The Newness Of Time And Opportunity
The new beginning in a person's life is possible because God is new every morning. This does not mean that He changes, but that His newness, Holiness and goodness, are forever "new," as they do not age, nor deteriorate. The character, and every facet of God's nature, never changes from all that He is today and forever. Hence, His freshness, and newness are every morning for the believer who needs to taste afresh and see that the Lord is good.
The Lord's Dwelling Place
Where does God dwell, this One for whom Heaven is His throne, and the earth is His footstool? From the revelation of God in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, to the Temple in Jerusalem, there was a time of great revelation of God. At the moment when the Spirit of God was poured out upon all flesh at Pentecost, until this very day, Christ by His Spirit has indwelt the believing heart. The heart has become His dwelling place, a place of certain and true worship of the Living God.
The Greatness Of the Shepherd
How great is Christ the Shepherd? He is Creator and Sustainer of life. He is also the Savior of men, and the coming King. He is that very present help in time of trouble, that one who keeps, leads, protects, and sustains every sheep. It is in His loving kindness that he shepherds and cares for His sheep, feeding and protecting them. This is the Great Shepherd.
An Old Man's Prayer And Power
When one is getting old, what should be his prayer? Should it not be centered in God, according to the will of God, for the glory of God? Nothing less than the blessing of God, and the exaltation of Christ, should be the objective, and the finishing of one's course to declare to this generation the wondrous works of God, and His mercy and grace.
Walking and Leaping And Praising God
There is power in the voice of God by the Spirit, power enough to heal the lame, forgive sin, raise up the downtrodden, and revive the soul. The power of Christ permeates every word that He has spoken. This power is communicated to us who believe, and receive from Him by faith all that He desires to give for His glory.
The Expected End
It was David who wrote that the Lord was his portion. At the end of life's day on this earth, this is the great consolation, that Christ is and ever will be not only our beginning by the new birth, but our end, our completeness and fulfillment, our eternal life. It is true also on this earth, for His purposes, though sometimes not understood, are always in love, the best and highest for His sake and glory, and our blessing.
The Church Of The Revelation
The book of Revelation was written primarily to the church, the body of Christ. Why? As Israel was in her time the means by which God would reveal Himself to men, as recorded in the Old Testament, so, in these last days, the church of God is that means by which God in Christ has chosen, not only to reveal Himself in and through her, but to take the testimony of His Life and Power to save unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
The Running Christian
Running involves the pursuit of a goal, a focus of resources, but primarily a commitment to not look back or sideways, but towards the objective. For the Christian, running is the day to day commitment to serve Christ with the whole heart, looking unto Jesus, with the focus being on worship and communion with Christ. The runner, regardless of opposition, is one that is set to finish his course well for the glory of God.
The Preparation And Prelude To Faith
What precedes faith? Certainly, it is the working of God to draw out the heart of man to Himself. But the awakening comes when He reveals Himself to the heart by His word, which He quickens, and makes alive. With the revelation of Himself, there comes the grace of God for the individual to respond in a right manner to it. That response is repentance and faith. God will not fail to both to the truly seeking heart.
The Judge Of All The Earth
God alone is just, for He is not a sinner. He is holy and perfect, in power, authority, and compassion. He alone knows all that is true, for all is open before Him. Thus, since He alone knows the heart, He alone is capable to judge sin, and save the sinner. As He will not fail in His compassions, so He will not fail in His judgments, for they are right and true.