Archive of Days of Praise Articles
Every Creature Under Heaven
“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof...
Creation Evangelism
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;...
Unsearchable Things
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2).
Education is sometimes claimed to be a “search for truth,” and scientists,...
What God Requires
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all...
The "Shall Nots" Of Scripture
“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:10).
Many worldly-minded people tend to resent the Bible as a book of...
God Of The Cosmos
“Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest...
The Promise
“And saying, Where is the promise of His coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (II Peter 3:4).
Has Christ...
War A Good Warfare
“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some...
Redeeming The Time
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15,16). This incisive expression—“redeeming the time”—occurs...
Two Imperatives
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). The term “born again” has come into such common use in recent years, even in political campaigns, that its...
The Lord Our Maker
“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker” (Psalm 95:6).
Psalms 95–100 seem to form a unit, with several common themes running through them, all involving...
The Spirit
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Holy Spirit control is what is meant by the filling of the Spirit. The believer who is...
Occupied Territory
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”...
How To Take A Stand For God
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs...
A Soon Departure
“Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me” (I Peter 1:14). Peter was writing to the scattered believers, persecuted from...
The Heavens Are the Lord's
“Thus saith the LORD; if heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD”...
Sitting At The Right Hand Of God
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1).
The 110th Psalm is one of the most significant of the so-called Messianic...
The Light Brigade
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the...
Christ Will Come Again
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you...
The Way A Christian Walks
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him” (Colossians 2:6). The Christian life is occasionally like running a race, but more commonly it is a day-by-day...
Waxing Old
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die...
Specific Creation
“All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds” (I Corinthians 15:39). The doctrine of special...
The Way And The Glory
“Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people” (Exodus 33:13)....
Four Cosmologies
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Peter 3:13).
The cosmos consists of “all things”—every...
Answered By A Word From God
“And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions” (Matthew 22:46). The two dominant sects among the Jews at the time of Christ...
The Glory Of The Lord
“So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” (II Chronicles 5:14).
With the coming of the Shekinah...
He Doth Devise Means
“For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled from...
Judging Others
“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). This is a very familiar maxim, often cited by unbelievers and carnal Christians as a rebuke to Christians whom they regard as intolerant....
Confession And Forgiveness
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Every person, even the most godly Christian believer, at least...
Coming In And Going Out
“And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which...
Running To Christ
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). When one realizes that he is lost and that only Christ can save him, he should not...
The Abounding Life
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8).
Jesus said: “I...
Feeding On Truth Or Wind
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psalm 37:3).
Although there are many promises in Scripture to the effect that the Lord will...
The “two” Books Of Isaiah
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the...
One Another
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” (I Thessalonians 4:9). The Christian life involves both...
Chariots Of Fire
“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the...
The Lifting Up Of The Eyes
“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens” (Psalm 123:1). Looking at present circumstances can produce anxiety. Looking back at past failures can produce sorrow....
Love Thy Neighbor
“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). This question was asked Jesus by a “lawyer” (one who specialized in the interpretation...
The Trinity And The Christian Life
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (II Corinthians 13:14). The doctrine of the triune God is unique...
Moses And The Smitten Rock
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his...
Cities Set On A Hill
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). Cities in ancient times were often built on a hill, and this was especially important for those...
Sit Still
“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day” (Ruth 3:18).
This was the...
Negatives To The Saved
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). The little word “no” is extremely...
Strong And Courageous
“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,...
What To Do
“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and...
The Bible’s Central Verse
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8).
In the present chapter-and-verse divisions of the Bible, it is striking that this verse, Psalm 118:8, turns...
Christ Our Intercessor
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). One of the...
Alive Into Heaven
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven”...
The Song Of Creation
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4,7).
It is significant...
As I Have Loved
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). No Christian could ever question the preeminent importance...
Knowing And Trusting
“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (Psalm 9:10).
When one really knows the name of the Lord, that one will...
Those Who Love Darkness
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). On April Fool’s Day it is appropriate...
When Christ First Went To Heaven
“And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it” (Leviticus 23:11).
Between the time of Christ’s...
Joseph Of Arimathaea
“Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus” (Mark 15:43). The unique service...
Many Infallible Proofs
“To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3)....
The Symbol Of The Cup
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (I Corinthians 10:21). The “cup”...
