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

" We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." — I John 3:2 [KJV]  Why should the Lord, Who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, lay an embargo on our fully gratifying ourselves in the use of them? Why are we called to daily mortification and self-denial, as to sensual objects? Verily, it is all in love to our souls, that Jesus and spiritual objects might be more enjoyed; for experience proves the life of sense to be opposite to the life of faith. The more pleasure, comfort, and happiness we enjoy in the things of this life, this tends to make us love the world, and loath to leave it; and so our affections to Jesus cool, our desires after His appearing abate in their fervor, and we lose our longings after the unclouded sight of Him in glory. So St. Paul reproves Christians of old: "Are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" — I Corinthians 3:3 .  How justly applicable is this interrogation to us also! Reflect on this soul-revi...

Finished For Us by  D.G. Miles McKee For the believer, salvation has been accomplished by the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus Christ alone (see Isaiah 63:3; Hebrews 1:3).   No man or angel can add anything to Him and His finished work (see Ecclesiastes 3:14). For this truth we are eternally grateful.   By the way, did you know that all that Christ did was done for us?   He was born for us  (Isaiah 9:6). For unto  us  a Child is born, Unto  us  a Son is given;  …    He was made a curse for us  (Galatians 3:13), Christ has redeemed  us  from the curse of the law, having become a curse  for us  (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree ").   He died for us  (2 Corinthians 5:14). For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;   He was wounded and bruised for us  (Isaiah 53:5). “But He was wounded  for our  ...

" Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God." — Psalm 42:11 [KJV]  We are not to expect the sunshine of joy all the way through this vale of tears. Comfortable frames and joyful feelings, though sweet and delightful, are not always so profitable to the soul. Were we always on the mount of joy, alas, we should forget we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth; but should be for building tabernacles of rest in a polluted place; and cry out with the highly-favored disciples, "It is good for us to be here; but they knew not what they said." — Luke 9:33 . It is the glory of a Christian to live by faith on Jesus; to judge of His Saviour's love from the word of truth, more than by sense and feeling; yea under dejection and disquiet of soul, then to hope and trust in God, to check and rebuke one's self for doubts and diffidence; this is trul...

" Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, but shall not be able." —Luke 13:24 [KJV]  Thou feeble-minded disciple, weak in faith, thy Jesus speaks not thus to discourage thee from seeking salvation by Him only; for He also says, "Every one that seeketh findeth." But rather He hereby animates and encourages thy soul in striving against every enemy that opposeth thy entering His kingdom by the strait gate, even by His one atonement, and one righteousness ONLY. He designs also to shew that men may not only SEEK, but STRIVE, yea, strive as in an agony " to enter in, but shall not be able. " Why? Because they expect to enter the kingdom by some other gate than Jesus . But, says the apostle, " No man is crowned, except he strives lawfully ." Earnestness, zeal, activity, avail nothing, while Jesus is not the ONLY object: His blood, the only plea for pardon; His righteousness, the only hope for acceptance...

"...t hat I may win Christ." — Philippians 3:8 [KJV] No sooner had good king Hezekiah established his throne in righteousness, restored religion in his kingdom, set his whole heart to serve the Lord, and his God prospered him, but an invading Sennacherib enters his territories, and encamps against his fenced cities.— II Chronicles 32:1 . Scripture and experience daily preach to God's children, "This is not your rest:" You are in a militant state. Though Jesus hath taken possession of the soul, and cast out the strong man armed, think not of folding your arms, and saying, I shall see war no more; for your adversary has many after-games to play. He will not only encamp against your fenced cities, and attack your out-works, but will also attempt your very heart and mind. Beware of such suggestions as these, they are the whispers of a destroying foe: "Come, you are now an excellent Christian; you have a tongue to speak for Jesus, you don't live and act as...

" Henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh; yet henceforth know we Him no more." —I Corinthians 5:16 [KJV]   How eminent does the grace of God shine in the conduct of Levi! when the glory of Jehovah was at stake, when his honor was to be vindicated against those who had sinned with an high hand, "He said unto his father and mother, I have not seen him:" —that is, no one that mine eye shall pity, nor mine hand spare, who has transgressed in this matter. "Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor know his own children." — Deuteronomy 33:9 . The Lord our God is a jealous God. It behoves His children to be valiant for the truth as it is in Jesus. It is our duty to face all opposition against it; to stand in defence of it from every quarter, and to know no man after the flesh, so as to give up the truth for fear of Him. This is our highest honor; and this is highly acceptable in the sight of our God. "...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (17-19FEB23 A.D.) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in   SO GREAT SALVATION by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - Almighty God's unmerited favor - from our sins and from Hell: HOW GOOD DO YOU HAVE TO BE? How good does a man have to be to get to heaven? Will God accept sincerity? Will God accept you if you do the best you can and lead a good life? Can you get to heaven if, from this day forward, you serve the Lord? Anyone who knows anything about God and His Word knows that the answer to these questions must be an emphatic NO! It is not possible for any man to do or think anything that is good or acceptable to God (Isaiah 64:6). God cannot and will not accept anything less than WHAT HE IS, which is absolute perfection.   He says in Leviticus 22:21, “ It shall be perfect to be accepted.” In order to get to heaven by ou...