"busy with your own house". Despite being busy, the Israelites found that all their hard work was proving futile. The more they did, the less they achieved. Whilst rebuilding the temple, the people had become distracted with building homes for themselves and their priorities had changed. The house of the Lord could wait. Concern for ... Read more

"All my fountains are in you". This psalm extols the blessings of Zion, the city of God. Zion speaks of the capital and centre of the kingdom of God and of the Children of God. The fountains, or springs as they are called refer to the strength and sustenance the Christian draws from the true ... Read more

"a choice between the way that leads to life and the way that leads to death". The choice found in Jeremiah is not the only one. God gives us all that same choice today. We cannot all be wealthy or educated or intelligent, but we can all choose the way that leads to life. It ... Read more

"when did we see you …? ". Those pronounced righteous on the Day of Judgment repeatedly asked this question when told they had met the Lord and attended to His need. The fact was that they had seen Him but not recognised Him - when they took warm clothes and wrapped the shivering child, when ... Read more

"those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works". This is wise counsel to all believers. The danger is that the believer mistakenly thinks that faith is all that is needed. To say I believe and not do anything that faith demands is like advertising my assumed godliness with no product ... Read more

"You did not choose me, but I chose you". Jesus chose to call His disciples. As far as we know, all the twelve whom He called responded positively. It was not an open invitation but a specific one. Jesus came to James and John mending their nets, Peter and Andrew casting their net and Matthew ... Read more

"But now … ". Thank God for 'but now'! It is one 'but' we cannot do without. It is a declaration of being. It announces the difference Christ makes. It declares freedom and forgiveness from the past, new life and new relationships for the present and the hope of heaven for the future. Each time ... Read more

”waiting for the moving of the water". The crowd clustered beneath the arches around Bethesda's pool were clutching at a straw. The chance each had of healing was very small. Some of the 'moving waters' mankind still waits for are - to be left a fortune; to win the pools; become famous: have better luck ... Read more

''let me glean and gather after the reapers''. Ruth in the Old Testament is not unlike the Canaanite woman in the New Testament who begged for crumbs at Jesus' table. She was content to collect up what the others left. Circumstances had brought her low in worldly wealth but her situation brought out hidden beauty ... Read more

''the whole creation groans". Groaning as a sufferer in pain for which no remedy can be found. The world is rocking beneath its own curse as well as its misuse by man. That war rages incessantly somewhere or other on our planet: that famine has a large proportion of our population in its grip: that ... Read more

”many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples" . Matthew did not keep his conversion secret: rather, he made it the opportunity for his acquaintances to hear Jesus for themselves. So we read that tax collectors and sinners sat at his table. Any not accepted in the synagogue found ... Read more

”if you consider me a partner". Partners can sometimes be easier to make than to keep, especially if we are not prepared to maintain the relationship. Philemon no doubt thought it an honour to have the Apostle Paul as a personal friend. The test came when on the strength of that friendship he was asked ... Read more

”I will listen to what God the Lord says". There are a number of steps you'll need to take if you are going to join the Psalmist: stop all else you're doing; switch off television and radio; discard the tinsel that obscures reality; remove the wax from your ears; pay more attention to what God ... Read more

”faithful over a few things". As children we play at what we one day expect to be real. Adulthood is not long reached before we realise few if any of our childhood dreams will come true. But it is not what you have missed but what you have been given that is important. Adult life ... Read more

”they … wished for the day" . Storm or distress or grief can make the night seem endless. When tossed to and fro by the waves as Paul and his companions were, or so disturbed that bed in the safety of home does not grant sleep, you long for day. Suffering can seem like a ... Read more

”You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once". Many parallels may be drawn between the restrictions laid by Jehovah upon the Children of Israel and God's plan for His disciples today. Here is one of them. Success was not to be achieved immediately in the overthrow of the nations ranged against God's ... Read more

”he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God". It is a natural desire to want to succeed. We are given pounds to trade with and talents to use. But it is making a profit without thought of God or seeking His will in it all that condemns us. And the ... Read more

”the glory which shall be revealed in us". Who are these that are to have glory revealed in them? They are nothing special to look at - it's probably only when under pressure or duress you'd pick them out. Their educational attainment may not be outstanding though some are keen to take every opportunity to ... Read more

