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

A ´Little´ Big Phrase in the Bible by D.G. Miles McKee " Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God , let us hold fast our profession ." - Hebrews 4:14   We so very often miss the “little big phra s es” of Scripture. We’ve just read one. It said, “ We have .” Did you notice it?  “Seeing then that  we have  a great high priest.” I’m glad that it didn’t merely say, “There is a great high priest!” No! It says instead that we have a great high priest. He is already ours!   Our High Priest is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ! He is the One Who is superior to all the high priests of the Old Testament. He is the One Who replaced all the high priests of the Old Testament. He is the One Who is seated on the throne of grace. He is the One Who is filled with love and sympathy for His blood-purchased people. He is the One Who ever lives to apply the benefits of His atonement to ...

" Behold, if the L ORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" -II Kings 7:2 [KJV] This is a daring reply to, "Thus saith the L ORD ." The word of the Lord promises, by a great plenty, instantly to relieve His people from a great famine. Doubtless, with a witty sneer, this great peer of the earth uttered this reply to Elisha, as though he had said, “Behold, ye people, do not mind what this mad fellow says; use your reason; judge of the nature of things by your senses: do you think God will make windows in heaven, to pour down corn for you? there is no other possible way for such a supply as Elisha talks of.”   Thus, with an imperious air he insults the prophet, and exalts his carnal reason and unbelief against the Lord’s word of promise. Today, he prides himself in his wisdom; to-morrow, he perishes, and is trod under foot, as an unbelieving fool. Here, see the cursed nature of carnal reason; here, behold the dreadful evil of rejecting th...

"And the L ORD shut him in." -Genesis 7:16 [KJV] It was a sweet invitation to the patriarch Noah, when the Lord called him to the ark. Jehovah did not say, Go thou into the ark; but, "Come." So saith Jesus to His people: "Come with Me, from Lebanon, My spouse; with Me, from Lebanon." Yes, precious Jesus, to be with Thee is heaven; for Thou Thyself art the heaven of the soul. But observe further, my soul: when Noah had entered the ark, what kept him there? "The L ORD shut him in."   Yes, neither bolts nor bars were his security; but God Himself, in His covenant engagements, kept him. The patriarch could no more get out, than the unbelieving carnal throng (who perhaps hung about the ark when they saw the flood arise, and felt its power) could get in. Precious Jesus! and what is it keeps Thy people now? Is it not Thyself? Are not thy redeemed eternally secure in Thee, and Thy blood and righteousness, as Noah in the ark? Yes, Thou Who ...

"I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." -Hosea 11:4 [KJV] When God draws His people near unto Himself, it is not done in a mechanical way. They are drawn, not with cords of iron, but with the cords of a man; the idea being of something feeling, human, tender, touching; not as if God laid an iron arm upon His people to drag them to His breast, whether they wished to come or not. This would not be grace nor the work of the Spirit upon the heart. God does not so act in a way of mechanical force. We therefore read, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power" (Psalm 110:3) .  He touches their heart with His gracious finger, like the band of men whom He thus inclined to follow Saul (I Samuel 10:26) ; He communicates to their soul both faith and feeling; He melts, softens, and humbles their heart by a sense of His goodness and mercy; for it is His goodness, as experimentally felt and realised, which leads to repentance. If you have e...

" Teaching us, that, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world." -Titus 2:12 [KJV] We read in Esdras of three young men, who wrote of the strength of different subjects. The first chose Wine; the second, the King; the third Women and Truth. He fully demonstrated, that truth is superior to all the charms of women and the power of a king. “As for truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore. And all the people shouted, and said, great is truth, and mighty above all things,” (I Esdras 4:38, 41.)   Surely, so it is with the truth of God’s grace. The stoutest rebels have been conquered by it: the most mighty kings have fallen before it. Whom it conquers, them it also teaches. When it has brought the heart to yield to its sovereign power, it captivates the affections by its sweet influence, and regulates the life by its salutary (- wholesome , healthful )...

"Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler." -Isaiah 16:4 [KJV] "When a man's ways please the L ORD , He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him , " (Proverbs 16:7.) Moab was the sworn foe of Israel, but yet Moab shall be overruled to shelter and feed Israel. The world, like Moab, dislikes God's people: but as God's people must sojourn in the world, until the time comes for God to take them home, they shall be taken care of. "Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab;" house them as travellers in an inn. See that they have a lodging. Let their bread be given, and their water sure. "They are poor; but they are My poor," saith our God. "They are outcasts; but they are Mine outcasts."   Oh! precious Jesus, I see Thou wilt still own Thy people. And wherefore is it, dearest Lord? Not for their worth, not for their deservings, not for their adherence to Thee;...

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:12 [KJV] The apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest saint that ever lived upon earth, had to confess that even he had not attained. There was that in Christ more than he had ever seen, ever known, ever felt, ever tasted, ever handled, ever realised. There were heights in His glory, depths in His love, in His sufferings, in His bitter agonies in the garden and on the cross, which passed all apprehension and comprehension. Therefore he says, "Not as though I had already attained." I am a child still, a learner still, as weak as ever, as helpless as ever to obtain what I want. Though I follow on; though I forget the things which are behind and reach forward to the things before; though I know what I am aiming at, what I am seeking; though my eye is single, my heart earnest, yet ...