Mine Eyes Have Seen
“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:30–32)....
Man Of Sorrows
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isaiah 53:3).
“Man...
Waiting
“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:4). Within a week of His approaching death, Christ sat down with His...
The First Palm Sunday
“And (Jesus) saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him”...
Jesus And The Way To Pray
“And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1)....
God Is Merciful To Me
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).
Forgiveness of sin brings cleansing, a secure...
A Pardon Granted
“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and donethis evil in...
My Account Is Closed Forever
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23,24).
Our redeemer has identified...
All My Sins Have Been Forgiven
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5).
The doctrine that sets Christianity apart from all other religions...
Apostles And Prophets
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the...
Adorned With Good Works
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing...
Jesus And The Sons Of God
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6). This relatively little-known 82nd psalm is actually quite important. Both in this verse and in the first...
Get Wise
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).
As used in Proverbs, which is the book of divine wisdom, “knowledge”...
King And Priest For Ever
“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD: Even He shall build the temple...
God’s Favor To The Righteous
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor” (Proverbs 14:9). The 915 proverbs are designed to bring security and stability to those who would heed them. These wise...
Christ—true Or False
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:4,5). These are the...
John The Witness
“And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). The Gospel of John, more than any other book of the Bible, is designed to demonstrate the absolute and unique deity...
How To Know The Truth
“If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). The apostle Paul, in his last epistle, wrote about certain philosophers...
Wise In Youth
“And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in” (I Kings 3:7). When Solomon became...
Steadfastness In Christ
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4). Abiding in Christ is not, as some...
Thirty, Sixty, And A Hundred Fold
“And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some an hundred” (Mark 4:20). In the...
Elijah’s Prayer
“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again,...
The Incorruptible Word
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (I Peter 1:23). Everything in this present world is under...
Power In The Triune God
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). The “power that worketh in us”...
Importance Of The Word
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded” (Proverbs 13:13). This is a great watershed principle of the divine economy. A person’s...
Living By The Word Of God
“But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Matthew 4:4 records Christ’s...
A Christian’s Duty
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: We have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10).
The concept...
Caleb Followed The Lord
“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it" (Numbers 14:24)....
Satisfaction
“Oh, that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness" (Psalm 107:8,9)....
Ministering Spirits
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14).
Although most Christians are aware of the Biblical doctrine of...
Jesus Christ: Past, Present, Future
“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever Amen" (Romans 11:36).
Modern Christians, being mostly self-centered rather than God-centered in their...
The Substitutionary Sacrifice
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Him self for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2). The Christian doctrine of...
The Essence Of Sin
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1)....
All The Lonely People
“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul" (Psalm 142:4). This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible....
Living By The Word Of God
“But He answered and said, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every, word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Matthew 4:4 records Christ’s...
Elect Of The Father, Son, And Spirit
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification...
A Good Name
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth" (Ecclesiastes 7:1). Ointment is easily spoiled, as the writer of Ecclesiastes...
Justified By Faith And Works
“And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: And he was called the Friend of God Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,...
Building Our Faith
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life"...
We Can Know That We Know Him
“And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments" (I John 2:3). The vocabulary used by the apostle John, both in his gospel and in his epistles, and even in Revelation,...
Abiding In Christ
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4). The great theme of abiding in Christ...
Things Thought Impossible
“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).
A good definition of a miracle is “an event which is impossible scientifically,...
The Lamb Of God
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Since the first entrance of sin into the world,...
Profane And Vain Babblings
“But shun profane and vain babblings: For they will increase unto more ungodliness" (II Timothy 2:16). This picturesque phrase is found also in I Timothy 6:20, where it is used...
When The Earth Trembled
“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because He was wroth" (II Samuel 22:8). The terrible scenes depicted in verses 8–17 of this chapter...
Fighting The Creator
“Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: Will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the hound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof...
The Great Commission
“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). The so-called “great commission” of the Lord to His disciples is found...
Good, Very Good, And Not Good
“And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Six times during creation week, God saw His handiwork and pronounced it “good” (Genesis...
The Christian Rest
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His " (Hebrews 4:9,10).
This is an...
A Flying Eagle
“And the fourth beast was like a flying eagle” (Revelation 4:7). Agur exclaimed that there were four things that were too wonderful for him which were hard to describe. The first was,...
