My Theme...by E.L.

Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Acts 11: 14 "Be of good cheer." "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people,  and to His saints." (Psalm 85:8) My Theme Speak to me now of Christ! My soul is weary of fightings, fears, and words that have no end; Hungry and thirsty am I - yea, and longing for sweet refreshment He alone can send. Speak to me now of Christ! - not your opinion - comparing man to man but leads to strife; Of Jesus let me hear - my souls beloved, whose words speak comfort, peace, eternal life! Speak to me now of Christ, who lowly suffered enduring spitting, scourging, grief and shame - Who, when accused and cursed, He answered nothing - He is my Saviour - let me hear His Name! Speak to me now of Christ, Who, heavy laden, bore the dread cross up Calvary's cruel hill. The Lord of life! He died in bitter anguish - for my vile sins His own life-blood did spill. Speak to me now of Christ, Who spoke to Mary, that resurrection morn of death's defeat, Revealing to her heart that secret, "Father! I now ascend, and, in me, you are meet."  Speak to me now of Christ, Who now is seated, crowned with all glory on the Father's throne. His eye still on the desert, lone and dreary, He watches every footstep of His own. Speak to me now of Christ, Who soon is coming to take us home, where sight can never dim, Where all His own, with tongues and hearts uniting, in one eternal song shall speak of Him! And when I speak, let me speak well of Jesus, the altogether lovely One, my Friend - My every thought of Him brings peace and comfort, He loves me, and will love me to the end.    (Composed by Ethel Florence Light who, at the age of 96 went home  to be with her Lord on September 28, 2013) N.J. Hiebert 5311

Marriage

http://bibletruthpublishers.com/william-j-prost/love-and-marriage/w-p-prost/lub354-23187

Self Esteem, by WJ Prost

http://bibletruthpublishers.com/self-esteem/william-j-prost/w-p-prost/la93533

All things work together...

"Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above."(John 19:11)

One who was passing through deep waters of affliction wrote to a friend: 
"Is it not a glorious thing to know that, no difference how unjust a thing may be, or how absolutely it may seem to be from Satan, by the time it reaches us it is God's will for us, and will work for good to us?  For all things work together for good to us who love God.
And even of the betrayal, Christ said, "The cup which My Father gave me, shall I not drink it?"
We live charmed lives if we are living in the center of God's will.  All the attacks that Satan, through others' sin, can hurl against us are not only powerless to harm us, but are turned into blessings on the way.   (H.W.S.)
In the center of the circle of the Will of God I stand:There can come no second causes, all must come from His dear hand.All is well! for 'tis my Father who my life hath planned.
Shall I pass through waves of sorrow? then I know it will be best;Though I cannot tell the reason, I can trust, and so am blest.God is Love, and God is faithful, so in perfect Peace I rest.
With the shade and with the sunshine, with the joy and with the pain,Lord, I trust Thee! both are needed, each Thy wayward child to train.Earthly loss, did we but know it, often means our heavenly gain.
(I.G.W.) (Streams in the Desert)
N.J. Hiebert - 5235

Exodus 14:14
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Lamentations 3: 36

36. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. (KJV)

Judge your state...

"Be of good cheer." "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13) There is no depth of sin and folly into which a Christian is not capable of plunging, if not kept by the grace of God. Even the blessed apostle himself, when he came down from the third heaven, needed a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him from being "exalted above measure." We might suppose that a man who had been up in that bright and blessed region could never again feel the stirrings of pride. But the plain fact is that even the third heavens cannot cure the flesh. It is utterly incorrigible and must be judged and kept under, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, else it will cut out plenty of sorrowful work for us. Still, the believer's standing is in Christ, forever justified, accepted, perfect in Him. And, moreover, he must ever judge his state by his standing, never his standing by his state. To attempt to reach the standing by my state is legalism; to refuse to judge my state by the standing is antinomianism. Both - though so diverse one from the other - are alike false, alike opposed to the truth of God, alike offensive to the Holy Ghost, alike removed from the divine idea of "A man in Christ." (C.H.M.) Psalm 145:18-19 18. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

We have an anchor...