”when they got into the boat, the wind ceased". The disciples' experience is a picture of those who enter into the ark of salvation upon the seas of life. Many make shipwreck of the life God has given them. It was not Peter's return to the boat, but Jesus' coming aboard that brought the calm. ... Read more

”I am the Lord". The Lord repeatedly reminded the Israelites that He was Lord as He gave instructions for their behaviour. Look at the prohibitions: No idols - wood, stone or any man-made icon; No Sabbath desecration - it is the day to rest. Look at the long list of blessings: Good crops and harvest; ... Read more

”she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter". When this woman heard about Jesus, faith and hope rose in her heart and she acted upon them. She went to where Jesus was, fell at His feet and besought Him for her demon-possessed daughter. Situations of distress and unhappiness that ... Read more

p>”you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly". Departure from the way of the Lord even by a minority, was something not to be countenanced under the Law given at Sinai. Such towns were to be completely destroyed. Now while we cannot condone such punishment in this day of grace, there is always the danger ... Read more

”when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray". The crowd was the field in which Jesus laboured. But it prevented Him having audience in prayer with his Father, so He needed to send it away. Some of the things we need to shut out, if we would be still in ... Read more

”declare the praises of him". Declaring something is to make it known. It is a deliberate act. It is public and to the benefit of others. In a society that debases the name of Christ, ours is the joy to declare His praise. Praise to God is in response to who He is and what ... Read more

”Sell your possessions and give to the poor". Never has this been more timely than today! More people have more than ever before, while there are more people in poverty than ever. The poverty trap will not open until the rich turn the key in the door. Looking after your surplus can be a worry: ... Read more

”a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat". Storm and heat - two of the elements that can make life intolerable for us. Storms that come upon us unexpectedly and dash our hopes to pieces. Heat that beats down upon us when shelter we enjoyed has been taken from us. It is ... Read more

”they … supposed that they had seen a spirit". A silly question often asked when I was at primary school was, 'Do you believe in ghosts?' The Bible makes no attempt to hide the reality and influence of a spirit world. Any attempt at contact or communication with it is strictly forbidden. Seeing a ghost ... Read more

”For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised". Do you match God's greatness to you by the greatness of your praise for Him? You praise Him in those times of worship when you close the door and meditate and magnify His Name in prayer. You praise Him when you testify to others of ... Read more

”Having therefore obtained help of God". Paul had gone a long way since his Saul of Tarsus days! He had obeyed the vision God gave him on the Damascus Road, as he told King Agrippa. He had found what all who follow the Lord find - once you begin to obey the Lord He gives ... Read more

”there will be a fulfilment of those things". Both Elizabeth and her cousin Mary had amazing experiences regarding their bearing children and the prophecies concerning them. As with so many instances where God works the events are quite startling. Elizabeth had confirmation of her feelings when the babe leapt in her womb when Mary visited ... Read more

”My soul magnifies the Lord". Mary's heart welled up in praise at the events that had overtaken her. God's goodness and graciousness to her was overwhelming. As her cousin joined her, the two women were able to rejoice together in what God was doing. This should be the lasting sentiment of all our lives once ... Read more

”you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ". The Son of God left the glory of heaven to enter our world through the womb of a woman. He lived and mingled unrecognised with the world of His day to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world. Freely and willingly and ... Read more

”Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool". The Lord has done great things for His people and expects them to say so. It is when we bow low before Him that we exalt Him high. False humility draws attention to itself: true humility ensures that the Lord fills the horizon. It ... Read more

”for me". Have you never opened a parcel, stared in amazement at its content and then exclaimed "For me?" The gospel is a blessing because its message is so personal. It is something of great value to all who receive it. All that we read happened when Jesus came to earth and lived and loved ... Read more

”I will make all my mountains a way". This is what Jehovah said to His People Israel and it is a promise He has never rescinded. Mountains have not been removed either, and the path over them often appears to be impassable. But those who commit their lives to the Lord will never be confounded. ... Read more

”his hand is stretched out still". It is stretched out even though God's people have not sought the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God and Prince of Peace provided. Men and women in all generations, realising their waywardness towards God, have asked, 'Does God still care?' The Lord is plentiful in mercy, full of compassion and ever ... Read more

”blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord". It is worth referring to Jeremiah to see God's assurances to those who put their trust in Him. 1. Like a tree planted by water - never suffering from drought. 2. Sending out roots by the stream - the more it spreads the more nourishment it ... Read more