Posts from January 2023

Firstfruits These were purchased from among men, to be the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb. Revelation 14:4 My home province of Fukien is famous for its oranges. I would say (though doubtless I am prejudiced) that there are none like them anywhere in the world. As you look out on the hills at the beginning of orange season, all the groves are green. But if you observe more carefully you will see, scattered here and there on…

The Upper Side I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart;I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds. I will rejoice and exult in you;I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back,They stumble and perish before You. For You have maintained my right and my cause;You have sat on the throne judging righteously. You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked and unrepentant;You have wiped…

Broken With Purpose Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18 When the boy brought his bread to Jesus, what did Jesus do with it? He broke it. God will always break what is offered to Him. He breaks what He takes, then blesses and uses it to meet man’s needs. Is this not true to your experience and mine? You give yourself to the Lord, and at once everything…

Falsely Accused O Lord my God, in You I take refuge;Save me and rescue me from all those who pursue me, So that my enemy will not tear me like a lion,Dragging me away while there is no one to rescue [me]. O Lord my God, if I have done this,If there is injustice in my hands, If I have done evil to him who was at peace with me,Or without cause robbed him who was my enemy, Let the…

Soul Trouble O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,Nor discipline me in Your wrath. Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished. My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]? Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love…

The Rage of Nations Why do the nations rage? Psalm 2:1 The answer is supplied at once. It is because “the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and His anointed.” However violent the hostility between them, world governments are at heart united on one thing: they are against the reign of Christ. We look upon the nations as some of them bad, some good; but Scripture points us to the “prince of this world” behind them all. Prompted by…

*Abundance There is the sound of the abundance of rain. 1 Kings 18:41 How utterly Elijah ventured everything on his God! For three and a half years there had been a nationwide drought, and water was very scarce indeed. Yet he insisted it be poured lavishly on the sacrifice that was to vindicate Jehovah. “What! squander our precious reserves of water with no rain in sight ?” “Pour it on,” said Elijah. “Do it a second time; do it a…

Our Position You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 Our brother Paul made a great and noble statement to the Philippians. To these who, in material things, we’re almost his sole supporters he dared to say: “I have all things and abound.” Paul gave no hint of need, but took the position of a wealthy child of a wealthy Father, and…

Morning Calm Listen to my words, O Lord, Consider my groaning and sighing. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil [person] dwells…

One Answer For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today]. Romans 5:10 God makes it quite clear in his Word that to every human need he has but one answer: his Son Jesus Christ. In all his dealings with us…