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Before my husband passed away, he started to write some devotionals for me to post on an internet site (not a Christian site) and many were blessed by what he wrote over the last few months of his life.

I thought I'd share them here from time to time and maybe someone here on CU will also be blessed.

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WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 1. Angels

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Angels, Angels, Angels. The ubiquitous angel. We find them in the Avon catalogue, in the jewellery shop window, and on the covers of glossy and not so glossy magazines. People claim to talk to angels, receive messages from angels and have angel companions. Many of those who pay great attention to the angelic hosts, oddly enough have little time for the Creator of angels or for His precious Word.

The reality of angels is not to be doubted. There are frequent references to them in the Bible. In fact, if you are interested in numbers, angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. The writer to the Hebrews reminds Christians that "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." [/b](Hebrews 12:22).

Yes, indeed there are angels, but how did they come into existence, what is their function and what is their relationship to the Eternal Son of God?

David, King of Israel reminds us in Psalm 148 that God created all things in heaven and on earth. Verses 2 and 5 read as follows, "Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him all His hosts. Let them praise the name of the Lord; for He commanded and they were created."

Paul the Apostle assures us in Colossians 1 that this one who created all that "IS" was the Son of God. "For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible".[/b] (For the context, it is suggested that Colossians 1:12-19 be read).

These heavenly created beings have many tasks to perform, ranging from chanting the praises of the triune God to executing judgment on fallen angels and those among humankind who reject the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. ?One of their principle activities is to minister to God?s people. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation?"[/b] (Hebrews 1:14)

Some people have tried to teach that Jesus Christ is an angelic being, the first created being and therefore the chief angel. Nothing could be further from the truth. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:5-14) makes it very, very clear that while angels are created beings, the Son of God is the King Eternal uncreated and without beginning.

It is this same Jesus who became a man, lived a sinless life and has become the sacrifice for sin for all who will believe in Him. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (Romans 3:25)

Just a word of warning: not all angels are good. There are fallen angels too. These are enemies of God and of the souls of humans. Those who feel that they receive guidance from angels need to be very careful. Should anyone, human or angelic point you to any other source other than Christ for salvation or direct you to take actions condemned in the word of God, flee from that being and turn quickly to Jesus Christ the Saviour of men.

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel which is not another: but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." [/b](Galatians 2:6-9 New King James).

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Thanks for shareing, I will be looking forward to your next one.

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel which is not another: but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 2:6-9)

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Thanks Brother Love...

I'll post his next one.

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WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 2. The Lamb of God

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Spring is not far away in this part of the globe. In a few weeks, buds will be bursting into beautiful cascades of colour.  Brown fields will give way to tender, luscious shoots of green grass. The mornings will resound again with the melody of song birds, as they flit around in their new bright spring feathers, doing the things birds do while building their nests and raising their little ones. Soon, too, the little lambs will be seen sporting on the hills and in the valleys of Ontario, and Scotland and Ireland and many other places throughout the world.

Perhaps it was in spring that John the Baptist, on seeing Jesus coming to him said: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29 (NKJV) What an unusual thing to call an adult male. What a peculiar statement to make. Think of it again. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Lambs were familiar to the Jewish people of John's day. Lambs were a reminder to them of their history, when as slaves in Egypt, God had commanded them to kill a lamb, a spotless lamb, for each household and apply its blood to the lintel and door posts of their houses so that God's judgment would not fall on them. This exciting story can be read in detail in Exodus 12.

When I was a boy (many years ago), my father used to tell me stories to illustrate the Bible way of salvation. He seemed to have an endless store of them. Some of these stories I have remembered fondly over the years. One was about a man in Switzerland who was employed to repair the steeple on a local village church. So used, was he to working at heights that he did not bother to attach himself with a safety rope. He wanted freedom to move around, but alas his desire for freedom almost cost him his life. To their horror, some of the villagers saw him slip and grasp wildly to break his fall. To no avail, downward he hurtled. The villagers ran frantically to where the worker lay. He must be dead! But wonder of wonders he was alive. Instead, a lamb lay beneath him bearing his weight. The lamb was dead, crushed beneath the human load which had fallen on it.

When John the Baptist called the Lord Jesus Christ, "The lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world", he was telling his hearers that Jesus would die on the cross to take the weight of sin of the nations so that judgment need not fall on those who like the Israelites in Egypt were protected, by the blood of the lamb.

In the book of Revelation 7:9-10 (NKJV), we see, "a great multitude from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues standing before the throne of the Lamb clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying with a loud voice saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb".

There is a lovely hymn we sometimes sing in the church where we fellowship that speaks of Christ's sacrificial work as the Lamb of God and the blessings brought to all those who are His by personal faith in Him.




Let me lovingly ask you a very personal question, "What is your relationship to the Lamb of God? Have you put your faith in Him to deliver you from the judgment to come?" To do this you must first agree with God that you are a helpless sinner unable to meet the demands of His law, unable to pay the price of your own sin. Then you must agree that as the Lamb of God, He has taken away your sin.

If you have trusted Him you will one day sing the song of the redeemed in heaven



The alternative is frightful. Those who do not seek the Lamb as Lord and Saviour will want to flee from Him as Judge, and will "call on the mountains and rocks to fall on them to hide them from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" [/i] (Revelation 6:15-17).

It is my prayer that none who read this will miss the day of Salvation, and the mercy of the Lamb, for who will be able to stand in the coming day of the wrath of the Lamb.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Patzt,

AMEN SISTER!!!!

These devotions are beautiful, and you've given me more to add to my study list. Thank you sincerely for sharing these with us.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks so much, dear Tom.  I do pray that each time I share these that someone somewhere will come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

I hope that no one minds but I'll share the third "Walking in the Old Paths" in here.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 3. Crutches and Heart Transplants

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His bitter countenance hardened to a sneer when I informed him that I was a Christian.

"Christianity," he snapped," is only a crutch for weaklings".

His eyes flashed hate against his Maker as he repeated this old tattered and silly platitude. It was obvious that rage was rolling and boiling within his innermost being.

What should I say in reply? Perhaps I could remind him that the sinner is lame and blind and in need of help and assistance on life's great journey. I could go on to say that Christ alone is able to support the morally lame and guide the spiritually blind. However, such an answer would have been inadequate and misleading.

It is indeed true that unregenerate man is "poor and lame and blind" and therefore, unable to walk uprightly and in a straight path before God Who is holy, righteous and just. But man's disease, in a spiritual sense goes far beyond the darkened eyes and the deformed feet. Both his sinful sickness and his spiritual penury are merely symptoms of a far more serious malady. Isaiah, the prophet wrote, "...The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores;...". (Isaiah 1:5,6) The sickening symptoms of this disease are vividly pictured for us by the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:10-18:


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This may sound awful, but remember it is God's diagnosis of the problem, and men left to their own devious devices will soon manifest such terrible conduct as that described. We only have to read of the acts of men in recent history to confirm the truth of it. Even the behaviour of "civilized" troops sent to keep the peace in war torn lands attest to thefacts of scripture.

