  "If you will lend it to me, I will send it back to you tomorrow,"  she promised.  The lady who answered the door was reluctant to give the stranger her best one, and so got an old castoff umbrella out of the attic.  One of the ribs was broken, and there were several holes in the fabric.  Apologizing, the lady turned it over to the Queen, whom she did not recognize.  The next day there was another knock at the door.  When she opened it, she saw a man in gold braid, evidently one of the royal guards, holding in his hand her old, tattered umbrella.  "The Queen sent me,"  he said.  "She asked me to thank you for loaning her this."  For a moment the poor woman was stunned; then she burst into tears.  "Oh, what an opportunity I missed when I did not give her my very best!"  she cried.  How many of us will someday say the same when we meet our King!

     Christian, what is your best talent or your choicest asset?  Have you given your all cheerfully and heartily to the Saviour?  By this gauge, test your professed love for Jesus.

"Bread For Each Day"

Wounded For Me

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  Isaiah  53:5

     In a painting of the crucifixion by the famous Dutch artist, Rembrandt, attention is first drawn to the cross and to Him who died there.  Then, as you look at the crowd that gathers around the foot of the accursed tree, you are impressed by the various attitudes and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God.  Finally, your eyes drift to the edge of the picture and catch sight of another figure - almost hidden in the shadows.  This, they tell us, was a representation of the artist himself; for Rembrandt recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus there!  When we think of the cross it is so easy to consider it as merely a historical event; but actually we were all participants in the crucifixion!

     Someone has aptly said,  "It is a simple thing to say that Christ died for the sin of the world.  It may be an interesting pastime to point fingers at those who crucified Jesus, but it is a shocking thought that I can be as indifferent as Pilate, as scheming as Caiaphas, as calloused as the soldiers, as ruthless as the mob, or as cowardly as the disciples.  It isn't just what they did - 'twas I that shed the sacred blood; I nailed Him to the tree; I crucified the Christ of God; I joined the mockery!"

     Look again at the painting of the Dutch artist - if the Holy Spirit enlightens your eyes, you will see that in the shadows with Rembrandt you too are standing with blood-red hands, for He was wounded for your transgressions!

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Knee Medicine

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

"Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; for unto thee will I pray."  Psalm 5:2

     When a Chinese convert was asked by a missionary what remedy he found most effective in overcoming the Opium habit he replied quaintly,  "Knee Medicine."  We live in an age of energy and force, but what Christians really need is more "knee power!"

     Peter MacKenzie, the famous Methodist preacher, was once speaking to a member of his congregation who complained bitterly,  "My most earnest prayer has not been answered!"  "Oh,"  replied Rev. MacKenzie,  "that is very understandable, and it should not cause you to despair.  Remember, many of our petitions are like promissory notes that guarantee payment at some future date.  You have just presented yours before it was due!  Do not cease to pray - God will honor in His own good time!"

     Moses cried to God, and at the very moment when defeat seemed certain, the sea was divided.  Hannah prayed for a son and in God's good time Samuel was born.  The early Church prayed most fervently for Peter and at the proper moment the angel delivered him from prison.  Indeed,  "Men ought always to pray and not to faint!"  God's delays are not denials - He is merely preparing a greater blessing.  Some ask for strength that they might achieve, but God makes them weak that they might obey.  Some ask for health that they might do great things, but God sends infirmity that they might do better things.  Some ask for riches that they might be happy, but our Lord often gives poverty in order that they might be wise.  Some ask for power, but are given weakness that they might feel more keenly the need of God.  Yet all are more richly blessed than if they had been granted their blind request.

     Remember, God always answers our prayers by giving us what we ask, or what we would have requested if we could see as He sees!

