“It doth not yet appear what we shall be.” 1 John 3:2 Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life [...]
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”. Matthew 23:12 From Adam we inherit the instinct to meet our enemies head on, to try to win by direct assault, and it is only after many shocking failures that we learn that victories are not so [...]
"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary..." Luke 23:33 The hill of comfort—is the hill of Calvary. The house of consolation—is built with the wood of the cross. The temple of heavenly blessing—is founded upon the cleft rock—cleft by the spear which pierced His side! No scene in sacred [...]
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." Psalm 51:1. "I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22. THIS STAIRCASE has been [...]
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27 Bearing one’s cross means something quite different from bearing the ordinary burdens and troubles of life. These are common to all men, but the privilege of taking up and carrying the cross is the unique responsibility and [...]
"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret.” Matthew 6:6 In prayer there must be deliberateness – the secret place, the inner chamber, the fixed time, the shut door against distraction and intruders. In that secret place the Father is [...]
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23 Question: How may a Christian know that he is humble and consequently godly? A humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself. He has lower thoughts of himself than others can have of him. David, [...]
But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29 In the normal course of things, a certain number of distractions are bound to come to each one of us; but if we learn [...]
“Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; Teach me Thy paths.” Psalm 25:4. “He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” Micah 4:2 There is a clear difference between a Way and a Path. The one is filled with the throb and stir of the world's life; the other [...]
“But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.” Genesis 8:9 Unlike the raven, [...]
"I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11 These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow quickly." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man—as weeds are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and weeds; they come up naturally [...]
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalm 14:1 Despite all their pretense of scientific intellectualism, those who deny the existence of a personal Creator God are, in God’s judgment, nothing but fools. The 14th Psalm, [...]
