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

When you were marching to hell! Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy (see I Timothy 1:13.) Literally, "I was bemercied ." Christians, why might not you have been in the number of those who persist in sinning? Because God has bemiracled you with mercy! See what cause you have to admire the stupendous goodness of God, who has wrought a change in you--and checked you in your full career of sin! Christians, you who are vessels of election, were by nature as wicked as others; but God had compassion on you and plucked you as brands out of the fire! He stopped you in your course of sinning-- when you were marching to Hell! He turned you back to Him by sincere repentance. Oh, here is the banner of love displayed over you! Behold sovereign grace! Let your hearts melt in love to God. Admire His royal bounty. Set the crown of all your praises, upon the Head of free grace! "By the grace of God I am what I am!"   -I...

Paul´s Wonderful Defense of the Deity of Christ by D G Miles McKee Good old Paul, he can always be relied upon to come up with a robust defense of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul had a simple key to unlock the identity of the Lord Jesus. In his inspired thinking, Jesus was both God and man.  Listen to him in 2 Corinthians 5:19 where he says,   “G od was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.”   Paul gives us further confirmation of Christ’s identity in Philippians 2:6 where he writes,   “Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal w ith God ; ”   This is a very hard verse to translate, and many have given it varied and, sometimes, colorful renderings.  Some translators say that, although He was in the nature of God, Christ did not think equality with God was something to be grasped.  What the translators are saying is of course true, but it’s not the entire tr...

"Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." -I Timothy 6:8 [KJV] Man wants but little: that little not long. But unbelief multiplies our wants, and magnifies our discontent. God rains down manna. The people are delighted with it; but are not content to trust God for the morrow’s supply. They gathered more than would serve for one day. What was the consequence? “It bred worms and stank” (Exodus 16:20.) Here distrust and unbelief prevailed, and abundance begot discontent. O ye rich and great, is it not so with you? And thou, O my soul, thy pittance is more than St. Paul here requires. Art thou content? No riches, without Christ, and the riches of His grace, can bring content to the mind.  But when Christ vouchsafes to fulfil that precious word, (Revelation 2:17,) “I will give to eat of the hidden manna , ” then we shall have heart content, though we have no more coats than backs, and but just food enough to satisfy our hunger. For faith supplies al...

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry." -Psalm 34:15 [KJV] My soul, never more allow thyself to suppose that thou art overlooked or forgotten amidst the immensity of God's works. Is it not the province of a father to attend to the wants of his children? And will not God regard His own, that cry night and day unto Him, though He bear long with them?   -see Luke 18:7 This was the very argument of our Redeemer.  Do you, saith Jesus, "that are evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; and shall not your heavenly Father give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" But, my soul, while thou art taking comfort from this view of divine love, take with thee another sweet thought from this precious verse of scripture. Whose eyes are thus upon thee, and whose ears are thus open to thy cries, but those of the Lord Jesus? Oh how sweet the thought, that by reason of the Son of God, as Christ, being in our n...

"Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." -Psalm 84:7 [KJV] As the Lord is true, no spiritual pilgrim will ever fall and die in the valley of Baca. Some may fear that through temptation their strong passions or boiling lusts will one day break out and destroy them. No, not if they are pilgrims. "Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. " Others may think they never shall have a testimony; they never shall read their name clearly in the Book of Life; the Lord will never appear in their heart or bless their soul; they never shall be able to say, "Abba, Father."   If Jesus is theirs, they shall . But are they spiritual pilgrims? Do they find it a vale of tears? Are their faces Zionward? Have they come out of the world? Do they sometimes make the valley of Baca a well? And does the rain fill the pools? And have they ever had strength made perfect in weakness? Then every one of them will appear before God in Zion. Blessed end! Sweet...