BITS and PIECES
285th Edition – March 8, 2026
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
THE WINTER IS PAST
It has been a tough winter, but as we enter March, we know that soon we will be able to echo Solomon’s words, “the winter is past [Song 2:11]. There are several winters we need to consider.
THE WINTER OF THE CHURCH.
The church of Jesus Christ goes through seasonal blessings – there is the sowing of the seed, followed by the happy harvest of souls for the Master. But there are also days when our souls feel the frigid winds of winter. Sometimes the harvest seems pitiful.
Down through the centuries, the Church has weathered these winter seasons. How blessed it is when the sovereign Lord says, “the winter is past.” It heralds the dawn of a spring of spiritual revival. Christian worker: Never forget that spring follows winter. Keep looking forward. Thank God there is a way through the cold and drear into the bright sunshine of the Lord.
First, we must get into the sunlight. Patches of ice and snow will persist where they are in a shaded area, but once in the sun, the ice vanishes. Christians get out from under the shadow of slack and sinful behaviour and into the warming rays of “the Sun of righteousness” [Malachi 4:2].
Second, clean up the garden of your life. Rake up the leaves and trash of cold winter’s sin and let the air of heaven get to the roots of your soul. It will not be long until the fresh shoots of spiritual growth will be seen.
Third, get rid of the dead wood. The garden of your life will not be at its best if the dead wood of sin and empty formalism clutter the ground of your soul. Get the pruning shears of God’s word to work. Solomon speaks of flowers appearing, and birds singing [Song 2:12]. May our song be aroused to sing the praises of our Lord.
WHAT IS LOVE?
Love is one of the hardest subjects to define. Poets vie with each other, and songwriters compete with one another for the best expression of love, but all fall short.
Preachers often speak of the love of God but rarely attempt to define it, but it should not be a difficulty to the child of God.
In the Old Testament, God spoke to Moses about love. It will be noticed that love and obedience go together. Check these verses out [Deuteronomy 11:13, 22. 13:4]. It will be seen that it is futile to express love to God without obedience to His Word.
In the New Testament, it is even clearer. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.”
Jesus goes on to say further, “he that loveth Me shall be loved of the Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself to him” [John 14:21]. Anyone who professes the love of God and yet disobeys the commandments of the Lord is a hypocrite and a play actor.
THE DIVISIONS OF THE LAW
Anyone who loves the Lord will also love His Word and His law. There are three basic divisions in the law. They are found mostly in the Pentateuch (first five Bible books).
THE CEREMONIAL LAW was instituted by God to regulate the worship of God in Israel The animal sacrifices prefigure Christ’s death on the cross. When He died, He cried, “It is finished” indicating His sacrifice was complete. No more ceremonial law needed. There is no need of a picture when the real thing is there.
THE CIVIL LAW was practical to regulate the government of the nation of Israel. It is not binding on us today, although we would be blessed if our legistlators would pay attention to the wisdom of these laws.
THE MORAL LAW, or the Ten Commandments, is different from the ceremonial and civil laws as it is still in force today. Remember, the moral law is not a means of salvation, but a way of life. For those who argue that we are under grace and no longer need the law, is God happy if we break His laws? Does He look on with complacency if we steal or kill? I think not.
The attitude of the believer towards the law of God should be summed up in one word – LOVE.
“What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” [Micah 6:8].
