Posts from 2017 (Page 3)

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” (Matt 11:25) This is a pointed way in which to begin a verse — “At that time Jesus declared.” If you look at the context you will realize that no one had asked Him a question and that He was not in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus…

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think …” (Ephesians 3:20)   When we see that the whole sum of our salvation, and every single part of it, are comprehended in Christ, we must beware of deriving even the minutest portion of it from any other quarter. If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that he…

We come to you this morning, our Maker, Redeemer and eternal Rest. You are the one who patterns the weeks of our lives, ordered by the work of your creation and the rest of your holy day. We praise you for giving us work for six days and rest for one day. We know that every day belongs to you, but you have set one day apart. With your permission, we call this day a holy…

“Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77:19–20)) The design of Providence may sometimes lie very hid; and therefore it is good to wait, and not be rash (Ps 77.19). Sometimes Providence seems to forget the promise; it is not so, but only the time…

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (Romans 6:12–13) The doctrines of grace cannot be turned into an excuse for immoral living.…

Losing our vision along the path is quite easy. The daily chores, routines, and stresses of life take over. Each next step seems all important. At times we are simply trying to make it through the day or even the next hour. Even godly pursuits such as reading the Bible, praying, memorizing Scripture, and exercising hospitality lose focus. And the vision is lost. What…

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26) James 2:12-26 is concerned to distinguish authentic faith from the mere profession of faith. James critiques the person who “says he has faith” in v.14 and then says in v.18 that you cannot demonstrate faith without good works. Why are good works the necessary proof…

Romans 12:10 tells Christians to “Love one another with brotherly affection.” Give yourself to the Church. You that are members of the Church have not found it perfect and I hope that you feel almost glad that you have not. If I had never joined a Church till I had found one that was perfect, I would never have joined one at all! And the moment I did join it, if I had…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”(Deut 6:5) True Christians want God to dominate their thinking and to fill their minds with ideas of Himself. If we want to love God more, we have to know Him more deeply. And the more we search the Scriptures, and the more we focus our minds’ attention on who God is and what He does, the more we understand just a tiny…

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup…” The Visible Word “But as our faith is slight and feeble unless it be propped on all sides and sustained by every means, it trembles, wavers, totters, and at last gives way. Here our merciful Lord, according to his infinite kindness, so tempers himself to our capacity that, since we are creatures who always creep on…