“Comfort one another with these words” [1 Thessalonians 4:18] Thessalonica was one of those places that proved to be a mixed blessing for Paul. When he preached the Word of God, many were converted and turned to Christ. But there were also certain “lewd fellows of the baser sort” who instigated a riot in [...]
Devotional “The Lord God of heaven... shall send his angel before thee.” Genesis 24:7 "Slow of heart to believe" was the charge the Saviour had to make of His disciples. It is also a charge that would stand against every one of us from time to time. Is it not true that often [...]
“An anchor of the soul” [Hebrews 6:19]. Paul was a mighty Preacher of the Word and often impressed divine truth upon his hearers with a powerful illustration from his own experience. For example, he was shipwrecked at Melita, but so that the sailors could commit the ship to the uncertain shore in daylight, [...]
Devotional "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them." Psalm 145:19 His own Spirit has wrought this desire in us, and therefore He will answer it. It is His own life within which prompts the cry, and therefore He will hear [...]
“Our light affliction, which is but for a moment” [1 Corinthians 4:17] Paul was no stranger to suffering. He gave a catalogue of the afflictions he endured as he preached the Gospel of Christ – a total of 190 lashes laid upon his bare back in five separate scourgings; three times beaten with rods; [...]
Devotional "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:" Isaiah 44:3 Our dear children have not the Spirit of God by nature, as we plainly see. We see much in them [...]
“Receive Him as myself.” [Philemon 17] Paul’s loving concern for souls can be seen in his treatment of the runaway slave Onesimus. Onesimus was a servant of Philemon who lived in Colosse in Asia Minor. Philemon was wealthy, but more importantly, he was a follower of Jesus Christ and a good man. [...]
Devotional “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” (Proverbs 17:27) The sin of loquacity (that is, talkativeness or chattering) is one of those “little foxes” that can “spoil the vines” of an otherwise godly lifestyle (Song of Solomon 2:15), and the Scriptures frequently [...]
“He will keep the feet of His saints” [1 Samuel 2:9] The way is slippery, and our feet are feeble, but the Lord will keep our feet. If we give ourselves up by obedient faith to be His holy ones, He will Himself be our guardian. Not only will He charge His angels [...]
Devotional "So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17) This verse follows a detailed genealogy leading to the family in which Christ was born [...]
“Set in order the things that are wanting.” [Titus 1:5] Through Paul’s ministry, the Mediterranean island of Crete heard the Gospel, and many Cretans were converted. Later Paul left Titus on the island to nurture the young converts and supervise the church. Later, he sent a letter to Titus to help him establish order [...]
Devotional “And the LORD shut him in.” Genesis 7:16 Noah is the first of God's shut-ins mentioned in the Bible: "And the Lord shut him in." The Lord shut Noah and his family into the ark, not only for their own protection but that through them, mankind might have a new beginning. In [...]
