Saturday April 7 2012

This sad Saturday, between Good Friday, the day the Messiah, our Lord Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, and tomorrow, Easter, when Jesus arose in triumph - this sad Saturday is precious.  We accept that Christ became sin for us, that He absorbs all of our sins and shortcomings, our disobedience and our trespasses onto Himself and makes good now our loss.  This day is the day when Jesus suffers truly for us, separated from His Father, God Almighty, until His resurrection tomorrow morning on glorious Easter morning.  
So, my fellow travelers on this earth, take the Lord's hand, let Him pay the price and the bounty for you.  Then let Him live in you, through you, and give you happiness and peace eternal, with life eternal in the presence and love of God.


Today's meditation from Bob Hoekstra:



April 7


THE BIBLE AS A SAFEGUARD
"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."-- Psa_119:11.


THE PRAYER: "Teach me Thy statutes" occurs eight times in this wonderful Psalm. It may be said to be its keynote. God's statutes are the path of purity. If a young man will take heed to them, his way will be cleansed. The passage of the Word of God through the heart, like the running of clean water through a pipe, will purify it. Constant study of the Bible is the condition of soul-health.
Consecration is closely associated with Bible study (Psa_119:10). Holiness is wholeness--that is, the whole-hearted devotion of a whole nature to God, the consecration of every power to His service. This leads us to lean hard on God, and to seek His companionship and fellowship. Psa_119:11 tells us of a good thing laid up in a good place, and the result. In the midst of a London season, and amid the stir and turmoil of a political crisis, William Wilberforce wrote in his diary: "Walked from Hyde Park Comer, repeating the 119th Psalm in great comfort"; John Ruskin said: "It is strange that of all the pieces of the Bible which my mother taught me, that which cost me most to learn, and which to my child's mind was most repulsive, the 119th Psalm, has now become, of all, the most precious to me in its glorious passion for the law of God."
The study of the Bible enables us to bear witness for God (Psa_119:13). An inspector on one of our railways once told me that he had a vision of God whilst studying his Bible and kneeling in prayer. From this he went to his duties on the station platform. At one end of the train, a man offered him some whisky, but he was able to answer, "I have had a better drink than that," and pointed him to the Water of Life (Joh_4:14; Rev_22:17). At the other end of the train, another man asked him for a Testament, the slang phrase for a pack of cards, and my friend was able to pass on to him a Pocket Testament! It is when the Word of God fills the heart that it overflows through the lips and actions, and it is what flows over from us that really helps and blesses our fellow-men. "'Out of him shall flow rivers of living water." Let us live in fellowship with God through His Word. This will light up our life with gladness, amid many sorrows. Wait not for Heaven, but here and now, day by day, be joyful in heart and life (Psa_119:14-16).


PRAYER
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. AMEN.