We have an anchor that keeps the soul,
Steadfast and sure, as the billows roll,
Fastened to a Rock that cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's blood.

I'm just a little teacup...

I'm just a little tea cup...by JLC, 2013

Life is like coffee...video

http://www.flickspire.com/m/LifeSecrets/LifeIsLikeCoffee

Bearing fruit...

   "And I am this day weak, though annointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me."  (2 Samuel 3:39) 
The Spirit of God wants to teach us that the believer who has received a position of authority from God soon loses the awareness of his dependence  because of the flesh which dwells in him.  As he exercises power he begins to have confidence in himself without realizing his need for the Lord's help, as he had back in the time when he wandered like a partridge hunted on the mountains.
Before the crown was on his head except on rare occasions he would inquire of God, not taking a single step without Him; but from the moment he receives the crown he forgets his safeguard.  He will again find this a little later after he has made bitter experiences, for we must remember that in David - and this one of the leading features of his character - discipline always bears admirable fruit.
..................
What is the fruit that we bear? Displaying the moral characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ, being like Him.

Anna Art

New wine in old bottles...

Woollen and Linen.

Family character

FAMILY CHARACTER AND FAMILY RELIGION.
FAMILY CHARACTER.
(Gen. 11: 28)
THERE was, as we know, a day of visitation of the house of Terah. The family of Shem had become very corrupt, and in the days of Terah, the sixth or seventh from Shem, they were serving false gods. But the power of the Spirit and the call of the God of glory visited the ear and the heart of Abram, the son of Terah, and separated him from that corruption.
We also know that a godly influence extended itself from this in the family. Terah the father, Sarah the wife, and Lot the nephew join Abram in this, and they all leave the land of Mesopotamia together.
Nahor, however, another of Terah's sons, did not come within this influence. He was comfortably settled at home with his wife, and at home they remained, when Terah, Abram, Sarah, and Lot took their departure from the land of their fathers. (Chap. 11)
This is to be much observed, for the like of it we may witness every day. One of the family becomes the first subject of divine power, and then family religion, or the knowledge of the Lord Jesus in the household. spreads itself, but some remain uninfluenced.
Of course we know that each quickened soul must be equally the object of the hidden effectual drawings and teachings of the Father. (See John 6: 44, 45.) But I speak of the history or manifested character of the scene. And, as we have seen in the history of this household, Nahor remains unmoved in this day of visitation. He and his wife continue in Mesopotamia, and they thrive there. Children are born to them; goods and property increase. They pursue an easy and respectable journey across the world; but they do not grow in the knowledge of God, and bear no testimony, or at least small and indistinct testimony to His name.
The character of Nahor's family was thus formed. They were not in gross darkness like the people of Canaan, descendants of Ham, among whom Abram had now gone to sojourn. They had a measure of light derived from their connection with Terah and Abram, and as descendants of Shem; but all that was sadly dimmed by the cherished principles, of the world from which they had refused to separate themselves. And a family character and standing were thus formed.
This is serious — and all the principle of this is of daily occurrence among us, and of constant application to our consciences.
We lose sight of this family for a time altogether, for of course they are not the direct object of the Spirit's notice, but being connected with Abram may naturally come within view; and accordingly, in process of time, tidings about them do reach Abram in the distant place of his pilgrimage. (Gen. 22)
Bethuel was the son of Nahor — one of his many sons rather, and the one most brought into view. He had flourished in the world, and though perhaps a man of little energy or character himself, had a son named Laban, who most evidently knew how to manage his affairs exceedingly well, and to advance himself and all who belonged to him very advantageously in life. He seems, as we say, to have known the value of Money; for the sight of gold could open his mouth with a very hearty and religious welcome even to a stranger. (Gen. 24) Here, however, we reach a period in the history of this family which is chiefly to be considered.
