George Whitfield, who preached more than 18,000 times, was one of the most widely recognized public figures in colonial America. During the Great Awakening of 1740, he was addressing a large open-air meeting from the words, “And the door was shut” (Mt 25:10). A young man in the audience, standing not far from the preacher, […]
This story about a missionary who died before arriving on the mission field is a good reminder that God is not limited by our circumstances in accomplishing His eternal purposes. […]
Balaam-like, Satan can’t curse God’s people, but he can turn the blessing of marriage into a battlefield. Do you recall Ezra’s purpose in coming back to Jerusalem? “Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). And do you remember […]
CHRIST OUR SHILOH: Christ is the PEACE-BRINGER for He is the promised Shiloh, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between His feet, until Shiloh come; and to Him shall the gathering of the people be” (Gen 49:10). He is the PEACE-MAKER, for He “made peace through the blood of His […]
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Ps 57:1). Richard Cecil (1748–1810) was a leading British Evangelical and friend of John Newton. Wishing to teach his daughter trust […]
Your humanity is at stake; the souls of the unsaved are at stake. The sinner saved by grace is not only a person who is heartbroken over his own sins. But he is also heartbroken over the sins and present destiny of those around him: “Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men […]
CHRIST our PASSOVER: “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor 5:7). God offered Pharaoh evidence that He was the God to be worshipped. He wanted the king to be a vessel of His mercy, for He desires to “have mercy on all” (Rom 11:32). Though hardening himself against God (and God subsequently controlling […]
“Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Ps 119:33-34). It’s possible to die early but be buried late. Recall Barzillai, David’s friend, who was invited to share […]
I had been called at the last minute to speak at a conference. I spent the night preparing and was exhausted when the taxi arrived to take me to the airport. The cabbie, on discovering the purpose of my trip, asked my age; he thought I was too young for the task. I then asked […]