"So you will be my people, and I will be your God" .The Old Testament prophets show us the difficulty God was having with His people. As we read in this chapter, their wound (received when turning away from the Lord) was incurable and their injury beyond healing. Guilt was great and their sins many ... Read more

"enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul" .We should not forget the house of Judas. If Judas had not lived in Straight Street, Saul could not have been found there though Ananias knocked on every door. No great acclaim for what Judas did - he just offered to put up travellers and ... Read more

"Would God my lord were with the prophet" .How grateful all could be that the servant girl gave expression to her thoughts! It often takes a servant to say what others only dare think. Furthermore, how good that this girl was concerned for her master! Maybe his service gave her a sense of belonging and ... Read more

"Are you also still without understanding? " .With these words Jesus reproved His disciples for being dull. He knew what they were capable of and that they had not attained their potential. It is to be feared that we often fall into the same category. Peter on behalf of the disciples asked Jesus to explain ... Read more

"the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" .The Apostle Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. And all who trust in the Lord will find they have no need to be ashamed. It is the devil who seeks to make us timid and to keep our ... Read more

"he did not know that his life was in danger" .Much of this chapter in the Book of Proverbs is taken up with an inexperienced and foolish young man who became ensnared with a prostitute. We read how she tempted him with her charms and he gave in to her smooth talk. Next, we see ... Read more

"a voice from heaven" .This is not heard very often! Neither are signs in the sky seen for that matter. Once or twice in the life of Christ and occasionally in the Acts of the Apostles and sometimes since an audible voice has been heard. Yet for the most part we need to be in ... Read more

"seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal" .When you feel you stand alone or when you conclude the whole world lies in wickedness, to realise that there are those in every place who have not bowed the knee to Baal is a great encouragement. The blessing of this truth may ... Read more

"he had seen an angel in his house" .Cornelius was a centurion in the Roman militia and outside the pale of those to whom angels might appear. If it had not been that Peter had a vision, he would have written off Cornelius' experience. But Peter had a vision as he fell into a trance ... Read more

"Do not labour for the food which perishes" .You have to work - the curse upon man in the Garden of Eden was that in toil he would eat from the fruit of the ground. And the Apostle Paul wrote that if a man would not work, he should not eat. Here Jesus is telling ... Read more