“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21 Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom [...]
"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have..." Leviticus 19:36 Weights, and scales, and measures were to be all according to the standard of justice. Surely no Christian man will need to be reminded of this in his business, for if righteousness were banished from all the world [...]
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29 How strong is the snare of the things that are seen, and how necessary for God to keep us in the things that axe unseen! If Peter is [...]
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 This life is not to be valued but as it yields opportunities to glorify God. We were not sent into the world to live for ourselves, but for God. If we could make ourselves, [...]
“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.” Joshua 1:6 This admonition to be strong and of “good courage” (Hebrew amass) is given some ten times in the Old Testament, plus another nine times [...]
Should the whole frame of nature be unhinged, and all outward friends and supporters prove false and deceitful, our worldly hopes and schemes be disappointed, and possessions torn from us, and the floods of sickness, poverty, and disgrace overwhelm our soul with an impetuous tide of trouble; the sincere lover of God, finding that [...]
“And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.” 1 Chronicles 9:33 Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, [...]
“Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts…” Hebrews 3:7-8 Golden opportunities, opportunities of priceless worth, are open to every one of us today. But "tomorrow" has no sure promise for any one of us. "The Holy Spirit says, Today," and Conscience also cries, [...]
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Timothy 2:8 There are conditions that govern the activity called prayer. One condition is that we are to lift up "holy hands." We are not now concerned about the question of posture in prayer, nor to indicate that [...]
“And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. “1 Kings 17:7 Week after week, with unfaltering and steadfast spirit, Elijah watched that dwindling brook; often tempted to stagger through unbelief but refusing to allow his circumstances to come between himself [...]
"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:4 Outward practical holiness is a very precious mark of grace. It is to be feared that many professors have perverted the doctrine of justification by faith in such a way as [...]
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra 7:10 It does not come naturally into our hearts to seek, obey, and then teach others the words of God as found in the Scriptures. Therefore, like Ezra, [...]
