"the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha". I have always been attracted to this widow's behaviour. She was not too proud to ask for help when she needed it. Her situation was desperate and she quite rightly called for assistance from the circle of godly men in which her ... Read more
"Accept the one whose faith is weak". The weak brother needs supporting. It may be for this very reason that he crosses your path. Weak faith is infinitely greater than no faith and strengthening the weak may be just your ministry. Accept those weak in faith but don't get embroiled in other's doubting and disputings. ... Read more
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God". Natural birth only carries a lease for duration of life on earth. No one born into this world has any entitlement to life beyond the grave. Only God has immortality. Man forfeited any hope of qualifying or earning any extension of life ... Read more
"Seek the Lord while he may be found, Call upon him while he is near". Now is the accepted time. A day may come when God cannot be found. Remember Esau who for a morsel sold his birthright and afterward when he would have inherited the blessing was rejected, though he sought it with tears. ... Read more
"she said,The glory is departed from Israel". These last words of Phinehas' wife as she died in childbirth were prophetic. God through her pronounced judgment upon Israel and Ichabod, the name of her son, bore witness to this. Gods' glory shines in the hearts of those who obey and fear Him. It leaves when sin ... Read more
"when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out". Three factors contributed to his startling behaviour. First, he believed that Jesus could do something for him: second he was advised that Jesus was passing by and thirdly he knew that Jesus did not turn away anyone in need. This made ... Read more
"the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power". This is vastly different from the Temple area on earth when Jesus visited it and found it a den of thieves and echoing with the rattle of money rather than prayer. It is a picture of what every sanctuary should ... Read more
"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you". Jesus spoke of each day having enough trouble of its own. 'Cares' speak of everyday life. Each day has its own cares and concerns, there's no avoiding that. It's what we do with them that matters. Carrying them, being weighed down by them, allowing ... Read more
"Put this money to work". This was the instruction given to the servants by the nobleman who gave each of them a pound or mina. Jesus likened the situation in this parable to the kingdom of heaven. The mina speaks of something given to trade with. All in the kingdom have been given something. So ... Read more
"not turning aside to the right or to the left". Josiah did what was right in God's eyes - he did not deviate to the right or left. In striving not to veer off to the left we can deviate to the right and trying not to veer right we can stray to the left. ... Read more