"Watch … and pray". The three disciples had opportunity to witness the greatest drama of all time as Jesus wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, but they fell asleep. One of the greatest conflicts known took place in that Garden, but it mattered little to them for they slept through it. Jesus wanted ... Read more
"Lord, you have been our dwelling-place in all generations". Many generations have crossed the stage of time since the Psalmist uttered these words. Not one has found them to be untrue. Customs and habits, behaviour and dress change but God is there. Ever the same; true to His word: reaching out toward us when we ... Read more
"your work of faith". Faith is much more than a vague wish. Faith leads to action that produces results. But it's not about how much faith we have but rather who our faith is in. As someone once said, "It's not whether you have great faith in God but that you have faith in a ... Read more
p>"if we neglect". It is the easiest thing to do because it is doing nothing. Conscientious people do not easily succumb to it, though the pressures of modern life can cause them to fail on this point. The neglect that the writer is referring to happens when men and women do not seek the Lord ... Read more
"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord". Our situations and circumstances will change. Things happen that we have little, if any, control over which can deeply affect us. Like Israel, facing imminent captivity, life may look very bleak at times, but our circumstances must not prevent us from rejoicing in the Lord. He is still ... Read more
"Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul". You couldn't have found a kinder man. He was both a source of consolation, as his name means, and an encouragement. Saul owes his being launched into his mission to the Gentiles to Barnabas because he came and sought him out for the task. Less gentle brethren, even ... Read more
"the books were opened". God keeps a record and we can be sure that His record is accurate and complete. His judgment will be final, for He is Sovereign. That we get so far into the book of the Revelation before the books were opened could mean that there were those who thought they would ... Read more
"how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God". This is because you can't trust your riches and trust the Lord. You should know that to trust riches is failure in the long run, but most ignore this. The Bible says that the love of money is the ... Read more
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed". Might we have some surprises if we did this? Would many fiascos in which we engage have been nipped in the bud, if we had carefully sought the Lord's counsel before embarking upon them? On the other hand, many of those dwarf bushes ... Read more
"knowing what had happened to her". Just as the Lord knew that power had gone out from Him, so this lady knew that power had rushed into her and she knew that she had been healed. There was no need for the doctors to examine her, no need to get a certificate of health. 'She ... Read more