A fresh energy of the Spirit is about to visit it. As I have already observed, this family is not in the gross darkness of the Canaanites, nor in the simple idolatrous condition of Terah's house (see Joshua 24), we may assume, when the God of glory called Abram. They had been brought into a certain measure of light, and within a certain standing by profession as Abram's act and word seemed to allow. (Gen. 24: 4) But this being so, this being a professing household in some sense apart from the dark state of the men of the world, it becomes serious to notice the nature of that visitation which the Spirit makes to it, for it will be found to be a separating power or visitation. As the call of the God of glory had before disturbed the state of things in Terah's house, so now the mission of Eliezer disturbed the state of things in Bethuel's house: Abram had then been separated from home and kindred, and so is Rebecca now to be, all this leaving behind it this serious impression, that a respectable professing family may need to be visited by the very same energy of the Spirit as a more worldly or idolatrous family.
This is a serious thought. It is a disturbing or separating power of God which now comes into this family, and not simply a comforting or edifying power. This has meaning, I believe. The ministry of Eliezer, God's servant as well as Abram's, came to Bethuel's house to draw Rebecca out of it, and to lead on that very journey which, two  generations before, the call of the God of glory had borne Abram. I do indeed judge that there is a lesson in this which is much to be pondered. A professing decent family have to be aroused, and a fresh act of separation produced in the midst of it.
But there is another lesson in the history still.
Rebecca, we know, comes forth at this call. But her character has been already formed, as it is with us all, more or less, before we are converted. The moment of quickening arrives. The separating call and power of the Lord is answered. But it finds us of a certain character, a certain shape and complexion of mind. It finds us, it may be Cretians (Titus 1), or brothers and sisters of Laban, or the like, and the "Cretians are always liars." Character and mind derived from nature, from education, or from family habits, we shall take with us, after we have been born of the Spirit, and carry it in us across the desert from Mesopotamia to the house of Abram.
This too is serious. It is serious, as I observed before, that a respectable professing family is visited by a separating, and not merely by an edifying, energy of the Spirit; and it is serious, as I now have been tracing that, with the quickening or converting power of the Spirit, nature, or the force of early habits and education, or of family character, will cling still. And these serious lessons the story of Rebecca reads to us.
For I need only briefly speak of what her way was in the further stages of it. It is a well-known story among us, and well known too as very sadly betraying what we may call the family character. Laban, her brother with whom she had grown up and who was evidently the active stirring one in his father's house, was a subtle, knowing, worldly man. And the only great action in which Rebecca was called to take part gives occasion to her exercising the same principles. In the procuring of. the blessing for her son Jacob we see this Laban — leaven working mightily. The family character sadly breaks out then. The readiness of nature to act and take its way shows itself very busily. A mind she had too little accustomed to repose in the sufficiency of God, and too much addicted to calculate and to lean its hopes on its own inventions.
What have we to do then but to watch against the peculiar tendency and habit of our own mind — to rebuke nature sharply, that we may be sound or morally healthful in the faith (Titus 1: 3); not to excuse it because it is nature, but rather the more to suspect it therefore, and to mortify it for His sake who has given us another nature.
These lessons we get from the story of this distinguished woman. Beyond this her way is not much tracked by the Spirit. Was it that He was grieved with her and leaves her unnoticed? At any rate she reaps nothing but disappointment from the seed she had sown. No good comes of her schemes and contrivances, but the reverse. She loses her favourite, Jacob, and never sees him after the long exile to which her own schemes and contrivances had ended in sending him.
But there is this further to tell: Jacob got his mind formed by the same earliest influence. He was all his days a slow-hearted, calculating man. His plan in getting the birthright first and then the blessing; his confidence in his own arrangements, rather than in the Lord's promise, when he met his brother Esau; and his lingering at Shechem, and settling there instead of pursuing a pilgrim's life through the land like his fathers: all this betrays nature and the working of the old family character.
What need have we to watch the early seed sown in the heart — yea, and to watch the early or late seed which we are helping to sow in others' hearts! For the fuller details of this history warn us of such things still.
The birth of Esau and Jacob is given us at the close of Genesis 25, and as they grow up to be boys, occasion arises to let us look in at the family scene; but it is, as we shall find, truly humbling.
This was one of the families of God then on the earth, nay, by far the most distinguished, where lay the hopes of all blessing to the whole earth, and where the Lord, eminently above all, had recorded His name.
But what do we see? Isaac the father had dropped into the stream of hu