Man does indeed seek out and use many devices to support himself as he travels through life. Indeed these props may appear to be of some help for a time, but by and by they crumble and break when they are most needed. These supports give a false sense of security and will be of no help at all when the poor forsaken soul stands before the Last Great Assize. These crutches have various names. A few examples are: socialism, humanism, atheism, psychology, religion and entertainment to name but a few. They all have some things in common. For example, their place of manufacture was Hell and their designer was the arch enemy of souls. His name is Satan. They are among the many and diverse tools which he uses to blind men to their personal depravity and to the real cause of the present distress of nations.

When God reaches down and imparts saving faith to a poor sin sick soul, He does much more than provide a crutch.  He performs a spiritual Heart Transplant.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26,27 NKJV)

As the new heart is thus given in grace, the unsoundness of the head is also dealt with. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21-23 NKJV)

To the one who calls Christian faith a crutch we can confidently answer, "It is not merely a crutch to the lame. Rather it is a spiritual heart transplant which never fails." The recipient of such a new heart as God gives will never die spiritually for he has eternal life.

Oh, that sinners may be moved to cry with Israel's king David "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10 NKJV). Those who do this, trusting in Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on Calvary will receive new hearts and will become new creations in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) This truly describes the experience known as the new birth. Those who have truly experienced it no longer need crutches for they are enabled to "walk in newness of life."

Beloved reader, have you received this divine surgery? You don't need to have your name put on a waiting list. God now calls sinners to repentance and faith in His Son the Great Physician of souls.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

I hope that it's ok to add another of these Walking in the Old Paths.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 4. The Old Guide Book

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In the years of long ago when I was a child, I often heard my mother sing a hymn that somehow I understood was very dear to her. Sometimes I would find her sitting alone singing it with tears on her cheeks. As the years rolled by its importance to her seemed to increase.

Some would have thought it a very strange choice had they heard her quietly sing it. Most people who knew her would have been surprised to hear her sing at all, for she never sang in public. Not even with the congregation. While others sang, she would follow in her hymn book intently with her eyes and I suspect with her heart. Her lips would not move, nor her tongue utter a single syllable. Those who knew our circumstances (although they were probably few in number) would have been astonished at the words:


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Over the years we had accumulated few of this world's goods and it was a constant struggle for her to feed and clothe the family.

What then were the blessings that a very poor Irish woman could sing about? They certainly had no value on the stock market and could not be accumulated in the local branch of the Belfast Savings Bank. The "passbook" in which the blessings she sang about were listed was an old black leather covered Guide Book. On the spine in faded gold letters were two words which made up the title, "Holy Bible". The pages were more worn than the cover. Once white, they had long since yellowed with wear and age and tear drops.

My mother probably never heard of John Locke, philosopher and writer, but she would have agreed with the truth of his statement when he said, "It has God for its Author, salvation for its end, without any mixture of error, for its matter: it is all pure, sincere, nothing too much and nothing wanting."

Theologians refer to the Bible as God's Special Revelation to Man. The wonders of creation testify to us of God's unsurpassed wisdom and power, but the Holy Scriptures tell us so much more about God, and it helps us to understand ourselves if only we are willing to accept its teachings. In it we see that God is holy, just and righteous and at the same time, gracious, loving and merciful.

Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth president of the United States, spoke truly when he said, "The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life."

Paul, the apostle, reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 that: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

It is true that ungodly men have attacked the word of God and tried to destroy it down through the ages.  Many have used or attempted to use "facts" of science to disprove its truth. In 1861 the French Academy of Science published a booklet listing over fifty supposed "facts" to contradict the Bible. Atheists of the day rubbed their hands in glee as they ridiculed the Christian faith. Today all of the claimed "facts" are rejected by men of science.

In the early and mid-nineteenth century, archeologists said that they were confident that their findings would discredit the accuracy of the Bible. A few years ago, I heard a lecture by a professor of the Department of Archeology at the University of Toronto in which he said that the Bible is now considered by many archeologists to be the most reliable guidebook to finding remains of old cities etc. in the middle-east.

Yes, the Bible is an old guide book. In fact it is the only truly reliable guide book on the path of life.

An ancient writer said: "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)

Despite the attacks of Satan and puny men, "We rest upon the impregnable rock of Scripture". (Winston Churchill)


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There are many "great and exceeding precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4) found in the Old Guide Book we call the Bible. There are countless multitudes of blessings in this grand old book. One outshines all the others and accepting it is the condition for receiving and enjoying all the other blessings. It is described many times over. We shall look at only a few instances where it is mentioned.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:16, 37)

What love God expressed to us in the coming of His Eternal Son in the body of human flesh! True God and true Man to suffer the penalty of sin upon the cross. What a blessing to know that those who repent of their rebellion and sin and trust Him as Lord and Saviour possess eternal life.

Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians 2:4-10 gives us a great summary of this wonderful blessing. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

You can enter into this the greatest blessing that can ever be known to mankind. Why not do so now by faith in Jesus Christ?

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of Salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

AMEN!!!!


You can enter into this the greatest blessing that can ever be known to mankind. Why not do so now by faith in Jesus Christ?

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of Salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

AMEN!!!!

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AMEN SISTER!!!

PLEASE! - Post all of them. I also enjoyed the midi piano music. "THE BIBLE STANDS" - MOST DEFINITELY!!!

The children of God may be poor by the world's standards, but we are RICH IN JESUS!

Love In Christ,
Tom

It pleases me that you are enjoying these.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 5.  How Great a Sinner Are You?

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Although it occurred about thirty-six years ago, not long after I first arrived from Ireland, I remember the conversation as if it happened yesterday. I had been "volunteered" to be a part of an evangelistic team whose task it was to visit every home in Toronto with the message of the Gospel. We were representing first and foremost the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, and secondly Jarvis Street Baptist Church, a well known historic evangelical church near the city centre.

I had made several calls that evening but only one stands out in my memory. The house was an older well kept, ivy covered brick home in a respectable and affluent area of the city.

The man who opened the door in response to my knock was well groomed and very polite. He had the kind of confidence which is born of success. I introduced myself and explained the purpose of my visit. He smiled indulgently,

"My dear fellow", he said, "This is a respectable neighbourhood. We are all good people around here."

He paused for a moment and then went on. "I'm quite religious and I'm not really a great sinner. The message you have is for great sinners."

For a second or two, I prayed quietly. "How shall I answer this man?" I felt a little intimidated for a moment, but I composed myself quickly.

