Grace Audio Treasures

"The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time!" Genesis 6:5 "Her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes!" Revelation 18:5 "Fools mock at sin!" Proverbs 14:9 "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them!" Romans 1:32 Man by nature is insane! He suffers from a deep rooted psychosis called sin! An unseen principle of madness permeates his entire being! Fallen man is a stark raving lunatic - whose depravity, rebellion, and malice against God literally knows no limit. Thoroughly degraded, man is a weak, tiny, insignificant, little dung-beetle - yet, in his senseless audacity and brazen insolence he daily tempts God to destroy him by stubbornly refusing to obey Him. If it is madness for maggots on a dunghill to oppose the all-powerful boot of man - then we worms of the earth dare not oppose the Most High God, whose invisible boot of omnipotent sovereignty could squash our souls into Hell with unthinkable ease! Such unwarranted impudence is not only futile, but completely and utterly insane! "You have sinned against the Lord. Be sure your sin will find you out!" Numbers 32:23 "I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless!" Isaiah 13:11

"Do not love the world or anything in the world." 1 John 2:15 There are two ways in which a person may attempt to displace the love of the world from the heart: 1. By a demonstration of the world's vanity, so that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it. "When I surveyed all that I had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve-everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun!" Ecclesiastes 2:11 "This world is passing away along with its desires!" 1 John 2:17 2. By setting forth another object, even Christ, as more worthy of its attachment, so that the heart shall be prevailed upon to exchange an old affection for a new one. The best way to overcome the world, is not with morality or self-discipline. Christians overcome the world by seeing the beauty and excellence of Christ. They overcome the world by seeing something more attractive than the world-the Lord Jesus Christ! "Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

Psalm 119:117, "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" There is a glorious humility in this brief prayer. It is the cry of one who knows both his weakness, and his heavenly Father's ability. The psalmist does not say, "I will hold myself up!" or "I will stand in my own strength!" He knows better. He has learned the painful lesson of his own weakness and instability, and proneness to wander from God. Instead, he casts himself entirely upon the Lord: "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Only God can uphold His redeemed people, with corruption in their hearts, in a world full of spiritual dangers and deceits. This verse is a declaration of the utter necessity of God's sustaining grace. The redeemed are not kept by their own will-power, intelligence, or resolve--they are "kept by the power of God through faith" (1 Peter 1:5). It is sovereign grace that chose them, grace that effectually called them, grace that redeemed them, and grace that will preserve them to the end. Were it not for God's moment-by-moment upholding grace, no believer could endure to the end. The world entices, the flesh rebels, the devil accuses--and divine grace alone keeps the feet from slipping. The Lord's people shall not fall away finally or totally. They may fall foully, but they shall not fall finally. He who began the good work in them, will carry it on until He completes it. The same hand which gave us spiritual life, must preserve that life. Grace in the heart, is like a spark in the ocean; it would be utterly quenched, unless the Lord kept it alive. Yet God's sustaining grace is not merely a necessity--it is a comfort beyond all measure. What greater security could the believer have, than to be uph

These petty troubles and vexations! George Everard, "Little Foxes, and How to Catch Them!" 1878 (You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.) We must see our heavenly Father's hand in our lesser trials and cares, as much as in the greater ones. David recognized the hand of God, in Absalom rising against him in rebellion--but he saw it no less in Shimei throwing stones and dust and casting bitter words at him. Just so, let us see God's hand in everything. These petty troubles and vexations are a part of our schooling for Heaven. They are just as much sent from above, as the fierce storm that wrecks our home and leaves us desolate in a cold world. They all come . . . to prove us, to humble us, to draw out the grace which God has given us, to break the tie that binds us too closely to earth, to knit the tie that draws us nearer to Heaven. Let us ever fix this in our minds. Let us say to ourselves: "My Father has sent this trial!  Not a sparrow falls to the ground without Him.  The very hairs of my head are numbered by Him.  So I will trust His heart, where I cannot trace His hand.  He is too wise to be mistaken--and too good to be unkind!"

John 13:7, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." There is infinite mercy in that gentle correction of Jesus to Peter. The Lord was stooping to wash the feet of His disciples--a task far beneath His dignity, but not beneath His love. Peter objected, unable to reconcile this lowly act with the majesty of the One he knew to be the Son of God. But Jesus silences Peter's protest, not with an explanation, but with a quiet assurance: "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." This assurance is not for Peter only. It is for every believer who walks through the shadowy mysteries of God's providence. In the Lord's dealings with His redeemed people, there is much that is concealed--and rightly so. Our finite minds cannot trace the lines of His infinite wisdom. What He hides from us is not meant to wound us, but to humble us, teach us, and draw us to trust Him. It is not ours to demand the explanation of God's dealings with us. It is ours to say, "It is the Lord! Let Him do what is good in His sight." To pry into the hidden counsels of the Almighty, is both presumption and folly. The Judge of all the earth will do right--even when we cannot yet comprehend it. Shall the clay rise up to challenge the Potter? Shall dust and ashes cross-examine the Most High? Faith bows and adores. Faith says, "Though He slays me, yet I will hope in Him." God's providences may appear darksome to us, but they are never erring. All must be right--because He does it. And what is true in providence is even more true in grace. Why did God choose us, the most unlikely and unworthy? Why were we made to hear His voice, while other

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us--that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1 Those whom Jesus loves, being chosen of God to holiness here on earth, and happiness in eternity--are predestined to the adoption of His children--to the praise of the glory of His grace. They are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son--they are to . . . partake of His nature, receive of His spirit, wear His image, and be associated with Him in honor and glory forever! Jesus calls them: His brethren, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Himself! Being His redeemed children, they . . . have a saving interest in Him, are eternally loved by Him, are in eternal union with Him, and shall never be separated from Him! O wondrous mercy! That God should condescend to make up a family of such vile, polluted, and wretched beings as we are! O wondrous mercy! That He should write our names in His book of life, give us the gift of the Holy Spirit, privilege us as His children at His throne, and associate us with Jesus as fellow-heirs. O wondrous mercy! That all this should have been fixed upon and settled--before the beginning of time, and all for the praise of His glorious grace!

"Christ loved the church, and gave Himself up for her!" Ephesians 5:25 Thoughts of love nestled in His heart; words of love lingered on His lips; deeds of love flew from His hands; and His steps left behind them, the impress of love! Love threw its soft halo over His cradle at Bethlehem, and it fringed with its mellow splendors, the gloom of the cloud under which He expired on Calvary. Love gave bounds to His reproofs, and pathos to His invitations. Love was the magnet that guided Him in all His wanderings. Love bound Him to the cross and held Him there, and not the iron nails which pierced His hands and His feet! Love thrilled in His bosom, and glistened in His eye! Love prompted Him to impart miraculous aid on every opportunity. His meekness was but one of its features. It clothed itself in forgiveness toward His enemies, and its last pulsation was in a prayer for His murderers. Love was the spiritual atmosphere in which He lived, moved, and had His being. And all this love had His own redeemed people for its central object, around whom it ever hovered with sleepless tenderness and assiduity! "Christ loved the church, and gave Himself up for her!" But those exhibitions of love during His life, are eclipsed by the displays of it in His death! Love shines out with wondrous charms amidst the gloom of death, for it did not shrink from the shame and woe of the cross! His severest anguish was that of His soul. Oh! it was not shame, persecution, or crucifixion--for these terrible sufferings could have been easily borne! It was not the rage and malice of Satan--these also could have been trampled on! But it was the endurance in Himself of the punishment du

