BandM

<b>"Be not afraid of their faces".</b>  The Lord repeated these words to Jeremiah at the outset of his ministry and He would repeat them to every disciple who goes forward to serve the Lord. A look at the faces of his hearers can frighten the most eloquent preacher. The servants of the Lord must draw ... Read more

<b>"the children of Israel … had feared other gods".</b>  They could only do this because they stopped fearing or worshipping the Lord Jehovah. It happened after a number of evil kings had ruled in Israel and the nation was carried captive into Assyria. You cannot worship other gods unless you turn away from the Lord ... Read more

<b>"until". </b> Jesus used this little word with great effect. In the days of Noah they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage UNTIL the day Noah entered the ark. Jesus told us in His parable that God allows wheat and tares (good and evil) to grow together UNTIL harvest. The Psalmist realised ... Read more

<b>"The Prince of Peace".</b>  This name is experienced when you receive the forgiveness of sin and peace with God that He offers. The heathen rage and the nations engage in war as the Psalmist said. National peace is an illusive goal. To understand this title we must look at the conflict between good and evil ... Read more

"king Ahaz … saw an altar that was at Damascus". He journeyed to Damascus to visit the king of Assyria whose help he had sought in resisting armed incursions from the king of Israel and from the Syrians. While in Damascus he saw an altar which he liked so much that he sent the pattern ... Read more

"the clay was marred in his hands”. Marred or imperfect clay did not matter when it was still in the hands of the potter. The prophet described the Master Potter remaking the vessel, not doing a repair. God does not patch up those who put themselves in His hand, He makes them anew. Anyone in ... Read more

"Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you”. Peter's third answer was to the effect that Jesus already knew the answer: he did love Jesus. It was not that Jesus should know but that Peter should know, that the question was asked three times. What the Lord had done and was yet ... Read more

"and their minds (are) closed so they cannot understand”. Whoever will form a balanced opinion must see what God's Word says and must take God into the equation. The prophet was writing about people who were religious but whose religion was nonsensical. They cut down wood - with one piece light a fire and bake ... Read more

"the disciples came together to break bread”. It was a time of spiritual refreshment and worship as well as fellowship with one another. Persecution and opposition ensured they looked forward to this occasion. The disciples would draw great strength from this act of obedience and communication: they would also eagerly anticipate the return of the ... Read more

"as the clay is in the potter's hand”. The lump of clay does not resist the potter's work upon it. If it could resist the vessel might never be made. The potter has complete control. Even when an attempt is thwarted for one reason and another, the potter will start again. So the Lord will ... Read more

"So you also must be ready”. A day is coming when Jesus will return. Repeatedly we read of this in the New Testament. Jesus said He was coming back and the disciples preached this truth. After two thousand years it is a promise nearer fulfilment than ever. No one knows when it will be and ... Read more

"I answered you in the secret place of thunder”. Thunder is at the same time both majestic and mysterious. It is frightening yet demands our attention. To the soul that is sensitive to the voice of God in the world of nature it speaks of His invisible might and power. We cannot pin-point its location ... Read more

"teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine”. There must be more to the Christian experience than being happy - more than being lost in wonder, love and praise and no longer in touch with the reality of life. Joy accompanies salvation and salvation is received by faith often without knowing very much about the foundations ... Read more

"the scarlet cord in the window”. No special merit in the cord, though it was red in colour, strong in texture and used to lower the two spies from her window on the walls of Jericho. It marked Rahab's covenant with the spies and her house did not perish when Jericho was taken. It is ... Read more

"Woman, you have great faith”. Faith that receives such commendation from the lips of Jesus deserves our examination. 1. She believed that the Lord would help her. This was the starting point. More than feeling sure He would, we might say 'she knew He would'. 2. She acted upon her faith, going to Jesus and ... Read more

"a new and living way”. New religions will for ever be springing up, yet sooner or later they will all suffer from stagnation and become monuments. It is nearly two thousand years now since the birth of the Early Christian Church. Today it is the strongest it has ever been and for one very good ... Read more

"a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert”. Such is the civil engineering project God will undertake for His people. It is a blessing promised to any experiencing the dryness of a wilderness and desert experience just now. We are not told whether it will be a way out of the wilderness or ... Read more