"Sir," I said, "If a man broke the greatest of all of God's commandments, would that make him a great sinner?"

He looked a little puzzled and then the air of confidence returned. "Yes, I'd say so." He replied. "But I'd never do anything like that."

I quickly opened my New Testament at Matthew 22 and requested him to read aloud verses 35 to 40 inclusive.

He took my New Testament and began reading with a look that said, "Oh, I'll indulge him for a few minutes."

He read the words clearly...at first:

"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

By the time he got to verse thirty-eight, his look of confidence had begun to ebb and so had the colour in his cheeks.

When he finished reading, his eyes were toward the paved door step.

"No one keeps those commandments", he almost whispered.

"That is true." I replied. I then went on to quote Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God."

The man nodded his agreement. The Holy Spirit was working through the Word of God convicting him of sin. He listened receptively as I related to him the story of redeeming Grace and of the Saviour who bore the penalty of sin on Calvary. I rejoiced that the good news is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

R. A. Torrey, a famous American preacher of a bygone era, when he was in Australia, was approached by a man who looked like a boxer. He said to Torrey, "I am not a Christian, but I am moral, upright, honorable and blameless, and I'd like to know what you have against me."

Mr. Torrey looked the man straight in the eye and replied, "I charge you, sir, with high treason against Heaven's King!"

God's great commandment is that we love Him with all our heart with all our soul and with all our mind. To disobey this great commandment is indeed high treason against the King Eternal. Since Adam transgressed in the garden of Eden no one except the Man Christ Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh, has kept this the greatest of all commandments. Since we have broken such a weighty commandment as this we have absolutely no hope of earning salvation by our good works.

As we read in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." And in Romans 3:20, "Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin."

No, there is no justification by good works or keeping the law, but there is justification through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:1, we read these tremendous words, "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

My wife sometimes sings an old hymn which declares the divine principle of salvation by grace alone. Do you agree in your heart with the words it proclaims?



When we have entered into a living union with Christ, through faith in His precious blood, the shackles of sin are broken and we are enabled to do the works which please God, not in order to earn eternal live but because we now have it abundantly.

The Apostle John in his first epistle explained, "These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13).

The Lord Jesus Christ himself said: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: and the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:10 & 11).

Are you working for that which you can never earn, or are you trusting in what Christ has accomplished for sinners?

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.
 

Patzt, thank you for sharing, do you have more to post? If you do I look forwards to the next ones.

Praise God, that Jack Scott is now with the Lord. The devotionals he wrote are GREAT!!

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 6.  A Fact of History

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They anointed and wrapped His broken, bruised and mutilated body with loving hands. Surely their hearts were rent within. Can we doubt that tears flowed like rivers of water down their cheeks until they could cry no more? The One they loved and followed was dead. The One they thought would establish again the throne of His ancestor, David, lay embalmed in oriental manner, in a cold, dark cave. Perhaps they looked on as the authorities sealed the tomb and posted a Roman guard to keep watch. Their saddened minds had forgotten His promise "But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee" (Matthew 26:32).

There are still unbelievers who try desperately to explain away what happened. They have developed some very stupid and unbelievable theories in a vain attempt to disprove the great fact that death could not hold Him in its icy grip. In triumph He burst the bars of death.

Ed Harlow, in his book "Basic Bible Doctrines" reminds us that the resurrection of Christ is the best documented fact of ancient history. It is not my purpose in this short article to give all of the evidences of proof but consider this: If the Lord did not rise again, then His disciples have perpetrated one of the greatest hoaxes of all time. But that does not make sense at all because they had nothing to gain if it were not true, and very much to lose. But preach the resurrection they did at great personal cost. For preaching the truth of the resurrection they were imprisoned, flogged, stoned, crucified, thrown to lions, and burned to death. No, they peddled no hoax, no imaginative myth, but the glorious reality that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Life and victor over death.

As he contemplated the great fact of the resurrection, Robert Lowry was moved to write the following lovely hymn:



Have you ever taken time to contemplate the significance of the resurrection and the great truths we are to learn from it?

First, it is the apex of the doctrine of the Deity of Christ. It is the grand proof of His Divine origin. None but One who is God could raise Himself up from the grave. Jesus had told the Jews that He had that power and now it had occurred.

"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:17-18).

Jesus by His resurrection proved beyond doubt that His claims to equality with God were founded on the firm foundation of the rock of eternal Truth. There can be no serious doubt about it. He is the Son of God. We read in Romans 1:4 "...and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

This is the very keystone of our Faith.

Secondly, the resurrection is the believer's assurance of the completeness of Christ's saving work on the cross. If God the Father had not been fully satisfied with the atonement made for my sins, Christ would not have risen from the dead. The tomb would still be sealed. Unlike some other religions we do not worship a dead prophet, but a living Saviour who has triumphed over sin and death.

Paul reminds us in Romans 4:23-25, "Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."

Are you trusting in the crucified, living, ascended and coming Saviour? Only He can take away the guilt of sin and give peace to the troubled conscience.

A third thing that we can learn from the resurrection of Christ is that we too shall live again. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (I Cor. 15:22)

For the one who is united by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ this is a blessed future to ponder. One day "...the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds of the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (I Thess. 5:22). Surely all who have been saved by grace echo the words of John as he brings the Revelation to a close, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

But what of those who reject Christ? We are reminded of the words of the blessed Son of God Himself, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28,29).

If you, dear reader, are one of those who face the resurrection of condemnation, I would urge you to flee from the wrath to come. Flee away to Jesus. He has graciously said, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37. He died for sinners such as you and me and His resurrection brings blest assurance to all who believe on Him.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Thanks Dreamweaver...  There aren't many.  He was just in the midst of doing these for me and the Lord wanted him Home.  

Patzt,

Sister, they are beautiful. Thank you. I know that many will receive a blessing in reading them.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks Tom!

My prayer is that they be used for the Glory of God alone.

I'll put the first of his next ones that are on Psalm 23

Pat

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 7.  The Shepherd Psalm-- Part (i)

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What do you think is the most loved portion of Holy Scripture? It may well be that great Gospel verse "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). Thousands of children over the centuries have learned it at their mother's knee. I know I did and so did my children. What a wonderful statement it is. Many people down through the ages, since the Lord Jesus spoke these words, have received the peace and joy of eternal life through realizing their truth.