1 John 3:2-3, "Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him--for we shall see Him as He is!" Let us endeavor to realize our present sonship; it will produce . . . boldness at His throne of grace, contrition at His cross, confidence in His Word, love to His person, contentment with our lot, victory over the world, zeal for His glory, and encouragement under all our trials and troubles! We are either children of God, or enemies of God! Every child of God . . . mourns over sin, flies to the Savior, and departs from iniquity! God is now his Father. All the promises are his. The eternal inheritance is his. Let us look back to the rock from whence we were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence we were dug: How base was our origin--the dust! How degraded was our condition--slaves of sin and Satan! How fearful was our character--enemies to God! How dreadful was our eternal doom--the lake which burns with brimstone and fire! Contrast this with . . . our present relationship--children of God; our high standing--in heavenly places in Christ; our glorious privilege--justified from all things; our fixed destiny--to be forever with the Lord! And to what is this astonishing change to be ascribed? To the love of God in Christ Jesus! "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us--that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1 What a mystery of mercy is this! But if we are unbelievers, then we are . . . God's enemies, children of wrath, under the curse, in imminent danger! Satan is our father! Sin

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your Word." "It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn Your decrees." "I know, O LORD, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Trials, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, are a great help to overcome our corruptions. The sharper the trial, the sweeter the result--when it is sanctified by the Spirit. When trials come, they whip us home to our heavenly Father! Sheep do not stray very far when the big black dog is after them--his barkings make them run to their shepherd. In the same way, affliction is the Good Shepherd's black dog which He sends to fetch us back to Him; otherwise we would wander to our ruin. When trouble comes, it should drive us to God, just as the shipwrecked sailor is driven to the shore. If the gold knew why it was cast into the fire--it would thank the Refiner for putting it there. Our heavenly Father loves us too much to exempt us from trials. Let us believe that His choicest love-letters are sent to us in black-edged envelopes. We are frightened at the envelope; but inside, if we know how to break the seal, we shall find riches for our souls. We draw nearest to God, in our brokenness. There is no school like the school of trial, and the rod of affliction is the best instructor. By affliction, the Lord separates the sin which He hates, from the soul which He loves. It is a blessed thing when the mind is brought to humbly submit to the chastisements of God, and to acquiesce in all of His providential trials. Knowing as we do, that God causes all things to work together for our good, and that we never endure a single trial more than our heavenly Fath

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" There is no love on earth to compare with the love of Jesus. His love is not a mere sentiment--it is a mighty, active, sacrificial love. From eternity past, He set His heart upon a people given to Him by the Father. Knowing full well their rebellion, guilt, and depravity--He loved them still. And because He loved them, He came down from the heights of glory to the depths of shame--to be the sin-atoning sacrifice for their sins. The love of Jesus is a SOVEREIGN love--free, undeserved, and initiated by Himself alone. "We love Him, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) There was nothing in us to attract Him--only vileness to repulse Him. Yet He set His love upon us with everlasting determination. The love of Jesus is a SUFFERING love. He bore the wrath we deserved. He was pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5) Every blow He received, every thorn pressed into His brow, every nail driven through His flesh--proclaimed the depth and cost of His love for His people. The wounds of Jesus are the sure pledges of His love. He wrote His love in crimson letters upon the cross. The love of Jesus is a PERSONAL love. "The Son of God...loved ME and gave Himself for ME." (Galatians 2:20) He knows and loves each of His redeemed people individually. He sought us when we were wandering. He drew us with cords of kindness. He washed us in His blood. He clothed us in His righteousness. He calls us His brothers, His bride, His beloved. The love of Jesus is an UNCHANGING love. Human love fades and falters--but not His. Having loved His own who

Romans 8:30, "Those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified." The Christian's journey is not a random path through this wilderness world--it is a divinely ordained pilgrimage that begins in GRACE, and ends in GLORY. Every believer is the object of God's eternal love, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and predestined not merely for salvation, but for full conformity to His image. Grace is not the end of the story--it is the beginning of a glorious journey to glory. The same God who begins the good work of salvation in us, will bring it to completion. He Who predestined us, and effectually called us, and justified us, will also glorify us. Our final state is one of radiant perfection, fully reflecting the character of Jesus. This is the believer's unshakable hope. Our salvation is not uncertain or dependent on our frail efforts. The God who saved us by His grace, will surely bring us to glory. Between grace and glory, there will be suffering, trials, and valleys--but none of them can sever this golden chain of salvation forged by divine love. Let every redeemed soul rejoice in this truth: God's grace will carry us all the way home to Heaven. From His electing love in eternity past, to our glorification in eternity future--we are held fast by His unchanging purpose. The One who called us by grace, will crown us with glory. We shall see His face, and be like Him forever. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose us in Him before the creation of the world, to

Luke 4:33-34, "In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice: Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" Luke 4:41, "Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting: 'You are Christ, the Son of God!' But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ." We should notice in this passage, the clear religious knowledge possessed by the devil and his agents. Twice in these verses we have proof of this. "I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" was the language of an evil spirit in one case. "You are Christ, the son of God," was the language of many demons in another. Yet this knowledge was a knowledge unaccompanied by faith, or hope, or love. Those who possessed it were miserable evil beings, full of bitter hatred both against God and man. Let us beware of an unsanctified knowledge of the truths of Christianity. It is a dangerous possession, but a fearfully common one in these latter days. We may know the Bible intellectually, and have no doubt about the truth of its contents. We may have our memories well stored with its leading texts, and be able to talk glibly about its leading doctrines. And all this time the Bible may have no influence over our hearts, and wills, and consciences. We may in reality, be nothing better than the demons! Let it never content us to know religion with our heads only. We may go on all our lives saying, "I know this, and I know that!"--and sink at last into Hell with the words upon our lips! Let us see that our knowledge bears fruit in our lives. Does our knowledge of sin make us hat

Romans 5:20, "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." Sin is not merely the breaking of a rule--it is rebellion against the infinite majesty and holiness of God. It is treason against the sovereign King of Heaven. It is a monstrous defilement of the soul, a willful choosing of darkness over light, a loathing of God's commandments, and a love for what He hates. Sin pollutes every part of our being--our minds are blinded, our hearts are deceitful, our wills are enslaved. Sin makes us loathsome in God's sight, and fit only for eternal judgment. Scripture does not soften the description: we are "dead in transgressions and sins," "children of wrath," "slaves to sin," and "enemies of God." The horror of our sin is not measured by how we see it, but by how God sees it--as that which nailed His beloved Son to the cross! And yet, into that blackness shines a light so glorious that no mind could have imagined it, and no heart could have hoped for it--the grace of God! His grace is unearned, undeserved, and unrepayable. It is His free favor poured out on the utterly un-deserving, ill-deserving and Hell-deserving. Grace finds us filthy, and makes us pure. Grace finds us guilty, and declares us righteous. Grace finds us enemies of God, and makes us His sons and daughters. Nowhere are sin and grace manifested as clearly, than at Golgotha. There, the horror of our sin is exposed in full; for only the blood of the sinless Son of God could make atonement for it! His groans, His wounds, His forsakenness--all cry out against our guilt. At Golgotha also, the wonder of grace shines brightest. Jesus bore our sin, that we might bear His righteousness. He was cursed, that we mig

