Making the Most of Your Life

The love of the mountain, the strenuous hiking, and the intense enjoyment of the beauty of nature seen close up were each a very important but yet overlooked and now forgotten part of the life of the famous hymn writer Frances Ridley Havergal, author of hymns like “Take My Life and Let It Be,” “Like a River Glorious,” and “Who Is on the Lord’s Side.” Instead, her image is largely one of saintly invalidism. Nor is she appreciated for her … Read More

When We Are Most Liable to Temptation

“Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Luke 22:46 When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters. … Old Erskine wisely remarked, “I like … Read More

Finishing Well

Endings are important. Paul says in II Timothy 4 “I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course.” Yet fighting the good fight was also a day-by-day process for Paul. We finish each hour, each day, each test well, which all builds toward our ultimate end of finishing well. Sometimes one day or even one hour is all we can face at one time. For those who fight wars, or grieve the loss of a loved one, or watch … Read More

“With Christ We Can Do all Things”

“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” – Luke 5:4 We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of … Read More

“God fails thee not”

“Why go I mourning?” Psalm 42:9 Canst thou answer this, believer? Canst thou find any reason why thou art so often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who told thee that the night would never end in day? Who told thee that the sea of circumstances would ebb out till there should be nothing left but long leagues of the mud of horrible poverty? Who told thee that the winter of thy discontent would proceed from frost … Read More

“Glory Begun Below”

“They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” – Joshua 5:12 Israel’s weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be … Read More

“I will help thee”

“I will help thee, saith the Lord.” – Isaiah 41:14 This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: “I will help thee.” “It is but a small thing for Me, thy God, to help thee. Consider what I have done already. What! not help thee? Why, I bought thee with My blood. What! not help thee? I have died for thee; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? … Read More

“Do as thou hast said.”

“Do as thou hast said.” – 2 Samuel 7:25 God’s promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He intended that they should be used. God’s gold is not miser’s money, but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see His promises put in circulation; He loves to see His children bring them up to Him, and say, “Lord, do as Thou hast said.” We glorify God when we plead His … Read More

“The iron did swim.”

“The iron did swim.” – 2 Kings 6:6 The axe-head seemed hopelessly lost, and as it was borrowed, the honour of the prophetic band was likely to be imperilled, and so the name of their God to be compromised. Contrary to all expectation, the iron was made to mount from the depth of the stream and to swim; for things impossible with man are possible with God. I knew a man in Christ but a few years ago who was … Read More

Jesus prays for us

“I have prayed for thee.” – Luke 22:32 How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer’s never-ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and then we are not praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter – “Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but” – what? “But go and pray for yourself.” … Read More

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