Perhaps one day I shall write an article on this grand old theme. But not today. Instead I want us to focus our attention on another great passage of scripture, almost as well loved, and dear to many since David, the shepherd king, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write its lovely words. The portion of the scripture to which I refer is, as you will probably have guessed from my title, the twenty-third Psalm:

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." [/list]

A jewel is best appreciated in all its sparkling beauty when it is viewed against the setting chosen for it by a skilled artisan. This brilliant gem is no different in this respect although more precious than all the world's lovely stones. What then is the setting chosen for this rare and beautiful rock of divine comfort? Well on the one side we have a prophetic picture of the Shepherd on the cross. See for example, Psalm 22:16-18. This is indeed an example of crucifixion written long before the awful death of crucifixion was invented by wicked minds. On the other side in Psalm 24, we are given a view of our Lord Jesus Christ Our Great Shepherd in His present glory and coming kingdom.

An old Irish preacher, James Irvine of Newcastle, Co. Down, used to explain it this way... "In Psalm 22, we see the Shepherd on the cross dying for His sheep. In Psalm 23, we have the Shepherd with His crook in his hand defending His sheep while in Psalm 24 we have the Shepherd with the crown on His head ruling His kingdom."

There is one who died for His people and now lives to reign eternally on the throne of the universe and I can call Him "My Shepherd". Is there anything more lovely, more comforting, more reassuring than this? If we bear this in mind as we study the depths and delights of the "beloved Psalm", its intrinsic value will be appreciated more and more.

Let us first look at the Person of the Shepherd.
Who is He, what is His character and what are His attributes? This world and the universe of which it forms a part had a beginning somewhere in the ancient past. This Shepherd of whom the Psalm speaks, entered this world of beginnings, yet He had no beginning. John's gospel, chapter 1 tells us that in the beginning was the Word. That is, when everything that had a beginning, began, He already existed. He goes on to inform us that the Word was God and was with God and then, Oh glorious truth, we learn that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14).

Mary was given the inestimable privilege of becoming the virgin mother of the humanity of our Lord, but in His eternal being as deity, He had no mother, no birth, no beginning. He always was and is the second person of the Godhead. He is also "My Shepherd." He is and always has been absolute in holiness, unlimited in knowledge, power and glory. Yet if we are of His flock, we can say with full confidence, "The Lord is My Shepherd."

When our Lord walked upon the green hills of Israel in the days of His flesh, He said, "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." (John 10:14). This is why it is so appropriate that the Shepherd Psalm is placed directly after a Psalm which prophesied the awful events of Mount Calvary.

You see, my dear friends, we cannot claim the wonderful blessings of the Shepherd Psalm unless, we have trusted Him in His life-giving death and are thereby counted among His sheep. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in John's Gospel, 10:26-30 are very important.

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

Have you believed in Him as your personal Saviour and Lord? He does not call on us to place our faith in anyone other than Himself. He does not tell us to hope in the apostles or any other persons, no matter how holy, blessed and exalted they may be. It is He who has loved us unto death. It is He who has borne our sins and carried our sorrows. It is only He who saves us from sin and to such as trust the good Shepherd, He gives eternal life, and they shall never perish.

Even if there were no other blessing to be found in Christ, this by itself would be wonderful news for sinners. Yet there are a multitude of blessings in store for all who come to Him for salvation from the penalty and the power of sin.

Many years ago, Thomas Kelly wrote a fine hymn which very nicely expresses the wonderful work that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in His role as "The Good Shepherd."


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Can you honestly say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" for time and for eternity?

God willing we will continue our study in Psalm 23 next week as we examine some of the blessings we can experience in Him on life's path.

---

Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Here is the second part to the Psalm 23 devotionals that Jack wrote.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 8.  The Shepherd's Psalm--Part (ii)

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In Part (i) of our studies on the wonderful Shepherd Psalm, we looked a little at the character and saving work of the One to whom David referred as "My Shepherd". Before we proceed to examine some of the amazing benefits of being one of His sheep, we shall consider the marks which the sheep carry upon them.

Phillip Kellar, writing in his book, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23", tells how upon purchasing his first little flock of thirty-five ewes, the former owner handed him a large sharp killing knife and remarked, "Well, Phillip, they're yours. Now you'll have to put your mark upon them." This would be a painful experience for each sheep, for it meant parting with a chunk of its ear, cut with Kellar's own chosen design. This peculiar cut would thereafter mark each individual member of the flock out as the shepherd's own property.

The person who hears the voice of the Good Shepherd and trustingly follows Him must forever bear the Master's Mark. This mark is described for us in Romans 6. We really should read the whole chapter, but for the sake of space, we will quote only a few verses.

"Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all: but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:6-12)

Death to self is demanded and can be a very painful process but it is very necessary. You see the Devil has his own flock, which bares his mark of rebellion and sin. When Christ redeems us He expects to mark us out with His own characteristics of love, obedience and holiness. As we read in II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." As someone has said, "We are not saved by our works, but if we are truly saved our works will declare our new relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ."

We must realize the kind of sheep we once were and remember the flock to which we belonged; "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6.). If we also understand the tremendous price He paid for us, then we will not wonder that he demands that we bare his likeness.

Despite what we were, guilty and lost, wandering on the desolate crags of Satan's domain, He redeemed us, called, us, and made us the sheep of His pasture if we are His by faith. In all His own he takes delight and tends them with loving care. Even in the midst of their trials and difficulties, the Good Shepherd leads His lambs with gentleness and grace. We may sometimes feel that He no longer watches over us, but if we wait upon Him the dark clouds of doubt will dissipate to reveal the sunshine of His tender love.

Before we begin looking at the blessings of Psalm 23, let us emphasize the Shepherd's mark upon us. In Ephesians 2:8 & 9, we learn that salvation is by grace (unmerited favour) accepted by faith. It is God's gift to us and it is "Not of works lest any man should boast". But that is not the end of the saga, because in verse 10, we read, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

As James tells us in James 2:26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

What kind of faith do I have? What kind of faith do you have? If nothing has changed since we first professed faith in Christ, a thorough self examination is called for. There are those who believe, or at least appear to believe, that we can trust in the Saviour and continue to live unrepentant lives. The Word of God emphatically teaches otherwise.

Friend, do you and I have the Shepherd's mark engraved on our hearts? If we can honestly say, "Yes, I have trusted Him and I love Him and seek to follow Him", then we can also truly say, "The Lord is my Shepherd" and from our hearts we can sing:


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"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). "I shall not want". Reassuring words but what do they mean? David had known poverty, heartache and rebellion in his own family. He had been a fugitive and a refugee. Warfare was fairly constant throughout his reign. Friends and loved ones had been unfaithful on more than one occasion. Few if any of us have experienced more difficulty and more troublesome times than David the sweet singer of Israel. Yet he could confidently declare, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want".

If David's eyes had focused only on the things of time, he could have found no solace, no place of rest, no shady green pastures for his soul. David had found that place, where none but the redeemed of God can enter. The place of His presence, the place of peace. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. My God; in Him will I trust." (Psalm 91:1, 2).