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The Wondrous Power Of Prayer

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

              " . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."   James  5:16

     When we come to the end of all human devices there is ever a great untapped reservoir of power available to us - it is the power of prayer!  The wonders that have been wrought by God through the intercession of His saints would fill so many volumes that the libraries of the world would scarcely be able to contain them all.  Here is just one such authentic incident:

     While crossing the Atlantic many years ago, Dr. F.B. Meyer was asked to address the passengers.  At the captain's request he spoke on "Answered Prayer."  An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his friends,  "What did you think of Dr. Meyer's sermon?"  He answered,  "I didn't believe a word of it."  That afternoon Dr. Meyer went to speak to the steerage passengers.  Many of the listeners at his morning address went along, including the agnostic, who claimed he just wanted to hear  "what the babbler had to say."  Before starting for the service, the agnostic put two oranges in his pocket.  On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep.  Her hands were open.  In the spirit of fun, the agnostic put the two oranges in her out-stretched palms.  After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily munching one of the pieces of fruit.  "You seem to be enjoying that orange,"  he remarked with a smile.  "Yes, sir,"  she replied,  "My Father is very good to me."  "Your father!  Surely your father can't be still alive?"  "Praise God,"  she replied,  "He is very much alive."  "What do you mean?"  pressed the agnostic.  She explained,  "I'll tell you, sir.  I have been seasick for days.  I was asking God somehow to send me an orange.  I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying.  When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one, He had sent me two oranges!"  The astonished agnostic came under conviction, and was later led to Christ.  He had received an unexpected confirmation of Dr. Meyer's morning discourses on  "Answered Prayer."

     Yes, prayer changes things!

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The Gospel In Action

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                             " . . . I will shew thee my faith by my works."   James  2:18

     Only God can see "faith" in the heart of man.  People see our faith only by our works.  Faith is like a seed planted in the ground.  It is hidden from view but if it is a living seed it will soon manifest itself by pushing its stalk up through the soil for all to see.  We may talk about our "faith" from morning till night without results, but when that faith works, men must recognize it.

     Out of the war comes a story of faith in action.  A godly chaplain in the army found a dying soldier on the battlefield, and being anxious about his salvation he took out his Bible and said,  "Shall I read a portion of Scripture to you?"  But the soldier replied,  "No sir, I am thirsty and need a drink of water."  At the risk of his own life, amid bursting shells, the chaplain went in search of water and having found some, gave it to the wounded man.  Then he asked again,  "Shall I read some Scripture to you?"  But the man replied,  "No thank you, I am so cold, I am almost freezing."  The chaplain removed his own coat and wrapped it about him, and once more asked with shivering body and chattering teeth,  "Now may I read to you?"  Again the reply was  "No sir, I am too uncomfortable on this rough ground."  The chaplain gently lifted him up and placed him across his knees with his head in his arms and once more asked the same question.  "Yes sir,"  he replied,  "for if what you are going to read can make a man willing to risk his life like this to ease a dying stranger, I want to hear about it!"  And there on the battlefield he was told about Jesus who died that we might live.

     This is the Gospel in action.  It is what the world is waiting for today!  Amid the clamor of religious cant the world is looking for a cup of cold water in the Master's name.  Faith without works is dead.

"Bread For Each Day"

Practice Makes Perfect

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

           " . . . when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray."                                                                                                                                        Matthew  6:6

     After the disciples had witnessed the prayer life of Jesus, they came to Him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples"  (Luke  11:1).  They did not say,  "Teach us to preach,"  or  "Teach us to sing."  We all admit that instruction and training and practice are essential in making good preachers and singers.  But who ever heard of "training" people to pray?  We have schools of music and courses which offer instruction in song leading and singing.  We have seminaries to teach young men how to become preachers and missionaries.  They offer courses in Greek and Hebrew, homiletics and church history, etc. But did you ever hear of a course in Bible school or seminary devoted exclusively to teach men how to pray?  
    
     Before the minister delivers his sermon or the soloist sings, he has practiced and practiced for hours.  How much do you practice effectual praying?

     A British soldier one night was caught creeping stealthily back to his quarters from a nearby woods.  He was immediately hauled before his commanding officer for an explanation.  The man pleaded that he had gone into the woods to pray; that was his only defense.  "Have you been in the habit of spending hours in private prayer?  growled the officer.  "Yes, sir."  "Then down on your knees and pray now!"  he roared.  "You never needed it so much."  Expecting immediate death, the soldier knelt and poured out his soul in prayer that for eloquence could have been inspired only by the power of the Holy Spirit.  "You may go," said the officer when he had finished.  "I believe your story.  If you hadn't drilled often you couldn't have done so well at review."

