CHRIST the RESCUER: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness…” (Col 1:13). C.I. Schofield, editor of the well-known reference Bible notes, was born into a God-fearing home, but his mother died while he was a baby. As a young man, he served during the U.S. Civil War, and then practiced law in St. […]
“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.…Lord, do not charge them with this sin’” (Acts 7:59-60). This statement of grace shown to Stephen’s persecutors may sound similar to what the Lord Jesus said at Calvary: “Father, forgive them…” But there is a clear difference. Christ’s […]
“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess 2:4). In his book, Tales of Great Truths, G.A. Neilson tells of an incident when some unbelievers decided to send their best debater to argue […]
Job rewinds his life back to its beginning: the baby’s first cry, the parents’ joy. If only it never happened! After seven days of silence, sitting with his friends, Job finally broke the silence. “After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth” (Job 3:1). This is not the previous word used for “curse.” Here […]
CHRIST the REPRODUCER: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (Jn 12:24). As with Abram, the Lord blesses us that we may be the channel of His blessing to others (Gen 12:1-2). The Lord saves us and then enlists us […]
“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted” (Ps 89:15-16). W.A. Cornaby writes: One sunny morning, after a spell of dismal weather, a little girl of six came running […]
“God” in various religions might be thought of as benevolent towards creation, but the gospel was Good News when it first burst on the world because men realized “God is Love.” The revelation provided by Christ Himself, the awe-full brunt of suffering which He was prepared to bear in order to redeem mankind, His triumph […]
Times of testing test friendships, too. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov 17:17). Bad news travels fast. “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite” (Job 2:11). With […]
CHRIST the LORD from HEAVEN: “the second Man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor 15:47). Adam was from the earth and so, like the earth, he was “earthy.” But Christ is not like heaven; heaven is like Christ. He is Lord there. The Book of Revelation declares: His glorious presence is the light of […]