Habakkuk 1:13, "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil; You cannot look on wickedness." Psalm 5:4–5, "You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with You the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all who do wrong." If we would know how God views sin, we must not measure it by how lightheartedly man treats it, nor by how common it appears in the world, nor even by how it wounds our own conscience. No. We must measure sin by the cross. Sin is not merely a mistake, a weakness, or an unfortunate choice. It is a direct offense against the holiness of the eternal God. Sin is a daring defiance of His Word, a trampling upon His glory, and a mockery of His authority. But if we would truly understand the infinite evil of sin, we must look to Calvary. There, on the accursed tree, God unveiled His view of sin. He did not even spare His own beloved Son, when He stood in the sinner's place. What horror must belong to sin, when its payment required the abandonment of the sinless One by His own Father? What dreadful weight must sin carry, that it could crush the eternal Son of God into the dust of death? What must God think of sin, when He would lay upon Jesus the iniquity of His people, and exact from Him every drop of wrath which our guilt deserved? Behold the bloodied brow, the pierced hands, the parched lips, the darkened sky, the cry of dereliction: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me!" These are God's thunderous declarations that sin is no trifle. Sin is not something He can simply overlook. Sin is a monster so vile, that it demanded nothing less than the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Here is a sight too deep for words: the infinit

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ews 3:13, " . . . that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Sin is the greatest evil in the universe. It is the parent of all other evils. All evils draw their bitterness from this fountain of wormwood and gall. If a man had every possession a mortal could desire, sin could turn every blessing into a curse. And on the other hand, if a man had nothing but suffering, but stood clear from all sin--then his afflictions, his losses, his deprivations, might each one be a gain to him. We ought not to pray so much against sickness, or trial, or even against death itself--as against sin. Satan himself cannot hurt us, except as he is armed with the poisoned arrows of sin. Alas! We are sadly prone to sin, and evil has great influence over us. Sin never presents itself in its true colors. Like a skilled deceiver, it comes as an angel of light, promising freedom, but delivering bondage; offering pleasure, but producing pain. Sin's most deadly weapon is its power to delude the soul. It is not the roaring lion--but the subtle serpent, that we have most cause to fear! Sin deceives in many ways: Sin softens its name--what God calls rebellion, sin calls mistake or infirmity. Sin minimizes consequences, whispering, "You shall not die." Sin appeals to the affections, drawing the heart toward what seems desirable; but is in truth, destructive. Sin first fascinates--and then slays. Sin . . . blinds the judgment, hardens the heart, and ultimately damns the soul. One of sin's deadliest lies is that it is harmless in small doses. The point of the sword is small, and for that reason the more deadly! We permit "little sins," imagining them to be harmless. But little si

The Christian's hope does not rest in his own strength or steadfastness, but in the mighty, preserving power of God. Jude 24-25, "To Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude closes his epistle with this soaring doxology, lifting our gaze to the triumphant and unshakable glory of our great God and Savior, "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy!" What comfort is found in those words! Left to ourselves, we would surely fall. Our flesh is weak, the world is alluring, and the devil is deceitful. If we had to keep ourselves, we would be like the spider's web--swept away by the first rough wind of trial or temptation. Yet God assuredly upholds His people, because He is faithful. The believer is kept, not barely, but perfectly. God does not merely preserve us in a state of struggle and guilt, limping into Heaven bruised and soiled. No, He will present us "without fault"--blameless in His sight, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, and cleansed from every stain. And this will be done "with great joy". Not only our joy, but His! He who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. The Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep, promises that He will give them eternal life, and that none of them shall ever perish. Jude reminds us that all glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to God--not only in eternity past, not only in the present age,

The devil's chessboard! (Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883) "So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes!" 2 Corinthians 2:11 "Be watchful; the world is the devil's chessboard! You can hardly move backward or forward, but he is ready to attack you with some temptation!" Those who play at the game of chess know that great caution is needed. Your opponent is working toward a design of which you know nothing; and while you imagine that you are doing exceedingly well, he is entrapping you! The game of life, as against Satan, is one in which . . . his maneuvers and artifice, his long practice and stratagems, his superior skill and deceptiveness, and his unscrupulous schemes, give him an immense advantage over our poor self-conceited folly! Lord, help us! You know our adversary; be pleased to deliver us out of his hand. "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes!" Ephesians 6:11

Hebrews 7:24-25, "Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely, those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." The priesthood of Jesus is unlike anything this world has ever known. Earthly priests came and went, bound by mortality and sin. But Jesus, the sinless Son of God, lives forever. His priesthood is permanent, unchanging, and perfect. And because He lives forever, He is able to save completely. Not partially. Not temporarily. Completely. From the deepest guilt; from the power of sin to the punishment it deserves--He is mighty to save. No believer is ever beyond His reach. No sin is too dark for His cleansing blood. No soul is too entangled in sin for His delivering hand. This complete salvation flows from a wondrous truth: He always lives to intercede for His chosen and redeemed people. Even now--in this very moment--Jesus is interceding for US His redeemed people. He is not pleading for mercy as one who is uncertain of the outcome. Rather, as the crucified and risen Savior, He presents His perfect sin-atoning sacrifice before the Father. His nail-scarred hands are the eternal evidence that . . . the price has been paid in full, the wrath of God has been satisfied, justice has been upheld, and His mercy flows freely. We are not kept by our own power, but by the power of God. If we had to keep ourselves, we would be like the spider's web--swept away by the first rough wind of temptation or persecution. The saints shall never perish. They are not only saved, but safe. They are not only pardoned, but preserved. The same grace that chose them and redeemed them, also secures them

The apostle Paul opens the book of Ephesians by lifting our eyes to the heavenly places, that we can view our every spiritual blessing. Verses 3 through 7 of chapter one, unfold a golden chain of divine blessings, granted before time began, and stretching into everlasting glory! BLESSED (verse 3) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms, with every spiritual blessing in Christ." God Himself is the source of all blessing, and in Christ, He has already granted us every spiritual blessing. These are not temporal or material gifts--but eternal treasures belonging to all who are savingly "in Christ". If you want to see the 'heavenly realms' while still on earth, meditate often on your election, adoption, redemption, and forgiveness. CHOSEN (verse 4) "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." This sovereign act of divine love was done in eternity past. God did not choose us because we were in any way better than others--for we were all equally lost and on our way to perdition. His aim in election was that we should stand before Him, holy and blameless, clothed in the righteousness of His beloved Son. PREDESTINED (verse 5) "In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will" Predestination is God's gracious purpose, carried out with certainty. It is not cold fate, but loving design. We were marked out beforehand to be part of His eternal family--not as servants, but as sons! Predestination is not a hard word for the believer--it is full of comfort. The Father chose us lovingly, freely, and eternally