If we are dwelling in the secret place of His presence, then we can experience the comforting words of the Psalmist "I shall not want." Perhaps one who is experiencing a difficult situation is asking, "Where is this place of His presence and how can I find it?"

The answer is not tedious or difficult , "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19).

If we, by faith, are conscious of the presence of Christ abiding within our hearts we will soon begin to realize the immensity and the immutability of His love for us. Spiritually we need nothing more, and since Christ in us is our hope of glory (See Colossians 1:27), we can truly say, "I shall not want."

I shall not want peace and joy if I realize His inward presence. If I lose my peace and joy, even in the midst of tribulations it is because, for the moment I have ceased to abide in Him and forgotten His abiding presence in me.

Although the blessings of the Psalm are relevant to our spiritual state and our spiritual pilgrimage, it is also true that He meets our physical needs as well.

Our daily provision for food, health and shelter are from His bountiful hand. He may not always give us what we desire, but in grace He meets our needs.

What a gracious Shepherd He is!

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20,21).

---

Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Was your husband a judge, Patzt?

No, he was first of all when I met him in Seminary, an ex-policeman.  Then he re-joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland and then we came back to Canada where he was a constable here for many years.  Then he left and became a Consultant with the Industrial Accident Prevention Association here in Ontario.  But all of the time, he was a lay preacher as well and loved to speak for his Lord and Saviour.  He was also an evangelist for the Open Air Campaigners and spoke often in the open air with his sketch board.

Police work took it's toll on Jack.  He had high blood pressure uncontrolled for many years and this is the number two cause of kidney failure and we knew for about 10 years that his kidneys were failing and then the day came when they did stop working and so that was the start of our every other day trek to a hospital in another city where he had to undergo hemodialysis.  I was his cannulator (sp?) and often I wondered just how much more he could tolerate.

Then the Lord wanted him Home with Him and yes, I am happy that he's with his Lord and Saviour but he is missed very much.

Under his blotter on his desk he kept two poems...

One was:

I Needed the Quiet

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.
Into the shadows where we could confide.
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong.

I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled
But gently, so gently, my cross He upheld
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things
Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never dreamed of when active and gay,
He loved me so greatly He drew me away.

I needed the quiet.  No prison my bed,
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead--
A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide.
I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.
Alice Mortenson

Hmmmmm.

   :)

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 9. The Shepherd's Psalm--Part (iii)

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Perhaps you can imagine the scene. In the far distance, the sun shines over the misty blue mountains. Below them lie the upland moors covered with deep rich purple heather and golden yellow gorse. Immediately in front of us, and just beyond the field gate on which you and I are leaning, is a beautiful verdant pasture.

The grass is lush and wild flowers grow in colorful array. If we stand quietly, we can hear above the soft rustle of the wind, the musical drone of the honey bees as they gather nectar from delicate blooms.

About five hundred yards away, the cool, clear waters of a river flow serenely and silently towards the distant sea.

A little flock of sheep, some with lambs, lie peacefully undisturbed near the river's edge. If we were to look at them through our binoculars, we would see them gently chewing their cud as they draw nourishment from the abundant provision of fresh food. They surely are the picture of contentment and tranquillity. This is something like the picture that Psalm 23 calls to my mind.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) Why are the sheep in our little scene so peaceful, so content, so unruffled as they enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun?

I think my shepherd friend, Johnny Crawford, would tell us that a flock such as we have described are free from fear, have enough to eat and are not plagued with parasites. If we remove any one of these conditions the sheep will not be at peace.

Has not God given us a lovely picture in Psalm 23 of the condition of His believing people? In Psalm 95:7, we read "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." Every good shepherd will care for his flock, removing the sheep from danger, providing medical treatment to prevent parasites and ensure sufficient food to keep them strong and healthy.

Our "Good Shepherd" has done so much more for His flock than the best of earthly shepherds. To start with He says to us in John 10:11, "I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep". He paid the ultimate price to purchase His flock and to deliver them from the fear of eternal death. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

In Christ our shepherd we have all we need for eternity. When we realize that "I am His and He is mine", fears quickly diminish and should fade away. When the Shepherd is present the wolf will seek some other prey. We need not fear man or devil, even if they kill us we shall live with Him.

If we are aware of His divine presence we will find food abundant for our souls and our spirits will rejoice in the Bread of Life, for He feeds us with food sufficient for our requirements. This He does as we seek to feed on His word and to find Him there. We can, with the Shulamite maiden experience the bounty of His hand. Listen to her words, "He brought me into the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love." (Song of Solomon 2:4) My friends let us feat on the good things of His word as we bask in the sunshine of His love.

"He leadeth me beside the still waters." Sheep like human beings need more than food to live; both need water if they are to survive. In Revelation 21:6, we read, "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts'."

What is the water of life? The Lord Jesus when speaking to the woman of Samaria told her of "living water" which if a person drank he or she would never thirst again. "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah talks about that water in Isaiah 12:2,3 "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." And the Lord Jesus Christ explains its meaning for us in John 7:37-39, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

We see then that the water is the Holy Spirit whom we receive by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd. The Holy Spirit is needed to give life to those who are dead in sin. He is God's agent in the new birth as we are told in John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit". And it is His presence that sustains eternal life in all those who come by faith to the Lord Jesus for Salvation. It is He who enables us to become true disciples of the one who loved us unto death; the good shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.

If you and I are truly united by faith to the great Shepherd we can enjoy peace greater and more beautiful than any earthly scene. No matter what our material blessings or lack of them we have a peace that passes all understanding, food that nourishes for eternity and water that quenches the thirst for satisfaction in a way the broken cisterns of earth cannot satisfy.

To know this Shepherd is to love Him, and to love Him is to know Him in a way that can only be experienced by His flock. We will close this part of our studies with His gracious invitation as it is found in Isaiah 55:1-3a "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live."

Can you afford to reject this lovely overture of love and mercy? If you are one of His sheep, does not the knowledge of His love thrill your heart and cheer your spirit?

---

Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Were you asking because of his black gown in the photo?

If so, that photo I took of Jack in Lynchburg, VA when he went down for graduation in 2000 just a few months before he died.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 10.  The Shepherd's Psalm--Part (iv)

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Some years ago, I was hiking alone in England. The trail (or as the English say, the "footpath") was isolated and very poorly marked. This is a rare situation in England, known to hikers as the land of well marked trails. At one point, as I later discovered, only a couple of miles from the end, I became disoriented. I was tired and lonely and hungry. There seemed to be no other humans for miles. What should I do now? I longed to meet another hiker, or a local resident; even a friendly dog would have been a relief. No one suddenly or miraculously appeared. No laughing border collie wagged its welcoming tail.

