"Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach his statutes". Ezra studied his subject before presenting it. When he found what was demanded of him by the law of the Lord, he did it. Once practising it in his own life he was able ... Read more

"(Ananias) stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, …' ". He was renowned for his hatred and persecution of the followers of Jesus; he supported the stoning of Stephen; he came to Damascus intending to commit disciples to prison. Yet Ananias addressed him, 'Brother Saul'! Ananias walked in the Spirit. He recognised that the vision ... Read more

"You have defied the word of the Lord". Life is littered with people who have taken the wrong turning. This happens in all sorts of ways and in many different departments of life. The Lord told a prophet from Judah that he should not eat or drink in any home in the northern kingdom. He ... Read more

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth". We need to ever remember that Jesus is Lord and Sovereign. Though He controls and influences everything, in this day of grace He builds His kingdom by invitation. It is a gospel invitation given to whoever will come. The all-powerful Lord of glory gives ... Read more

"the fiery darts of the wicked one". The Devil has a quiver full of these dreadful things and he knows the most effective one to use on any given occasion. Here are but a few: malicious lies, distorted truth, resurrecting the past, querying the truth of God's Words, denying the power of the blood of ... Read more

"What are you doing here, Elijah? ". It is clear from this question that the Lord is interested and concerned about us when we have lost confidence and interest in ourselves. It also shows that He is not prepared to allow disaffection among His servants to go unattended. Furthermore, it is a question that opens ... Read more

"Ruth was determined to go". Some change must have taken place in Ruth's heart when, or soon after, she married one of Naomi's sons. It may have been the different way of life, for he was a refugee from Judah and she a Moabitess or it may have been the sincerity and devotion of her ... Read more

"for great is the glory of the Lord". The glory of the Lord is seen in the splendour that surrounds His throne - a glory only seen by mortal eye in vision or dream. Something of that glory shone through the Lord Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration. The Apostle John in his Gospel says, ... Read more

"great multitudes came unto him". That attractive power of Jesus has never been lost. Two thousand years after He spoke these words, Jesus is attracting multitudes today. In many different ways and places yet all with the same magnetic drawing power of the Lord in our midst. Risen from the dead yet ever living, His ... Read more

"hope to the end". In his letter to believers scattered throughout Asia, Peter is exhorting them not to lose heart. In effect, he is telling them to fix their eyes on the end of the race. Glory awaits the child of God at the end of the way. And should it be that in the ... Read more