Christian Calendar

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...humbleth himself...

"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."(Luke 14:11)

The only thing which can enable me thus to go on is to have Christ the object before me, and just in proportion as it is so can I be happy.
There may be a thousand and one things to vex me if self is of importance; they will not vex me at all if self is not there to be vexed.The passions of the flesh will not harass us if we are walking with God.
What trials we get when not walking with God and thinking only of self!!
There is no such deliverance as that of having no importance in one's own eyes.
Then one may be happy indeed before God.
..............(J.N. Darby)...............

Sound doctrine...need an outline..

"Things which become sound doctrine"

...melody to Thee...

"O Lord, we know it matters not

How sweet the song may be;

No heart but of the Spirit taught

Makes melody to Thee.

O largely give, 'tis all Thine own

The Spirit's goodly fruit:

Praise, issuing forth in life, alone

Our living Lord can suit."

Faith must press on alone...

"And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well." 2 Kings 4:22,23
.

Her husband represents formal religion, forms without faith or feeling. The mother was not dismayed by the indifference of her husband, for faith must press on alone, turning neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."Phil. 3:13,14
.

She left formal religion behind, pressed on to the mark for the inheritance, and ran to the man of God, for there only rested her hope, all in a person. If the prophet could lay the power of nature aside and give her a son contrary to nature, he could also give her a son back in resurrection. She had not asked for the son; it was his own choice.

"Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee." 2 Kings 4:24
.

The discomforts of the way are not noticed when the heart is set on the proper object, for it is "but a little way to come to Ephrath [fruitfulness]." Gen. 35:16
. How we should covet the spirit of this mother, this great woman, the spirit of normal Christianity.

Baptism, not a command, but a priviledge...JND

The first thing I must do is to set the principle of baptism on its right grounds. It is not obedience: obedience to an ordinance is unchristian ground altogether. Baptists have gone so far as to allege the Lord's words, "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." It is inconceivable that Christians should speak so—fulfilling righteousness by ordinances! It is Galatian doctrine—a denial of the first principles of truth for a sinner. Further, if John's baptism had been submitted to, it is nothing as regards christian baptism. The twelve at Ephesus (Acts 19) were baptized as Christians after that. But more particularly, a command there was to baptize, not to be baptized; but this was not even to baptize believers, but to disciple the nations, baptizing them—a commission which supposes Jerusalem and the Jews received—a commission which St. Paul declares was not given to him, who was appointed minister of the church. Not only so, but when we read how it was administered, we find the directest evidence that it was not a matter of obedience but of according a privilege—entrance into the professed external assembly of God on the earth. "What does hinder me to be baptized?" says the officer of Candace, a question which precludes the thought of obedience, and speaks of an admission which he counted a privilege: so with Cornelius—"Can any forbid water that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? " Hence, the first Christians gathered by the Lord during His life on earth (the disciples) who were baptized with the Holy Ghost, were never baptized: they were sent to baptize, and did. Paul was baptized, because he was received like any other. Thus the testimony is complete from holy scripture as to its character.

