Perspective:-
Great is His faithfulness
NTK
Summery: - One more year end, reveals God’s Faithfulness. Our unfaithfulness makes God to discipline us, yet never fails in His faithfulness and mercies. Turn to Him; He is good to those who wait for Him.
Once again we are approaching to the end of another year. Many of us are getting ready to come together on the night of 31st December to review and revise our commitment to the Lord. There will be some who will say triumphantly with Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2Timothy.4:7. How blessed and good it will be, if we all can look back and declare that we have been successful in every aspect of our spiritual life. Certainly, it is not bad to look back and celebrate victory.
Alas, many of us can only repeat that old refrain, “Though I have been unfaithful to the Lord, He has been faithful to me”! There are some who are not comfortable with such a statement. Nevertheless beloved, what else shall we say at this juncture. According to Luke 17:10, even after fulfilling all the desires of the Master, we have been exhorted to say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” Think of the past one year, can we say boldly and sincerely that we did obey the word of God fully and our actions and attitude were in God’s perfect will? No, many of us can only say with Jeremiah, “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamantations.3:22, 23.
Yes, beloved, it is His faithfulness that carried us through the last year. In spite of all the uncertainties, turmoil, dangers and difficulties the Lord has faithfully protected us and provided for us. He never allows His faithfulness to fail; it reaches even to the clouds. Psalms.89:33; 36:5. Every morning we can seek for new mercies available with the Lord. Such realization does give hope and comfort to our hearts as testified by Jeremiah. Lamentations 3: 21
Through out the Bible, the Spirit of God refers to the faithfulness of God. It is part of His very nature. He can not deny it. 2Timothy. 2:13. The Lord is faithful in His covenant (Deutoronomy.7:9), in His call (1Corinthians.1:9), in forgiving our sins (1John. 1:9) and in guarding us (2Thessalonians 3:3). One of the most encouraging verses on the Lord’s faithfulness is found in Joshua.21:45. “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” (Cp. Joshua.23:14; 1Kings.8:56) He is faithful in His promises. Heberews.10:23. It was this consciousness that made Sarah and Abraham to hope against hope. Heberews.11:11. (Laman.3:21)
Does it mean that we can live in any way? Do we think God’s faithfulness can encourage us to continue in our failures? God forbid. The word of explicitly explains, not only the Lord expects us to be faithful but He also chastens us. Psalmist put it brilliantly in Psam.89: 30—33. “If his sons forsake my law and do not walk in My judgments, if they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.” After giving such a stern warning against the disobedience of the Israelites the Lord reminds them, “Nevertheless My loving kindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail.” V.33.
Hence, it is abundantly clear that God does expect faithfulness from His people and He does chastise them for failure. Even in the midst of such chastisement God remains faithful and gracious to them. Jeremiah further says, “For the Lord will not cast off forever, though he causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” Lamantation.3:31—33. Therefore, even though the Lord disciplines us reluctantly as a father, in His faithfulness He bears us and carries us forward. How can we despise such mercies of God?
At the closing hours of this year let us look back, examine our ways and turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven, recalling His unfailing faithfulness. (Lamantations.3:40) Praise God for His mercies and consecrate ourselves afresh to His will to be faithful unto death. (Revelation.2:10) For, He is good to those who wait for Him. (Lamantations.3:25)
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness;
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”
To all our readers, prayer partners and friends, from the depth of our heart, we wish you all a blessed, Christ centred, Happy New Year 2009 NTK
Study Note:- Christ Sitting At His Table
Michael Browne, Bath, England
“While the King is at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance.” Song of Solomon 1.12
The King
Here the heart overflows with precious thoughts as one contemplates the King. cp Psalm 45.1. In v.4 the Shulamite was in the King’s chamber alone with him. In v.7 she was with him among the flock; but here in v.12, she is with him at his table sharing his rich provision. This suggests our personal communion with Christ in the ‘secret place’ and our public service for Him in the assembly. Like fragrant incense, our affections, ascending to Him in the enjoyment of His spiritual provisions in the fellowship of His assembly.
His Table
Here we view the King’s delicious table spread with the finest provisions for the satisfaction of his much loved Shulamite. The table speaks of heavenly supply, of spiritual food, fellowship, and satisfaction. Above all the King is present sharing in the joy of this sweet occasion, delighting in his loved bride. What a lovely picture of Christ in the midst of His saints, dispensing the royal dainties of heaven, and receiving their fragrant worship in return. Our minds go immediately to the Lord’s Supper where, “as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” 1 Corinthians 11.26. The ‘table’ consists of more than the Supper, but the Supper is certainly part of the fullness of that divine supply included in the ‘table’.
My Spikenard
It was while the King sat at his table the bride’s spikenard sent forth the smell thereof. Yes, and it is while we are in communion with our Beloved, resting in the appreciated good of His divine provision, the spikenard of our worship ascends as sweet incense delighting His heart. When Christ was in the house at Bethany they “made him a supper”, and Mary’s spikenard sent forth its fragrance, John 12.2-3. We make Him a supper on the Lord’s day in obedience to His command, and with hearts filled with Himself and in the consciousness of His presence “in the midst”, Matthew 18.20, we say in the language of the bride, “A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me” v.8.
Worship is the spirit’s response to a heart filled with the greatness of Christ. This is the highest expression of prayer, the most sacred act of devotion the human spirit is capable of—and it is realized “while the king sitteth at his table”.
Out line:-
Good Things for God’s People
- To draw near to God. Psalm.73:28
- To give thanks. Psalm. 92:1
- To bear the yoke. Lamantations.3:27
- To be afflicted. Psalm. 119:71
- To be zealous for a good cause. Galatians. 4:18
Anecdote: -
You can not purchase: Ask for it!
When the Spanish-American War was going on, Clara Barton was supervising the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt wanted to purchase good for his soldiers who are sick and wounded. When approached Clara, she refused to sell him any food. Roosevelt was confused at her action. His men needed the help and he was ready to pay out of his own pocket. Then he asked somebody about it and asked for the reason why she did not sell, he was told, “Colonel, just ask for it!”
A smile broke over Roosevelt’s face. Now he understood – the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simple ask and they would be given freely. This is exactly the way we receive forgiveness of our sins.
News & Views
Fear and Happiness are Contagious
Researchers in the U.S have found that humans can detect the smell of fear and being scared is contagious. The chemical signals emitted by the body in the sweat when scared can be picked up by others and can trigger fear in their brains. Read on line
Worthy Quotes:-
Faithfulness
“O Lord my God, give me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you.” ---------Thomas Aquinas “Faithfulness in carrying out our present duties is the best preparation for the future.” ----------Francois Fenelon “He does most in God’s great world who does his best in his own little world.” ---------Thomas Jefferson
"Grace & Peace" is an e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,