"there are many adversaries". This is the second half of Paul's statement that a great and effectual door has been opened for him. We think of great doors opening to great opportunities and blessings and so they do. But with every blessing there will be a collection of stumbling blocks and temptations and a host ... Read more

"Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord". The servants of the Lord are called to bless or worship the Lord. Those about whom the Psalmist was writing were expected to readily do this. Rather, their calling to serve in the house of the Lord was a great honour. It delighted their heart: ... Read more

"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent". Jesus had told His hearers they should not labour for the food which perishes - labouring for feeding this life to the exclusion of labouring for everlasting life. They then asked Him what they needed to do that they may work ... Read more

"many … wept … and many shouted aloud for joy". So you could not distinguish between the crying and shouting for joy as those returned from exile completed the laying of the foundation. Life is often like that! The same event can conjure either feeling in the heart. The one weeps as he remembers the ... Read more

"faith in his name". God the Father has highly exalted His Son Jesus and given Him a Name that is above every other. At that Name all creation will one day bow: in that Name now the followers of the Lord have great promises. Faith in His Name is essentially believing that what God says ... Read more

"when I was brought low, he saved me". All have the experience of being brought low sometime in life. If not outwardly, yet within we feel very rotten and low because of our failure or the failure of the world around us. But being brought low gives us the opportunity for the Lord to lift ... Read more

"Who can understand the human heart? ". The prophet says that there is nothing else so deceitful as the human heart: it is too sick to be healed. We can find instances on every hand to support this. Because deceitful, it is unpredictable and is involved in all kinds of intrigue. Yet while the human ... Read more

"Pilate marvelled". So did the crowd that witnessed His miracles but later supported the cry 'away with him, we demand the release of Barabbas'. I think Herod marvelled too when he heard how the wise men had been led by a star, but he engineered to destroy the baby born to be King. The inhabitants ... Read more

"making melody in your heart". The song of the Lord is not to be compared with the jingle of an empty spirit. The well that Jesus promised would spring into ever-lasting life bubbles forth with joy and gladness. Even in its minor tones the song of the Lord has a blessedness all of its own. ... Read more

"Take up your son". This was the son whom God had given this woman in answer to Elisha's prayer and yet who had died as she nursed him when he was carried home sick from the fields. That devastating experience made her angry that the prophet had deceived her - giving her a son to ... Read more