WITHOUT FAITH ---

Today is Friday -- we are looking to the coming Lord's Day, if Jesus tarries, and I have a little question to ask you this morning -- "How is your faith"?  Someone has said -- "A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted."  And God's Word says in Hebrews 11:6 -- "But without faith it is impossible (it doesn't say difficult, but 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."  What a thrilling and wonderful verse!  There are many other verses concerning faith in the 10th chapter -- (v. 22)  "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. . .".   (v. 23)  "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith. . .".    (v. 38)  "Now the just shall live by faith:"

Too often, I am afraid we become discouraged "in the battle for the Lord and right", fail to "keep on the Firing Line", and stop short of the victory God has for us!  Perhaps it would be good for us to take a little time in preparation for the Lord's Day to remember some examples of persistent faith found in God's Word.  ZACCHAEUS was a short man, but he wanted to see Jesus!  The crowd was so large that he could not get through---but he did not give up; he was determined to find a way!!  So he ran ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree!  And his persistence and effort was rewarded!!  Jesus saw him up there, and told him to come down because He was going to his house!!  Praise the Lord!  His faith, effort, and persistence was rewarded!    

BARTIMAEUS was blind, and he sat by the highway side begging.  He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming and began to cry out, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."  Many in the crowd told him to hush and be still.  But he didn't care -- he was determined, and "cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me."  And Jesus didn't go on by; He stood still, and commanded him to be called.  His persistence was rewarded, for Jesus said "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole."  Amen!

My heart is always touched by the little unnamed woman who had suffered greatly for 12 long years with an issue of blood, and "had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any."  She must have felt unworthy to let her presence be known to Jesus, for she "came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately, her issue of blood stanched.  And Jesus said, Who touched me?  And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately."  And Jesus said unto her, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

And don't forget the many heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11:32-39.  Someone has said -- "God never permits affliction to come to His people without the design of improving their spiritual condition."  So let's keep on living by faith, digging deeper, climbing higher, growing in grace, looking unto Jesus, and just keep on praying till the light breaks through!  Amen!  

SETTLED FOREVER!

Today, when there are so many situations, difficulties, circumstances, etc., that would try to discourage us, hinder us, undermine our faith --  I am so very thankful for God's Holy Word which changeth never, and is a sure anchor for my soul!  The beautiful verse in Psalm 119:89 is such a sweet comfort to my soul this morning -- "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven."  Praise the Lord!!

I read in a little devotional booklet recently that "this is the central verse in the longest chapter in the longest book in the Bible."  I think it is just thrilling and amazing that this little verse must surely be one of the greatest verses in the Bible as we try to comprehend the amazing news that the Word of God was eternally settled in the mind of God before the world was even created!

There are other verses in this marvelous Psalm that also stress the eternal validity of God's words -- "The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting" (144) -- "Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them for ever" (152) -- "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever" (160).

In Isaiah 40:8, we read these blessed words -- "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."  In I Peter 1:23, we see -- "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."  And Jesus, Himself, said in Matthew 24:35 -- "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."  And in Matthew 5:18, we read these blessed words -- "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Praise the Lord for His glorious Word that never fails!  His glorious promises are eternal!  So let us "Buy the truth, and sell it not"!  (Proverbs 23:23)

NO ONE ----

 It is Monday -- our nation is in peril -- the world is raging -- friends and loved ones are hurting -- and we hear God's Word saying -- "Watchman, what of the night"?  And so, today ---

"I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus since I found in Him a friend so strong and true.    I would tell you how He changed my life completely; He did something that no other friend could do.                      All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me; all my heart was full of misery and woe.  Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me, and He led me in the way I ought to go.

Every day He comes to me with new assurance; more and more I understand His words of live.  But I'll never know just why He came to save me, till someday I see His blessed face above.  No one ever cared for me like Jesus; there's no other friend so kind as He.  No one else could take the sin and darkness from me; Oh, how much He cared for me"!

