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

"For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." -Hebrews 7:26 [KJV]   What a sweet thought! surely, as a poor sinner, I need an High Priest to act for me. I cannot, I dare not, approach in myself, and with my poor polluted offerings, without one. But He that intercedes for me must be Himself holy, free from sin; His sacrifice holy, His obedience holy, and in all points suited to His office and my necessities.    Cherish, then, the thought, my soul—He that is thine High Priest is all this, and infinitely more. So holy in Himself, that not the shadow of sin was in Him. So harmless, that in His mouth was found no guile. So undefiled, that though He took all the sins of His people upon Him, yet in Himself He was free from all sin. So separate from sinners, that though He took the nature of man, yet wholly underived from man. And so much higher than the heavens, that His own personal holiness infi...

  Whom Exactly did Paul Blaspheme? by D.G. Miles McKee   “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious…." -I Timothy 1:12-13 [KJV]     Paul’s statement in 1Timothy 1:12-13 provides a very important reference to the Deity of Christ. The apostle, speaking of his life as a Pharisee, calls himself a blasphemer. So, when was Paul ever a blasphemer?  In case you are not aware, by definition, blasphemy is the act of insulting or attacking God or the act of claiming the attributes of deity.  We can discount the second part of the definition in Paul’s case for we have no record whatsoever of him ever claiming to possess the attributes of Deity within himself. Of all the charges leveled against the apostle this is not one of them!   So, according to Paul, he was an insulter and attacker of God.  He was a blasphemer. Bu...

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."   -Daniel 12:2  [KJV] What a morning will this be! how distinguished from every other! Lord, how often do I now awake with thoughts of earth, and sin, and trifles, and vanity. How have I opened mine eyes this morning?—was it, dearest Jesus, with thoughts of Thee? In that solemn morning there will be no longer dreams, as now, even in our waking hours—for all childish imaginations, shadows, doubts, and fears, will be done away. Precious, blessed Lord Jesus! cause me morning by morning, while upon earth, to awaken with sweet thoughts of Thee.     Let the close of night, and the opening of the day, be with Thy dear name in my heart, on my thoughts, and on my lips; and in that everlasting morning, after having dropped asleep in Jesus, and in Thy arms by faith, may I awake up in Thy embraces, and after Thy likeness, to be everlastingly a...

"The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations."   -Numbers 23:9  [KJV] Mark, my soul, the character of God's Israel, and remember that they are the same in all ages. Distinguishing mercies are sweet mercies. God's people dwell alone, in the everlasting appointment of the Father, by whom they were set apart, and formed for His glory, and given to His Son. They dwell alone, in being brought into the church of Jesus as the redeemed and purchased by His blood. They dwell alone, under the sweet influences of the Spirit, by whom they are known, distinguished, regenerated, and sealed unto the day of redemption. Thus set apart, thus formed, thus given, thus redeemed, thus purchased, thus sealed, surely they, are not reckoned among the nations, but are supposed to shew forth God's praises, who hath called them out of darkness into His marvellous light.    My soul, what sayeth thy experience to these things? Oh how different the state, the circu...

"And yet there is room."  - Luke 14:22 [KJV]   Room! Where, and for whom?   Room in the gospel of salvation, and for poor perishing sinners, in  the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Room in the heart of God the Father, in the love, grace, mercy, and peace of God the Son, and in the teachings, influences, and fellowship of God the Holy Ghost. Room in the plentiful provisions of grace, the calls of the gospel, the ministration of the word and ordinances in the house of prayer. "Whosoever will," is the gracious invitation; whosever feels his heart made willing in the day of God's power, "let him come and take of the water of life freely."     Lord, is there room for me? Thousands, and tens of thousands have found room through Thy grace inclining them to come; and yet the scripture sweetly saith again this day, "And yet there is room." Oh give me grace to see that I am one of the invited, one of the happy number that hath found room; an...

"For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God." -John 16:27  [KJV] See, my soul, how thy Jesus hath endeared to thee the Father in the assurance of His love. And wilt thou not feel thine whole affections going forth in continual love after Him? Was it not thy Father which, from everlasting, gave thee Jesus as thy Saviour, and gave thee to Jesus that He might redeem thee? Was it not from the same precious source that Jesus came as a Saviour, and a great One, to redeem thee and other great sinners?     Is it not thy Father that hath adopted thee into His family in Jesus, and given thee the Spirit of adoption, whereby thou criest, Abba, Father ? And doth He not accept thee in Jesus, bless thee in Jesus, nourish thee with the body and blood of Jesus, clothe thee with the righteousness of Jesus, and give thee all temporal, spiritual, and, by and by, will give thee all eternal blessings in Christ Jesus! Nay, even His c...

"The King hath brought me into His chambers." -Song of Solomon 1:4  [KJV] Yes, He who is King of nations, King of saints, is my God and King also; for He hath an universal empire, being one with the Father over all, blessed for ever. Amen.     To Him I bow the knee, and humbly and gratefully desire to put the crown of my salvation on His adorable head. And what hath this Sovereign done for thee, my soul? Oh record His praise; tell it to saints and sinners all around. This great, and glorious, and condescending King, hath not only brought thee out of darkness and the shadow of death, but hath brought thee into His chambers. What chambers? Chambers of sweet communion and fellowship; chambers of love, of grace, of mercy, of redemption, of ordinances, and of all covenant blessings.     He hath taught me of His love, and my privileges in Him, and so assured me of my everlasting safety in Him and His finished salvation, that by and by, when from those outward chamber...