"the speck … the log". Jesus' complaint addressed to His hearers was that they magnified the speck until it was larger than a log and ignored the log to the extent they considered it no more than a speck. This practice has not died out. The speck or blemish in our brother's character so aggravates ... Read more

"They zealously affect you, but not well". Zeal should not be mistaken for truth. Many are keen to lead us astray, usually for their own ends. Some are so enslaved that they seek nothing other than gain for their master, the Devil. You do not need to look far to find those whose keenness has ... Read more

"But what did you go out to see? ". Folk will look at what interests them. The crowd on this hill were there to see or hear any new thing that was going. The inhabitants of Gadara went out to see what was done to the demoniac who lived in the tombs. The mass visitors ... Read more

"only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life". No better analogy of the Great Judgment Day than that the books will be opened. In our age of information technology it should be no surprise to realise that God keeps a record of all that has taken place. The gospel message has been ... Read more

"Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out". This request voiced by the foolish maidens ranks among those not granted. "Go and buy it for yourselves" was the quick reply, but regrettably it was too late. "Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my ... Read more

"my tongue is the pen of a ready writer". So is everyone's who has tasted of the good things of the Lord. When the blessing of God is yours you ought to be able to talk freely about it. The tongue that speaks fearlessly in the Lord's Name has sometimes lost its owner a lot ... Read more

"Man shall not live by bread alone". These words are Jesus' reply to the Devil's temptation. Firstly, they tell us quite clearly that any life that exists for physical and fleshly satisfaction alone is incomplete and inadequate. In fact, it is little more than existence if it has no spiritual dimension above the satisfying of ... Read more

"How can you believe? ". By removing the obstacles to faith. A reminder of some of them may help: Doubt - a deadly exercise dependent upon looking for the weaknesses instead of jumping on the passing opportunity. Reason - a misguided notion that the mental process is more valid than the counsel of God. Unwillingness ... Read more

"What must I do to be saved? ". First, you need to admit you are lost. The Philippian jailer's question arising out of his unusual circumstances shows that he recognised his need. Second, you need to know that the Lord Jesus Christ can save you and is ready to do so. His atoning death on ... Read more

"Pharoah was wroth with his servants". Some men's wrath boils up quickly and disappears just as fast. It is what happens between the two that gives cause for concern. In the case of Pharoah, his exiled butler had his job back while his exiled baker went to the gallows. To some extent we all suffer ... Read more