And the sweetest part is -- He is no respecter of persons!  You may come to Him today!                  

COME ---

 COME -- only four letters, but what a sweet and lovely word it is!  I'm quite sure that your heart has been blessed and encouraged when you answered your phone to hear a friend say -- "Come over and join us."  Perhaps there have been other times when you were disappointed when you were not included because you did not qualify, and were unable to meet all of the requirements.  It blesses my heart to know that Jesus says -- "Come, Just as You Are"!

Ye who are troubled and burdened by sin, come just as you are.                                                                      Come to the Saviour, a new life begin.  Oh, come just as you are!                                                                   Deep in your heart sin has written its scar; come just as you are.                                                                    Though from your Father you've wandered afar, Oh, come just as you are!

Sinful and guilty, heartbroken and lost, come just as you are.                                                                          Think what your ransom on Calvary cost!  Oh, come just as you are!                                                              Naught of your goodness for sin can atone; Come just as you are.                                                                  Trust in the merit of Jesus alone, and come just as you are.

Come with your heartache, your sorrow and pain; come just as you are.                                                        No one has come to the Saviour in vain.  Oh, come just as you are!                                                                Come just as you are.  Oh, come just as you are!                                                                                              Turn from your sin, let the Saviour come in, and come just as you are."

And if you are unable to go to the house of the Lord on this coming Lord's Day, you need not despair!  Our Lord is present everywhere, and he is listening for you to call upon His Name!  He has extended to you a blessed and sweet invitation -- "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!"                                                                                                                                   

TELL IT TO JESUS!

 This morning, I am wondering --- "What did you put on when you got up this morning"?  I'm quite sure that you had many choices to pick from, but you had to make a choice -- a decision about your appearance to others.  Then I wondered -- "What did you put on for your spiritual clothing?"  The Apostle Paul, in the 3rd chapter of Colossians, tells us to put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forgiving one another, and letting the peace of God rule in our hearts!  This sounds like a beautiful and valuable wardrobe for us to put on!

As we look around us, I think it might be good for us to pick out "kindness" today!  The story is told of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges.  If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch.  And so he passed through life lubricating all hard places, and making it easier for all those who came after him.  He refilled his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.

Sadly, there are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day.  Perhaps you know someone that nothing ever seems to go right with them.  And, just maybe, the Lord wants you to take a can of oil with you, and be ready with your oil of gladness or thoughtfulness.  Just a word spoken pleasantly can leave sunshine on a sad heart!  

So, perhaps this little devotional thought can be summed up in this lovely little quote:                                                   "Give others the sunshine -- tell Jesus the rest."                                      

GOD'S WORD!

 Good morning!  What a beautiful day the Lord has made for us -- "He giveth us richly all things to enjoy."  In case you were unable to spend a little time in God's Holy Word before you left for work this morning, take a few moments on your lunch hour to meditate on these beautiful words from the 12th chapter of Isaiah --

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song: He also is become my salvation.                                                                                                        Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.  And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.  

Sing unto the Lord; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.  Cry out and shout; thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." Amen!

And, remember also, that your afternoon will go much better if it is hemmed with prayer!  God bless you!

GOD'S PROVISIONS!

 I was reading a little daily devotional recently, and the writer listed seven beautiful titles ascribed to God in the New Testament.  I trust that they will be a blessing and encouragement to your heart as we begin another new week of living for Jesus!                                                                                              

1.  The God of LOVE -- All of us need love, and I John tells us that "God is love."

2.  The God of all GRACE -- God saves us by His grace, and then we are commanded in II Peter 3:18 to "grow in grace."

3.  The God of PEACE -- I am so thankful when we belong to the Lord our souls are filled with God's sweet and wonderful peace!  He is called "the God of peace" at least five times in the New Testament!

4.  The God of all COMFORT -- It is so sweet and blessed to know that our Heavenly Father "comforteth us in all our tribulation".  This enables and helps us to be able to provide comfort to others.

