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

"Fear ye not. Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD." -Exodus 14:13 [KJV] The people of God were now in a great strait, even at their wits end. Perish they must, to all human appearance. A wide ocean is before them. Inaccessible mountains surround them. An enraged monarch pursues them. Death in various shapes presents itself to them. Yet, for all this says Moses, “Fear not.” Peevish unbelief and carnal reason might suggest, What! not be afraid, when inevitable destruction must be our doom? Why will Moses talk to us after this mad, enthusiastic rate?    But in the view of apparent destruction, Moses tells them of a certain salvation, and commands them to stand still and behold it. We do not hear one word from Moses, to soothe their fears, or comfort their minds, from any considerations of what they were in themselves, what good works they had done, what terms and conditions they had performed to entitle them to the Lord’s favour, etc.    No. But ...

"And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." -Colossians 1:17 [KJV] How doth the apostle mean that Jesus is before all things? Not as God only, for then the observation would have been needless; and not as man only, for then how could all things consist by Him? What is it then, my soul? Is it not as Mediator, both God and man? And was not Christ thus set up from everlasting? Not openly revealed indeed, neither openly manifested in a body of flesh, until the fulness of time; but secretly, and in the divine counsels. What a blessed thought for the redeemed to exercise their rapturous meditations upon! And is it not this which the apostle hath said; "He is the image of the invisible God?" The image! Yes, that representation of what is in itself invisible; that identical image concerning which Jehovah when calling Adam into existence, said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." So then Adam was the first man inde...

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." -John 15:5 [KJV] Without a union with Christ, we have no spiritual existence; and we may boldly say that we no more have a spiritual being in the mind of God independent of Christ, than the branch of a tree has an independent existence out of the stem in which it grows. But you will observe, also, in this figure of the vine and the branches, how all the fruitfulness of the branch depends upon its union with the vine .  Whatever life there is in the branch, it flows out of the stem; whatever strength there is in the branch, it comes from its union with the stem; whatever foliage, whatever fruit, all come still out of its union with the stem. And this is the case, whether the branch be great or small. From the stoutest limb of a tree to the smallest twig, all are in union with the stem and all derive life and nourishment f...

Is Jesus Enough to Keep You  from Worrying? Part II  by D G Miles McKee   ” Be careful (anxious) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”   -Philippians 4:6-7  What a wonderful scripture.  It’s a pity that we often don’t apply it to ourselves.  At times, many of us can experience an epidemic of worry and anxiety.  But if you have a moment, listen to this.  The word ‘careful’ in this verse is also translated “worry.” That means we are distinctly told not to worry about anything.   The word which is translated worry comes from the Old English word ‘wyrgan’ which refers to how a wild dog or a wolf will kill or injure its prey by biting and shaking the throat. It also means to strangle. ‘ Strangle!’   That’s what worry does to our faith...

The child of God who is “keeping his heart with all diligence” will not, cannot have a joy, in intimacies with the unregenerate.  Alas, how often is the seeking or the accepting of close friendship with unbelievers the first step to open departure from Christ.   The path which the Christian is called upon to tread is indeed a narrow one, but if he attempts to widen it, or leave it for a broader road, it must be in contravention of the Word of God, and to his or her own irreparable damage and loss. -Arthur Pink , Exposition of Hebrews , p.1129

"...One mediator between God and man, the man CHRIST JESUS." -I Timothy 2:5 [KJV] O my fellow sinners, I heartily congratulate your soul and my own for this blessed truth! Lord help us to live upon it in our consciences from day to day. For it is not a speculative, but an experimental truth. It enters into the very essence of our faith, is the very life of our hope—lies at the foundation of our peace—and is the very source of every blessing and comfort.  If we are not continually looking to this ONE mediator JESUS, we lose the peace of faith, the comfort of hope, the fellowship of love, and get into perplexity of mind. Then, we do not draw nigh to God with confidence, stand before Him with boldness, nor cheerfully walk with Him in love and holiness.  Consider, (1st.) A mediator stands as a middle person, interposing between two parties at variance, to make peace and reconciliation. This, Christ hath perfectly done. He hath for ever made peace by the blood of His...

"But He answered her not a word." -Matthew 15:23 [KJV] Mark, my soul, this feature in thy Redeemer's conduct towards the poor woman that so long and so earnestly entreated him— "Jesus answered her not a word." And yet, from the close of the subject, nothing can be more evident, than that the Lord had determined, not only to grant her petition, but to throw the reins of government, concerning herself, into her hands so completely, that it should be as she would. Learn then from hence how to interpret silence at the throne upon every occasion of thine. In every dark providence, under every dispensation of grace, never forget that Jesus' love is the same . What though He answereth not a word; yet His whole heart is towards His redeemed. Whatever frowns there may be in outward things, there can be none in what concerns the real happiness of His people. Jesus may try, as in the instance of this poor woman, the graces He gives. Faith may be hard pu...