"Thou Remainest"

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

                                                ". . . thou reaminest . . . "  Hebrews 1:11

     The faithfulness of God is constantly highlighted in the Bible.  Men falter and prove untrue, but God remains constant.  What a comfort this is to His weak and doubting children!  It is not always easy to see this divine control in our lives.  It looks sometimes as if things have gotten out of hand, but this can never be for "God abideth faithful."

     In the spring of the year a preaching missionary band in China asked a poor Christian farmer to join them in carrying on their work.  "But I haven't planted my wheat yet,"  he protested.  Even as he made the excuse, however, a voice within his heart said,  "Your wheat?  Nay it is your Heavenly Father's wheat."  He recognized that this was true and decided to go.  His heathen neighbors scoffed at him and said he was very foolish not to stay and first plant his crop.  However, he filled his days with scattering the incorruptible seed of the Word upon the good soil of needy souls, and was very happy.  After some weeks it was possible for him to return home.  His heart sank when he saw his neighbor's fields already lovely and green with the sprouting grain.  He hasn't even planted his yet; how would he ever overcome their lead?  His crop would come in last and he would receive little for it.  Then he thought of the comforting words,  "Your Heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of,"  and his peace returned.  He planted his wheat but for some time there was no rain.  The ground was so dry and the seed refused to sprout.  The green fields of his neighbors turned yellow and died.  Then came refreshing rains and his wheat took root and sprang up. When the harvest season arrived he had a most beautiful field of waving grain, while his neighbors complained bitterly of their poor yield.  Thus God honored His faithful servant.

     Though all may seem to slip from your grasp, do not despair.  With trusting heart look up to your faithful God and quietly say,  "I thank Thee, Lord, that 'Thou remainest'!"

"Bread For Each Day"

"Feeding" The Dead!

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 you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."   Ephesians  2:1

     In China many still believe that the dead eat as well as the living!  Besides the memorial rites which have to be held during the "seventh moon" of each  year for the departed, the ancestors must also be provided with feasts two or three days before the most important national festivals.  Especially before the new year this is deemed important, for it is thought that then the dead return seeking earthly food.  Consequently, a banquet, including much food and wine, is dutifully supplied and made ready by the eldest son for the refreshment of "honorable ancestors."  We shake our heads sadly at such an absurd practice; and yet, with equal folly, we often try to feed the "spiritually dead" and then express surprise when there is no growth and little reaction.

     It is necessary to see to it that our children receive doctrinal training regularly; in fact, it is highly commendable, but let us never suppose that this is in any way a substitute for earnestly and personally seeking to bring them to the foot of the cross for salvation.  The implanting of the new life is a pre-requisite for their true growth in grace.

     You too may attend church faithfully, go through a great deal of religious ritualism, and even read your Bible regularly, but unless you have experienced the "new birth," you are just trying to nourish a dead corpse!

     Moody used to say,  "We hear nowadays so much about 'culture.'  Culture is all right when you have something to cultivate.  If I should plant a watch, I shouldn't get any little watches, should I?  Why?  Because the seed of life is not there.  But let me plant some peas or potatoes, and I will get a crop.  Don't let any man or woman rest short of his being born of the Spirit of God.  Don't cultivate a dead and corrupt thing.  First, make sure you have the divine nature, then cultivate it."  Yes, one has to be born into the family of God before he can "grow in grace."

"Bread For Each Day"