"David said to Gad, 'I am in great distress ....' “. His distress was all his own fault. He sinned in numbering Israel and had to suffer for his error. Some of us only learn that fire is dangerous after we have been burned. The Bible makes it clear that sin and rebellion will not ... Read more

"confessing their sins". John the Baptist preached repentance and those baptised by him in Jordan confessed their sins. The Apostle John wrote that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and James in his letter says that we should confess our faults one to another. It sometimes seems ... Read more

"the angels of God met him". The angels of God must often meet God's children. The difference is that whereas Jacob apparently recognised they were angels, we do not normally recognise them. Angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to those who are the heirs of salvation through faith in Christ. There is no evidence ... Read more

p>"He gives power to the weak". The Lord can confidently give this promise because the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. Do you ever run out of strength; out of moral courage to do that which you know to be right? Do you begin ... Read more

"all the people said, 'Amen!' and praised the Lord"It was not the murmur we sometimes hear at the close of set prayer or intercession: neither was it the expression of relief I have sometimes made when an exceptionally long prayer has concluded! It was a 'so be it Lord' to all that Asaph and his ... Read more

"This fellow is one of them". Peter missed his opportunity to witness! He could have stood out, true to his word and been the only voice raised in support of Jesus. Indeed, he could have died with His Lord. We all miss these opportunities and try to excuse ourselves in numerous ways. "Are you a ... Read more

"thy judgments are a great deep". The Psalmist here is referring to all God's ways and decisions particularly as they affect us. Knowing that His judgments are the product of an all-loving heavenly Father who cares for His children does not remove the difficulty we have in understanding or interpreting them. When we do not ... Read more

"be imitators of God, as beloved children". Children make good imitators because they watch. They stand and stare and take in everything. Then when you're gone, they put on a little show that takes you off to everyone's amusement. Those striving after godliness should note the illustration. You will only become like the Lord as ... Read more

"something should be given her to eat”. It needed this word from Jesus to remind the parents of their need to give food to their daughter whom He had raised to life. It is a timely reminder needed today. In the excitement that follows a decision to follow Christ let us not neglect to provide ... Read more

"But Jonah ran away". Not the best thing to do in hindsight, but an instinctive reaction when called to go to Nineveh. Jonah could have thought of a number of places he would rather go to. Nineveh had a reputation and it wasn't the sort of place to highlight wickedness. He would rather be all ... Read more