Glorified In The Saints
“And they glorified God in me" (Galatians 1:24). It is amazing to read in the Scriptures that the God of glory can actually receive yet more glory through His people. But that is what...
Saving Faith And True Creation
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Hebrews 11:3). This is the very first...
The Doctrine Of Christ
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed " (II John 10)
This apparently harsh instruction seems at first...
True Discipleship
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth. and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31,32)....
Blessed In Christ
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). This little phrase, “in Christ,”...
Wisdom And Might Are His
“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: For wisdom and might are His " (Daniel 2:20). Men have sought wisdom all through the ages, “ever learning,...
Contend For The Faith
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once...
Asleep In Jesus
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope" (I Thessalonians 4:13). The hope of the...
To The Praise Of His Glory
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted...
The Magnified Word
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" (Psalm 138:2).
The word of...
Taking His Name In Vain
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7).
This is one of the Ten Commandments, of...
Israel’s Future
“Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; toe glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem" (Zephaniah 3:14).
The last seven verses of the prophecy of Zephaniah contain...
The Happy Poor
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).
This first of the beatitudes—the opening sentence of Christ’s great Sermon on the Mount—is...
Blinded Minds
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is...
Negatives To The Unsaved
“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you" (John 8:37). The Bible graphically describes the person who gives no place to the...
The Law And The Spirit
“Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD" (Leviticus 23:16). This commandment represents the initiation...
The Prayer Of Faith
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins. they shall be forgiven him" (James 5:15). Without examining the various interpretations...
Praying According To His Will
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions...
When The Lord Comes
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1).
This is the first of the...
The Everlasting Gospel
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with...
After Their Kinds
“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God make the beast of the earth...
Astonied
“As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men: So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for...
How To Please The Lord
“Wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him" (II Corinthians 5:9).
In this verse, Paul expresses the strong desire to be “pleasing to” (the...
The Lord And Inspiration
“The LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying . . ." (Leviticus 1:1).
This introductory verse to what many erroneously consider...
Peter And The Name Of Jesus
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
This is the climactic declaration ending Peter’s...
The Beginning Of The Creation
“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be" (Mark 13:19). The phrase “from the beginning...
The Importance Of Reading
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" (I Timothy 4:13). In a video age, modern Christians are in grave danger of forgetting the importance of reading....
The Incarnate Wisdom
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was" (Proverbs 8:22,23). The Book of Proverbs...
Song Of The Rock
“And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul" (II Samuel 22:1)....
Our Adversary, The Devil
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8).
This grave warning concerning the devil was...
Who Is Jesus Christ?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was...
Use Of The Tongue
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain" (James 1:26). Of all the possible New Year’s...
The New World
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)
As a new year begins, men and women customarily turn over...
The Mercy Of The Lord
“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psalm 145:8)
Not one of us deserves God’s mercy, for “we have turned every one to his own...
These Things
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:8).
In this first...
The Danger Of Complaining
“And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:24). This was the first occasion—but far from the last—when the people of God “complained”...
Too Hard Or Too Small
“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah 32:17).
This mighty declaration...
The Scars Of Sin
“But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house” (Judges 16:21).
The sad...
Be Continually Being Filled
“For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15)....
Signs Of Christmas
“Moreover the LORD spoke again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above” (Isaiah 7:10,11).
Although “the Jews...
The Second Man
“The first man is of the earth, earthy: The second man is the Lord from heaven” (I Corinthians 15:47). Paleoanthropologists, seeking to trace man’s supposed evolutionary ancestry,...
The God/man
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life” (I John 1:1)....
David’s Sons
“He shall build an house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of His kingdom for ever I will be His Father and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of...
The Prophecy Of The Nazarene
“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly” (Zephaniah 1:14).
This rather enigmatic...
He Rules The World
“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
“Joy to the World” was written...
No More Sin And Sorrow
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of...
No More Sin and Sorrow
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of...
The Savior Reigns
“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:13).
Our Savior,...
Joy To The World
“And the angel said unto them, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11). At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Christ,...
The Grace Of God In Creation
“He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). There is abundant...
Stricken In Years
“And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years” (Luke 1:18). There are seven people in the Bible of whom it came...
The Gospel And Health
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23)....
David’s Rebellious Sons
“Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker And unto David were sons born in Hebron:...