What would you have done in similar circumstances? Well, I found a comfortable rock, slipped off my rucksack and sat down. Then I ate the lunch I should have eaten about two hours earlier and drank a half of a liter of water. My energy returned. Using my map and compass, I figured out my location and with a spring in my step, walked to the bus stop in the little town that marked the end of my hike.

As we move on to verse three of Psalm 23 and meditate upon it, we see the wonderful promises it contains for life's journey. "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3) The words are overflowing with comfort and encouragement for all the members of the Good Shepherd's flock. No believer is left out and it is applied on an individual basis. The lovely truths of this psalm are not mere generalities. We do not read: "He restores our souls" Such a statement would be welcome encouragement for God's people, but how grandly greater is the assurance "He restores my soul". He cares about me! He loves the world but, praise His name He loves me. Yes, my friend, if you are His you can personally claim this blessing of restoration, no matter how withered and drooping you feel.

Day by day we all move along, sometimes reluctantly on the journey of life. At times our happy feet march to the triumphant music of success. At other times we drag ourselves weary and worn, and perhaps even broken along the ruggedly steep paths of life over rocks and ridges and along precipices dangerous and frightful. This lies in the nature of being human. Sometimes we have cheerful and supportive companions on this great trail of life. These may include a spouse, family, friends or fellow Christians. But at times we plod on not only tired but seemingly alone and perhaps unwanted. The way seems miserable, the going is rough and the shadows are lengthening.

When the traveling is wearisome and lonely, and our minds are stretched, elastic like, to their limits the awful ghosts of past sins and desires are inclined to haunt us. Regrets dart from the dark recesses of the mind and mingle with the cares of today and the fears of tomorrow. Like a delicate flower on a dry and windswept hillside we begin to wither, and the serene look gives place to frowns and wrinkles.

When our spiritual pilgrimage becomes unbearable, we need to take time out. We must take time to rest in God's presence. As the Bible enjoins us we must be "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

If we take time to rest in His presence we can refresh our spirits as we enjoy the sustenance of God's word and drink deeply at the "wells of Salvation". Then using the compass of God's truth, we can set our course towards home in the eternal City, just as our great spiritual forefather Abraham did. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10).

If our own foolish misconduct, our own sin and rebellion is the root of our withered and miserable condition, restoration is, bless God, still available.  And who among us has not sinned over and over again in the years since first we trusted Christ? God calls us to confession and repentance and provides cleansing for the sinning hart. The gospel for the sinning saint is found in I John 1:6-9, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And believing this we can humbly say amen to the words, "He restoreth my soul".

King David cried out to God in anguish of soul "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners shall be converted to You." (Psalm 51:9-13).

God heard his heart rending wail "Hide thyself from my sins and blot out all my iniquities." God graciously restored David to fellowship with Himself and gave him back the joy of salvation.

David and every other repentant, sinning believer can claim with joy overflowing: "He restoreth my soul." Only the forgiven can appreciate the warmth of His tender love.

Perhaps one of my friends will confess in his or her own heart. "I have repented oh, so often; but I keep falling on the rocks of temptation and sliding on the slippery scree of evil desire. What can I do? I've tried to gain the mastery over a particular weakness and failed again and again. I think I am doomed--sin is in my very nature". Like David, you cry out "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)

There is good news in the verse before us for those who are in such a predicament. Look at Psalm 23:3, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
God's children have yearned over the centuries for power to break the binding habits of sin. The Lord Jesus taught His own disciples to pray, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Does God answer this prayer? Yes, if we obey His command in Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is. And walk in it: Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it'."

We are to ask after the old way, and upon finding it we are to walk therein. Many professing Christians, like Jeremiah's hearers, sadly refuse to walk in the old paths; they are doomed to keep on repeating the same old sins, and living the same old life of spiritual mediocrity. The path can be found where the Lord Jesus is. After the resurrection, two of His disciples made a journey to Emmaus. These two disciples don't appear to have been any of the twelve apostles, and it seems probably that they were a married couple. In any case, they were sad and discouraged. Their hopes had been dashed--the one they thought would deliver their nation from the iron yoke of Roman bondage was dead and buried. There was something however, that they didn't know about. Christ had risen from the dead in triumph over sin and the grave.

A marvelous thing happened as they trod the weary Emmaus Road that day. "So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them." (Luke 24:15) These two dear people didn't recognize their beloved master until later but something should have tipped them off--the presence of the Man of Calvary made a great difference to their walk that day, "And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'." (Luke 24:32).

If we walk in His company and seek to know Him in the scriptures, our hearts too will burn within us. They will burn with love to Him and with a strong desire to obey His commandments. Then shall we understand in a spiritual sense the words of Isaiah 35:1, "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them." And they shall walk in "the Way of Holiness" (Isaiah 35:8) and we will experience the promise of Psalm 23:3, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake".

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

AMEN SISTER PAT!

This beautiful devotion and portion of Scripture is just what I needed to start my day. I'm looking back to many fond memories and times with fellow Christian police officers. Psalms 23 was one of our favorite portions of Scripture to read right before we had prayer.

I was fortunate to serve on a police department that was almost entirely Christian. We were allowed to read the Bible and pray in our briefings before going to work. All we had to do is make the offer that those who didn't wish to participate could leave. I don't remember a single officer ever leaving. This was a beautiful way to start the day. I doubt much of the public knows that many law enforcement agencies start the day in the same way. I also doubt that much of the public knows that many groups of police officers pray before they go out on dangerous assignments.

Love In Christ,
Tom

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 11. The Shepherd's Psalm-- Part (v)

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Not far from the city of Guelph, in the valley of the Eramosa River, nestles a neat little hamlet of rough hewn houses. By Ontario standards, this pretty little place is quite old. Although there is no need for me to do so, I occasionally drive through this sleepy place on my way to or from our local major highway.

Who were the first settlers? What was their life like? What were their aspirations and hopes, joys and sorrows? To try to find an answer to these and other intriguing questions, I decided one day, a few summers ago, to explore the necropolis that surrounds the hamlet's only church. I found that the mortal remains of several generations of Presbyterians lie awaiting the resurrection morning beneath the cold clay. Well kept tomb stones declare their names, and in some cases their faith in the Saviour of sinners. A few of the head stones record something of their long forgotten lives and exploits.

One old block of granite records that the two interred beneath were born in the north of Ireland in the last century, married there and emigrated to this part of the world. Underneath the descriptive words, a verse of Scripture is quoted:



As I read this inscription a lump seemed to form in my throat and a wee tear appeared in the corner of my eye.

Probably I shall never know this side of eternity what this couple suffered. The heartaches they felt, the broken dreams, sadness, pain or penury they endured as they struggled on in a new land are now veiled in history. The vicissitudes experienced in a harsh environment are not etched in the dark grave stone. The words "came out of great tribulation" can only point back to excessive trial and hardship; to dark days and desperation.

