Gems from June 2016

“Should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more 

than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern 

between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”  (Jonah 4:11)

There is something peculiarly touching in those last words, “And also much cattle.” Though not numbered, like the little children, the cattle had worn sackcloth along with the people, and God had seen it, (Jonah 3:8) and the God who does not let one sparrow fall to the ground without His 

knowledge, (Matthew 10:29) shows us here His tender care 

for the cattle who would have perished with their guilty owners. 

It is a grand truth that when a man is saved, all that pertains to him is under the dominion of a new master.  Pharaoh wanted Israel to leave their cattle in Egypt when they went out of that country, but the magnificent answer is, “There shall not a hoof be left behind.” (Exodus 10:26)  

That is the right way.

When you were converted, were your cattle converted, too? 

Was your business converted, and your bank account?

The little children who do not know their right hand 

from their left, are they they traveling 

the narrow way with you?  

All these were saved when the king of Nineveh and his people turned to God in repentance. That is the only right way for us to be saved also. If the little children and the cattle are not included there is something wrong.

(Lessons From Jonah the Prophet - G. Christopher Willis)

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June 1

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

(2 Corinthians 5:8)

There seems to be so much we don’t know about heaven.

What will we look like?  How old will we be?

What, exactly, will we do for all of eternity?

For all the other uncertainties, 

there is one thing we know to be absolutely sure—to 

be absent from the body is to be be present with the Lord!

All else comes into focus when we 

keep our eyes on Him. 

(L. Shatford) 

Face to face! O blissful moment! 

Face to face to see and know;

Face to face with my Redeemer,

Jesus Christ who loves me so.

(Carrie E. Breck)

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June 2

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, 

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

(Galatians 6:10) 

“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such 

sacrifices God is well pleased.”

(Hebrews 13:16)

In calling us, thus, to lives of unselfishness and of devotedness to the well-being of others,

God is not only conferring on us an inestimable privilege,

He is also placing within our reach one of the 

great secrets of true happiness.

For experience shows that the saddest of mortals is the man who lives solely for his own selfish interests and advantages.

(Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s Care - George Henderson)  

“He pours no cordial in the wounds of pain, 

Unlocks no prison and unclasps no chain;

His heart is like the rock where sun or dew 

Can rear no plant or flower of heavenly hue;

No thought of mercy there may have its birth

For helpless misery or suffering worth;

The end of all his life is paltry pelf,

And all his thoughts are centred on—himself.”

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June 3

And He Saith, “Follow Me"

“This spake He, signifying by what death He should glorify God.

And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.”

 (John 21:19)

"The cross awaits me”?  Yes, I know.  

“The night is dark”?  but He is near.

“The path is rough”?  His arm upholds.  

“I cannot see”? But I can hear,

And where He leads I follow on;

He calls me, and I may not stay;

HIs strength is mine through all the days;

His light is sown along my way.

I know not where that way shall lead;

It matters not, so He shall guide,

So only, when the tempests come, 

I feel His presence at my side.

When skies are bright above my head,

When smiling eyes with tears grow dim,

Through smiles or tears His peace is mine;

’Tis joy enough to follow Him.

O loved Redeemer, loving Lord!

I hear Thy voice; it calleth me

Through joy and grief, through toil and pain,

To rest beyond the stormy sea;

O’er mount and valley, plain and stream,

Unto the place where I would be,

Unto the heaven where Thou hast gone, 

I follow Thee—I follow Thee.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

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June 4

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be 

able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

(Ephesians 6:16)

The moment we enter upon the enjoyment of any blessing Satan will seek to rob us of it.

An unsatisfied heart is a source of danger, 

and a divided heart is the continual cause of inconsistency of walk.

On the other hand, when Christ possesses and engrosses the affections

we are superior to every temptation of the enemy.

We never enter upon any service rightly unless we expect to 

encounter the opposition of Satan.

The preacher has to learn that liberty is not power.

The temptation is to rest satisfied in speaking with ease and freedom.

Whenever this is the case it is Satan’s opportunity, and thus we ought to be on our guard.

There is nothing like boldness in the face of the adversary— 

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

(Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennett)   

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June 5

“If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;

but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

(1 Peter 4:16)

Suffering as a Christian

What is it that can turn shame into song and disgrace into glory? 

Peter tells us from his own experience – it is suffering as a Christian. He and John had been commanded "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18) and were threatened with punishment. 

