But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. 11:6 There is no such thing as a dispassionate commitment to God. If you would follow him, you must be convinced of his reality and …
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). Heb. 10:23 Brother and sister, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, meaning, let us continue confident in the God who saves us through his Son Jesus Christ, who is the …
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Ps. 147:1 Praise is comely, in this setting, when it is fitting (cf. ESV). In other words, there are two things that describe the worship of God by the saints: that it is both their duty and …
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Ps. 145:3 Why are we so often constrained in our praise? Is it not because we fail to see and feel properly the reality that the Lord, the God who has revealed himself in Israel's history and Israel's Scripture and …
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25 To come to God through faith in Jesus Christ is not only to be saved, but to be saved "to the uttermost." It is not just that he puts us in a savable …
Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk. Ps 143:8 This prayer directed to God assumes a mighty reality: that there is a way in which we should walk. Moreover, since this is a prayer to God, it assumes that God is the one who determines this path. And that is incredibly encouraging for …
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2 Kings 23:25 How does the phrase "with all his might" strike you? Do we see that …
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God . . . For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed : for I know whom I have believed, and am …
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. Mt. 18:5 What does this mean for us? It means that we receive and welcome all who belong to Christ, even if they aren’t like us or have a different personality or different social or economic status. Of all places, the church …
At the same time came the disciples of Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom …