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In childhood, the medicine administered by mother may have been good, but was seldom pleasant. In those days, our chosen confectionery was pleasant, though our elders thought it not good! Today, as maturing Christians, are we fully committed to that which is both good and pleasant—harmonious relationships with fellow-believers? “Let there be no strife…for we be brethren,” (Gen 13:8). —George Hall

God’s plan for Israel was to remove them from Egypt's bondage, and to bless them in a good land. The first part of Exodus records how God redeemed Israel out of Egypt by the blood of the Passover lamb (Ex. 12). The rest of the book records God’s sanctifying work—getting Egypt out of His people. The work of sanctification is a difficult task. Why? To be conformed to the moral likeness of God requires a willing and obedient heart. God’s plan has not changed. He wants to redeem sinners and also deliver them from the world’s contamination. —Warren Henderson

Luke the beloved physician describes to his readers this rare condition called hematidrosis. In extreme anxiety, chemicals break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result the sweat comes out tinged with blood. Thus suffered the Lamb of God as He contemplated the cross and the pain of divine separation He would endure there while bearing the sins of the whole world. —E. MacLelland

The Psalmist was facing acute adversity and had become discouraged. Three times over he asks himself, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" He finds the answer to his problems in this phrase, "Hope thou in God." There are times in our lives when the burdens of life overwhelm, and cause us to be "cast down." Like the Psalmist, we need to remind ourselves that we have "hope in God." The life of the Christian is not a series of uncontrolled, random happenings. God is working out His plan and in the end all will be seen to have had its proper place and purpose. —W. H. Burnett

A dear brother, who recently lost his wife, spoke of believers having hard times, but never bad times. In the sorest of life’s trials, He can and does teach lessons which cannot be learned in any other way. It is often the case that the most valuable of them come from the deepest of sorrows. Are you in such a situation lately? Watch for His gracious instruction, and you will glory in the tribulation. —Rick Morse

How could Abraham say that he and the lad would return, knowing the intended sacrifice of Isaac? Hebrews 11:17-19, says that Abraham believed that God was able to raise Isaac up, even from the dead. All the promises made to Abraham were to be fulfilled in Isaac, but Abraham had complete faith in God and His purposes. Do we have that same faith as He asks us to step into what seems impossible situations? —David M. McCulloch

What a multitude of reasons the saints could give for loving Him. We love Him for what He is and we love Him for what He became. We love Him for what He has done and we love Him for what He is doing. Like the Psalmist, we love Him for hearing our supplications; we love Him for His grace and for His mercy. We can say with John “We love Him because He first loved us,” (1 John 4.19), and we can say with Peter, “Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee,” (John 21.15-17). —Jim Flanigan