"Bread For Each Day"

   

Time Out For God

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     " . . .  and he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place. . . . "   Luke 9:10

     Throughout Jesus' ministry we find periods when He took time out for meditation and prayer and silent communion with the Father.  In this He set us an example.  The quiet hours spent before the Lord are the filling stations of grace which prepare us for the emergencies and difficulties of life.

     We have heard of one man, with more than his share of difficulties, who regularly finds blessed relief by locking himself in his room, away from his family and the telephone, that he may there have quiet, sweet communion with Heaven.  He feels that it is necessary to first get his body and mind into a proper attitude, so he lies down on a couch until his muscles are completely relaxed and his mental tension begins to subside. Then, after prayer and some Bible study, he picks up the old book of gospel hymns, which he always has handy, and reads the comforting lyrics until the blessing of it all stirs his soul to joy and singing.  By the time their messages of faith and hope are absorbed, he says his troubles no longer seem insurmountable.  The mountains of difficulty are laid low and the "rough places" are made "plain."

     Henry Martin, the great preacher, once confessed,  "Want of private devotional reading and shortness of prayer, through incessant sermon making, has produced much strangeness between God and my soul."  If a preacher preparing sermons must make such a confession, how much more should those of us who let the things of this world keep us from quiet communion with the Saviour?

     How long since you have sought out a quiet spot and had a "little talk" with Jesus?

"Bread For Each Day"

1 Corinthians 13 (1)

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

Sorrow: God's Tool

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from him, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

    "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path."  Psalm  142:3

                                                        I walked a mile with Pleasure,
                                                           She chatted all the way,
                                                        But left me none the wiser,
                                                            For all she had to say.
                                                         I walked a mile with Sorrow,
                                                            And ne'er a word said she;
                                                         But, oh, the things I learned from her
                                                             When Sorrow walked with me!

     Our greatest difficulties usually turn out to be our greatest opportunities!  Suffering and glory, testing and usefulness are always associated in the Scripture.  Henry Ward Beecher points out discerningly that  "The steel that has suffered most is the best.  It has been in the furnace again and again; it has been on the anvil; it has been tight in the jaws of the vise; it has felt the teeth of the rasp; it has been ground by emery; it has been heated and hammered and filed until it does not know itself, but finally it comes out a splendid knife!  If men only knew it, what are called their 'misfortunes' are God's best blessings, for they are the molding influences which give them shapeliness and edge, and durability and power."

     Are you almost overwhelmed?  Is your spirit gravely troubled?  Do not despair; God knows all about it, and is in his trial.  The path, though dark to you, is plain to Him.  Take courage, trust His good leading, and you will "be enlarged in distress."

"Bread For Each Day"

Simple Remedies Are Best

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

" . . . He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper."   2 Kings  5:11

     Naaman the Syrian was a leper.  He heard about a prophet in Samaria, of whom a little captive Jewish girl had told his wife.  When he came to Elisha, the prophet simply told him to go wash in Jordan seven times.  This seemed so childishly simple that it made Naaman very angry and he started back home.  He expected a great display of occult mumblings and grotesque movements on the part of the healer.  He wanted a dramatic spectacle of acting, but the prophet said,  "Just take a bath!"

     The same superstition still prevails in the world today.  People reject the Gospel because salvation is too simple.  They too expect noises, visions, lights, and feelings before they will believe.  But the Bible says,  "only believe."  It just seems too simple.  The Gospel needs no embellishment.  That is the pagan way.  They go through all sorts of contortions, cooking strange brews and mumbling unintelligible phrases.  It is all a "cover up" for their deception.  The Gospel needs no "props," jazz music, foreign costumes, tricks, or juggling acts.  Paul told Timothy,  "Preach the word."

     The world is full of quacks and nostrums.  They recommend a remedy because of its strange ingredients.  "Only Poo-Poo Powders contain CKLZ."  "Four out of five doctors recomend the ingredients in this Sucker Syrup."  "Dumb-Clux Dope"  contains  not one ingredient but five - and so on, and so on.  And the more mysterious it is, the more it deceives.  This is true of much religious excitement; people are sold another gospel which is "not another."  Beloved, let us not be led astray by the pageantry and display of much "modern evangelism."  The pure gospel message has not lost its power - it only needs to be set free from the fleshly methods of the world.  "Preach the Word!"

