"the wells of Salvation". Isaiah pictured it, the Gospel writers describe it and the Book of Acts gives us instances of sinners drawing from them. Many have been doing so ever since. The prophet described those drawing water from these wells as doing so with joy. And what joy can equal that experienced when the ... Read more

"How many loaves do you have? ". With this question, Jesus turns the whole perspective on the situation around. Instead of looking at what they hadn't got, as the disciples were doing, Jesus looks at what they have got. Jesus hadn't actually asked the disciples to provide the bread. He'd simply shared his concern for ... Read more

"Ill-gotten treasures are of no value". It is not what value your treasure is on the open market, but how you acquired it. This may be something that only you and God know. Because of the importance attached to how we acquire what we have, the proverb goes on to say that righteousness delivers from ... Read more

"Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient". No! Neither is two hundred thousand pennyworth, nor all the bread from all the bakeries in the land enough, if mankind is to be truly fed! For, man shall not live by bread alone. But give these people Jesus and all their needs will soon be met. ... Read more

"and I will bless you". The Lord promised Abram that if he would leave his country, his people and his father's household and go to the land of which the Lord would show him, the Lord would bless Him. Abram obeyed and became the father of all who exercise this faith and obedience. The Israelites ... Read more

"he who believes in me has everlasting life". Underwritten by His own atoning death and effectively sealed by His glorious resurrection, Jesus has no difficulty in fulfilling His promise. The deepest sinner need have no difficulty in accepting it, for beginning with the malefactor who hung next to Him at Calvary, men ever since have ... Read more

"Who has believed our report? ". What Isaiah foretold in prophecy was witnessed by dwellers in Palestine 200 years later. For nearly two thousand years the followers of Jesus have born testimony to the truth of the gospel in their lives as the news has spread all around the world. The Jews could not accept ... Read more

"let not your hands be weak". These words are part of the prophesy of Azariah spoken to King Asa. They were days when 'there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in'. In a world of war, disease and sorrow we are tempted to say, 'There is nothing I ... Read more

"everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required". Better a little well used than a lot wasted. You are more likely to get five out of five than ten out of ten so why covet the lifestyle of those who have more than you? God gives His gifts knowing what is ... Read more

"My times are in your hand". Because we do not know what a day may bring forth, it is reassuring to read today's verse. Doing God's will now is more important than trying to anticipate what tomorrow may bring. If it is a time of waiting or of preparation remember it is still of purpose ... Read more

"For the Lamb … will be their shepherd". Here is a wonderful turn of phrase. Lambs usually need to be cared for by the shepherd, but in the Kingdom of God it is the Lamb who becomes the shepherd. John the Baptist spoke of Christ as the 'Lamb of God' who would be offered as ... Read more

"a cup of water to drink". A very small thing but it can be a life saver. Really it is not what it costs, but how much it is needed that counts. A suit of clothes for a man who has none is far more valuable than the same suit to a man who already ... Read more

"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord". Are you chasing around trying to do it all: or frustrated because you can't do all that you want to do? Have you forgotten that the Lord is the one who saves - saves your life from ... Read more

"my redeemer … shall stand at the latter day upon the earth". Job had a keen spiritual insight. His trouble only served to make this clearer. Divested of all he had, Job dwelt upon the promise of God and the assurance of faith. Job's anticipation may have been of Jesus at His First Advent. That ... Read more

"Whosoever shall confess me before men". Confession need not be saying anything: it may just be standing up and being counted as a true Christian. Like nailing your colours to the mast, it is raising the flag so that it cannot be taken down. Opportunities to do this are often missed. Once you have made ... Read more

"could this happen? ". Be careful you do not despise or question the promises of God like this servant of the King of Israel did long ago. In a time of severe famine Elisha had said that tomorrow flour and barley would be plentiful. The courtier on whose arm the king leaned ridiculed the statement ... Read more

"Then Philip ran". Once you are clear what God wants you to do, some extra speed may be called for to do it. If Philip had not run he might never have caught up with the chariot and seen the conversion of this court official. The two disciples ran to the tomb to check the ... Read more

