“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 […]
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 […]
“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (Jn 14:14). The proviso “in My name” means “according to My character.” “Ask the Father what I would ask,” says the Savior. How can we do this? Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 for the answer. God has prepared things for us, but we can’t naturally […]
Thomas Olivers (1725-1799), a Welsh orphan, billed himself as “the worst boy known in Tregynon for thirty years.” Thrown out of town at age 18, he arrived in Bristol, England, where he heard George Whitefield preaching on the words of Zechariah 3:2, “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” As Olivers recounts, “When […]
CHRIST our DEBT-PAYER: “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). C.H. Spurgeon tells the following story: “Thomas Olivers was a loose living man till he was renewed by grace through the preaching […]
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24). Who of us doesn’t need to pray this prayer? You may have heard of the great gospel pioneer, John G. Paton, who labored in the New Hebrides islands (now Vanuatu), east of New Guinea. As he sought to translate the Gospel of John, he struggled to find […]
The gospel is free so everyone can afford it. Its terms are so simple that “wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein” (Isa 35:8). It is a universal offer: all are welcome. If someone asks, “What about Hindus and Muslims?” we answer, “Yes, He invites them too! The gospel is also easy to verify […]
It’s so 21st century! Sending propaganda through the media to ruin the reputation of others. The adversaries’ initial efforts to stop the temple project came to nothing, so they decided to bring out the big guns with a letter-writing campaign. Anyone seeking to understand Ezra 4 needs to be a little familiar with the kings […]