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

Jesus Our Hiding Place by D.G. Miles McKee How do we, with confidence, come before the all-holy God, and stand in His presence? This is a great question for both the unsaved and believers alike.  The unsaved person, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, knows that his sin has separated him from God (Isaiah 59:2).  Likewise, the believer, through the ministry of the Word and the Spirit, is conscious that his best efforts are flawed and that his very righteousness is like a filthy rag (Isaiah 64:6).  How then can either of them come before God and receive a welcome?   No doubt this was Adam's question when he put his fig leaves together for a makeshift covering.  Somehow, he knew that, because of sin, what he really needed was a covering that left him unexposed.  He tried his best, but even then, his fig leaves were inadequate … and he knew it.  Sensing the inadequacy of his covering see how he rushed into the bushes to hide when God came near.  ...

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." -I Peter 1:8, 9 [KJV] My soul! mark what a blessed testimony believers of the present hour are here said to give to an unseen, but dearly beloved Redeemer; and behold what blessed effects are induced in the soul by such lively acts of faith upon His person and righteousness! And, indeed, when it is considered who Christ is, what He is to us, what He hath done for us, and what He is for ever doing for us, and will do to all eternity, who but must love Him? In His person all divine perfections center; whatever tends to make any creature lovely, in heaven or on earth, is found in Jesus in the most eminent degree. For there is nothing lovely in creatures of any character, whether angels or men, but it is derived from Him: it is Jesus who gives all that excellency and grace which ...

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ."   -II Corinthians 4:17 [KJV] O ye suffering saints of God! ye tried and afflicted children of the most High! raise up your thoughts as God may enable you—lift up your eyes, and see what awaits you. Are you tried, tempted, exercised, afflicted? It is your mercy. God does not deal so with every one. It is because you are His children, that He lays on you His chastening hand. He means to conform you to the image of His Son in glory, and therefore He now conforms you to the image of His Son in suffering. 'O but,' you say, 'I cannot believe it is so!' No; if you could, it would not be much of a trial.  This is the trial of faith—to go groaning on, struggling on, sorrowing on, sighing on; believing against unbelief, hoping against hope; and still looking to the Lord, though there is everything in nature to damp the hopes and expectations of you...