Month: October 2011

The Emmaus road had never seemed longer, and their hearts never heavier. The One they loved had been crucified, buried, and mysteriously disappeared. To their delight, a Stranger walked with them and, at their invitation, He joined them for their evening meal. When He blessed the bread they were about to eat, “Their eyes were opened, and they knew him.” What a sight! Dear child of God, stay close to Him, and you will be rewarded with His presence. The One who permits your suffering longs to give you a sight of Himself. —Arnot P. McIntee

Why do I love Him so little when He loves me so much? Did He not prove His love at Calvary? Does He not supply all my needs every day? Have not all of His promises come true? Then it must be me. What I need most is restoration to intimate communion. Lord help me to be like John, with his head on Christ's gentle heart experiencing and enjoying, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. —Milton Haack

The Samaritans did not receive Christ because He planned to go to detested Jerusalem. They missed the Lord altogether. Martha welcomed Him to her home but, preoccupied by the pressures of the moment, missed what He had to say. Mary sat at His feet transfixed by Him. No wonder that it was she who with abandon, anointed His feet with very costly perfume. How much do we appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ?—S. M.

This was God’s mandate for Jeremiah in his time, but can be applied to every believer today. How can we pull down and destroy all around us that is anti-God? Not by holding demonstrations but by giving ourselves to prayer. I Sam 17:47 tells us “The battle is the Lord’s.” But not only should we pray, but plant, that is, passing on God’s word at every opportunity. It is through these two ministries that you will see the light of God's blessing shining in the dark corner where you live. —David Croudace

Financial turmoil has affected the economies of the world. The temptation is to examine our own posessions whether it be stocks, bonds, or other investments and place our faith in them. While it may be prudent to plan for the future, we are warned not to trust in these riches, but in the living God. Why? Because "my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). No other investment can make such a claim. —Bob Cretney

How voluntary was the death of our Lord Jesus. Five times we read that He “gave Himself”. He gave Himself for our sins (Gal. 1.4). He gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2.6). He loved the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5.25). How blessed it is to know that He gave Himself for us (Titus 2.14).But what a personal privilege to be able to say that He loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2.20). —Jim Flanigan

There is only one way for a young eagle to learn to fly. It is pushed out of its nest into thin air. The mother eagle is the safety net and the instructor while training her offspring. She will fly underneath her young with her wings spread out in order to catch a tumbling eaglet. We too, often learn the most important lessons in life while tumbling out of control only to fall into the loving and peaceful arms of the Saviour. Beloved, He will never drop you! —Warren Henderson

For a believer, when death comes it is like a seed put into the ground. Within the seed is potential and someday, in God’s own time a new and more glorious body will arise, sinless and deathless. The gloom that sometimes encompasses our soul is lifted when we grasp this truth. It reveals to us the wonders of God’s creative and redemptive powers. Resurrection is and will ever be a miracle of the first magnitude. —Drew Craig