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Two emblems of kingship placed upon the Lord Jesus in mockery were the crown of thorns and the purple robe. But a day is coming when the same Person will reappear. This time not with a facetious crown but with many diadems and arrayed in a garment dipped in blood. The earthly blood-stained garment prefigured a life given to redeem; that of the heavenly will cry out for divine retribution. In that day His name will be vindicated and His claims validated. —Drew Craig

God loved which world? The world of sinners! All sinners. Not the sins, but the sinner. For them, God’s Son was given to be a perfect sacrifice to God, for sin. He cleanses the sinner who accepts His sacrifice. The physical world will also one day be cleansed, but by fire and judgment. And every sinner who rejects the sacrifice will experience God’s eternal righteous judgment as well. But cleansed sinners will remain eternally in God’s presence, as testimony to His eternal love. Where will you be? —Doug Kazen

This is why we are here. We are in the world so that we may present the Gospel to those who need it. This is the relationship between the Church and the world. We may be greatly disappointed with the general decline of the world around us. But let us not give that too much attention. We are not here to reverse the nations’ prophetic decline. Rather, as we await the Lord Jesus’ return, let us not be distracted from our central role of living worthy of the Gospel and testifying to its saving power. —Mark Fenn

An elderly lady stood transfixed in front of the illustrated text of Matthew 11:28, that hangs on the wall of our lounge. “This is the most beautiful home I have ever been in,” she wistfully said, as her atheistic doctor son whisked her away. Is your home, like ours, not always neat and tidy? A few verses from God’s Word hung in prominent places could make it “beautiful” to many a seeking soul. —David Croudace

The thought here is that the children of Israel not only did not seek the return of the ark, but were not aware of its absence. When we meet to remember the Lord on the first day of the week, there is one thing that we should cherish and seek after—a consciousness of the presence of the Lord in our midst. It not only sanctifies the gathering, but it brings a feeling of love and warmth of which the world knows nothing.—Brian Russell

The work of rebuilding the temple had come to a halt, yet the people built houses for themselves. As a result poverty, barrenness and frustration had come into their lives. But Haggai comes with a message of hope and recovery, which will depend on the people "considering their ways," and reversing the sad neglect that had taken place. Let’s be challenged by Haggai today, and "Consider our ways." —W. H. Burnett

“Lest we forget” is the often-repeated phrase on this day. A time to remember those who died for freedom. Although, the armistice signed at the 11'th hour on the 11'th day of the 11'th month was to finish the “war to end all wars,” this sadly has not been the case. The Bible is a book of remembrance and this verse is the first time remember is mentioned. It must have seemed an interminable length of time, but God still remembered Noah and his family. The fury of the storm beat on the ark, but the occupants were safe, because God remembered. Thank God He no longer remembers “our sins and iniquities,” (Hebrews 10:17). —James Comte

Those who go down to the pit are those who have no hope; they do not acknowledge God in their ways. But God has redeemed us, so we do not need to fear that we will ever be unheard, but the answer may not come exactly when we want. The Psalmist was yearning to hear from the Lord, to see His hand at work in his life, yet the Lord delayed. But an answer eventually came. The Lord ever hears our cries for help, mercy, and guidance and He answers. May the Lord create within us a heart that trusts even when answers to prayers seem to be delayed.—B. Crawford

In speaking to the older brother about the prodigal son, the servants and the father both used the term “thy brother.” The older brother would not say, “my brother” saying instead to his father, “thy son,” thus distancing himself from his brother. Holding ourselves aloof from brothers and sisters in Christ is not of God. “Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor. 1:13). Heaven will not be partitioned to accommodate our carnal divisions. Christ prayed that we “may be made perfect in one,” (Jn. 17:23). Let us make that prayer reality. —D. L.

Joseph was in difficulty. Sold as a slave by his brothers, in a foreign country, away from everyone he knew, and falsely accused. Yet four times over in this chapter we read that “the LORD was with him.” Those he worked for also recognized that “the LORD was with him.” Is that my testimony? —P. W.