When the Psalmist said: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4), he must have had some awful tribulation in mind. Days of dark despair and drowning disappointment had been his lot.

The old Jewish Targum interprets Psalm 23:4 to be a prophetic reference to the horrors of the Jewish captivity in Babylon, while Aben Ezra says it speaks of grievous calamities.

John Gill, in his commentary, explains it this way: "Afflictions attend the people of God in this life; there is a continued series of them, so that they may be said to walk in them; these are the way in which they walk to heaven, and through which they enter the kingdom; for though they continue long, and one affliction comes after another, yet there will be an end at last; they will walk and wade through them, and come out of great tribulations."

Perhaps you, my friend, are experiencing great tribulation. Do you see yourself as captive to circumstances? Do you know what it is to suffer deep affliction? Do you feel deserted and alone? Does trouble come upon trouble like the rolling of mighty waves at high tide against a storm tossed ship, near a rocky shore. Then the rest of this verse is meant for you if you are one of the sheep of the Lord's flock:



If we know the Good Shepherd; the one who gave His life for the sheep, we need not fear the evils of time and circumstance. He is Sovereign in all His ways. He knows our every need. He has experienced while walking as a Man among men the heartache, sorrow and trials common to humankind. If we understand His Sovereign power as God Eternal, and His sympathy as our High Priest, we will be enabled to declare with King Solomon, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe."[/i] (Proverbs 18:10 NKJV).

There is an old much loved hymn based on Psalm 31:15:


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Yes, He is with us all the way, not only in the coveted "Mountain top experiences" but also in the dark and dismal valleys of despair and death.

Our dear Shepherd is always armed with two implements: "His rod and His staff". In old times the rod was used to defend the flock from wild animals and thieves, and one day He will use that rod on the enemies of truth and Zion's King will be seen to reign in righteousness. We who are His elect own His royal rule in time. In eternity His Kingship and glory will also be manifested to those who hate Him. They, too, will recognize Him but, oh, too late! Even now He uses the rod to defend His believing people from dangers both seen and uncomprehended.

The second implement He carries is the staff, the purpose of which was to direct the sheep. Sometimes the sheep would rather go their own way but have to be forced to travel in paths that lead them safely home. Their path of choice would lead to places of danger and ruin, but the path of the shepherd's choosing leads to the peace and security of green pastures and the still waters.

Well may we with David pray, "Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip." (Psalm 17:5 NKJV).

Let's retrace our steps to the old grave yard and take one more look at the stone which held our attention. Let's read the last part of the inscription once more "and have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb". Only those on the pilgrimage of life who have washed their robes in the blood of Calvary's Lamb will come safely through. None of those who are "blood washed" will ever perish. That is why they can say "I will fear no evil".

Have you been to Calvary's fountain and have you by faith been cleansed of your sin? If the answer is "Yes", then you have the Royal right to appropriate the words of Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." If you are His by sovereign grace, then God, the Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to write these words for your blessing, reassurance and comfort.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Here is part six of Jack's Psalm 23 devotionals.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 12.  The Shepherd's Psalm-- Part (vi)

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In our last essay on this beloved Psalm, we discussed the frightening experience of "The valley of the shadow of death." During the intervening time, some of us have walked in that dark vale. For me it was the stark reality of a beloved sister's death. For other friends, perhaps it was the discovery that a dreaded disease lurks within. Some may have suffered difficulties of a very personal sort. The heartaches which must be borne alone bring the darkest clouds and the deepest wounds.

Surely a beneficent Creator has so designed our world that the beauties of morning follow the darkness of night. The day breaks:



So it is in the spiritual sphere; when the dark clouds and chilly mists of the valley of death swallow us up we can peer through the darkness and see the warm lights of His banqueting house. By faith we can say with the Shulamite maiden:

"He brought me to the banqueting house, And His banner over me is love." (Song of Solomon 2:4).

It is surely by no mere coincidence that the Psalmist reflects on his journey through the dread valley and then in the next verse speaks of a prepared table. This is undoubtedly the banqueting table of love which the Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for His own. Here we renew and strengthen our fellowship and communion with our lovely King. In the place of His presence we enjoy the regal glory of the King of Kings. We bring joy to His heart and refreshment to our own soul when we see the King in His beauty. As we gaze upon the lovely thorn scared brow and nail pierced hands, our hearts crave to love Him more. It is here that our hearts are tuned to praise His Name.

In His banqueting house there is rest and nourishment for the tired and drooping spirit. It is there, too, that we can tell Him of the somber skies and the rugged roads we have been plodding and in His tender embrace, we learn the truth of Isaiah 40:31. "But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

We do not need to await the end of our sojourn in the dark land for He can "prepare a table in the wilderness", and He does this in the presence of our enemies. My! How the enemies of truth are confounded when they expect to find us overwhelmed by sorrow and fear and come upon us feasting with our lovely King Jesus and enjoying our propinquity to Him.

Finding himself in this position, David says, "You anoint my head with oil". (Psalm 23:5) This is most assuredly the same oil with which the King himself is anointed. In Psalm 45:7 it is called "The oil of gladness". The anointing of oil in ancient days was most significant for kings and priest were marked out by such a ritual. How astonishing it is to read that He has "made us kings and priests to our God, And we shall reign upon the earth." (Revelation 5:10)

Beloved friends, the blessings of our salvation are much more than an insurance policy for the next world.

"My cup runs over". Ah, this prepared table knows no rationing. There is a great affluence of spiritual things for us to feast upon. None need go away unsatisfied. These words call to remembrance Paul's epistle to the Ephesians 1:3-7: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

The prepared table is the daily provision for everyone who by faith in Jesus Christ has been saved by His abundant grace.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Thank you Pat, I look forwards to each one, you post.

Pat

I have just started to read through these devotions and just had to write and let you know just how much i am enjoying them. They are just what i need to read/hear. Thanks for sharing them with us all.

In Christ
Joey

Joey, thanks so much.  I'm truly happy that you are enjoying Jack's writings.  They are almost finished now.  He was right in the prime of this project when the Lord called him Home.

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 13.  The Shepherd's Psalm-- Part (vii)

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The man stood erect and perfectly still on top of a wee knoll.  At his feet impatiently sat two little border collies, their ears upright and their keen noses smelling the air.  Across the valley and high up on the slopes of the mountain beyond, small white objects dotted the landscape.  Half hidden in the green grass and purple heather the scattered flock grazed contentedly, unaware of the ominous stillness and the darkening sky.

Signs of the coming storm were not lost on the lone shepherd standing on the knoll. He raised his whistle to his lips and the two dogs stiffened their posture.  At the first blast, they were off like a shot from a gun.  Further blasts caused the two noble creatures to make a wide circle around the still unconcerned sheep.  On they went until they passed even the most distant sheep.  Continuing to obey their master's whistled commands, they slowly, gently, began to move the reluctant sheep towards their master.

