The town of Crimond in Scotland is remembered for two things. It was the home of Jessie Seymour Irvine, daughter of a local minister. She composed the haunting melody which has borne the words of Psalm 23 out of the Scottish Psalter all round the world. Many a soul crossing over to The Other Side […]
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Lk 6:46). God keep us from the sham in Western Christianity: Jesus uses “and,” not “but,” showing the assumption that these go together—calling Him “Lord,” then doing whatever we want. […]
“His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom…shall not be destroyed” (Dan 7:14). 1357. There are three obvious movements in Psalm 24. The Claimant to the throne of the universe has been presented to us first as the Sufferer (Ps 22), then as the Shepherd (Ps 23), and now as […]
CHRIST the OBEDIENT ONE: “By one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). Oh how vital was the obedience of the Lord Jesus! We read with amazement, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb 5:8). Not in heroic self-will did He go to Calvary: […]
“My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word” (Ps 119:28). Who hasn’t sagged at times under life’s loads? You’ll notice that David doesn’t ask for relief from the heavy burden, but for greater strength to carry on. But how exactly does God strengthen us through His Word? John Newton explained the situation: […]
“What is that to thee? Follow thou Me” (Jn 21:22). If the Enemy cannot use disinterest or discouragement to stop evangelism, he will tempt us with distractions. In his classic work, Via Sacra, T.H. Darlow writes: Curiosity becomes perilous, not because it is in itself evil or irreverent, but because it is so apt to […]
“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes” (Song 2:15). Relationship are rarely jeopardized by great tragedies or insurmountable crises, but by the slow erosion of corrosive attitudes, words and actions. Let’s repent and forsake such things! […]
Satisfaction, Provision, Restoration, Direction, Protection, Accommodation, Destination—in 6 verses? With some reluctance we turn from Psalm 22. How moving and memorable is the story of the cross! How monumental is His victory and how marvelous His coming reign! But the Spirit has so much more to teach us. We turn from the gore of the […]
CHRIST our MODEL of HUMBLE SERVICE: “I am among you as One who serves” (Lk 22:27). In His life on earth, the Lord Jesus raised three memorials to humble and sacrificial service. “Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to […]