From a certain point of view, it is saddening to think of such a man as John the Baptist in the hands of such creatures as Herod and his paramour, and sadder to think that his life should be sacrificed to the feminine malice created by John’s upright attitude as a preacher of righteousness. But… Read More Today’s thought: John – shut up in prison (September 11)
Today we read in Mark’s Gospel, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel”, today this message is still true so let’s do as Jesus taught and “straighten up and raise [our] heads, because [our] redemption is drawing near.” Today’s thought “The time is fulfilled”… Read More Today’s thought “The time is fulfilled” (August 06)
Today’s thought “Disaster after disaster: behold it comes” (September 11) Ezekiel 7 is initially about the disaster coming on the people still living in Jerusalem. Ezekiel was a priest and is among those taken into captivity (1:1) some years before Jerusalem is destroyed. Those taken away are earnestly hoping to return to the land of… Read More Today’s thought “Disaster after disaster: behold it comes” (September 11)
Today’s thought “My heart stands in awe …” (March 12) “What shall we do?” was the question. “the crowds asked” in our reading in Luke 3 today. You may recognise it as the same question the crowds asked Peter on the day of Pentecost, when Peter answered “Repent and be baptised”. But we saw today… Read More Today’s thought “My heart stands in awe …” (March 12)
Today’s thought “Who gave you this authority?” (February 15) Mark 11 It is necessary for the orderly functioning of life for there to be those in authority to approve and oversee what is to be done. This is essential for the proper functioning of life, but is it so in every case? In particular, is… Read More Today’s thought “Who gave you this authority?” (February 15)
In our previous studies we looked at the use of the phrase “living stones” in scripture. We considered various examples of stones either being treated as though they were alive, or being described as though they were. In Old Testament times we read of stones being set up as a witness to what the Lord… Read More Living stones 5 Abraham’s seed and gentiles
“And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1 ASV) “And {1} the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. {1) Heb [the escaped of the house of… Read More Chaff and the shoot out of the stock of Jesse
Chaff are the leftovers of wheat that are useless; how much chaff can God see in the world today? Let us make sure we are not among the chaff! Let us all “bear good fruit”; for John also preached, “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the… Read More Bear fruits in keeping with repentance
How clearly are we seeing the “light” and letting it “guide our feet”? There are so many traps these days as to where we can put our “feet” – in a spiritual sense of course. How many appreciated the “light” they were seeing in the words of John and Jesus? They all stumbled and fell.… Read More Serve him without fear
