The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Ribband of Blue, by J. Hudson Taylor

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: A Ribband of Blue
And Other Bible Studies

Author: J. Hudson Taylor

Release Date: November 10, 2007 [EBook #23438]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RIBBAND OF BLUE ***

A Ribband of Blue
AND
OTHER BIBLE STUDIES

By
J. HUDSON TAYLOR.
(A companion volume to "Union and Communion,"
and to "Separation and Service.")

London
CHINA INLAND MISSION, Newington Green, N.
Morgan & Scott, 12, Paternoster Buildings, E.C.

A Ribband Of Blue.

We would draw the attention of beloved friends to the instructive
passage with which the fifteenth chapter of Numbers closes; and may
GOD, through our meditation on His precious Word, make it yet more
precious and practical to each one of us, for CHRIST our REDEEMER'S
sake!

The whole chapter is full of important teaching. It commences with
instruction concerning the burnt-offering, the sacrifice in
performing a vow, and the free-will offering. It was not to be
supposed that any one might present his sacrifice to GOD according to
his own thought and plan. If it were to be acceptable--a sweet savour
unto the LORD--it must be an offering in every respect such as GOD
had appointed. We cannot become acceptable to GOD in ways of our own
devising; from beginning to end it must be, "Not my will, but Thine,
be done."

Then, from the seventeenth to the twenty-first verse, the LORD claims
a first-fruits. The people of GOD were not to eat their fill, consume
all that they cared to consume, and then give to GOD somewhat of the
remainder; but before they touched the bread of the land, a
heave-offering was to be offered to the LORD; and when the
requirement of GOD had been fully met, then, and not till then, were
they at liberty to satisfy their own hunger and supply their own
wants. How often we see the reverse of this in daily life! Not only
are necessaries first supplied from the income, but every fancied
luxury is procured without stint, before the question of the
consecration of substance to GOD is really entertained.

Next follow the directions concerning err