“How blest are they whose trespass has freely been forgiven, whose sins are wholly covered before the sight of heaven.” This psalm is called a Maschil or “Contemplation,” and we do well to follow the author’s suggestion. If you recall how Psalm 1 began, it has a certain familiarity with Psalm 32. Listen: “Blessed is the man who […]
CHRIST the REWARDER: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me” (Rev 22:12). It cannot be mercenary to labor for rewards if the Lord Jesus offers them as an incentive. Paul writes: “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me […]
I was at a friend’s in Vancouver when two Mormons approached. As we engaged in conversation, I felt led to ask the older of the two, who was carrying the discussion, if he could say he loved the Lord Jesus. “I don’t know what you mean,” he replied. “Do you mean, do I admire him?” […]
“The psalm is like an April day, in which sunshine and rain chase each other across the plain.” —A. MacLaren In Psalm 31, David seems to play every note, both in the major and minor keys. In verses 1 and 2, we have David’s plea for help. “Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear […]
CHRIST our FRIEND: “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15). In difficult times, when the days are dark, we know He is with us and we know He has His purposes! Andrew Murray, born in South […]
“The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore…” (Lk 12:7). Dr. Helen Roseveare tells of a young woman who died at a Congolese mission hospital, leaving a premature baby and a two-year-old daughter. They had no incubator. A midwife went to fill the hot water bottle, but it burst! The […]
Robert Candlish (1806-1873), renowned Scottish preacher, was described thus by his biographer, William Wilson: “Destitute of natural oratorical gifts and somewhat ungainly in his manner,” he nevertheless “riveted the attention of his audience by a rare combination of intellectual keenness, emotional fervor, spiritual insight and power…of character and life.” In his book, Prayer of a […]
CHRIST is called “the EVERLASTING FATHER” (Isa 9:6). What can this mean? Some have suggested that these words were changed slightly by some biased Jewish scribe to confuse the reader into thinking this verse is describing God the Father and not His Messiah, the Child born and the Son given. But the words could well […]
“My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps 34:2-3). “It is told in the Old Testament to the blame of Jeroboam, that ‘he made an house of high places, and made […]