Not one sheep missed the attention of the two dogs.  The dogs, although decisive in their work never once nipped at the heels of their charges.  The sheep began to move faster, showing signs of fear, they moved now as one body towards the shepherd as if to seek his protection from the dogs.

It is true that the shepherd could never accomplish his task of caring for the sheep without the help of his beautiful obedient dogs.  It is just as true that the relationship between dogs and sheep would be very different without the presence of the shepherd.  You see, untrained, uncontrolled, border collies can be very vicious, and very frightening.  These loving gently creatures have a natural instinct to kill sheep by tearing their throats open with razor sharp teeth.  Can we wonder that their presence drives the flock to the shepherd?

An old Scottish shepherd-preacher once said "God has twa dogs.  The yin He calls 'Goodness' and the ither He names 'Mercy'."

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)  Indeed so it is, that God's goodness and mercy are often needed, yet seldom truly desired.  Surely it is our fears, trials and yes, our conscience that drives us to the Good Shepherd and the protection of His presence.

It was the goodness of His grace that first showed us our sin and waywardness.  It was His mercy that drove us to see Christ as the only Saviour of Sinners, and it is His goodness and mercy that keeps us close to His side.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

Christians all accept the fact that through the eternal ages they will dwell in God's house.  Few realize that by faith we can enter that place of blessing while still living down here.  In the epistle to the Ephesians we learn that God has already made us to sit in heavenly places.

And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)

We can appreciate our position as urged on by "Goodness" and "Mercy" as they are seen in the circumstances of life and we flee away to the peaceful, protective presence of our Shepherd.

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree: that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (I Peter 2:24-25)

To dwell in the house of the Lord is to live continuously in His presence.  Brother Lawrence (author of Practicing the Presence of God) learned while doing the most onerous and menial of tasks, to practice the presence of God and so can we.  If during our trials and temptations, our illnesses and the dark nights of our souls He came to visit us and bless us would we feel differently?  Of course we would; temptations would fly away, sorrows would abate and psalms of blessing would move our lips.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'.  So we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5,6)

Yes, indeed we who are His, we who have been redeemed by His precious blood look forward with joy to our eternal home.  But we do not need to wait until we arrive above to enjoy the courts of Heaven; for we can dwell there now even in the midst of our wilderness journey.

Truly we can begin to enjoy, even down here the wonder that I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Assured of His presence, and the comfort of His home, both now and for all eternity, the believer can well heed St. Paul's injunction to Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. (Phil. 4:4)

These words to the Philippians were written by Paul while he sat in chains in a cruel Roman prison. Even there the Lord Jesus Christ was real to Paul; even there He knew the nearness of the risen, triumphant Saviour King. May we also dwell daily in the light of His presence.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Sister Pat,

I give thanks that God is still using Jack's work for JESUS. I pray that many will find peace with God and help in their daily lives with these beautiful devotions. Brothers and Sisters in Christ know that nothing about the Gospel of God's Grace is ever wasted.

Love In Christ,
Tom

I Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott       14.  John's Announcement

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The preacher was a rugged looking man.  His face was burnt brown with exposure to the relentless Judean sun.  Dressed as he was in a camel hair tunic encircled by a leather belt, he struck the figure of a manly sort of man.  His message to the gathered crowd was in keeping with his no nonsense appearance as his voice echoed across the river on whose banks he stood in sandled feet.

For days now, he had been preaching to the people who assembled from various parts of the province and each day the message was similar.  It was quite unlike the sermons heard every Sabbath in the local synagogues.  This preacher cared not for the empty praise of men, nor did he Pharisee-like exalt himself above the level of the people.  Praise and personal aggrandizement might be sought by the professional teachers and synagogue rulers, but John the Baptist cared only for the Glory of his God.

His message spoke of coming judgment on the nation and of One who was much greater than himself who would soon come to deliver the repentant.  At the close of each sermon people who repented of their sinful ways would be given the opportunity to come and be baptized in the river to mark their change of heart and thus prepare themselves for the coming of Messiah and His kingdom.

One day a group of religious leaders came down from Jerusalem and asked for baptism but the preacher refused.  He could somehow see beyond their outward puritanical appearance and into their hard unrepentant hearts.  There could be no baptism without a change of heart and a transformed life.  Without these it would be a meaningless ritual.

An interesting and profitable time could be spent examining the birth, life and death of the preacher but a greater than John the Baptist beckons for our attention today.  John pointed this One out for us.  One momentous day He made His way through the congregation in the river valley and walked with decisive steps toward the Baptist.  By the power of the Holy Ghost, John recognized the one who approached.  Pointing to Him he called out with clarion voice, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.   John 1:29.  John had effected the greatest introduction ever performed by mortal man.  He had finally answered the heart cry of Isaac on Mount Moriah, "Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Genesis 22:7. The Lamb who would fulfill the promise of thousands of lambs slain on the great altars of Tabernacle and Temple was revealed that day to the sinful sons and daughters of Adam.  The old Temple service would soon end, the need for it eliminated and a new and living Way into the presence of the Holy made plain.


The Lamb would accomplish what the Temple lambs could only foreshadow.

Isaac Watts wrote well:


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Have you trusted the Lamb of God to take away your sins?  There is no other way to be made fit for the Kingdom of God.  Will you join in the grand chorus of heaven to sing heaven's song?





I am a dreadful singer.  My mother once told me that I sang as sweetly as a crow.  I am not hurt by this.  I recognize it as being true, but one day I will be able to join in that glorious song, because the Lamb has shed His blood for me.  What an anthem we will raise up there.  Will you be joining us there or will you be weeping and wailing among the eternally lost?
If you have not done so before you need to come in repentance and like John acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, as the Saviour slain for your sin.

Those of us who are His by faith must surely seek daily to worship and glorify the Lamb who is worthy of all praise and honour.  Let us join hearts and hands to extol His Name.  Let us say "Lamb of God our souls adore Thee."

Those who sing the great refrain "Worthy is the Lamb" will be from every people and tongue and tribe and nation.  There will be no racial prejudice, for all will be one in Christ.  Surely this is what the Baptist meant when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)  For all the redeemed of every color and tongue will join as one in praising the Savior in the eternal ages.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.  

AMEN SISTER PAT!

Sister Pat, these precious messages from God's Word are a blessing to me and many others. I simply have to say again "Thanks for sharing with us."

I have no doubt at all that God will continue to use these messages for many years to come. God's Word and the things of the LORD are timeless.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Thanks Tom...

There's only one left of the Walking in the Old Paths.  I read it for the first time the day after Jack's funeral.

I'll share it in a couple of days.