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Christian Self-Control

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."   Ephesians  4:31

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."                                                                                                               Proverbs  16:32

     Unless you can control yourself, you will never be able to properly control and influence others!  The secret of quietness, gentleness, and sober self-control is found in always keeping nearer to God than to anything or anyone else.  A Christian can endure with composure almost any circumstance if he has properly yielded himself to the Spirit of God.

     Many years ago the Gospel Herald carried the story of Samuel Stokes, an American missionary who walked through the villages in the darkest part of India, carrying only a water-bottle and a blanket.  This dear man of God trusted wholly to native hospitality and the providence of God for his food and lodging.  In one village he was given a very hostile reception.  The head men of the town sat in chairs in a circle smoking and eating, leaving him to recline on the dirty floor.  When he asked if he might nurse their sick and teach them of Christ, they hurled horrible insults at him; but by the grace of God he controlled his tongue and made no reply.  Finally they gave him some food - just a few stale crusts in a filthy bowl.  He thanked them courteously and, in order to win them to Christ, ate what had been set before him.  For two days they treated him thus.  On the third day, the head man laid his turban at Mr. Stokes' feet as a token of his respect. He explained that they had heard that Jesus' disciples were commanded to love their enemies and they could not believe the truth of this statement.  They had decided, therefore, to put him to the test when he came to their town.  The result had amazed them.  Now they brought him their choicest food and were eager to hear his teaching.  He realized then that if he had lost his temper, he would have missed his chance to witness to this benighted group of heathen.  Let us also pray for grace to be meek and in full control of our own spirit.

"Bread For Each Day"

Prescribing A Placebo

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and alamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

             " . . .  nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile."  2 Corinthians  12:16

     When Mrs.                came to me for treatment of a very exciting and exceedingly rare illness, I prescribed a placebo.  Do you know what a "placebo"is?  You probably have taken some and they helped you.  But if you had known it was a placebo you would have been very angry at your doctor.  So the doctor didn't tell you what he was giving you.  But we must get back to Mrs.              .  She enjoyed very poor health.  She was never so miserable as when she couldn't find anything wrong with herself.  One day she read about a sickness she had never had.  She liked it and promptly developed all the symptoms: headache, nausea, constipation, palpitation of the heart, blurring eyes, etc., etc., etc., and she called me to come immediately as she thought she was dying.  Upon examination I found nothing wrong with her.  She was as healthy as a carp in muddy water.  What do to for her?  That was the problem.  If I told her shew as not sick she would have been furious and discharged me for another doctor.  So I told her she was very ill (she was-in her head), but I would soon relieve her.  So I gave her a placebo - a whole box full of pretty pink pills - made of sugar - nothing but a few grains of milk sugar.  Take one every 15 minutes (keep her so busy taking pills she would forget her illness).  The recovery was spectacular.  Did I deceive her?  Yes, but it cured her. That is the doctor's business - to cure people - and if sugar does it - why not?

     Paul says he had taken the Corinthians by "craft" and "guile."  The word guile is dolos, and means "bait."  He had baited his hook to catch them for Jesus.  His conduct and love for them had won them for Jesus.

     Is your gospel hook "baited" for those you will meet on life's ocean?  Will you attract any souls to Christ today?  Or will you be "baited", "caught", hook, line, and sinker, by satan and his deceptions of "happiness"?

"Bread For Each Day"

What Do You Remember?

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                              " . . . I do remember my faults this day."   Genesis  41:9

     This is the statement of the butler whose dream had been interpreted by Joseph while they were in the prison in Egypt.  Joseph requested that he (the butler) would remember him and mention him to Pharaoh upon his release  (Genesis 41:14).  But the butler soon forgot  (Genesis 40:23).  And now, when Pharaoh was unable to find an interpreter for his dream, the butler suddenly remembered what Joseph had done for him, and exclaims,   "I do remember my faults this day."  What base ingratitude - to forget so soon his benefactor.  He gave no excuses but confessed it was his fault.  Probably the hardest thing in all the world to do is admit our faults.  Instead we defend, deny, or excuse them.  The three hardest words to say are,  ""I was wrong."  It is not so hard to say,  "You were right,"  as to turn the point to ourselves,  "I was wrong." How easy to see another's faults - how difficult our own.

