“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” (Lk 24:26, BSB). Sauntering through an antique store, something catches your eye. It’s exquisite, the craftsmanship unmatched. Slowly you turn over the price tag. Gulp! That much? As we move from the glorious triumph of Psalm 68 to Psalm 69, we realize we’re […]
CHRIST ONCE-FOR-ALL: Christ once coming into the world, once going to the cross, once entering the sanctuary, once saving every believing sinner—accomplishing infinitely more than all the offerings sacrificed by every priest in every religion in every land in every age! “Once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin […]
“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Ps 94:19). From behind the towering black clouds of world distress and personal difficulties, a solitary ray of light breaks through. Comfort comes directly from God’s heart to ours. What joy sweeps away the sadness when I realize that Jesus is my […]
Ira Sankey tells of his visit with D.L. Moody to Sunderland, in northeast England: “One evening at the conclusion of a very earnest gospel address, I was requested to sing a hymn, ‘Come Home, O Prodigal, Come!’ A deep hush prevailed, and just before its conclusion a cry was heard through the building: ‘Oh, father, […]
The Bible’s boring? Christ’s escape from death makes possible our escape stories. And Israel’s, too! Having presented the great battle at Calvary that ultimately wins the war, the composer of Psalm 68 now turns our attention back to the issue of Israel’s failure and various aspects of the remnant of Israel’s restoration. This we find […]
CHRIST OUR DAYSMAN: Job longed for there to be a go-between, a “daysman between us, that might lay his hand upon us both” (Job 9:33). In the story of infidel turned Bible scholar B.H. Carroll, he writes: “I had turned my back on Christianity and had found nothing in infidelity; happiness was gone, and death […]
“So Jesus…asked him…‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, that I may receive my sight’” (Lk 18:40-41). If the Lord asked you today, “What do you want Me to do for you?” what would you say? We couldn’t do better than this poor fellow. It’s of note that the last […]
Here are some prayer pointers regarding the gospel: 1. Ask the Lord for help in living a life that suits the gospel and “adorn[s] the doctrine of God” (Phil 1:27; Titus 2:10). 2. Ask the Lord for divinely arranged opportunities to witness (Col 4:3). 3. Ask Him for boldness for yourself and your fellow believers […]
The battle in Judges 4 and 5, explains the psalmist, is a prototype of the great battle at Calvary! Reading Psalm 68, you can’t help but hear the hoofbeats of Heaven galloping across history. Stanza 1 (vv 1-6) shows God leaving His throne room and riding “on the clouds” (v 4) to rescue His fallen creation. Stanza 2 (vv 7-10) reveals […]