February 21
“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles
of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14).
Here we have a vision of the wall of the Holy City, which have twelve foundations, on which
the names of the twelve Apostles are written. These precious stones speak of the strong
Apostolic foundation on which we are built (Eph. 2:19-22). Now the Apostles were only
ordinary men, they were men of like passions as we are, yet they were made strong by God.
We know what kind of a man Simon Peter was, yet, in spite of his failure; he became God’s
precious stone.
How did Simon Peter become a precious stone? That name ‘Peter’ means just an ordinary
rough stone, but the same rough stone became in the end a very precious, shinning
foundation stone. “The first foundation was Jasper (Rev. 21:19). Peter, the rough stone is
now linked to a shining, bright, beautiful, precious Jasper stone. How did he become like that?
Precious stones have to go through extreme heat under the ground to become so brilliant.
God asks us to believe in His perfect will and to allow the trials He may send to work His will
in us. That is how He can make of us shining stones. If we allow the light and truth of God to
work in us, we shall become like precious stones drawn close to the heart of God, to enjoy
His full love and affection.
New Christian Prayer Church.
Come, Lord Jesus Christ | February 17
February 17
“Spices for anointing oil” (Exodus 25:6).
Special spices were required by God, to be used in making the anointing oil. Read Exodus
30:22-33. That oil could only be used in the temple and in the Sanctuary, and upon those
who were serving in the Sanctuary; it could not be used for any other purpose.
The spices called myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia were used, along with olive oil.
In Song of Solomon 4:12-16, the Church is compared to a garden where those spices grow. Imagine a garden where frankincense, myrrh, aloes, cassia and calamus are all growing together. After much careful cultivation the bushes begin to blossom. Then the North and the South winds begin to blow, and the sweet fragrance of mingled spices flows out, giving great joy to the one who walks in the garden.
Can you sing to the Lord Jesus Christ! ‘Come, Lord Jesus Christ, into my heart, Thy garden of spices’. If you are not living a life to the glory of God, the Lord can smell no spices. But if you are living a life pleasing to Him, then that garden of spices, your heart can give joy to Him. We read in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that “We are God’s husbandry”, God’s garden, and in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, that “We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ”.
That is how our lives ought to be, so that, when our Lord Jesus Christ walks in His gardens, He may smell their fragrance.