Bits and Pieces – 84th Edition – October 17, 2021

“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them” Proverbs 20:12

The eye is most exquisitely and delicately constructed. This little organ has tens of millions of electrical connections and can handle one and a half million simultaneous messages.  The retina alone, covering less than a square inch, contains 137 million light- sensitive cells.  The tiny muscles of the eye, milligram for milligram, are among the body’s strongest.  On average, they move about one hundred thousand times daily, bringing into sharp focus. Truly, we are wonderfully made.

How precious is the gift of sight!  It is pre-eminently the learning sense.  We absorb an estimated 80 percent of all our knowledge by means of sight.  Christian, guard the eye-gate. Resolve with the Psalmist, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” Psalm 101:3.

How much more precious is spiritual sight! The natural man is spiritually blind.  The Christian once was spiritual darkness, but now is light in the Lord.  “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” John 9:25. These are the words of a man blind from birth.  He was ushered into a new world – the world of sight with all its attendant sensations.  His experience strikes a chord in redeemed hearts. [Rev. Michael Patrick]

“God’s mind is revealed in Scripture, but we can see nothing without the spectacles of the Holy Ghost”   [Thomas Manton]

     Fredericton Free Presbyterian Church was formed in 1991, but the pulpit has been vacant since 2008.  Fortunately, Neil Sampson has faithfully helped out on Sunday mornings.  Please join with us in extra prayer that the Lord will bring His man for the faithful people.

The Salvation Army is a global organization which, by its own statement, exists “to share the love of Jesus, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.”  It was founded by William Booth, whose primary concern was the salvation of souls and also to provide help for the needy.  It would seem the latter has taken over.

The Salvation Army in Canada puts out a little four-page pamphlet, “HOPE for TODAY.” It is rather remarkable in that it offers hope without any reference whatever to the fountain of hope, Jesus Christ.  Indeed, there is no mention of God at all except the perfunctory, “God bless you.”  Even that, within our multi-cultural and multi-religious society, is rather meaningless and generic.  Nor is there any mention of what “Salvation Army” means, or even a helpful quote from the Bible, or mention of the saving Gospel of Christ.  Sin is not mentioned, and if the disease is not identified, how can you persuade people that they need a cure?

I wrote to Lt. John P. Murray, their Territorial Secretary for Communications, on October 19 of last year.  A year later and I still have had no response.  I suggested to him that his little paper would make an excellent vehicle for even a brief scriptural message to reach not only the bodies of the needy but their immortal souls as well.  No response!

Paul knew the difference between the earthen vessel and the treasure of the Gospel.  He said, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels”  [2 Corinthians 11:7].

When someone gets a valuable watch or piece of jewellery invariably, it comes in a nice velvet-lined box.  How foolish it would be to throw the watch away and treasure the box.  The servants of God are the containers displaying the treasure, but the Gospel is the precious jewel.

The Lord is looking for “earthen vessels.”  They may not feel very strong and have a tendency to crack easily, but in the hands of the great Potter, they can be very useful in the Lord’s service.  Let the Lord lead you to spread the treasure of His Gospel.

A burglar is robbing a house in the dead of night.  In the room, he hears a voice saying, “Andrew is watching you.”  He looked around and saw nothing, so he continued the robbery. Again the voice says, “Andrew is watching you.”  This time he shines his flashlight around and sees a parrot in a cage.  He asks the parrot if that was him who was talking?  The parrot says, “Yes.”  The burglar asks the parrot for his name.  “Penelope,” the parrot answers.  The burglar said, “What kind of idiot would name his parrot, Penelope?”  The parrot answered, “The same sort of idiot that named his Rottweiler, Andrew!”