Month: August 2011

The Lord Jesus Himself has given the invitation. Come! His delights have always been with the sons of men. His love so great for us that He died for sinners. Down through the ages, many have come to the Saviour and found rest for the soul. Will you not come today?—E. MacLelland

The tangible, the transient and the temporal have become so important to us, it seems. Far too readily do we pour out our life-energies for them. We build our dreams of gold and our temples of dust. We toil for self and invest our silver in a world that is bound for the flames. Sad day, if when all of this life is over and we are about to lie down in our narrow bed, we have to lament,” “If only…if only.” —J. B. N.

“One heart” can also be rendered “singleness of heart.” Paul’s prayer for the Roman believers was “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," (Romans 15:6). What an impact we could have on our communities if we were united in our affection for one another and showed it by our actions and speech. It would surely indicate our allegiance to the Saviour as our Lord promised, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," (John 13:35). God's hand can do it. Will we submit to it? —W. H. Gustafson

In the upper room, our Saviour announced that His anticipated sufferings at Calvary were before Him. He knew every pain He would experience. Three days later those unparalleled sufferings were history. As He joined those He loved on the road to Emmaus, He heard of their concern for His sufferings and said, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26) As Calvary’s Victor, He will eternally receive the glory (1 Pet. 1:11). May our hearts today give Him the glory that is His due. —Arnot P. McIntee

The ancient Greeks understood the meaning of “equip” in several ways. In surgery it described the setting of a broken limb. In the fishing industry it referred to the mending of nets. In politics it meant bringing together opposing groups. God longs to equip us so that there is no brokenness in our personality, no holes in our nets, and no opposing factions in our relationships. Are we receptive to God’s equipping ministry through His Spirit, His Word, and His people? —W. Ross Rainey

The currency of heaven is not silver and gold, but willingness of heart. This poor widow cast into the treasury a tiny amount, but because of her willing heart, in heaven’s view she put in more than anyone else. Silver and gold would not redeem us, but with a willing heart the Lord Jesus shed His precious blood and gave Himself for us. Now in the same vein, we can be rich with heaven’s currency by being willing to do His will. —Tom Steere

Our Saviour went like a lamb to Calvary. When reviled, He reviled not again. His demeanor on the cross was that of quiet submission, and His loudest expression was the cry uttered when He surrendered His spirit to the Father. There was no shout at Calvary. But, when the moment comes for Him to descend from His heavenly throne and fetch to Himself His bride, He’ll shout. His ecstatic shout will call His completed bride to meet Him in the clouds. That shout will signify the fulfillment of His joy, and our salvation. —Doug Kazen

This question was asked by an old man. Have you asked it yourself? Consider the uncertainty of life. Solomon observed that “As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them,” (Eccl. 9:12). God says: “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away,” (Jas. 4:14). Is it any wonder God warns, “Behold, now is the day of salvation,” (2 Cor. 6:2). Trust Christ now, before it’s too late! —R. Surgenor

Children, especially younger children, ask a lot of questions. They are soaking up information during their formative years. When your children ask you about the Lord, what do you tell them? This is a golden moment and you should be ready with the right answer. Tell them what Moses and Joshua instructed the children of Israel to say. Tell them the story of God’s great salvation. —Rex Trogdon

Even after we experience the new birth, we appreciate the blessings of renewal as we recognize that the Adamic nature is still with us. It is neither removed or improved. The Holy Spirit’s ministry, with the believer's submission, is to control and keep that nature in check allowing the beauty and brightness of the Lord Jesus to be manifested in our lives. —Drew Craig