“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Ps 119:18). The current term to “be woke” or “stay woke” refers to a need for awareness about conditions around, especially injustice. But the idea is an old one. We need to be sensitive about holy living: “Awake to righteousness, and do not […]
Faith is often needed not only for spiritual efforts but for financial provision as well. In dark days, when funds were low for the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor received a letter from George Müller: “My chief object is to tell you that I love you in the Lord; that I feel deeply interested about […]
A sermon inspired by a child’s drawing…and a lesson to inspire you in the midst of fear. […]
The God who changes grit into pearls and coal into diamonds can change sinners into saints. It makes one nauseous to read what Manasseh had done. Idols in the temple. Witches in the palace. Babies in the fire. If you were God, wouldn’t you conclude that Manasseh, like his name, should be someone you would […]
“The Lord Jesus CHRIST, our HOPE” (1 Tim 1:1). Charles Spurgeon tells of visiting with the Earl of Shaftsbury who had taken his dying daughter to Menton on the French Riviera in hopes of her regaining some strength. Spurgeon writes: “That day he was particularly cast down about the general state of society. He thought […]
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites…” (Mt 6:5). How often there is a serious gap in our prayers and platitudes between what we profess and what we possess. Prolific English author Thomas Fuller warned people like me: “How easy is pen-and-paper piety! I will not say it costs nothing, but […]
John Townsend was born into a well-to-do family in Exeter, England. At the age of 20, while studying to become a clergyman, he realized to his shock that he was an unconverted man himself. He abandoned the ambition of his life which he had chosen, feeling he could not lead others to Christ until he […]
CHRIST the ANTITYPE: In His passion to reveal the fullness of God in Christ, the Spirit inspired many “types” to picture Him. The “anti” in antitype does not mean the opposite of, but the comparison of. It does not mean “against” but “over against” as a portrait and its subject would be placed side-by-side to […]
“…Teach us what we shall do for the child” (Jdg 13:8). These words of Manoah express the concern we all should feel when a child comes into this world. J. Wilbur Chapman, standing in the store of New York’s famous jeweller, Tiffany & Co., saw a salesman showing a woman a $17,000 pearl, and then […]