Many years ago, I took a course in journalism. We were taught that every good news report must answer six questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. Any news report that does not answer all of those questions gives the reader an incomplete, and possibly misleading, picture of the facts. Those same six questions [...]
"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 Firmly believing that my times are in God's hand, I here [...]
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11. These exiles were unwilling to settle in the land to which they had been transported. They were always fretting and planning; talking of the past and [...]
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him." Matthew 2:11 We have here the wise men's humble attendance upon this new-born King of the Jews, and the honours they paid him. From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem, resolving to seek [...]
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and [...]
“O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come”. Psalm 65:2 There come times in each life when loneliness overshadows like a cloud, and no one is there to listen and provide counsel. Or perhaps there is some problem so personal and intimate that it seems unfitting or too embarrassing to share [...]
"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible”. 1 Corinthians 9:25 In his early life Paul must have been keen on sport! He uses the phrases for the gymnast, the boxer, and the racer. He had [...]
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;". Ephesians 4:1-2 The meek man, according to Luther, is the sweet-tempered man. Meekness and lowliness are the two aspects of the same [...]
“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Philemon 1:6 This one-chapter epistle of Paul to his friend Philemon is essentially a personal request by Paul that Philemon forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and receive him back into “the church [...]
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God…”1 Corinthians 2:12 What is a Christian? I am never tired of putting forward that question, because I think that of all things that are misunderstood in the world today, this is the one that is most misunderstood. What [...]
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints [...]
"For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever”. 2 John 2 Once let the truth of God obtain an entrance into the human heart and subdue the whole man unto itself—no human or infernal power can dislodge it! We do not entertain it as a guest, but as [...]
