Author: Gospel Folio Press

What a strange verse, yet the Romans would understand it. One of their punishments was that a murderer would have the corpse he had murdered strapped to his back and would be forced to carry it until it decomposed or he died. That would be a wretched man. Paul uses this to illustrate that the old man we were in Adam was crucified with Christ and was buried. We should not dig him up and carry him. We are to reckon that we are dead to that old man and alive to the Lord Jesus. —Harold G. Smith

One of the famous landmarks of Pollensa on the Spanish Island of Majorca is Calvary Hill. The top is reached by way of a long, steep and winding path which has 365 stone steps cut out of the hill. One day each year, at Easter, pilgrims make their way to the top for a memorial service. For true believers, ought we not to journey by faith to that place called Calvary every day? Then corporately, on the Lord's day may we heed His command and be ready to come together to remember Him. —Brian Powlesland

In times of pain and hardship people often lay the blame on God. The Israelites blamed Him for their thirst, yet He knew of their need before they did, and ordained a spiritual rock to follow them and meet their needs (1 Cor. 10:4). Rather than blame God for our problems, we ought to thank Him for the good things He provides and take our requests to Him in prayer (Phil. 4:6). —K. R. Keyser

In the short Epistle of Jude there are many who fall from grace. There are individuals like Cain, Balaam and Korah as well as groups including Israelites, Sodomites and even angels! But as far as the saints are concerned we have One who is able to keep us from falling, or stumbling, all the while we are here on earth and who will eventually present us faultless before His presence with exceeding joy. That is a joy we now share as we praise Him for His faithfulness to us.—Roy Hill

Do you tell the Lord about everything in your life that concerns you? Do you expect him to be interested in what might be the small and relatively unimportant details? He wants you to bring everything to Him, and it is His answers in the small things that makes us appreciate His intimate nearness and faithfulness. —Brian Russell

The presence of the Lord is no place for lightness. There are some who claim such intimacy with the God of Heaven, the Father of Glory, that they feel free to use the language of the street in His august presence. Have we known Him as did Jacob? Have we seen Him as did Isaiah or John? Our unique and wonderful relationship with Him as His children does not absolve us of the responsibility, indeed the joy, of ascribing to Him His due honour. He asks, “If then I be a Father, where is Mine honour?” (Mal. 1:6). —J. B. N.

Have you given your child to God? Abraham rose up early and made preparation; he expended time and effort in obedience to God’s command to bring his son to the place where God would provide Himself a ram in the stead of Isaac. It is not enough just to point our children to Christ, we must walk together with them to the place of worship and sacrifice. — D. Pickup

Some people think that the book of Revelation is a closed book. It is not. It should be considered an open book as it unveils and reveals the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of the things the Lord opens in this book. A door is open (Rev.4:1), then the temple of God is open (Rev.11:19), next the temple of the tabernacle is opened (Rev.15:5). Finally, heaven itself is opened (Rev.19:11). Why not open the book and enjoy the blessing today? —Rex Trogdon

At both His birth and His burial, loving hands tenderly wrapped Jesus' body—a poor woman of Bethlehem, in strips of cloth and a rich man of Arimathaea, in clean linen cloth. Humiliation marks both scenes, as does a sense of wonder. The Lord of glory found in an animal feeding trough. The Prince of life found in a stone tomb. Will we ever be able to fathom the steps He took in becoming our Saviour?—Pete Smith

By God’s power, spoken through the prophet Elijah, a prolonged drought (not even the falling of dew!) had descended upon Israel. Bread and water were in short supply. So God sent His prophet to abide by the brook Cherith, for his water supply. So God used ravens, normally scavenger birds, to feed him bread there and then the brook dried up! God’s resource for His servant was taken away because of God’s own actions. How would you respond if you were Elijah in that situation: faith in God or rebellion? God tries our faith, sometimes to a seeming extreme. But He has said: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” —Doug Kazen