Next comes the question, Into what were they received? Not into the unity of the body, for then the twelve would not have been in it, nor is there ever a hint in scripture of baptism being into the unity of the body. It is a symbol of death and resurrection (for which reason John Baptist’s baptism was nothing for Christianity as such), the admission into the assembly gathered on the earth to the name of Christ; people were baptized to (never into) something—as to Moses (not into Moses)—it is the same word: so to Christ (not into Christ), and to His death (not into, here, either); and thus were individuals held figuratively to be on the professed ground of resurrection; but this was not the unity of the body; that was a real and essential thing, and came by another kind of baptism. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body," not by water. The ordinance that symbolizes this is the Lord's supper, not baptism: for we are all one body, inasmuch as "we are all partakers of that one loaf." The baptism of the Spirit, not baptism by water, is that by which we are baptized into the unity of the body.

John 3: 16

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Hitherto...

Operations of the Spirit of God - John Nelson Darby (#62245) - Bible Truth Library

Why go there?

RecordedMinistry.com: The Ground of Gathering

Hosea 2: 14

Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak comfortably unto her. (KJV)

Unto all pleasing.... JND

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." Col. 1:10
. Here I am called today and tomorrow to walk worthy of the Lord-nothing that I do, say, or think, which should not be worthy of Christ Himself. Here it is all growth; I have got the life. I say to a child, You go and walk worthy of your family; but if he has no sense of what his family is, it is no use telling him to walk worthy of it. But if he has the sense of the integrity and standing of his family, then he knows how to walk worthy of it. "In everything commending ourselves as God's ministers" (2 Cor. 6:4
; J.N.D. Trans.).

You get the word worthy in three ways. In Thessalonians, "Walk worthy of God, who bath called you unto His kingdom and glory." In Ephesians, it is the same thing practically: "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

Here in Colossians it is, "Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." Did He ever do His own will in anything? No; He did. His Father's. Are you content never to do your own will, but to take Christ's will as that which is to be the spring and motive of all you do? Then communion is not interrupted; and it is joy and blessing beyond all human thought. You say, Am I never to do what I like? Like! Do you not like to be always with Christ? This detects the workings of the flesh.

Then comes the activity, the growing acquaintance with God, "increasing in [or rather, by] the knowledge of God." The full joy of heaven is the knowledge of God. If I am going after the world, will this be increasing by the knowledge of God? It tests what I like. Do you like to be away from God, and do your own will sometimes? But He says, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8
. Do you delight to do it? Oh, what a thought it is, that in this dark world God has perfectly revealed Himself in Christ; nay more, that lie dwells in us! "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:15
. There is God by His Spirit.

Now mark how this works. "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power." I shall find plenty of difficulties in the way, and temptations of all kinds-possibly death, as has often been the case in some countries- but I am strengthened with all might. There is the strength. I have been brought into close relationship with God, and there I get this power. Unto what? "Unto all patience." This sounds like a poor thing, but you will find it is just what tries you. "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Jas. 1:4
. And again, "The signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience." 2 Cor. 12:12
. Are you always patient? do you not need divine power for it? I may want setting right in the

Church of God, or in the Lord's work, or in a thousand things; but I must have patience. I must wait on God. Supposing my will is not at work, there comes meekness and gentleness. I can take things gently and meekly and quietly with others; and, then he adds, if that is the case, my life is in full display before God, and there is the enjoyment of God. I enter into all this blessedness, and am not merely "made meet," but "giving thanks," because I am in the positive and blessed enjoyment of all. When I am walking in patience of heart and longsuffering, my soul is with God. I get the blessed enjoyment of what He is, and I grow by the knowledge of Him; "Unto every one which hath shall be given." If I am honest, I say, I do not know what His will is-perhaps there is something in myself that I have not yet detected. Here I have all these exercises; but it is in the sense of the divine favor resting on me with consciousness of my being a child of God. The more a child is with his father, and delights in him, of course the better he will grow up, understanding what his father likes. It is so with us before God.