The heart is the chief source of defilement and impurity in God's sight. Our original sinfulness and natural inclination to evil are seldom sufficiently considered. The wickedness of people is often attributed to . . . bad examples, bad company, peculiar temptations, or the snares of the devil. It seems forgotten that everyone carries within him a fountain of wickedness. We need no bad company to teach us, and no devil to tempt us, in order to run into sin. We have within us the beginning of every sin under Heaven. We ought to remember this in the training and education of children. In all our management we must never forget that the seeds of all mischief and wickedness are in their hearts. It is not enough to keep boys and girls at home, and shut out every outward temptation. They carry within them a heart ready for any sin, and until that heart is changed they are not 'safe', whatever we do. When children do wrong, it is a common practice to lay all the blame on bad companions. But it is mere ignorance, blindness, and foolishness to do so. Bad companions are a great evil no doubt, and an evil to be avoided as much as possible. But no bad companion teaches a boy or girl half as much sin as their own hearts will suggest to them! The beginning of all wickedness is within! If parents were half as diligent in praying for their children's conversion as they are in keeping them from bad company, their children would turn out far better than they do.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions..." What a glorious name is here given to our God! He is called "the Father of mercies" and "the God of all comfort." Not only does this reveal the tender character of God, but it opens a window into His gracious dealings with His redeemed people. He is not a distant observer of our pain, nor a cold deity unmoved by our trials. He is a Father--and not only of justice, but of mercies. He is the God--not merely of power and glory, but of all comfort. God's comfort is not reserved for mild inconveniences or minor hurts. He comforts us in ALL our afflictions. There is no sorrow too deep, no trial too complex, no burden too heavy for His consoling grace. When His children pass through the furnace, it is not to destroy them, but to refine them. And in the heat of that affliction, He draws near to pour in the oil of gladness, to whisper peace, to uphold with His righteous right hand. This comfort does not come merely in the form of changed circumstances, but through the very presence of God Himself. He comforts by giving more of Himself. His Word revives the fainting soul, His Spirit applies truth with power, His providence gently overrules for our good. Let us then bless our God--not only when the sun shines, but when the storm breaks. Let us trace every ray of comfort back to its Source: the heart of the Father of mercies. And in every sorrow, let us remember that we are not abandoned--we are being drawn closer to the God who has pledged Himself to comfort us in all our affliction. God is too good to be u

Psalm 16:11, "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." This is the language of one who knows his God, who has walked with Him, and who has learned that there is no joy like that which comes from the conscious nearness of God. How great is the mercy of our God, that He has not left us to grope in darkness or stumble blindly through a world cursed by sin. Earthly joys always disappoint, decay, and die. But in His infinite grace, He has made known to us the path of life--a path not known by the wisdom of man, nor paved by human merit, but graciously revealed through His Word and perfectly embodied in Jesus. He is the only path of life--the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Outside of Him, there is no life at all--only despair, death, and damnation. The world offers many paths--broad paths of avarice, pleasure, and pride--but these all lead to eternal destruction. The path of life is narrow. It is marked by humility, faith, repentance, and obedience. It leads upward, against the sinful customs of the age, and can only be walked by those whose eyes have been opened by the sovereign working of the Spirit. For those who walk this path, even though it is steep and narrow, it ends in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy. Not the hollow joys of earthly gain, or temporary relief; but deep, abiding, soul-satisfying joy--in the presence of Jesus, our precious Savior. In Heaven, sin will be gone, sorrow will vanish, and every holy longing will be satisfied. The pleasures that await are not fleeting or shallow--they are everlasting delights; pure, perfect, and ever-increasing--

Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." In this glorious prophecy, Isaiah lifts the veil of history and gives us a glimpse of the unspeakable gift that God would send to this sinful and hopeless world: a Child born, a Son given. Yet this is no ordinary child. In His birth, He is human. In His names and essence, He is divine. Every title reveals a facet of His infinite majesty and gracious mission. Wonderful Counselor. In a world drowning in confusion and moral blindness, Jesus comes as the infallible guide for His redeemed people. He needs no teacher, for He is wisdom incarnate. His counsel is never shallow, never mistaken, never misleading. He discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. To the weary, He gives rest. To the broken, He gives hope. To the perplexed, He gives direction. Jesus is the great Counselor who can unravel all mysteries, solve all difficulties, and advise us in all dilemmas. Have you gone to Him for counsel? Have you sat at His feet and let His Word guide your steps? Mighty God. Though born as a helpless infant, He is none other than the omnipotent One. This is the staggering mystery of the Incarnation: the Almighty nursing at the bosom of a young virgin. He is not a mere man with divine power; He is God incarnate. With a word, He calmed the storm. With a touch, He healed the sick. With His death, He crushed Satan. And with His resurrection, He conquered the grave. This Mighty God makes all things work together for the good of His people. He who hung upon the cross, was the God who made

Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." 1. HE Salvation begins with God. The glorious subject of this verse is none other than the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. "He"--the eternal, omnipotent, all-wise, and perfectly holy God--has taken the initiative. It was not man who sought God, but God who sought man. Left to ourselves, we were "foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved" (Titus 3:3), utterly without hope. But God, in His infinite mercy and loving-kindness, moved toward us. This great act of salvation is not the product of man's desire, decision, or deeds--but of God's own purpose and grace. "Salvation comes from the Lord" (Jonah 2:9). He alone is the Author and Finisher of our faith. What a humbling truth: the One most offended by our sin, is the very One who provides the remedy. 2. SAVED What a word! Not helped. Not improved. Not rehabilitated. But saved! This is a strong word that speaks of deliverance from danger and destruction. In the biblical sense, it is a rescue from the wrath of God, from the penalty of sin, from eternal damnation. Salvation is no minor adjustment to our behavior or character--it is a radical deliverance from guilt, corruption, and condemnation. And what is the cause? "Not because of righteous things we had done." No amount of good works, religious rituals, or moral efforts could ever earn this salvation. It comes because of His mercy. Grace flows from mercy. Mercy is God's heart of compassion toward those in misery and ruin, and grace is the action that flows from it--redeeming, restoring, and raising us from death to life. To be saved, is to be made a new creation in Christ

1 Corinthians 16:22, "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed!" There are many who profess to be Christians, who attend church, read Scripture, and maintain a moral life. But there is a solemn and searching question that pierces through all outward forms and reaches the very heart: Do you sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ? The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares in the most direct terms that love to Jesus is not optional--it is essential. "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed!" This is not mere emotional affection, but a deep, Spirit-wrought devotion flowing from the soul that has been redeemed by grace. To lack genuine love for Jesus is to prove oneself still in darkness, still under divine wrath, and an utter stranger to salvation. Why is this the test? Because true salvation unites the soul to the Lord Jesus. He is not merely the Giver of blessings--He is the blessing itself. The regenerated heart is drawn irresistibly to Him. It delights in His beauty, trusts in His sin-atoning sufferings and death, rests in His righteousness, and yearns for His presence. Love to Jesus is the surest fruit of the new birth. It is the mark of one who has seen Him as precious, who has tasted His mercy, and who has surrendered to His Lordship. This love is not perfect, nor is it always fervent. At times it may flicker low. But it is genuine. The believer may mourn his coldness, weep over his dull heart, and cry with Peter, "Lord, You know that I love You!" But he cannot deny his love for Jesus--for it has been planted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, and it binds his soul to his Savior. On the other hand, many merely

2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." This verse is a glorious declaration of the sovereign, saving work of God in the soul. It draws a parallel between the original creation, and the new creation in Christ. Just as in Genesis 1:3 God spoke light into the physical darkness--when the earth was formless and void--so now, in the hearts of dead sinners, He speaks spiritual light into the chaos of our moral darkness. This is not a mere invitation or offer; it is a divine act of sovereign grace. Man by nature is blind to the things of God--spiritually dead and alienated from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18). He does not seek God, nor can he grasp the glory of Christ in his own strength (Romans 3:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14). The unregenerate heart is encased in spiritual darkness. But then, by His own will and power, God speaks, and light bursts forth. This light is not from within man; it is the very light of God Himself--"the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." What is this knowledge? It is not the accumulation of facts, but the Spirit-wrought apprehension of God's glory as it is revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is to see, with the eyes of faith, the beauty of Christ crucified, risen, and reigning--the One who is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being" (Hebrews 1:3). This knowledge humbles the proud, exalts the Savior, and transforms the soul. It is the difference between knowing about Christ, and truly knowing Him. This miracle of illumination i

