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

  He Must Increase!   by  D.G. Miles McKee Have you ever felt dissatisfied with your faith? Have you ever thought that if only you had a better quality of faith, then you could be sure of your salvation? This is dangerous thinking.  Why? Because we are never called to have faith in faith.  Since when does the Bible say, " Being satisfied with our faith, we have peace with God ”?   (See Romans 5:1).   Satisfaction with Jesus, His person and work is what is called for.  We are never called to be satisfied with our faith but called rather to be occupied with Christ and His objective, outside of us, finished work!   Let’s look further at this.   Gospel faith takes a hold of Christ and His accomplishments on our behalf.  Gospel faith releases us to set our affection on things above where Christ is seated in cosmic authority. (Colossians 3:2).  Gospel faith takes us out of ourselves and into the Lord Jesus. The result of gospel ...

"Aaron's rod that budded." -Hebrews 9:4 [KJV] One view more of the tabernacle, and the articles of furniture therein contained, may be rendered profitable, under the Spirit's teaching: and therefore, my soul, look at that standing miracle, which was preserved there, of the rod of Aaron. The history of it is related in the book of Numbers, chapter 17. It was the method, which the Lord was graciously pleased to appoint, for the determining on whom His choice rested for the priesthood. To this end, a rod was taken from every tribe, and laid up before the Lord in the tabernacle; the Lord having declared, that whichsoever of the tribes had the rod to blossom, should be the man. The rod of Aaron, on the morrow, had buds, and blossoms, and fruits. But in all these, Christ, in His everlasting priesthood, was typified. To behold a dry stick bring forth buds, and become green and flourishing, was miraculous, and only to be referred into the sovereign power and will of God.   B...

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."   - Philippians 2:12 [KJV] None but God's people under the teachings of the Spirit know what it is to "work out their own salvation." And all who work out their own salvation will work it out "with fear and trembling." For when a man is taught by God to know what he is; when he feels what a deceitful heart he carries in his bosom; when the various snares, temptations, and corruptions by which he is daily encompassed are opened up to him; when he knows and feels what a ruined wretch he is in self, then he begins to fear and tremble lest he should be damned at the last. He cannot go recklessly and carelessly on without "making straight paths for his feet," without "examining himself whether he be in the faith."   And whenever a man's dreadfully deceitful heart is opened up to him; whenever the hollowness of an empty profession is unmasked; whenever he feels how strait is ...

"The golden pot that had manna." -Hebrews 9:4 [KJV] There is somewhat very blessed in the account given concerning the furniture of the second tabernacle. Some few evenings since, my soul, a glance was taken of the candlestick, the table and shew-bread; in the first tabernacle. Perhaps the Lord the Holy Ghost will open to thy meditation some edifying considerations in the view of the contents of the second. The golden pot, which preserved the manna pure, that in itself was soon subject to corruption, was unquestionably a beautiful emblem of the divine nature of Jesus, imparting durableness and dignity to His human nature.   We are told concerning the manna, that if the Israelites kept it, though but for a day (except when miraculously preserved pure on the sabbath-day, to remind them of that ordinance) it bred worms, and stank; Exodus 16:20 . But in this golden pot, an omer full of manna put therein, was laid up before the Lord as a memorial, and preserved pure. Precious Lor...

"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself."   - Jeremiah 31:18 [KJV]  The spiritual feeling of sin is indispensable to the feeling of salvation. A sense of the malady must ever precede, and prepare the soul for, a believing reception and due apprehension of the remedy. Wherever God intends to reveal His Son with power, wherever He intends to make the gospel "a joyful sound" indeed, He makes the conscience feel and groan under the burden of sin. And sure am I that when a man is labouring under the burden of sin, he will be full of complaint.  The Bible records hundreds of the complaints of God's people under the burden of sin. "My wounds stink and are corrupt," cries one, "because of my foolishness. I am troubled: I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long" (Psalm 38:5, 6) . "My soul," cries another, "is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave" (Psalm 88:3) . "He hath led me,...

"The L ORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty. He will save. He will rejoice over thee with joy. He will rest in His love. He will joy over thee with singing."   -Zephaniah 3:17 [KJV] My soul! look at this old testament promise, through the medium of the new testament dispensation, and behold what a cluster of rich blessings it contains; and which, like all the other promises of the bible, is "yea and amen in Christ Jesus!" And observe how it opens. The L ORD thy God, that is, Jehovah in His threefold character of person, in rich covenant engagements, is "in the midst of thee;" hath set up His throne in Zion, and lives, and reigns, and governs in the hearts of His redeemed. So said Jesus, and so that dear Lord explained it in after ages: "If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him ; " John 14:23 . "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another ...

"Follow after righteousness."   -I Timothy 6:11 [KJV] We may understand two things by this expression. First, the discovery to the conscience of Christ's imputed righteousness, in the way of justification; and secondly, the communication to the soul of a divine or righteous nature, whereby it brings forth the fruits of sincerity and uprightness before God. Both are to be followed after. But it may be asked, Why the first, if a man has a knowledge of his justification, and a sense of his acceptance with God? But may not a sense of interest in Jesus' glorious righteousness, and the inward testimony of the Spirit be lost in the enjoyment of them, or at least considerably diminished, for a time?   We read (Luke 15:8) of the woman who lost a piece of silver. Was there not a lighting of the candle, a sweeping of the house, and a diligent search into every corner till it was found again? The woman's piece of money was not really lost; it was still in the house; but as t...