Bible Verses: Psalms 41:1
Read MoreIn Lydia's conversion there are many points of interest. It was brought about by providential circumstances. She was a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, but just at the right time for hearing Paul we find her at Philippi; providence, which is the handmaid of grace, led her to the right spot. Again, grace was preparing her soul for the blessing-grace preparing for grace. She did not know the Saviour, but as a Jewess, she knew many truths which were excellent stepping-stones to a...
Bible Verses: Acts 16:14
Read MoreO Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. § Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup.He restores my soul; He leads 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. § You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me...
Bible Verses: Psalms 48:14Isaiah 25:1Psalms 16:5Psalms 23:3Psalms 23:4Psalms 73:23Psalms 73:26Psalms 33:21Psalms 138:8
Read MoreHaving died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6, ASV).
The law was applied to the natural man, that he might produce; grace is given to the spiritual man, that He might produce."Almost every believer makes the same mistake as the...
Bible Verses: Romans 7:6Philippians 2:13Hebrews 7:16
Read MoreThe hireling prophet, Balaam, spoke a remarkable truth when he said that the all-seeing God could not see sin in His people, Israel. What was true of Israel then is wonderfully true of the believer today. As God looks upon him, He cannot find a single sin for which to punish him with eternal death. The believer is "in Christ". That means that he stands before God in all the perfection and worthiness of Christ. God accepts him in all the acceptability of His own beloved Son. It is a position...
Bible Verses: Numbers 23:21
Read MoreAnxiety, or carefulness, is very injurious; it divides the heart, distracts the mind, chokes the word, leads to distrust, and destroys our peace. It is inconsistent with our profession; we have resigned all into the hands of the Lord, and should leave all to His blessing.
We should do everything as for the Lord, and consider our families, our property, and our business, as the Lord's; so should we be holy and enjoy peace. Anxiety, or inordinate care, dishonours God; it reflects upon...
Bible Verses: 1 Corinthians 7:32
Read MoreWhen my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me! § Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. § If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God … and it will be given to him.Who is sufficient for these things? § I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells. § My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in...
Bible Verses: Psalms 94:19Psalms 61:2Isaiah 38:14Psalms 55:221 Kings 3:7James 1:52 Corinthians 2:16Romans 7:182 Corinthians 12:9Matthew 9:2Matthew 9:22Psalms 63:5Psalms 63:6
Read MoreOur last study brought us to the close of Jacob's life. Word was sent to Joseph one day that his father wished to see him. The old man was thinking of his departure. He knew that he must die in Egypt - but he did not...
Bible Verses: Genesis 50:25Genesis 49:22-24Genesis 50:19-21Exodus 13:19Proverbs 10:7
Read MoreEven the sweetest visits from Christ, how short they are-and how transitory! One moment our eyes see him, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, but again a little time and we do not see him, for our beloved withdraws himself from us; like a roe or a young hart he leaps over the mountains of division; he is gone to the land of spices, and feeds no more among the lilies.
"If to-day he deigns to bless us With a sense of pardoned sin, He to-morrow may distress...
Bible Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Read MoreFor Reading and Meditation:
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Today we stay with the thought that half our spiritual perplexities would never arise if we started out by being prepared not to understand immediately the things that God does or allows. We must accept that one of the fundamental principles of the Christian life is the truth that there will be many times when...
Bible Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12Joshua 1:1-6Isaiah 54:10Hebrews 13:5
Read MoreOur Lord Jesus Christ called men to follow Him, but He plainly taught that "no man can come unto me, except it were given him of my Father" (John 6:65). It is not surprising that many of His early followers, upon hearing these words, went back and walked no more with Him. Such teaching cannot but be deeply disturbing to the natural mind. It takes from sinful men much of the power of self-determination. It cuts the ground out from under their...
Bible Verses: John 6:65
Read MoreYour eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off. (Isaiah 33:17)
There is a phrase in the Word: "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty;they shall behold the land of far distances," and thattwo-fold statement can quite truly, and rightly, be applied toHim. He is the King in His beauty; and He is also the Land of FarDistances.
Now, to come into a...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 33:17
Read MoreBring your mind to God; bring it to him daily and hourly, and daily and hourly he will fill it with its true treasure.
All nature exists in vain where there is no peace in the mind. Wherefore are the skies blue, and the earth green, and the mountains sublime, and the rivers joyful, if there be not peace at heart? The flowers have no perfume, the birds no song, the voice of man no charm, where the mind which they were created to please is without susceptibility to their benefits. Bring...
Bible Verses: Isaiah 26:3
Read More"Faithful are the wounds of a friend," says the Holy Spirit in Proverbs 27:6. And lest we imagine that the preacher is the one who does the wounding, I want to read Job 5:17,18: "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole."
You see, the one who does...
Bible Verses: Proverbs 27:6Job 5:17Job 5:18
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"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble." Psalms 41:1
To think about the poor and let them lie on our hearts is a Christian man's duty; for Jesus put them with us and near us when He said, "The poor ye have always with you."
Many give their money to the poor in a hurry, without thought; and many more give nothing at all. This precious promise belongs to those who "consider" the...