Month: November 2011

Without blemish! From this first mention, the expression “without blemish” occurs almost forty times in connection with the offerings in the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Ezekiel. How important was this ancient foreshadowing of Him who was to come. Our Lord Jesus was impeccably sinless, morally pure, and essentially holy. Only such a One could be the Saviour that we needed and He was indeed without blemish. —Jim Flanigan

What a wonderful inspiration Dorcas is to those who seek to follow her example. Many missionaries are blessed by the devotion of women who work tirelessly providing materials needed in the work of the Lord! In numerous assemblies sisters have set up groups to make and collect items for shipping to missionaries abroad. They need our prayer support and encouragement to continue on! One day they will receive that “Well done thou good and faithful servant enter into the joy of thy Lord.” —Jim Paul

In this psalm David was perplexed by life’s pressures and their nagging continuance. Four times he cried, “how long?” Silence from heaven added to the weight of his dilemma. Undefeated he counted his blessings and renewed his trust. As a result he unconsciously broke into rejoicing and singing. He ends with this conclusion, “The Lord hath dealt bountifully with me.” As it did with David, counting our blessings will make us triumphant over the perplexities of the present, and strengthen us as we await the promised second coming of Jesus Christ. —E. F.

Two emblems of kingship placed upon the Lord Jesus in mockery were the crown of thorns and the purple robe. But a day is coming when the same Person will reappear. This time not with a facetious crown but with many diadems and arrayed in a garment dipped in blood. The earthly blood-stained garment prefigured a life given to redeem; that of the heavenly will cry out for divine retribution. In that day His name will be vindicated and His claims validated. —Drew Craig

God loved which world? The world of sinners! All sinners. Not the sins, but the sinner. For them, God’s Son was given to be a perfect sacrifice to God, for sin. He cleanses the sinner who accepts His sacrifice. The physical world will also one day be cleansed, but by fire and judgment. And every sinner who rejects the sacrifice will experience God’s eternal righteous judgment as well. But cleansed sinners will remain eternally in God’s presence, as testimony to His eternal love. Where will you be? —Doug Kazen

This is why we are here. We are in the world so that we may present the Gospel to those who need it. This is the relationship between the Church and the world. We may be greatly disappointed with the general decline of the world around us. But let us not give that too much attention. We are not here to reverse the nations’ prophetic decline. Rather, as we await the Lord Jesus’ return, let us not be distracted from our central role of living worthy of the Gospel and testifying to its saving power. —Mark Fenn

An elderly lady stood transfixed in front of the illustrated text of Matthew 11:28, that hangs on the wall of our lounge. “This is the most beautiful home I have ever been in,” she wistfully said, as her atheistic doctor son whisked her away. Is your home, like ours, not always neat and tidy? A few verses from God’s Word hung in prominent places could make it “beautiful” to many a seeking soul. —David Croudace

The thought here is that the children of Israel not only did not seek the return of the ark, but were not aware of its absence. When we meet to remember the Lord on the first day of the week, there is one thing that we should cherish and seek after—a consciousness of the presence of the Lord in our midst. It not only sanctifies the gathering, but it brings a feeling of love and warmth of which the world knows nothing.—Brian Russell

The work of rebuilding the temple had come to a halt, yet the people built houses for themselves. As a result poverty, barrenness and frustration had come into their lives. But Haggai comes with a message of hope and recovery, which will depend on the people "considering their ways," and reversing the sad neglect that had taken place. Let’s be challenged by Haggai today, and "Consider our ways." —W. H. Burnett

“Lest we forget” is the often-repeated phrase on this day. A time to remember those who died for freedom. Although, the armistice signed at the 11'th hour on the 11'th day of the 11'th month was to finish the “war to end all wars,” this sadly has not been the case. The Bible is a book of remembrance and this verse is the first time remember is mentioned. It must have seemed an interminable length of time, but God still remembered Noah and his family. The fury of the storm beat on the ark, but the occupants were safe, because God remembered. Thank God He no longer remembers “our sins and iniquities,” (Hebrews 10:17). —James Comte