For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
It has been well said that when we move away from the cross we are moving away from God. The cross is not only where He died, but how—the most despicable, disgraceful and shameful death one could die. It is not only where He died, but where every believer died with Him. Paul could say “I am crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). Our verse above says it is the power of God unto us. Crucifixion cuts us off from all the vanities of the world and enables us to live the Christian life. Is this true in our lives? —Harold G. Smith
Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain, Free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain. —Fanny J. Crosby
…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6
For David, it had been a difficult time; former friends were rejecting him and Saul’s opposition to him was unabated. To compound his troubles, the Amalekites had raided and carried off his property and his wives. His trust in God wavered, for there appeared no sign of the divine promises being fulfilled. In his extremity, he did well to encourage himself in God! What a fund of memories he had of God’s power and presence with him in equally distressing situations, long since past! Has God changed? Today, we find encouragement in God, as we review His former mercies. —George Hall
When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, has gathered thick and thundered loud, He near my soul has ever stood; His loving-kindness—O how good! —Samuel Medley
For we know that the whole creation groaneth…even we ourselves groan within ourselves… Romans 8:22-23
God knows well that we, even as believers groan, often and at times deeply. We live daily in an aging body, both mentally and physically. And then there is the deep emotional pain that often comes—failure, loss, heartaches. Thank the Lord, all of our groaning will cease at Christ’s coming. The havoc wrought by sin will be nullified and Christ Himself will bring us into everlasting peace and joy. O that it might start, today! —Vernon Markle
What transports then will fill our hearts, When Thou our worthless names wilt own, When we shall see Thee as Thou art, And know as we ourselves are known. —Thomas Kelly
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28
We often quote and draw encouragement from this verse because we imagine that if we love God we will always experience happy endings. We imagine we can choose what we see as good and God will respond accordingly. Don’t forget the verse ends with “according to his purpose” and He is the one who decides what is “good”. In fact, He tells us how He defines “good”. “Conformed to the image of his Son” (v. 29). It does not get any better than that. —Ken Gross
And is it so—I shall be like Thy Son? Is this the grace which He for me has won? —J. N. Darby
…thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Revelation 3:1
Many believers have been raised in a Christian culture where the emphasis has been on being right, often at the expense of not being real. These two qualities are not the same. The warning for us is this, doctrinal smugness and pride will be a death blow to reality. Sometimes we like to give the appearance that we are walking with the Lord because our doctrine is right. May the Lord preserve us from being dead right, but rather may we be living, loving vessels of reality! —Sid Halsband
Fill me with gladness from above, hold me by strength divine; Lord, let the glow of Thy great love, through my whole being shine. —J. Caspar Lavater
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
At Calvary, God’s love was manifested and proved. He had only one Son and how dear to His heart He was. What it must have cost the Father to send Him! Today’s verse should cause us all to meditate on this thought—Christ became man. He walked on earth as a stranger, without a place to lay His head and at last, died hanging on a cross. All this, because of His love for you and me! May our worship reflect our deep appreciation for what He has done for us. —Jim Pizzulli
O Lord, Thy love’s unbounded! So sweet, so full, so free! My soul is all transported, whene’re I think of Thee. —John N. Darby
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year…of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. Deut. 14:22-23
The Lord taught His people to honour Him with the firstfruits of all their increase (Prov. 3:9). Not that God needed their offerings. It was for their own good and the good of others around them that they acknowledged and honoured God. Notice here that giving was associated with learning the fear of the Lord. It is a reminder that we have nothing but what He has given us. He is the owner. Is it not true that a lack of the fear of God shows up in our offerings? —Carl Knott
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.—Issac Watts
And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
The child of God can have confidence throughout all of the varied circumstances of life. God will lead the way before us and stay with us. God has promised never to let us down nor to forsake us. God is committed to the believers. In view of this commitment, fear should not paralyze our lives. Our walk should be steady and confident. May God help us. —Donald L. Norbie
It is enough that Thou wilt do, and wilt not tire, Wilt lead by cloud, all the night through by light of fire, Till Thou has perfected in me Thy heart’s desire. —Amy Carmichael
For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem?…Or who will turn aside to ask how you are doing? Jeremiah 15:5 (NKJV)
“How are you doing?” is a typical greeting in North America. We use it all the time, but usually without any thought of making a sincere inquiry, much less waiting to hear the answer. People all around us yearn for someone to care. David lamented this sad fact saying, “no one cares for my soul” (Ps. 142:4, ESV). We know that Jesus cares, but do we? Take time to ask someone today, “How are you doing?” Then, wait for the answer. —Rex Trogdon
No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take my sin and darkness from me, Oh, how much He cared for me. —Charles Weigle
By: Drew Craig
Published by: Gospel Folio Press (2010)
“To many in the secular and political world, the modern state of Israel is considered a pariah nation. It is seen as aggressive, territorially ambitious, insensitive to UN resolutions, and indifferent to critical opinion. In this little booklet, Drew Craig demonstrates from the scriptures that, in spite of man’s estimation, there is a divine plan and purpose for both the nation and the people of Israel.
The book is written to counteract the increasingly pervasive teaching that Israel no longer features in God’s plan, they have been rejected, and the church has now become the beneficiary of covenants and promises made long ago to Abraham and his descendents.
Beginning with the divine claim to the land and Jehovah’s acknowledgement of a people for Himself, the writer touches upon the covenants made to Abraham, and promised to Isaac and Jacob, with particular reference to the land and the seed. The importance of Genesis chapter 15 is rightly emphasized, where Jehovah alone passed through the divided pieces, binding Himself to keep the covenant made with Abraham. This chapter, apart from any others, should be sufficient to assure every student of scripture that the promises made to Israel cannot fail.
Attention is drawn in Part 2 to the importance and centrality of Jerusalem in the divine purpose, and prophetic scriptures are chosen in support of this. Parts 3 and 4 take the reader to a future day to consider the Lord’s return in glory and the establishment of the millennial reign of Christ. The writer’s clear acceptance of a literal interpretation of prophetic scripture is evident throughout, challenging the allegorical and spiritualized analysis preferred by many expositors today.
Although this handling of the subject matter is brief, important principles of truth are outlined which will provide a basis for deeper consideration of the interpretation and understanding of prophetic scripture.”