"Return home". In many cases home is the hardest mission field. Everybody knows you at home. So it is there that the change will be noticed. You cannot start your life afresh like going to a new environment. And it is your new life as a follower of Jesus that must begin at home. It ... Read more

"is well known for her good deeds". This is the quality of a godly widow. Being 'well known' speaks of many people testifying to her good deeds. Paul gives a list of some of the actions that are included and they benefit the young and the old, the hungry and those who struggle. This lady ... Read more

"I will bless the person who puts his trust in me". Putting your trust in the Lord attracts God's blessing upon every department of your life. No hidden snags or dangers when God blesses. His path and His calling are not easy but they are blessed. The work may be difficult but it is rewarding ... Read more

"they found that Jesus was alone". Jesus was still there when Moses and Elijah had returned to heaven. The disciples wanted to remain on the mountain top. Peter offered to build three shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. But time on life's mountain peaks are to give us strength and fortitude in the subsequent struggles ... Read more

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord". Who or what will be guiding you through the avenue of life today? Your own expertise and experience may stand you in good stead. An awareness of things around you should ensure that you take great care in negotiating its difficulties and obstacles. This ... Read more

"may I not wash in them, and be clean? ". Naaman the leper wanted cleansing from his leprosy on his terms. The river of Jordan was not good enough for his pride - Abana and Pharpar rivers would be much better. In a similar way the sinner looks to see if he can be cleansed ... Read more

"redeeming the time". A life lived without Christ in every part of it, fails to attain the standard set - hence the need for even a cup of cold water to be given in His Name. But once a soul turns to Christ, they should waste no time in catching up on missed opportunities, or ... Read more

"She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial". We wonder whether these words of Jesus indicate that the lady who came to anoint Jesus in the house of Simon the leper had a special revelation of the passion and death that Jesus was about to experience. It is most likely that hers was ... Read more

"If anyone wants to boast". Some people do seem to enjoy boasting. In many different areas we may obtain a sense of achievement. Yet the temptation to boast about our achievements is something we do well to resist in every area except one. The prophet Jeremiah is talking about boasting that we know the Lord ... Read more

"he made the storm be still". The catalogue of God's doings listed in this Psalm makes interesting reading. This part verse is but one of many. It does not necessarily mean He caused the storm to cease its raging, though that was what happened when Jesus stood among His fearful disciples in the boat and ... Read more

"it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved". 'It shall come to pass' means that the time will come. 'Whosoever' builds the entrance wide enough for anybody. In reality there are those who feel that for one reason or another they have not reached that ... Read more

"walk as children of light". Allowing the light of the glorious gospel to illumine all of your being. Allowing His light to shine upon your path. The healing rays of His life and love warming your innermost being. The lamp of His Word shining on the path He has chosen for you giving you clear ... Read more

"Jesus wept". Jesus did not weep because Lazarus was suffering, that was over, though He may have wept that Lazarus had been made to suffer. Neither did He weep because He would not see him again - He was soon to raise him up when they would be reunited. He may have wept at the ... Read more

"The Lord is at your right hand". The shepherd on the Judean hillside may have little in common with the computer technician. But while the age is different and the demands more exacting, some things do not change. Especially is this so in the Lord's ability and readiness to meet man's need. Such is the ... Read more

"other foundation can no man lay". Many do try to lay down their own foundation and the building they erect upon it goes up rapidly. But the testings of life soon show that what was thought to be rock-bed is sand. Jesus Christ is the only foundation upon which life can be built. Because He ... Read more

"yet in my flesh shall I see God". Job was a firm believer in the resurrection. He knew that once he was in the grave, decay would set in and soon only bones be left. Yet he speaks of seeing God in his flesh. His hope was of a resurrection body in which he would ... Read more

"study to be quiet". Being quiet does not come naturally to most of us - not for any length of time anyway! It calls for application or study to perform the exercise. Our desire must not be to be known for our much speaking. And we do not want to meddle in other's affairs - ... Read more

"this house was finished". The temple of the Lord was completed in spite of all the opposition and hindrance the returned exiles had faced. The workers had been made to stop and when at last the dispute was resolved and a new command to build received from Darius, the workers began to work with great ... Read more