Matthew 12:20, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory." What a portrait this verse paints of our merciful Savior! In just a few words, we see the immeasurable gentleness, patience, and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ toward weak and wounded believers. He is the mighty King, yes--but He is also the tender Shepherd who cares for the frailest of His flock. The bruised reed is not upright, strong, or fruitful. It is bent, cracked, and seemingly worthless. In the eyes of men, such a reed might as well be discarded. But not so with Jesus. He does not despise the one who has been battered by sin, by sorrow, or by the assaults of Satan. He does not snap the trembling soul in two. Instead, He binds up the broken, strengthens the feeble, and gently restores those who fall. The smoldering wick is a faint and flickering light. It barely glows, producing more smoke than flame. To the impatient, it would seem easier to extinguish it and replace it altogether. But Jesus does not quench that smoldering wick. He does not despise the believer whose faith is small, whose zeal has grown cold, or whose joy is nearly extinguished. He tenderly breathes life into that little spark, until it becomes a flame again. This is the heart of our Savior. He does not demand perfect strength or unwavering faith from us--He gives it. "He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust!" (Psalm 103:14). He is drawn to our weakness, not repelled by it. He stoops to lift up the weary. He holds fast to those who can barely hold on to Him. How can this be? Because He Himself was bruised. As Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was pierced for

Colossians 1:13-14, "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves--in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." What a glorious declaration of the sovereign grace of God! These verses are a triumphant summary of the believer's salvation: rescued, transferred, redeemed, and forgiven. Each word pulses with divine power, reminding us that salvation is not merely an invitation, but a rescue--a dramatic and decisive act performed by God alone. First, Paul says, "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness." The word rescued implies that we were helpless, enslaved, and hopelessly bound. The dominion of darkness is not a passive condition; it is an active tyranny ruled by Satan, under which we once willingly walked according to the flesh. We did not grope for light; we loved the darkness, because we loved sin (John 3:19). But God, in His sovereign mercy, broke in with light and power, drawing us out of that dreadful bondage--not because of any merit in us, but entirely because of His good pleasure (Ephesians 2:4-5). Second, "He transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves." We were once children of wrath--now we are citizens of the Kingdom of Christ. We were once alienated from God--now we are accepted in the Beloved. This is the glorious reversal of our spiritual status, wrought entirely by the Father's initiative and affection. The kingdom we now belong to is not ruled by fear or law--but by grace, love, and truth. And this kingdom is centered not around self, but around the Son He loves--the One whom the Father has eternally delighted in, and in whom we now delight. Third, Paul anchors t

Psalm 31:15, "My times are in Your hands!" What a sweet and sovereign declaration from the lips of David: "My times are in Your hands!" In the midst of trouble, betrayal, and weakness, David casts himself wholly upon the Lord. These are not merely words of resignation, but of restful trust in the absolute sovereignty of God. The believer knows that his every moment, every event, every affliction, and every joy--are lovingly decreed and directed by a wise and gracious Father. Nothing is random. Nothing is meaningless. Nothing is outside of His control. "My times"--not just the favorable ones, but the painful ones too. Times of darkness and delay, times of persecution and sorrow, times of temptation and confusion--they are all in His hands. Whose hands? The hands that fashioned the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth. The hands that uphold all things by the word of His power. The hands that were pierced for our transgressions. The hands that gently lead His flock, carry His lambs, and uphold the falling. Into those hands David entrusts not only his soul, but his very hours and seasons. This is the anchor for every storm-tossed saint: that his life is not governed by chance, nor is it at the mercy of evil men or fickle circumstances. His times are in the hands of Him who cannot err, who always acts for the good of His people and the glory of His Name. The believer may not know what tomorrow holds--but he knows Who holds tomorrow. He may not understand the present sorrow--but he is assured that not a moment of it is wasted, for all is measured out by divine love. Here is rich comfort: nothing can touch the believer but what first passes through the hands of his

"My times are in Your hands!" Psalm 31:15 There is no greater comfort for the child of God, than the assurance that every moment of life is under the wise and loving control of his sovereign Savior. David's declaration, "My times are in Your hands," is not a vague expression of hope, but a firm confession of faith in God's absolute providence. He who created time, rules over it perfectly--and not one second of our existence is outside His governing hand. Our time of BIRTH is in God's hands. We did not choose the day or place of our birth. It was appointed by God in eternity past. He determined who our parents would be, what nation we would be born into, and the exact moment we would enter this world. Scripture declares, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you!" (Jeremiah 1:5). Our lives began, not by chance, but by divine decree. The very first breath we took was foreordained by the God who "gives all men life and breath and everything else!" (Acts 17:25). We are not accidents--we are part of His sovereign design. Our time of LIVING is in God's hands. Every day we live, every step we walk, every breath we take, every event we experience--joyful or sorrowful--is ruled by His loving providence. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps!" (Proverbs 16:9). From our childhood to our old age, we are sustained and directed by His unseen hand. He appoints our trials as well as our triumphs, our afflictions as well as our comforts. Not one detail is too small for His attention, and not one burden is too great for His power. What peace it brings to know that He who loved us in Christ, is orchestrating all things for our good and His glory! (R

In recent years, the rise of celebrity culture within the church has become increasingly troubling. Christian leaders are often elevated to near-idol status--celebrated not for their Christlike humility, but for their charisma and communication skills. This trend poses real spiritual dangers, both to the church at large and to individual souls. Scripture offers no support for elevating men to such heights; rather, it warns against boasting in man and reminds us that all the glory belongs to God alone: "So then, no more boasting about men." (1 Corinthians 3:21) The first danger is that Christian celebrity culture subtly undermines the supremacy of Christ. When believers flock to conferences to hear a man, rather than to meet with God; when they rally around personalities, instead of truth--then Christ is robbed of His rightful place as Head of the church. The apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their party spirit: "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos"--insisting instead that it is "God who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:4–7). No man, regardless of gifts or influence, should be allowed to eclipse the glory of Christ. Secondly, celebrity culture creates an unhealthy dependence on personalities rather than on the Word of God. Many Christians do not know their Bibles well, because they are content to have others think for them. But God's Word commands believers to "test everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to be like the Bereans, who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). We must never replace Spirit-taught discernment, with passive admiration of gifted men. Furthermore, celebrity status can be spiritually destructive t