The Branch Of The Lord
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel” (Isaiah 4:2).
One of...
Speaking In Parables
“And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow” (Matthew 13:3).
The Lord Jesus Christ, of course, often taught His disciples through parables,...
The Will Of God
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). To the age-long question...
The Strength Of A Veteran
“When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise...
The Past Is Just The Prologue
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark...
God’s Standards
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that...
Sinning Against The Lord
“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (II Samuel 12:13).
A basic truth is...
I Coveted Them
“When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty weight, then I coveted them, and took them” (Joshua 7:21).
The...
Pride Goes Before Destruction
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). This is the middle verse of the entire book of Proverbs, and, in view of the obviously structured...
Lift Up Your Eyes
“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in...
Who Is The Strange Woman?
“The lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:3).
The “strange...
The Triune Comforter
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are...
Thanksgiving
“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God” (II Corinthians 9:11).
The themes of praise and thanksgiving are very prominent...
O Praise The Lord
“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 117:1,2).Psalm...
His Amazing Grace
“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus...
Twice Dead
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without...
David's Pride
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel” (I Chronicles 21:1).
One might think that Satan would have left David alone after he had brought him to such...
An Unlikely Testimony
“And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28).This tale of a donkey talking...
God's Ways Are Best
“And the word of the LORD came unto [Elijah], saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee”...
In Him Is No Darkness
“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5).Light is the most fundamental and important...
"Wise" Fools
“As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; . . . Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned...
Building On The Foundation
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon”...
What's In A Name
“Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: For he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego” (Daniel 1:7).
Peoples...
In The Days Of Thy Youth
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).Here is...
The Brightness Of The Glory
“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand...
The Seed, The Water, And The Word
“So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase” (I Corinthians 3:7).
This verse is a salutary corrective to the common,...
Before The World Began
“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2).There are some things that God, even in His omnipotence, cannot do. He cannot fail in...
Psalm 107
“O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1).
The series of troubles experienced in this psalm are caused by several things (vv.4,11,17)....
The Seventh Day
“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11).God’s...
The Peace Of The God Of Peace
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
For generations, most of the world’s people have...
David's Great Grandmother
“And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:17).
No one knows...
The Gods Shall Perish
“Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens” (Jeremiah 10:11).This is a unique...
Not Giving, But Sowing
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully” (II Corinthians 9:6).
As John Calvin pointed...
The Second Remnant
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros,...
Greater Works
“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).What possible works might followers...
No King In Israel
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).Four times in the Book of Judges we are told that “there was no...
The Ninth Hour
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).At the apex of...
The Enduring Work Of God
"Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him" (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
God is both omniscient...
What God Keeps
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee” (Numbers 6:24).Since God is omnipotent, when He keeps something, it is permanent—a fact readily seen in Scriptures. The true child of God should...
Delivered Unto Satan
“Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” (I Timothy 1:20).Paul had placed Timothy as overseer of the churches at...
He Hath Chosen Us
“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4).Although we cannot really understand...
Fables And Endless Genealogies
“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (I Timothy 1:4).The “fables and endless...
The Unknown Creator
“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not” (John 1:10).
This verse is surely one of the saddest, most poignant verses in all the word of God. In...
The Angelic Shout
“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7).The phrase “shouted for joy” in this verse is actually a single word (ruwa) in the...
The Remarkable Psalms
“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also...
All Nations Of Men
“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (Acts 17:26).This...
The Hour Is Come
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4).On various occasions during His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus made the cryptic comment:...
The Mind Of Christ
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).Although salvation is free, it is not cheap, since it required the Creator, Himself, to become man and submit...
The Ministry Of Tears
“Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy” (II Timothy 1:4).
Paul greatly loved young Timothy, his son in the faith, and that love...
Dead Works
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1).The...
Destroy Them, O God
“Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee” (Psalm 5:10).No less than 20...
The Plant Of Renown
“I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more” (Ezekiel 34:29).This “plant...
Christ At Creation
“When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep” (Proverbs 8:27,28).This...
Mary's Savior!
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46,47).
Jesus’ mother rejoiced, but she would also grieve. She saw her special...
Filled And Fulfilled
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”...
God's Infinite Universe
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
Since God’s ways are infinite and His thoughts...
The Instruction Of Thy Father
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8).
