Posts (Page 31)

Resisting Temptation Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1) A holy character does not prevent temptation–Jesus was tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; but in Christ’s case, it was like striking sparks on water; yet the enemy continued his evil work. Now, if the devil goes on…

“…and the Lord was with him.” (Genesis 39:2-3, 22-23) Last week we left Joseph’s story noting father Jacob’s inconsolable grief contrasted with the evidence of an active heavenly Father. What makes this grief so tragic though it was so real for Jacob is that it was so wide of the mark. He was mistaken, as we so often are. We need to remember that what we may…

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35a) On June 6, 1882 George Matheson penned the hauntingly beautiful words to the hymn “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.” Here’s how he describes it: “My hymn was composed in the manse of Innelan [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882,…

“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” (1 Tim 1:16) You and I, and this is one of the great discoveries in the Christian life, we must never look at any sin in our past life in a way except that which lead us to praise God and to…

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt receive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. (Psalm 138:7) Wretched walking in the midst of trouble. Nay, blessed walking, since there is a special promise for it. Give me a promise, and what is the trouble? What doth my Lord teach me here to…

The Difficult Goodbye “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” (Rev 21:4) Tim Challies was saying goodbye to his family, about to board a plane to fly to Australia speak at a conference this week. Here’s an abridged version of his description and response: ‘She had been weeping for the entire half hour it took us to travel from home to the airport.…

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13) Steve Lawson tells how when he got out of theological college he was preaching through Revelation when Mother’s Day came along. And because he is committed to sequential preaching he preached on the next passage before him, which happened to be about ‘the whore of Babylon’. “I felt good about…

“Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” (Acts 1:11) You see, that’s not where Christians are meant to be. Do you see? It’s not about just gazing into heaven. Now, times when we gaze into heaven are wonderful times, but that’s not where we’re meant to be, because there’s work to do. There’s work to do. There’s mission to be involved in. There are churches to be…