There is no book like the Bible. It is not a dead letter or a relic of the past, but the living voice of the living God. It speaks with divine authority, breathes with divine power, and works with divine precision. It does not merely inform the mind--it pierces the heart! The above verse describes the Word of God as living and active--not stagnant, not silent, not powerless. The same Word that spoke galaxies into being, continues to speak, convict, and transform today. Unlike the dull blade of human reasoning, the Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword. Its edge is not dulled by time, culture, or resistance. It cuts with divine skill, reaching into the deepest recesses of our being. No other voice can penetrate so deeply, discerning what no eye can see and what no man can judge--the secret thoughts and attitudes of the heart. God's Word divides soul and spirit--terms that speak of the hidden and complex depths of man. It exposes what is natural and carnal, separating it from what is spiritual and holy. It uncovers our hypocrisies, shatters our pride, and strips away all self-deception. This wounding of the Word is not to destroy--it is to heal. It convicts, in order to cleanse. It wounds, that it might restore. It rebukes, to bring repentance. We may hide from men, but we cannot hide from God's Word. When it is wielded by the Holy Spirit, it lays us bare before Him to whom we must give account. Let us never handle the Word deceitfully, carelessly or casually. Let us not harden our hearts to its searching truths. Rather, let us come before it humbly, reverently, and prayerfully--asking the Lord to use it to search us, sift us, and sanctify us. May we ever s

Luke 22:48, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" Among all the sins that defile the soul, hypocrisy is especially detestable to God. It is not merely sin--it is sin under the mask of righteousness. It is rebellion, dressed in the robes of religion. No man exemplifies this dreadful evil, more than Judas Iscariot. Judas walked with Jesus. He heard His voice, saw His miracles, and shared in His ministry. To all appearances, he was a faithful disciple--trusted enough to keep the money bag. But beneath the surface, his heart was cold, covetous, and corrupt. His outward profession, masked an inward love for self and silver. And in the end, he betrayed the Son of God--not with a sword, but with a kiss! That which should have been a sign of love and friendship, was desecrated to the vilest of purposes. What a solemn reminder that hypocrisy is often found among the religious! "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" Matthew 23:27 The most chilling aspect of Judas' sin, is how close he was to the Savior, yet how far his heart remained. He called Him "Rabbi," kissed Him as a friend, and yet sold Him for the price of a slave. Judas kissed and killed his Lord. The kiss and the betrayal came together. Hypocrites betray Christ still in this way: they profess to love Jesus, they kiss Him, they worship Him with their lips--but their hearts are far from Him. Jesus' question pierces like a dagger! "Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" The betrayal was not done in hatred, but in false affection. This is the essence of hypocrisy--using the appearance of devotion, to cover up sin. Many a man has kissed Jesus, and then gone to Hell. Let

Colossians 4:2, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." A missionary some years ago, returning from Southern Africa, gave a description of the work which had been accomplished there through the preaching of the gospel. Among other things, he pictured a little incident of which he had been an eye-witness. He said that one morning he saw a converted African chieftain sitting under a palm tree with his Bible open before him. Every now and then he cast his eyes on his book and read a passage, and then he paused and looked up a little while, and his lips were seen to be in motion. Thus he continued alternately to look down on the Scriptures, and then to turn his eyes upward towards Heaven. The missionary passed by without disturbing the chieftain; but a little while afterwards he mentioned to him what he had seen, and asked him why it was that sometimes he read, and sometimes he looked up? The chieftain replied, "I look down to the Book, and God speaks to me; and then I look up in prayer, and I speak to the Lord--and in this way we keep up a holy talk with each other." I would set this picture before you, as being the best pattern of fellowship with God--the heart hearkening to the voice of God, and then replying in prayer and praise. "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need!" Hebrews 4:16

Isaiah 41:10, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My victorious right hand!" There is no balm more comforting to the trembling believer, than the direct and personal promises of God. In this verse, the Lord Himself speaks with fatherly tenderness and sovereign authority to calm the fears and strengthen the hearts of His redeemed people. Here is no vague encouragement, but the very voice of the Almighty pledging His own presence, power, and preservation. "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Fear vanishes when the believer realizes who walks beside him. The God who made and governs all things--the One before whom nations are like dust on the scales--has pledged to be with His people. Not merely near them, but with them: protecting, guiding, and sustaining them. To fear, then, is to forget who God is and what He has promised. "Do not be discouraged, for I am your God." Discouragement creeps in when trials seem insurmountable and the soul feels faint. But when the believer remembers that God is his almighty Father, then discouragement is silenced. He has joined Himself to His people with everlasting love, and He will not forsake the work of His hands. "I will strengthen you and help you." Our weakness is not a hindrance to God's grace--it is the very reason He comes to us with divine strength. What we lack, He provides. What we cannot do, He accomplishes through us. He does not merely cheer us from afar, but enters the battle with us and protects us by His might. "I will uphold you with My victorious right hand!" The right hand of God is the place of power, author

Imagine standing at a crossroads. Before you are two gates. One gate is wide and inviting, leading to a broad, easy road filled with crowds of people. The other gate is small and almost hidden, leading to a narrow and difficult path, traveled by only a few people. Which would you choose? Jesus spoke about these gates in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." 1. The Wide Gate, the Broad Road, the Fatal Destiny Our Lord's solemn warning here shatters all illusions of neutrality. Every soul is on one of two roads. The wide gate and broad road, represent the way of the world. This path is easy, accommodating, and popular. It is a path where we can hold onto our sins, and ignore the demands of Jesus. It allows for pride, selfishness, ease, indulgence, comfort, compromise, lust, and worldliness. There are no demands to take up our cross and follow Jesus, and no requirements to swim against the tide of sinful culture. It accommodates every fleshly desire, every prideful ambition, and every worldly philosophy. There are no boundaries to restrain the lusts of the heart. And tragically, it is crowded. "MANY enter through it." Religious hypocrites walk here. So do those who scoff at truth, those who presume that they are saved by their infant baptism, or a passing profession of faith, and those who never pause to consider eternity. This road may glitter with pleasures and success, but it leads to the blackness of darkness forever. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the

Proverbs 10:24, "What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted." The wisdom of God in the book of Proverbs pierces through all human delusions and presents us with eternal realities. This brief verse sets before us a sharp contrast between the fate of the wicked, and the hope of the righteous. It reveals two solemn truths: that the inner fears of the ungodly shall be fulfilled, while the holy desires of the godly shall be satisfied. "What the wicked dreads will overtake him." The wicked may suppress the thought of judgment--but deep within, he dreads it. He fears death, he fears the exposure of his sins, and he fears divine retribution--though he may not admit it openly. His conscience, however dulled, is not silent. The fear of Hell is often buried beneath worldly distraction, yet it remains like a smoldering fire within. This text assures us that what every wicked man dreads, will eventually come upon him. The judgment he fears, shall arrive with certainty. The wrath of God, which he hoped was fiction--will confront him as fact. This is not mere poetic justice--it is divine justice. God's holiness demands it. His warnings are not idle threats, and His justice will not sleep forever. The lost sinner's worst nightmare shall become his eternal reality--unless he repents. "What the righteous desire will be granted." But in glorious contrast, the righteous--those who have been made righteous by faith in Jesus--shall have his holy desires fully granted. The desires of the righteous are not worldly ambitions or selfish cravings--but spiritual longings birthed by the Spirit of God. They desire to see God's face, to be conformed to t

Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." What a thunderbolt of truth strikes the heart from this glorious verse! In a world intoxicated with self-worth and self-promotion, God's Word cuts through the fog with divine clarity: "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." Salvation is not a wage paid for moral effort--it is a free and sovereign act of divine pity. The apostle Paul, writing to Titus, draws a sharp line between human righteousness and divine mercy. The contrast is absolute. We were not saved because of our works--not even the best of them. Our supposed righteousness, is but filthy rags in the sight of a thrice-holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Indeed, we were by nature dead in sin, enemies of God, incapable of any spiritual good (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3). If salvation depended on anything in us, none would be saved. But praise be to God, salvation depends entirely on Him who is rich in mercy! Mercy is God's holy compassion flowing from His sovereign will--not His obligation. He is not moved by anything in the sinner, but only by what is in Himself--His love, His goodness, His eternal purpose. It was "because of His mercy" that He stooped down to rescue a lost and ruined people. Mercy sought us, mercy bought us, and mercy keeps us. Not our tears, not our prayers, not our repentance, not even our faith--none of these originate salvation. All are the fruit of God's mercy, not the root. This humbles the pride of man. It shuts every boasting mouth. It leaves us no ground to glory in ourselves. The only song we can sing is, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us--but to You

Isaiah 57:18, "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him." "I have seen his ways!" Man is as much under his Maker's eye, as the bees in a glass hive are under your eye when you stand and watch all their movements. The eye of Jehovah never sleeps; it is never removed from a single creature that He has made. He sees man wherever he goes; in the darkness, as well as the light. He sees him through and through, so that He not only hears his words but, knows his thoughts. He does not merely behold his actions, but weighs his motives. No stray thought of yours, no imagination, no trifle which you have quite forgotten, which indeed you never took any heed of--has escaped your heavenly Father's notice! God has seen your ways at home, your ways abroad, and your ways in the shop. He has seen the ways of your inner reasonings, the ways of your hopes, the ways of your desires, the ways of your evil lustings, the ways of your murmurings, and the ways of your pride. He has seen them all, and seen them perfectly and completely! "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives!" Jeremiah 17:9-10 "But I will heal him!" Divine wisdom could not find anything but vices to describe the wickedness of the human heart. It is so foul a thing that He must compare it to the lewdness and filthiness of those who are given over to utter wickedness. And yet, after so describing the character, the Lord says, "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him." That is, "I have seen everything wicked in his ways, and I have perceived nothing good in them; but nevertheless, though I kn

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17:16 What a difficult matter it is to be in the world, and yet not to be of the world! Our Lord Himself carried out this principle. He passed through the world, as one who was not of it. Oh, that we could but imitate His holy example. It should be our whole endeavor to do all the good we can in it and for it; and yet to never imbibe its spirit, its principles, and its maxims. How can a believer walk through this world safely and securely? Only as he is upheld by a strength that is Omnipotent! I am passing through a world lying in the wicked one. I belong to another kingdom, which is not of this world. Dear friend, see then, your high calling! He has called you to come out of the world and to be separate; in principle, in practice, in heart. "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19 "I have given them Your Word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world." John 17:14

Richard Baxter We are but pilgrims and strangers, passing through the fleeting hours of earth. This life is but a shadow; eternity is the substance--pursue it earnestly. Live as if each moment were your last, for one day it will be. Life is a fleeting opportunity to prepare for everlasting glory. Thomas Brooks The sand of life's hour-glass runs swiftly. The uncertainty of life is God's call to be ever watchful. The fleeting nature of life is a reminder that Heaven alone is our true home. Jonathan Edwards Resolved: to think much on the shortness of life, that I may live rightly. Time is a fleeting shadow; eternity is the reality--let us live for what is real. The uncertainty of life is a summons to be always ready to meet God. Each day is a gift, for tomorrow is never promised. John Flavel The brevity of life makes every moment precious--redeem the time. Life's brevity is God's megaphone, calling us to eternal priorities. Man's life is like a bubble--beautiful yet fragile, and soon bursts! Thomas Goodwin Man's life is a tale quickly told; ensure that its theme is Christ. As the grass withers, so does life; root your hope in the eternal. William Gurnall Time is fleeting, but the soul endures; seek eternal treasures. The brevity of life makes the gospel the most urgent news. Life's short march must be toward the eternal city. Cotton Mather Every tick of the clock is a warning to prepare for eternity. The shortness of life is a mercy, calling us away from the world to Heaven. Time is a precious commodity; do not squander it on vanity. John Owen The days of man are numbered; live each as if it were your last. A short life is long enough to prepare for eternity. The frag

Galatians 2:20, "The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!" Let us sit down and ponder the matchless love of Jesus! Brethren, what are we, that the precious Jesus should love us and give Himself for us? We were vile sinners, God's enemies, and objects of His wrath--just like the perishing world around us. We have actually out-sinned many who are now in Hell! Oh! we were once poor wretches sitting upon the ash-heap, wallowing in our blood, yes, running headlong into damnation--and yet behold, "Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God!" Ephesians 5:2 Jesus is Heaven's delight, the joy of angels, the song of the redeemed, the radiance of the Father's glory! He is the sinner's only hope--mighty to save, tender to receive the undeserving, the ill-deserving and the Hell-deserving into His holy family. He is the Father's wondrous gift--sent in mercy and love, bruised for our transgressions, and faithful to cleanse us from all iniquity. And He is our soul's all-sufficient Portion--satisfying our every holy longing, supplying our every need, sustaining us in every trial, and securing our eternal joy. In Him alone, the heart finds rest, the conscience finds peace, and the soul finds life everlasting! "I will be yours forever," says Jesus, "and My grace shall be yours forever, and My glory shall be yours forever, and My righteousness shall be yours forever. All that I am and all that I have, shall be yours forever!" Oh, what heart can conceive, what tongue can express, this matchless love of Jesus! "May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His lov

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." What a majestic opening to the Word of God! With ten simple words, the Bible shatters every false philosophy! Atheism is silenced--for there is a God. Polytheism is refuted--for there is but one God. Materialism is exposed--for matter is not eternal, but created. Evolution is denied--for creation was by divine fiat, not blind chance. Pantheism is dismissed--for God is distinct from His creation. "In the beginning God…"--this is where all true knowledge must begin. Before time, before space, before anything that is seen--there was God. He is self-existent, eternal, and independent. He needs nothing, but out of His own sovereign pleasure, He spoke the universe into being! Everything that exists--every atom, every planet, every creature--owes its existence to Him. The psalmist declares, "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth!" (Psalm 33:6) This first verse of Scripture is foundational. If we do not believe that God created the heavens and the earth, then we will not rightly understand the rest of Scripture. Hebrews 11:3 reminds us: "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." God alone is the Creator, and the Owner, and the Sustainer, and the Ruler--of all things in His creation. This verse also sets the tone for worship. If God is the Creator, then we are His creatures. We are not our own--we belong to Him. We are not the center of the universe--He is. We did not bring ourselves into being--we were made for His glory. "You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and

Knowing that each of us as sinners, deserve eternal damnation--anything better than Hell is sheer mercy! This solemn truth must settle deeply into the heart of every redeemed sinner. For if we truly understood the infinite guilt of our sin, and the unspeakable holiness of God--then we would count even the bitterest affliction as sweet, compared to what we justly deserve. Every breath that is not drawn in Hell, is grace. Every hour outside of eternal torment, is mercy. And every drop of suffering in this life, though painful, is far lighter than the cup of divine wrath which Jesus drained for us on the cross! If we were to lie in pain for fifty years, unable to find even a moment's relief--yet had the Lord pardoned our sins and made us His redeemed people--would we not still be infinitely more blessed than we deserve? Yet God has not only spared us from Hell, but He has given us His Son, adopted us into His family, and prepared for us an eternal inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Therefore, let us never complain under God's chastening rod, nor grow bitter in the furnace of affliction. For these light and momentary troubles are not punishments, but purifying fires. They come from a Father's hand--not to destroy us, but to refine us into the image of His beloved Son. Therefore, as sinners deserving divine wrath, we are bound to humbly submit to the chastenings of the Lord. Let us confess that we are sinners, and that every sorrow we endure is mingled with mercy. Let us accept His chastisements with reverence--acknowledging that our worst days on earth, are still infinitely better than the Hell we've been rescued from. "Blessed is the man who perseveres

