Nothing is more beautiful than our Lord’s foresight!

There never was anyone so faithful or considerate or farseeing as Jesus.

He had great commendation to give a woman because she came “beforehand” with her ministry. It was His own manner to anticipate events.

He was always thinking ahead of the disciples.

When He sent His disciples to prepare the Passover, there was found an upper room furnished and prepared. He had thought it all out. His plans were not made only for that day. He was always in advance of time.

When the disciples came back from fishing, Jesus was on the seashore with a fire of coals and fish laid thereon. He thinks of the morning duties before you are astir; He is there before you. He is waiting long before you are awake.

His anticipations are all along the way of life before you.

After the Resurrection, the disciples were bewildered, and the way looked black. But the angel said, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 28:7). He is always ahead, thinking ahead, preparing ahead.

Take this text with you into the future, take it into today’s experience: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:27, 2).

He is out in the world doing it. He will be there before you. He will bring you to your appointed place, and you will find your appointed resources.

You will discover His insight, His oversight, and His foresight.

You may not always see Him, but you can walk by faith in the dark if you know that He sees you, and you can sing as you journey, even through the night. JOHN MACBEATH

We mean a lot to Someone;

And ’ tis everything to me

That to God His wayward children

Were worth a Calvary.

It’s the meaning of my Sunday,

And to Saturday from Monday

It is my hope that one day

My Savior I shall see.

Though the day be dark and dreary,

Here’s comfort for the weary—

We mean a lot to Someone

Who died for you and me.

“VALUE”

The owner of the house I have lived in for many years has notified me that he will do little or nothing to keep it in repair. He also advised me to be ready to move.

At first this was not very welcome news. In many respects the surrounding area is quite pleasant, and if not for the evidence of a somewhat declining condition, the house seems rather nice. Yet a closer look reveals that even a light wind causes it to shake and sway, and its foundation is not sufficient to make it secure. Therefore I am getting ready to move.

As I consider the move, it is strange how quickly my interest is transferred to my prospective new home in another country. I have been consulting maps and studying accounts of its inhabitants. And someone who has come from there to visit has told me that it is beautiful beyond description and that language is inadequate to fully describe what he heard while there. He said that in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of everything he owned here, yet rejoices in what others would call a sacrifice. Another person, whose love for me has been proved by the greatest possible test, now lives there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious grapes I have ever eaten, and after tasting them everything here tastes very bland.

Several times I have gone to the edge of the river that forms the boundary between here and there and have longed to be with those singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved across that river, but before leaving here they spoke of my following them later. I have seen the smile on their faces as they passed from my sight. So each time I am asked to make some new investment here, I now respond, “I am getting ready to move.”

The words of Jesus during His last days on earth vividly express His desire to go “back to the Father” (John 16:28). We, as His people, also have a vision of something far beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life and are traveling toward fulfillment, completion, and an enriched life. We too are going “to the Father.” Much of our new home is still unclear to us, but two things are certain. Our “Father’s house” (John 14:2) is our home. And it is in the presence of the Lord. As believers, we know and understand that we are all travelers and not permanent residents of this world. R. C. GILLIE

The little birds trust God, for they go singing From northern woods where autumn winds have blown, With joyous faith their unmarked pathway winging To summer lands of song, afar, unknown. Let us go singing, then, and not go crying: Since we are sure our times are in His hand, Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying? It’s merely flying to a Summer Land.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.—For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

We are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

When shall I arise, and the night be gone? —JOB 7:4.

Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh.

Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.—He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.

Let all thine enemies perish, O Lord ; but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.—Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

There shall be no night there.

This is not your rest.—There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.—Within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.—With Christ; which is far better.

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.—There the wicked cease from troubling: and the weary be at rest.

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.—Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.—To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.—How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Thus saith the Lord ; Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.—I will teach you the good and the right way.— I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.—Follow me.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.—Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.—Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.—There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.—The first man Adam was made a living soul.—The spirit of man that goeth upward.

Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. We are confident, . . . and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.—With Christ; which is far better.—I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his; and, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you . . . depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm.

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

He died for all.—Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

He . . . liveth to make intercession for them.—I go to prepare a place for you.

I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also.—Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.—Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

We love him, because he first loved loved us.—The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but to him which died for them, and rose again.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.