"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

" We are commanded in Scripture to “Ye should earnestly contend for the Faith” (Jude 3) , but when “the Faith” is contended for with a malicious spirit, doubt is cast on the motive of the contender. When such an ill spirit is manifested, it gives rise to the question:   "Is the contender for the faith seeking to glorify God in his defense of the truth, or is it his motive to make his remonstrant look bad, and himself superior?”   The apostle Paul said: Some men “glory in appearance, and not in heart” (see II Corinthians 5:12) . The saint is never to seek the approbation of his peers at the expense of God’s glory." -preacher Oscar Mink , Contending for the Faith with a Right Motive

"I go to prepare a place for you." -John 14:2 [KJV]   If any person, destitute of the provisions of life, had a promise from some noble lord, I will amply provide for you—I will go this day to court, and get a place for you : if he believed his word, and depended on his power, it would fill the heart with joy.  Suppose he actually succeeded to the most desirable place, and that it was in no one’s power to dispatch him: what then? Why, this would add to his comfort. But, though no one could take his place from him, yet, alas! there is One, Who will very soon summons him to another, in the place appointed for all living.  Ah! this gives a damp to every earthly enjoyment. Off hands, from all: quit your hold of all: for you hold all earthly possessions by a very uncertain tenure . But, hear your Lord: rejoice at His words.  (1st.) I go ; willingly and cheerfully, through the most dreadful scenes of horror, agony, and death. I go , to face, fight with, and con...

"Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour." -Proverbs of Solomon 3:16 [KJV] What is sweetly said of Jesus in one scripture, as the Glory-wisdom, is as sweetly sung in another scripture, as the Husband of His church and people.  Yes, Lord, Thy right-hand blessings may well be called length of days , for they are life itself, even life everlasting in Thee: and Thy left-hand mercies, which include all temporal good, may well merit the name of riches and honour , for Thou givest to all that love Thee to inherit substance, and Thou fillest all their treasures. There is no substance in any, nothing satisfying, nothing substantial, where Thou art not. Why then, blessed Jesus, if these things be so, I would say to Thee, as the church of old did, "Put Thy left hand under my head, and let Thy right hand embrace me." -Song of Solomon 2:6 & 8:3 This will make every thing sweet, and every thing precious. Even Thy left-hand bles...

“For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” -II Corinthians 4:6 [KJV] When a man is walking in the darkness and death of unregeneracy (- an unsaved state ) , he has no true light. He may indeed have a false light, as the light of presumption, delusion, or vain-confidence; but all such borrowed light is worse than darkness; as the Lord says, “If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” -Matthew 6:23 [KJV] The only saving light is the light of God shining into the soul, giving us to see and know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom He hath sent.” A man may have the clearest light in his judgment, and yet never have the penetrating light of the Spirit producing conviction in his soul; he may have the soundest knowledge of the doctrines of grace, and see the harmonious scheme of salvation; and yet never have seen a h...