     A Christian heard that one of his brethren had been talking against him.  Instead of trying to "get even," he went to his brother and said,  "I understand you have been talking against me and told about my faults.  I want you to tell me to my face what you see wrong in me, for I want to know so I can confess them and get rid of them."  The brother agreed to frankly tell him.  "But first,"  said the first man,  "we will get down and pray about it.  I want you to pray for me, that I may accept your criticism, see my faults, and be delivered from them.  Pray for me, brother."  The rebuke found its mark and the man dropped to his knees and cried out to God to forgive him his own sin of gossiping and slander.  Arising to his feet he said,  "If I had prayed first, instead of now, this would never have happened.  Forgive me brother."  Before you talk to others about your brother, first talk to Father about it.   Will you do that?  Then, like the butler, you will remember your own faults - not others.

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It's Me, O Lord, It's Me

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                                                    " . . . man by man."   Joshua  7:18

     A great sin had been committed in Israel by one man, but no one knew who he was except he himself.  Achan had taken some spoils in the conquest of Jericho, which had been strictly forbidden.  To find the man, eleven tribes were first eliminated, and the tribe of Judah was taken.  Then all the families of Judah were eliminated except one family.  Then this family was examined man by man.  One by one the members of the family were examined till they found the guilty man - Achan.  After establishing his guilt, he was justly executed.  Achan was found out because they were examined one by one.  It was man by man.  Before God we cannot hide in the crowd.  We can go to Hell with the crowd, but we go to Heaven man by man - one by one.  Salvation comes only when we learn to say,  "It's me, O Lord, It's me."  It is not enough to say,  "We are all sinners,"  but we must confess I ...I ...I, am the guilty one!  It is man by man, and so it will be at the judgment.  Have you ever come personally as a lost sinner to Christ?

     A Christian told a preacher,  "I was saved in your meeting last winter.  It was a stormy day and I was the only one in your audience.  Whenever you said something hard about sinners, I looked around to see who you meant.  But there wasn't anybody else, so I figured you must mean me.  When you said,  'You must be born again,'  I looked around to see who you meant, but there wasn't anyone else, so I said,  'Zeke, he must mean you,' and that did it, and your whole audience got saved that day."  Yes, it's man by man.  You can't be saved with the crowd.

"Bread For Each Day"

                                  

The Thought-Life

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                       "For as he (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he."  Proverbs  23:7

     How would you like to have your every thought for the past six months flashed upon a screen for all your acquaintances, neighbors, and church friends to see?  If such a thing were possible, and you knew the showing was to be tomorrow night, I suppose you would take the first train out of town!  If there is one thing which reveals the presence of the old carnal nature, it is the evil imaginations of the heart.  You may fool your preacher, and even your loved ones, but God sees the inner man.  The composite of the thoughts you entertain in your mind make up your true, spiritual portrait!  How guilty and shamefaced we all stand before His holy scrutiny.  Yet, praise God, the Holy Spirit is ever ready to help us bring  "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"  (2 Corinthians  10:5).

     In Mammoth Cave of Kentucky one can see enormous pillars which have been formed by the steady dropping of water from the roof of the cavern.  This artistry in rock, made by the slow and silent processes of nature, is truly marvelous.  It is said that a single drop of water finds its way from the surface down through the roof of the cavern to deposit its minute sediment on the floor of the cave.  Another drop follows it, and still another, until the "icicle of stone" begins to grow.  Ultimately it forms a tremendous pillar of massive rock.  So, too, a similar process is going on in each of our hearts.  Every thought which sinks into the soul makes its contribution, and the total produces the pillars of our character.  Subtly and inescapably the ideas you hold in your mind help to form the facets of the personality and make up the real "you."

     Take a red pencil and circle Philippians 4:8 in your Bible.  It is God's recipe for your "thought-life."

"Bread For Each Day"