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

" The kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." -Matthew 11:12 [KJV] We say hunger will break through stone walls. Desperate circumstances make men violent. Thus is it with a convinced sinner. He sees himself in the city of destruction, and Moses has set his house on fire about his ears, as Mr. Bunyan says in his Pilgrim’s Progress. Now, he cannot think of God, sin, death, judgment, heaven, and hell with indifference. No, he is awake. He sees the importance of them. His soul is alive. He feels the weight of them. He finds sin has destroyed him. The law terrifies him. Death stares him in the face. Judgment alarms him. He trembles to see hell moved from beneath to receive him.  Now his fancied good works, his morality, etc. stand him in no stead. He hungers after righteousness. His apprehensions of wrath make him violent. His hunger is keen. He besieges the kingdom of God with eager prayer. He forces his way through every opposition. He...

" When she was come to Solomon, she communed with him, of all that was in her heart." -I Kings 10:2 [KJV] Behold a rare instance of sovereign grace. A king and queen met, to talk of the things of God! Human pomp and worldly grandeur, do not always shut the heart against the grace of God. Though “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called” (I Corinthians 1:25.) yet it pleases our Saviour to call some. He chooses one and another of the wise, mighty, and noble, to bow to His grace, honour His name, and shine as distinguished lights in the world.  But in general, the gospel runs most and thrives best among the poor. “Hearken, my beloved, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom?” (James 2:5.) Here is a visit paid by a happy queen to a wise king. They were both wise and happy; for they were wise unto salvation.  (1st.) See the cause of her visit. She heard of Solomon’s fame concerning th...

" He answered and said unto them, My mother and My brethren are these, who hear the word of God and do it. " -Luke 8:21 [KJV] Looking at things which are not seen keeps the soul from fainting, and invigorates it to every holy duty. Do I believe Christ now thinks of me, and is this moment pleading my cause in heaven? how then can I live unholy, and walk uncomfortable on earth? True, if I did but know that Christ loved me. How do you expect to know it? Do you believe He loved His mother and His brethren after the flesh? It cannot be doubted. See then how near and dear to Christ, in a spiritual sense, are all who hear the word of God and do it.  They hear Christ in their hearts, as truly as His virgin mother carried Him in her womb. They are as verily allied to Him by faith, are His brethren in spirit, as others were by blood. (1st.) To hear the word of God, implies to have such an understanding of it, faith in it, hope from it, and love to it, as to cause our souls ...

True Love and Worship by D. G. Miles McKee Ref: Genesis 22:1-14   Have you ever heard of The Law of First Mention? It’s a principle of biblical interpretation which states that the first mention of something in the Scriptures is especially significant and sets the stage for how it is to be understood in the rest of the Word. It is of great interest, therefore, to notice that in this passage (Genesis 22:1-14), we get the first mention of the word “Love” in the Bible. It is found in verse 2, “ Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest.” Notice how love is first mentioned in the context of Abraham’s blood sacrifice of Isaac.  Love was not mentioned in the Garden of Eden where we would expect it to have been, but rather, first mentioned in the story whose central truth is that of substitution. Thus, we are, once again, pointed towards Calvary. It is there, at the cross, that we see the greatest proof of God’s love for us. God so loved that He substitute...

" Lord, remember me, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." -Luke 23:42 [KJV] When Joseph had interpreted the chief butler’s dream, how pathetically does he plead with him! Think of me, when it shall be well with thee (see Genesis 40:14.) But, alas! such is the base ingratitude of man, all was in vain. When restored to his dignity at court, he thought no more of poor Joseph in prison. Exalted stations often elevate the mind above feeling for the distressed. But it is not so with the King of kings. He is ever the Friend of poor sinners. He remembers us in our low estate. Behold! for us He now hangs on the accursed tree, between two cursed sinners. One was taken, the other left. See your own state in both .  Behold the marvellous power of the Lord’s sovereign grace in one! Consider, (1st) Here is a reviler of Jesus changed into a petitioner to Him. There was no alteration in any outward circumstances. All things continued just the same. Christ hung, to all appearan...

" Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God." -I John 4:2 [KJV] “You study too much, it will kill you,” says one and another. What! the study of Christ, Who is the life, health, and joy of the soul, kill one? Precious death, to die in such sweet exercise. It is only to fall asleep in Jesus, and awake with Him in glory. I am sure, (through grace) this delightful study will kill the life of sense, the power of sin, and the delusion of Satan. Christ help us to study Him more and more. The apostle here warns us against false spirits, which are not of God. He bids us believe not every spirit, but try (- test ) them. For many false prophets are gone out under a spirit of delusion.  We are in danger of being deceived by them. Here is a fixed rule to know whether they are of God or not. (1st.) Know ye the Spirit of God. Many pretend to have received Him: to preach by His inspiration: to glory in ecsta...

" Ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." -Ephesians 4:30 [KJV] Who are thus sealed? every believer in Christ. This was shewed in the last meditation. This sealing, here and elsewhere, is spoken of as a thing done. Ye are, ye were, God hath sealed us (II Corinthians 1:22.) If all believers are not sealed, it is absurd to exhort them: “grieve not the Spirit, whereby ye are sealed.” Know, believer, that this is your inestimable privilege. Rejoice in it. Give the Lord the glory of it. O may the Spirit, the sealer, help us to make some improvement of it.  (1st.) Are all believers sealed unto the day of redemption? then is their state safe, and their salvation sure. “The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His” (II Timothy 2:19.) They shall be Mine, saith the L ORD , when I make up My jewels , etc. (Malachi 3:17.) It is horrid blasphemy to assert any soul may go to hell, whom the Spirit has sealed with the broad s...