"he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town”. Jesus sometimes leads the blind to one side before He can minister to them. All true followers of Jesus need to know His leading and to move into a place where, away from life's distractions, He can speak His healing ... Read more

"break up your unploughed ground”. We all have areas of our lives that need to be broken up - areas of stubborn resistance to the work of the Holy Spirit; habits and attitudes that we are content to leave under the influence of the old nature. Listen to what God says: Unploughed ground becomes waste. ... Read more

"Put on the whole armour of God”. It stands to reason that a wily enemy is ever on the lookout for cracks in his adversary's armour. And when he finds one or more pieces of protective armour missing completely, he has an open entry through which to attack. As with all protection, the armour of ... Read more

"Greet Priscilla”. This is the lady who married Aquila and teamed up with him in the work of the Gospel. It is unusual for the wife to be mentioned first, which suggests she may have been the more energetic and dominant of the two. But the husband and wife partnership was a blessing to Paul ... Read more

"If a man love me, he will keep my words”. His words to us are not intermittent, not just now and then. The disciple must be in continual contact with the Lord. He should be aware of the distractions that can break this line of communication. Personal and unforgiven sin can also distort the messages. ... Read more

"So they all praised the Lord”. Did you hear the story about the man who shouted 'Praise the Lord' in a church where everyone always sat quietly? A steward tapped his arm and whispered, 'We don't do that here, Sir'! But they did it in David's day – every one of them. Of course, they ... Read more

"called in question for today's uproar”. The town clerk of Ephesus was most anxious that this assembly that got out of hand should disperse without further violence. The mob chanted vociferously, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians' without really knowing why. We can see here a picture of a greater uproar which has more far-reaching ... Read more

"there shall be no more curse”. A great curse fell upon the human race when the serpent caused Adam to sin. Now the best of us are hindered from doing all that we want to do, while the worst are bound by sin and rebellion and live in a squalor of ungodliness. There is toil ... Read more

"sitting … dressed and in his right mind”. The touch of Jesus affects the whole of life. The demons had stripped this man of all respect, driven him mad and left him running wild. Any control or restraint was broken and he was alone in the world. The god of this world is still doing ... Read more

"the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me”. David found the blessing it is to meet someone like Abigail. Incensed at Nabal's refusal to offer hospitality after his men had protected his sheep shearers, he was about to come against him in battle when he was met by Abigail. ... Read more

"What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us”. Jesus said, 'One man sows and another reaps'. Today we may be reaping the 'sowing' of our forefathers. This applies to prayer on our behalf as well as to projects started in faith by those who went before us. Many reading these lines will know ... Read more

"Serve the Lord with gladness”. What a problem 'miserable Christians' are: there must be some doubt whether they really are Christians if they are miserable. Some people like this have gained Christians a reputation for being miserable. But the true servants of the Lord are glad to be serving Him. Grateful for the privilege, happy ... Read more

"a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand”. He rated appearance more important than durability. His house made a great impression while it was standing; but a fool of him when it collapsed. Your life may look good, but how about the foundation? Skimp on the foundation to spend on the superstructure and ... Read more

"As it turned out”. What seemed like a chance event was arranged by God Himself. Ruth's servant heart was what God needed to fulfil His divine plan. As well as sharing the sadness of widow-hood, she was willing to share in the burden that came with it. Yet little did she know what God had ... Read more

"their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors”. Was it that they did not get on with their supervisors or did they baulk at putting their shoulders to anything, these nobles of Tekoa? They were rebuilding a section of wall near the Fish Gate in the days of Nehemiah. They ... Read more

"We'll go with you”. When an opportunity to go arises it is not enough to ask where they are going and why, but whether you should go. Was Peter needing a break from the excitement and trauma of recent days when he decided to go fishing? Was it right that he should return to the ... Read more

"keep your gifts for yourself”. Belshazzar wanted to influence what Daniel said. But Daniel was not open to a bribe. He knew that the gifts of man are nothing compared with being right before God. His obedience to God was not to be compromised by gifts. For all who want to obey the Lord, there ... Read more

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! ". You only really give thanks when you recognise the value of what you have received. This exhortation occurs at the end of a lengthy inventory of blessing in the Psalm that David delivered to Asaph and his choristers. Time only served to underline its ... Read more