The purpose of the Book of Proverbs is: “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive...
A Certain Young Man
“They all forsook Him and fled. And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled...
Thou Art The God
“And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven...
The Rebellious Son
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall...
Kissing And Kissing
“And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him” (Acts 20:37).The scene depicted in our text touches even the most cold hearted. Paul, the beloved founder of the...
The Two-Fold Call
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth” (I Samuel 3:10).There are a number of other...
Exalting The Anointed One
“The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His King, and exalt the...
Pseudo-Science
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (I Timothy 6:20).
The “science falsely...
Who Shall Bring Me Down?
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?” (Obadiah 3).The...
Lord Of Hosts
“And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there”...
Death And Spilled Water
“For we must needs die, and are as water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled...
The Truth
“. . . God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:3,4).
The verses preceding our text encourage believers to be...
[body_edit] => “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil, I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).
This seems at first to be a confusing verse. How could a God of holiness create evil and darkness? Actually, the word translated “evil” (Hebrew, ra) does not mean “sin,” but “affliction.” God pronounced the great curse on the ground “for man’s sake” (Genesis 3:17), that the sorrows and pains of life might cause him to know his need of redemption. All of these physical evils will be forever removed—even the curse itself—in the new earth, when sin has been removed.
The same is the case with darkness: Since “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5), it was necessary for Him to create darkness if there was to be a distinction between day and night. The latter would be necessary for at least the probationary period of man’s tenure on earth, for he would need nightly rest as well as daily food, for his responsibilities as steward over God’s creation. Further, there must be a background of heavenly darkness in order for the sun and moon and stars to serve their function of indicating “signs and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14).
Thus, the darkness enveloping the primeval earth at its creation (Genesis 1:2) was not at all a judgment on the earth because of the fall of Satan, as some have taught. Like everything else in the primeval creation, it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31)—created for specific and beneficent divine purposes. The evil connotations of darkness came later, when evil men and devils found they could better promote their deceptions under cover of darkness. However, God’s light is even then always available to dispel the darkness when needed and desired. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). HMM
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The Creator Of Darkness
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil, I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).
This seems at first to be a confusing verse. How could a God of holiness...
Total Abstinence
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (I Peter 2:11).
The command to abstain occurs only a few times in...
All Things
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him” (I Corinthians 8:6).
This small...
As Grasshoppers
“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33).Our text verse is...
The Fountain Of Life
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:1 7).Charles...
In The Shadow Of His Wings
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).Verse...
Thou, O Christ, Art All I Want
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).
The touching stanzas of the old hymn, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, reveal Charles...
Jesus Lover Of My Soul
“. . . I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able...
Dinosaurs And The Bible
“Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. LO now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: . . ....
Habitation At Ephratah
“Until l find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. LO, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood” (Psalm 132:5,6).David wanted to...
Before Their Time
“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come” (Isaiah 57:1).How tragic...
Greater Than Jesus?
“If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).Three times previously in this chapter, the Lord had affirmed His...
Rest With Us
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty...
Author Of Peace
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (I Corinthians 14:33).Although these words were written with respect to church order, they...
Dark Waters And Thick Clouds
“And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and He was see’ upon the wings of the wind. And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies” (II Samuel 22:11,12).
This...
The Just Shall Live By Faith
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).This great principle—“the just shall live by faith”—was...
The Father Of Lights
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
God, Himself,...
The Wall Of Partition
“For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14).This middle wall of partition is a figure with important symbolic...
God's Singing Nature
“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
This...
Begin At The Beginning
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
It is rather common for Christian counselors to suggest...
Building On The Foundation
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon”...
Scoffers In The Last Days
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things...
The Truth And The Lie
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25).
The truth above all other truths is that...
Persecuted For Righteousness' Sake
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22).
“Blessed”...
Samson And The Spirit Of The Lord
“And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol” (Judges 13:25).Samson’s incredible strength was greater than even the strongest...
A Good Work
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (I Timothy 3:1).Current usage of the term “bishop” does not completely reflect...
Labor Or Service?
“Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work” (Deuteronomy 5:13).The term “labor” to many seems to connote drudgery or routine, repetitive, demeaning toil. As used here...
A Faithful Priest
“And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever”...
[body_edit] => “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (II Peter 1:5–7).