5.  The God of PATIENCE -- Many, many times as we journey through life, we find that we "have need of patience".  Our Lord has an abundant supply, for we read in the 15th chapter of Romans -- "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another . . ."

6.  The God of GLORY -- It was "the God of glory" who first called Abraham, for we read in the 7th chapter of Acts -- "The God of glory appeared unto our Father Abraham . . .and said unto him, Get thee our of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee."  Praise the Lord!  I am so thankful that the God of Glory is still speaking today, and precious young people are answering His call to follow where He leads -- nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender to the perfect will of God!  And they will find as they trust and obey that Jesus will never be a disappointment!!  What a blessed joy and privilege to follow where He leads and pasture where He feeds!

7.  The God of HOPE -- Hope -- what a wonderful word!!  Let us heed the admonition in I Peter 1:13 as we walk with Jesus -- "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and HOPE to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

FRET NOT!

 The 37th Psalm  is a glorious Psalm filled with instruction and sweet promises.  The first two words of the very first verse give us a little command which I find quite challenging "in times like these."  These two little words instruct us to "Fret not"!  Then it seems like the Lord encourages us with the very first word in the next few verses, telling us to Trust (v.3) -- Delight (v.4) -- Commit -- (v.5) and Rest (v.7).

To fret is to  be in a state of vexation.  A physician will tell us that a fretful disposition is not conducive to a healthy body.  So maybe we need to remember often this little poem by Elizabeth Cheney --

"Said the Robin to the Sparrow:  'I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.'  Said the Sparrow to the Robin:  'Friend, I think that it must be that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."  How wonderful it is to realize that the cure for anxiety is to trust in our Father's care!  I love these blessed words of comfort and assurance from God's Holy Word ---

"Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they? --- Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:   and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?  or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  So, my friend -- let us "Fret not", and take a little time to Consider the Lilies."                                                                                                                                                            

GOD'S BLESSED BOOK!

 In the 119th Psalm, we read this beautiful and wonderful promise -- "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."  What a blessed comfort it is to know that God's precious and Holy Word will endure for ever!  I have read that very few books survive very long; that only a few survive past the first printing, and science books, especially, get out of date in just a few years.

But I am so very thankful, as we begin a new week in these chaotic times, there is one book that is eternal!  What a wonderful assurance to know that the Bible still stands!  It makes me think of that beautiful song by Haldor Lillenas, entitled, "Standing On The Word" --- 

 "Sure is my foundation, for I stand today on the living Word that faileth never.  Earth with all its glory soon must pass away, but the Word of God shall stand for ever. --- Like a beacon star to lead me through the night, like a light upon my pathway streaming, is the Word of God to guide my steps aright to my homeland with its portals gleaming.  Standing on the Word, standing on the never failing Word of God!  Though many foes assail, His promise cannot fail; for I'm standing on the never-failing Word!"

Jesus said:  "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."  The prophet Isaiah reminded us:  "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."  Psalm 119 has been called the "Psalm of the Word", and contains these wonderful affirmations ---               "For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven" -- verse 89.                                                                        "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart" -- v. 111.         "The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting" -- verse 144. 

 "Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them for ever" -- verse 152.  Praise the Lord!  Founded forever -- Inherited forever -- Settled forever, and Lasting forever!  And the Apostle Peter in his first book reminds us that -- "The word of the Lord endureth for ever: And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."                                                                                                     Are you Standing on the Word today?                                                                

WHAT A DAY!

 It is Friday, and as I awakened this morning and thought about loved ones and friends who are hurting today, these beautiful words crept into my mind and heart --

"There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come---no more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye.  All is peace for evermore on that happy golden shore.  What a day, glorious day that will be!         There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear, no more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there.  And forever I will be with the One who died for me.  What a day, glorious day that will be!

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face---the One who saved me by His grace.  When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land, What a day, glorious day that will be!"

So today, dear friend, as we look to the coming Lord's Day, let us lift our eyes above the cares of life, turn our gaze upward toward heaven until our eyes are fixed on Jesus, our wonderful Lord!