Unity. C.H. Brown

Unity in itself is no object unless it has a sound and solid basis. Otherwise, you have merely union, merely amalgamation, merely the assembling of a lot of individuals together. You do not have unity. Evidently, the unity of the Spirit must have been broken at some time, with the result that these two companies are going on apart from each other. The unity of the Spirit must have been broken, and indeed it was. Meetings have a history, and it is a matter that is accessible. If I want to find out why, I can find out, and I will find that there was a time, it does not matter how far back, when a question was at issue that affected the honor and glory of Christ, and those who wanted to abide in the apostles' doctrine, those who refused to compromise conscience and who wanted to be loyal to Christ, had to act for Him. They had to separate themselves from that which was evil, that which was a dishonor to the name of Christ. It is a sad thing, but oh, far better to separate than to go on with evil. For remember, we have read scripture after scripture that tells us not to go on with evil—not to go on in fellowship with that which dishonors Christ. If a man goes on in wickedness, 1 Corinthians chapter 5, tells us to put him away. That chapter is most familiar to all of us here. No, brethren, the idea that we are to go on with everybody—that we are to have fellowship with everybody that calls himself a Christian—there is not a shred of scripture for any such idea. All the body and burden of Scripture is in the opposite direction.

Walk worthy!

Then comes the activity, the growing acquaintance with God, "increasing in [or rather, by] the knowledge of God." The full joy of heaven is the knowledge of God. If I am going after the world, will this be increasing by the knowledge of God? It tests what I like. Do you like to be away from God, and do your own will sometimes? But He says, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40. Do you delight to do it? Oh, what a thought it is, that in this dark world God has perfectly revealed Himself in Christ; nay more, that lie dwells in us! "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:15
. There is God by His Spirit.

Now mark how this works. "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power." I shall find plenty of difficulties in the way, and temptations of all kinds-possibly death, as has often been the case in some countries- but I am strengthened with all might. There is the strength. I have been brought into close relationship with God, and there I get this power. Unto what? "Unto all patience." This sounds like a poor thing, but you will find it is just what tries you. "Let patiencehave her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Jas. 1:4
. And again, "The signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience." 2 Cor. 12:12
. Are you always patient? do you not need divine power for it? I may want setting right in the
Church of God, or in the Lord's work, or in a thousand things; but I must have patience. I must wait on God. Supposing my will is not at work, there comes meekness and gentleness. I can take things gently and meekly and quietly with others; and, then he adds, if that is the case, my life is in full display before God, and there is the enjoyment of God. I enter into all this blessedness, and am not merely "made meet," but "giving thanks," because I am in the positive and blessed enjoyment of all. When I am walking in patience of heart and longsuffering, my soul is with God. I get the blessed enjoyment of what He is, and I grow by the knowledge of Him; "Unto every one which hath shall be given." If I am honest, I say, I do not know what His will is-perhaps there is something in myself that I have not yet detected. Here I have all these exercises; but it is in the sense of the divine favor resting on me with consciousness of my being a child of God. The more a child is with his father, and delights in him, of course the better he will grow up, understanding what his father likes. It is so with us before God.

God knows...!!!

God knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim;
He gives the very best to those,
Who leave the choice with him.

Author unknown.

Where do I go? And why?

The Assembly of God;

C.H.M., Unity

Cick here:

Unity: What is it? And am I confessing it?

He met them, going away...

Emmaus
From:Christian Truth
 – Christian Truth: Volume 9

LUKE 24
There is a question that presses on me: How far are we morally in the condition of the truth of Matt. 18:20
? "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." The solemn question is, Am I in such a condition?—not simply going to a meeting and having intercourse with "His own." There is more still—a deeper, more important thing yet. Am I really gathered to the Person of the Lord Jesus? so that as I leave the meeting I may be like the disciples in John, who said, "We have seen the Lord." If we are occupied with the detail of what this and that one has done, we are incapable of knowing His mind. He will have the moral state and walk to be that of truth. He cannot allow the condition of saints to be different from His doctrine. What is the truth He is calling us back to? Himself—around His Person.

In Luke 9, the two men in glory were with the Lord. They were talking of His decease and were happy. It is not merely coming to the breaking of bread, but a living state of connection with Christ, like Moses and Elias, that must characterize us. Now in Luke 24, there is not a word of anyone seeing Christ; but there were two souls leaving Jerusalem, and these two were sad, although they too were talking of His decease. Something drew them away from Jerusalem, although with sorrow, and the Lord comes and talks to them. "Why are ye sad?" He says. There never had been a more wonderful day for the earth than this; for He who had been crucified and buried, had risen, and although angels were adoring at the resurrection, yet the souls of these two were sad. We learn from this the state often of our own souls. Why was there this slowness of heart? Their reply is given in verse 21. It was what the natural man looked for—a kingdom on earth. They say, in substance, "The One whom we looked for is crucified, is dead, and we have no hope."

It is when the soul is out of communion that we seek temporal deliverances. How does the Lord deal with them? As far as these two go away from Jerusalem, He goes with them. What grace! There was no communion nor intelligence with them, but He goes with them to the end and then shows them that He has no business at Emmaus. He reveals Himself. Depend upon it, if we are looking for some outside temporal removal of difficulties, we have gotten outside of our right place.

Was it the Spirit that was leading these two toward Emmaus? No, for the Spirit had been leading others to gather together in Jerusalem. The two had gone to Emmaus, little as they thought of it, to know Himself, and so when He had revealed Himself to them, they feel that they, like Him, have no place there. So they return to Jerusalem in spite of the distance and their fatigue, and find the disciples gathered together! Was it a matter of indifference to Him whether or not these two were going to Emmaus? Was He careful only of the number gathered in the little room? Oh, no; not till these two were brought back to Jerusalem to those who were already gathered there, does He reveal Himself among them. How precious to know the Lord is just like this!

Before the mountains...

Psalm 90:2
   Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Proverbs 3:1-2 Let thine heart keep...

Proverbs 3:1-2

1.   My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2.   For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Even there...

Psalm 139:7-10

7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence.
8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Be happy!

"Be careful for nothing" (Philippians 4:6).
"Rejoice in the Lord alway" (Philippians 4:4)

What sweeping words, leaving us without excuse for not being happy!

For "nothing" takes in everything, and "always" leaves no time out, only it must be "in the Lord."
(J.N. Darby)

Build a Nest, by jnd

***** Trust in the Lord...!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We have ever to bear in mind that our one great business is, to obey, and leave results with God. It may please Him to permit His servants to see striking results, or He may see fit to allow them to wait for that great day that is coming, when there will be no danger of our being puffed up by seeing any little fruit of our testimony. It is our plain and bound duty to tread that bright and blessed path indicated for us by the commandments of our precious and adorable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May God enable us, by the grace of His Holy Spirit, to do so. May we cleave to the truth of God with purpose of heart, utterly regardless of the opinions of our fellow-men who may charge us with narrowness, bigotry, intolerance, and such like. We have just to go on with the Lord!
C.H.M.

"...ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY"

The glory

1. The glory shines before me,
I cannot linger here;
Though clouds may darken o’er me,
My Father’s house is near:
If through this barren desert
A little while I roam,
The glory shines before me,
I am not far from home.

2. Beyond the storms I ‘m going,
Beyond this vale of tears,
Beyond the floods o’erflowing,
Beyond the changing years:
I’m going to the better land,
By faith long since possessed:
The glory shines before me,
For this is not my rest.

3. The Lamb is there the glory!
The Lamb is there the light!
Affliction’s grasp but tore me
From phantoms of the night:
The voice of Jesus calls me,
My race will soon be run;
The glory shines before me,
The prize will soon be won.

4. The glory shines before me,
I know that all is well;
My Father’s care is o’er me,
His praises I would tell:
The love of Christ constrains me,
His blood hath washed me white;
Where Jesus is in glory,
‘Tis home, and love, and light.