“Having escaped the corruption that is in the world” (v.4) through our “faith” in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we must now grow spiritually, conforming our nature and practice to His. We must put to use the divine nature we now possess, recognizing that He has provided all the resources we need.
In this passage, Peter assumes we already have “faith,” thus here our spiritual lives must begin. Peter instructs us to “add to” that faith seven character traits; virtue, knowledge, temperance (self-control), patience (perseverance), godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (agape love).
There seems to be both in the text (i.e., “add to”) and in practice, a progression here. As new Christians, we should strive for virtue, eliminating sinful actions and thoughts from our lives, as the Holy Spirit brings conviction. A commitment to growth in knowledge, first the basics of the faith and then deeper doctrines, enables us to exercise wisdom in life’s choices. A self-controlled, disciplined lifestyle exercises perseverance, even strength in the face of adversity, which in turn produces godliness-an attitude of reverence toward God which strives to please Him by developing His attitudes and priorities. Our relations with others will thus be marked by brotherly kindness toward believers and agape love (self-sacrificing, undeserved love) for all.
Such spiritual growth does not come without effort. He has provided all we need, but we must “give all diligence” to the process, much more than simply allowing the Holy Spirit resident in our hearts to work on our character and habits. Any lack of spiritual growth is our fault, not His. JDM
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Seven Outgrowths Of Faith
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly...
The Valley Of Blessing
“And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day”...
One Thing
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple”...
The Fires Of Hell
“Moreover [King Ahaz] burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of...
The Creator Of Marriage
“Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall...
The Certainty Of Persecution
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12).
This sobering prediction is placed in the context of the “last days,”...
The End
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:17).As...
Jephthah's Daughter
“Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S and I will offer it up for...
Misuse Of The Bible
“. . . his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto...
The Lord
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19).The...
And If Any Man Sin
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1).John exhorts...
I Will Build My Church
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). This is the first of 115...
The True God
“Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” (Ezra 7:23).
This...
The Whole Armor Of God
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
This modern age of nuclear weapons,...
Pattern Of Longsuffering
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting” (I Timothy 1:16).
Our...
The Throne Of David
“And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (II Samuel 7:16).
No other ordinary human being, not even the...
Teaching Universe
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” (Psalm 19:1,2).This familiar psalm,...
The Only Savior
“Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no Savior beside me” (Hosea 13:4).This verse in Hosea sounds much like the first of the...
God's Final Word
“The LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one” (Zechariah 14:9).
God cannot be defeated in His creative purpose for this earth and...
The Modern Civil War
“I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little” (Job 10:19,20).In...
The Doctrines Of Salvation
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).The great theme...
Happy Trials To You
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”...
Repentance And Faith
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).Repentance and faith are like two sides of the coin of...
The New Testament Church
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and king bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the...
Whom Do You Know?
“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12).A person who thinks he is a Christian,...
Mercy Not Merit
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22). When a Christian comes to the place in his life when he realizes he...
The Kind Of Person God Uses
“And he said unto Him, Oh my LORD, wherewith shall I save Israel ? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least of my father’s house” (Judges 6:15). The story of Gideon...
What Christ Looks Like
“His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14).The only Biblical description we have of the physical appearance...
The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1).The foundation of the house of wisdom is “the fear of the LORD . . . the beginning of...
The Vine
“What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:4).In Scripture...
Few And Far Between
“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought...
Stewardship Of Grace
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10).In modern church literature, the term...
The Name Above Every Name
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9).There are three primary names for God used in the Old Testament, Elohim,...
To Die Is Gain
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).Although the glorious resurrection bodies which have been promised all believers must await the return of Christ, even...
As Clay To The Seal
“Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s...
A Pragmatic Life
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13).
This “parable of the pounds” indicated to His disciples...
The Teacher
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (II Timothy 2:24).Patience and gentleness are invaluable Christian virtues in any...
Mortified
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).To mortify something means to put it to death....
Jesus--Confession Before Pilate
“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession” (I Timothy 6:13).
The main accusations...
Our Eternal Bodies
“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Philippians 3:21).Only...
Follow God Or Baal
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word”...
Faultless Before The Throne
“. . . that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God...
His Oath, His Covenant, His Blood
“Now [may] the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work...
An Anchor Of The Soul
“We . . . have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth...
Building On The Foundation
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the...
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