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 The workings of grace in the heart are utterly mysterious and unsearchable. We cannot explain why the Word produces effects on one person in a congregation, and not upon another. We cannot explain why, in some cases; with every possible advantage, and in spite of every entreaty; people reject the Word, and continue dead in trespasses and sins. We cannot explain why in other cases; with every possible difficulty, and with no encouragement; people are born again, and become decided Christians. We cannot define the manner in which the Spirit of God conveys life to a soul, and the exact process by which a believer receives a new nature. All these are hidden things to us. We see certain results, but we can go no further. This is deeply instructive. It is humbling no doubt to ministers, and teachers of others. The highest abilities, the most powerful preaching, the most diligent working, cannot command success. God alone can give spiritual life. But it is a truth at the same time, which supplies an admirable antidote to excessive anxiety and despondency. Our principal work is to sow the seed. That done, we may wait with faith and patience for the result. We may leave our work with the Lord. He alone can, if He thinks fit, give success.

Psalm 71:18, "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God!" There is a sacred beauty in the twilight years of a Christian's life. Though the body may weaken and the outward man decay, the inward man is being renewed day by day. Old age is not the closing chapter of usefulness or joy--but rather, the crowning season of God's faithfulness on full display. The advancing years bring with them many changes. Strength wanes. Memory fades. Loved ones depart. The once-busy hands may tremble, and the once-swift feet may falter. But one thing remains gloriously unchanged: the faithful, sustaining presence of our Savior-God! "I made you," He says. That means you are not here by accident. You were crafted by His hand, loved from eternity, and adopted into His family by grace. And now, in your latter years, you are not left to walk alone. He will carry you--not just support you or walk beside you--but carry you, with the tenderness of a Father and the strength of a mighty Savior. The psalmist's plea in Psalm 71 arises not from doubt but from dependence. He knows that the God who sustained him in youth, is the same God he needs in old age. He does not ask for ease, nor for the restoration of youthful vigor--but for the nearness of God: "Do not forsake me, O God!" That cry is not in vain, For your redeemer-God answers with a tender, personal assurance: "Even when you are old, I will take care of you,  even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.  I made you and I will support you;  I will carry you and rescue you." Isaiah 46:4 What a mercy this is! Our God is not like man, who grows weary and forgetful. He never ages, never weakens, never withdraws His care. He is the

Behold His precious Gift transfixed to it! (Octavius Winslow, "Morning Thoughts") "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32 Look at the cross! Behold His precious Gift transfixed to it, and that by His own hand, and for your sins. Then look at your present circumstances, survey . . . your needs, your trials, your chastisements, your bereavements, your heart sickening, heartbreaking tribulations, and know that God still is love. If He had love strong enough, deep enough, to give you Jesus; to tear Him, as it were, from His bosom, and to transfix Him on yonder accursed tree for your iniquities; then has He not love enough to bow His ear to your cry, and His heart to your sorrow? Will He not . . . rescue you from this difficulty, deliver you out of this trouble, shield you in this temptation, supply this need, support and comfort you in this grief? Oh yes, He will! doubt it not! The cross of Calvary is a standing pledge; standing until sin and guilt, need and woe, shall be known no more; that God, who "spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will with Him also freely give us all things" necessary to our good, and promotive of His glory.

Christ is the least expensive Physician. He takes no fee. He desires us to bring nothing to Him but broken hearts. And when He has cured us, He desires us to bestow nothing on Him but our love. Christ heals with more ease than any other. Christ makes the devil go out with a word (Mark 9:25). Nay, He can cure with a look: Christ's look melted Peter into repentance; it was a healing look. If Christ does but cast a look upon the soul, He will heal it. Christ is the most tender-hearted Physician. He is not more full of skill than sympathy, 'He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds' (Psalm 147:3). Every groan of the patient, goes to the heart of this Physician. Christ never fails of success. Christ never undertakes to heal any, but He makes a full cure. Other physicians can only cure those who are sick, but Christ cures those who are dead! "And you has He quickened, who were dead!" (Ephesians 2:1). Christ is a Physician for the dead! Of every one whom Christ cures it may be said, "He was dead, and is alive again!" (Luke 15:32) Christ is the most bountiful Physician. Other patients enrich their physicians; but here the Physician enriches the patient. Christ elevates all His patients. He not only cures them, but crowns them! (Revelation 2:10). Christ does not only raise them from the bed, but to the throne! He gives the sick man not only health, but also Heaven!

What a sweet and trusting declaration from the lips of David! In the midst of trouble, betrayal, and weakness--David casts himself wholly upon his Savior-God. These are not merely words of resignation, but of restful trust in the absolute sovereignty of God. The believer knows that . . . his every moment, his every event, his every affliction, and his every joy, are lovingly decreed and directed by his wise and gracious Father. Nothing is random. Nothing is meaningless. Nothing is outside of His control. "My times"--not just the favorable ones, but the painful ones too! Times of darkness and delay, times of persecution and sorrow, times of temptation and confusion --they are all in His loving hands. Whose hands? The hands that fashioned the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth. The hands that uphold universe by the word of His power. The hands that were pierced for our transgressions. The hands that gently lead His flock, carry His lambs, and uphold His weak ones. Into those hands, David entrusts not only his soul, but his very moments and seasons. This is the anchor for every storm-tossed saint--that his life is not governed by chance, nor is it at the mercy of evil men or fickle circumstances. His times are in the hands of Him who cannot err, who always acts for the good of His people and the glory of His Name. The believer may not know what tomorrow holds--but he knows Who holds tomorrow. He may not understand the present sorrow--but he is assured that not a moment of it is wasted, for all is measured out by unerring wisdom and infinite love. Here is rich comfort: Nothing can touch the believer, but what first pass

Psalm 37:4, "Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires." "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You!" Psalm 73:25 The world clamors after countless delights--riches, fame, lust, success--but the Word of God redirects the soul with this divine imperative: "Take delight in the LORD." This is not a bare command, but a gracious invitation into the very joy and satisfaction of God. True religion is not found in cold duty or lifeless religious rituals, but in the warm, living enjoyment of God Himself. The believer is called not merely to serve the Lord, but to delight in Him. He is to find . . . his chief joy in God's glory, his deepest satisfaction in God's presence, and his highest pleasure in doing God's will. This delight is not superficial--it flows from a heart transformed by saving grace. The natural man has no desire for God; he finds . . . no sweetness in Christ, no loveliness in a holy life, no beauty in the bloody cross. But when the Spirit of God regenerates the soul, a miracle occurs: the heart is drawn irresistibly to the Lord. The believer now sees in Him infinite worth and majesty. His love becomes better than life. His favor is counted more precious than gold. His Word becomes the soul's delight, and His will becomes the soul's aim. The Christian's desires for God are intense, continual, and insatiable. Heart refuses to be content with anything but the living God. It is to such a person that the promise is made: "He will give you your heart's desires." But note carefully--this is not the promise of carnal wishes being granted, but of holy desires being fulfilled. The one who delights in