Bits and Pieces – 89th Edition – November 21, 2021

He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry hungering.  He who is the Water of Life ended His ministry thirsting.

Christ hungered as a man yet fed the hungry as God.  He was weary, yet He is our rest.  He paid tribute yet He is the King.  He was called a devil but cast out demons.  He prayed yet He hears our prayers.  He wept but has dried our tears.

He was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.  He gave His life, and by dying destroyed death. The lowly carpenter of Nazareth is the Mighty Architect of the Universe. [Author Unknown].

“He shall offer the sacrifice of the peace offering”  [Leviticus 3:9].

Many Christians find Leviticus a difficult book to study.  One of the reasons is that the intricate details of the offerings and other services are hard to decipher.  It is good to note the similarities and then the differences.  That approach will help you understand, for example, how the peace offering is different from the burnt offering.

The peace offering shows more the results of Christ’s sacrifice than the manner. It signifies the peace, prosperity, and joy that should characterize the believer’s life.

There are some today who are gloomy, dull, dark-spirited, and unsociable, and who seem to labour under the delusion that gloominess is a sign of piety.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  When the Jew brought his peace offering, it was with a heart moved by the mercy of God.  Any remarkable favour from God was a fit opportunity to bring a peace offering.

Let us bring our peace offerings to God today and thank Him for the enjoyments of life that are common to all.  God is seen in the entire world around us.  Thank Him for beauty, domestic happiness, friendships, and for a multitude of His tender mercies.

Let us thank the Lord for the enjoyments of eternal life.  These are meats sacred to the Christian.  We know God not only as Creator but also as Redeemer.  The turbulence of a sinful life is replaced by the peace of God.  We can sing, “It is well with my soul.”

Thank Him also for the guidance of His Word.  The riddles of life are explained.  The Christian sees himself tracing the steps of Moses and Paul and a host of God’s chosen servants.  He does not need to muddle his way through life.  God has said, “This is the way, walk ye in it” [Isaiah 30:21]. What a joy to know the peace of God and the God of peace. [Philippians 4,7,9]

“Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” [Matthew 14:30].

Short prayers are long enough.  There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose.  Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity.

If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better.  Verbiage is to devotion as chaff is to the wheat.  Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as sort as that of Peter.

The voice is an instrument – use it well.  It should be used to inspire the hearers with the great themes of Scripture.  Dull, monotone voices will not succeed in doing this.  Continual high-pitched tones grate on the ears and spoil the message.

Genuine humility will make the hearer more receptive.  Egotism has no place in the Christian pulpit.  Not Mine but Thine should be our motto.

Apply.  Apply.  Apply.  The teacher must apply the Word to the listeners.  Many an otherwise fine message can be spoiled because there is little or no application of the Bible truth to meet the need of ordinary people.

When as a child I laughed and wept,

Time Crept

When as a youth I dreamed and talked,

Time Walked

When I became a full-grown man,

Time Ran

Later as I older grew,

Time Flew

Soon I shall find while travelling on,

Time Gone

Will Christ have saved my soul by then?