"be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray". No good being taken up with an hundred and one other things if you want to be effective in prayer. You must be able to put out all the hindrances and temptations if you would wrestle in prayer with God. If, like the church in ... Read more
"Take careful heed to yourselves". The Lord leading and protecting His people for 40 years in the desert did not absolve them from responsibility, neither was God's care any excuse for them to be careless. The Israelite's experience was not unique. We who claim to be disciples need to take heed these many years later. ... Read more
"these men had been with Jesus". Not only had they been with Him, but they had become like Jesus. They had caught something of the power and authority that Jesus was known to have - something of Him had rubbed off on them. Those who attempt to live up to the demands of the gospel ... Read more
"who changes rocks into pools of water and solid cliffs into flowing springs". Our verse lists rocks becoming pools of water and cliffs flowing springs, no doubt alluding to water flowing from the rock when Israel journeyed through the wilderness. One cannot imagine any two more opposites than flint stone and running water. The Children ... Read more
"According to your faith be it unto you". The two blind men were vociferous in their appeal for mercy and their cries caused them to be brought before Him. But they were to learn it was not then up to Jesus: their healing was as much up to them. Jesus asked if they believed He ... Read more
"seeing him who is invisible". This is a paradox that only those who have the experience can understand. Those listed in this great faith chapter knew about it and so do those who have exercised faith in the promise of God. There is an unseen hand guiding the affairs of history. More important is God ... Read more
"fear the Lord your God … walk in all his ways … love him … serve the Lord your God … with all your soul". With these words God commands His People through the words of Moses today. Fear - an appreciation and respect for who He is and worship and honour given to His ... Read more
"taken up dead". The unforeseen happens, our circumstances change, things are no longer the same and what we knew as something very much alive we take up as something dead. We begin a new project but it dies on us; nothing we can do will revive it - we take it up, but it's dead. ... Read more
p>"the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play". Aaron proclaimed it a feast to the Lord but it was idolatry. When worship becomes eating, drinking and playing it becomes idolatry. True worship is both happy and deeply satisfying, but it is not hilarity or play. God was graciously real ... Read more
"Peace, be still". There are really two statements in these words of Jesus as He stood among the frightened disciples in a storm. Peace - that is His Name - Prince of Peace. He challenged the fear that had gripped His disciples. In that boat with Jesus was the safest place they could be. "Peace" ... Read more