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

“ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD”      In seeking to live in this world with a worry-free and God-honoring attitude, we must be fully persuaded of the absolute authority of the Lord over all things.  If we are going to serve the cause of Christ with joy and cheerfulness, if we are going to glorify Him with a life of faith, it is imperative to have an abiding confidence that all things happen according to His eternal purpose.   Don’t be shocked when trials come your way.  Our Lord JESUS said, “In this world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”   (John 16:33) .  Let us be thankful that all things are ruled and overruled by Him for His glory and the good of His people.  Every smile or tear, every gain or loss, times of sickness and health, happiness and sorrow, they are all under the sovereign government of our covenant God.      This truth that God sovereignly re...

"We are perplexed, but not in despair." -II Corinthians 4:8 [KJV] God’s dear children have not all the same clear perception of truth. They are not all of one mind and the same sentiment in all points. Yet, they all have but one Lord, one faith, and one hope. And, there is an uniformity in their experience, with respect to the exceeding sinfulness of sin—the depravity of their nature—their perplexities from the world, the flesh, and the devil—their love of the scriptures—and the exceeding preciousness of Christ.  This proves that they are taught by and with the same Spirit. We have perplexities of a spiritual nature, beside those in common with others, which natural men are total strangers to. These are no weak evidences of our spiritual birth. To be perplexed with a body of sin and death—with a sense of unbelief—with deadness, formality, wanderings in spiritual duties—with Satan’s temptations, injections, accusations—corrupt reasonings, and carnal pleadings: th...

"And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed." -II Kings 4:6 [KJV] Do I not see Jesus and His fulness here? His giving out never ceaseth, until we have no more empty vessels to receive. And surely it is but proper the oil of grace should stay, when there are no more souls to be supplied. Pity indeed would it be, that any thing so precious should be spilt on the ground. My soul, art thou not poor as this poor woman? Is the creditor come to take thee for bondage?  Cry mightily to Jesus, the LORD God of the prophets. And wilt thou borrow vessels to receive His bounty? Borrow not a few; for every vessel must fail before that Jesus fails. Hast thou filled all? See then that thy Almighty Creditor is paid from Jesus' bounty; for He hath paid all thy debt: and see that thou live henceforth on Jesus' fulness. Oh bountiful Lord, let me lea...

"Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you." -Isaiah 35:4 [KJV] "Behold, your God will come." The Lord then is not yet come; but He says He will come, and the promise of His coming takes away the fear. He says, "Behold . " Even that little word contains something in it noteworthy. The Lord is in the distance; His chariot is making ready; for "He maketh the clouds His chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind."   As the Lord said to His disciples, "Lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh , " so by the word, "Behold," the Lord would take the eyes of His people from being ever bent on the ground or ever looking at their own miserable hearts and the difficulties and dangers of the way. "Look up,"  He would say, "look up; your God is coming to save you."  I like to dwell on every crumb as it were of our text. The jots and ti...