"Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters". God's family on earth will differ on many interpretations because none has all the answers and some things must wait till glory before their purpose is plain. Everyone in the family is adopted by the grace of God. All are blood-bought by that sacrifice of the ... Read more

"speak the word only". The centurion must have recognised the authority that resided in Jesus and consequently he knew the power that was in His word. Jesus spoke with authority - "even the demons obey Him" was the sentiment expressed on one occasion. When He halted the funeral procession as it left Nain no wonder ... Read more

"we will keep looking to you, O Lord our God". In the Old Testament we read that "they looked unto Him and their faces were enlightened". In the New Testament we are exhorted to live looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Peter made the mistake of looking away from the Lord ... Read more

"Everyone living in Jerusalem knows". The blessings of the gospel spilled outside the doors where the disciples were meeting. And when the man was healed at the Temple gate - everybody in Jerusalem knew about it. The world at large wants good news. When the Lord is at work among His people, the message is ... Read more

"He knows your trudging through this great wilderness". Forty years wandering in the desert might aptly be described as trudging. In many ways our world is like a great wilderness and the path we sometimes need to take may call for trudging. There are times when all of us wonder if we've missed the way: ... Read more

"in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord". This is not an outward form or observance or conforming to a pattern laid down for you. It is not erecting an altar in a corner or a part of your life. It is setting up a throne room in the very centre of your being and ... Read more

"he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem". Jesus' task was greater than anyone living had ever performed or ever could perform. The path that lay before Him was one of suffering. He who was holy, harmless and undefiled was to bear the sin of the world and be sacrificed as the Lamb of ... Read more

"But you were unwilling to go up". It was a contest between God's word and the Israelites' reasoning. They listened to the gloomy report of the majority of the spies. Their minds operated on an earthly level and did not take into account that the God who had brought them so mightily out of Egypt's ... Read more

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend". Sometimes it is necessary to wound in order to heal: this is notably so in the case of surgery when the surgeon makes an incision to remove diseased tissue. It is also true in the things of the Spirit. Our waywardness and refusal to listen and obey the ... Read more

"this is the promise … even eternal life". It is the greatest promise of all - it grasps a prize beyond the grave and places it in the heart of those who make Jesus Lord. Because it is God's promise, it conveys real hope to the hearts of those who believe it. All who do, ... Read more