CHRIST OUR KEEPER (Ps 121:5). Paul’s first taste of persecution came quickly after his conversion: “In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me” (2 Cor 11:32). The words “kept” and “garrison” are the same word—phroureo, to guard militarily. It made a big […]
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim 1:12). It’s not time that tells the tale; it’s eternity. Paul was suffering loss in […]
“The friendship of the world is enmity with God” (Jas 4:4). Salvation means the end of hostilities, unconditional surrender to Christ. The resounding victory by Lord Nelson in the Battle of the Nile secured British dominance over the French fleet in the Mediterranean. When French Admiral Blanquet arrived on board Nelson’s flagship, the Vanguard, to […]
“His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish” (Ps 132:18). We’ve noticed that Psalm 132 is in two parts. The first part (vv 1-10) is a Request; the second part (vv 11-18) is the Reply. We see the covenant with David has two aspects— some of it was conditional, some […]
CHRIST CONSIDERED FOOLISHNESS: “We preach Christ crucified,…to the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor 1:23). “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…” (v 18). H.A. Ironside writes: “I was on a ferry going from Oakland to San Francisco with a group of Christians. Among us was a dear friend who played […]
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev 3:1). What’s in a name? Obviously a great deal! When we take the name believer, it ought to mean we agree with God, and that we act on it. When we claim to be saints, our lives […]
Shintoism: The indigenous belief of Japan, from shen-tao, meaning “the way of the gods.” A very ancient concept based on the superiority of the Japanese people to all others. Japan is “the country of the gods and its inhabitants are descendants of the gods.” At the heart of their beliefs is kami, a mysterious creating […]
Blessed but stressed? Learn to distinguish your needs from your greeds, and don’t let what you don’t have rob you of enjoying the blessings you’ve been given. […]
“Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy” (Ps 132:9). Psalm 131 was by David, but Psalm 132 is about David. It’s the longest of the Songs of Ascent, and shares with us the historic importance of David’s taking Jerusalem and making it both the civil and religious capital of the nation. God by […]