As soon as they were let go they went to their own company and they prayed! 
Their prayer was brief, scriptural and powerful. 

They did not ask for the threat to be removed but that, 

in the trial that was under divine control, the Lord would 

“grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word” (Acts 4:29).

Did Peter and John back off, content that they had made their stand? 

Was the counsel of their brethren not to provoke the authorities? 

Very soon they were in prison, and boldly testifying to their captors 

“We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

They departed from the presence of the council, 

"rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).

We wonder how soon it might be, if the Lord remains away, 

that we will have to learn to pray like that. 

Liberty that we have taken for granted, and perhaps used so little, 

for the preaching of the gospel, may soon be curtailed. 

• What reaction will there be among us to saints who are arraigned in court, 

mocked in the press and jailed for preaching the Word? 

•Will we stand with them? 

To do so will be to suffer as a Christian, something that a great many of our 

brethren and sisters in other lands already know a good deal about. 

Are you – am I – ready to suffer as a Christian?

(C.L.T. - Bob Lucas)

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June 6

“I have called you friends.”

(John 15:15)

Years ago there was an old German professor whose beautiful life was a marvel to his students.  

Some of them resolved to know the secret of it; so one of their number 

hid in the study where the old professor spent his evenings.

It was late when the teacher came in.  He was very tired, but he sat down and spent an hour with his Bible.  Then he bowed his head in secret prayer; and finally closing the Book of books, 

he said,”Well, Lord Jesus, we’re  on the same old terms.”

To know Him is life’s highest attainment; and at all costs, every Christian 

should strive to be “on the same old terms with Him.”

The reality of Jesus comes as a result of secret prayer, 

and a personal study of the Bible that is devotional and sympathetic.  

Christ becomes more real to the one who persists in the cultivation of His presence.

Speak thou to Him for He heareth,

And spirit with spirit will meet!

Nearer is He than breathing,

Nearer than hands and feet.

(Maltbie D. Babcock)

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June 7

“. . . I am Jesus whom Thou persecutest . . . and he [Saul] said, 

Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” 

(Acts 9:5-6)

Where the Holy Ghost is working, one instrument is as good and efficient as seventy; and where He is not working, seventy are of no more value than one.

It all depends upon the energy of the Holy Ghost.

With Him one man can do all, endure all, sustain all.

Without Him seventy men can do nothing.

If God honour a man by giving him a great deal of work to do, let him rejoice therein, and not murmur; for if he murmur he can very speedily lose his honour.

God is at no loss for instruments.

Oh, for a heart to serve Him!

A patient, humble, self-emptied, devoted heart!

A heart ready to serve in company, ready to serve alone; a heart so filled with love to Christ that it will find its joy, its chief joy, in serving Him, let the sphere or character of service be what it may.

(Food for the Desert - prepared by James M. Black  1856-1938)

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June 8

“For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

(Romans 14:23)

If a thing is a snare to me I must give it up entirely.

Different things are snares to different people.

It is an individual thing with God.

I cannot judge what may be a snare to you.

If it is a snare, let it go.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

(Matthew 5:8)

Purity of heart is the absence of what would shut out God.

(Footprints for Pilgrims - J.N.D.)

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June 9

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

(Colossians 3:12)  

An Australian poet, Adam Lindsay Gordon, 

who was born more that a hundred years ago, wrote:

“Life is mostly froth and bubble.

Two things stand like stone:

Kindness in another’s trouble,

Courage in you own.”

Life is not mostly froth and bubble if you are living for the things that are eternal.

But it is perfectly true of the life that has not for its center, Christ.

The last three lines are entirely true.

Let us put them into our hearts and minds and live them.

(Amy Carmichael)

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June 10

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

(Genesis 1:1)

This is God’s universe and He does things His way.

You may [think you] have a better way of doing 

things, but you don’t have a universe.

(J.V. McGee)

Unfortunately more and more people these days are consumed 

with creating their own virtual reality.

It used to be called insanity.

Now it is called entertainment.

(Things to think about - J.K)

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June 11

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

(Psalm 23:1)

Psalm 23 is said to be one of the best known chapters of the Bible.

Our earnest desire is that we may not only know the chapter well, but that

we may also know the Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ in a living and personal way.

Once the question was asked in a large audience who would come forward and recite the 23rd Psalm.

A young man, well trained in public speaking, came forward. In a flawless manner, and with great emphasis, he recited the psalm. He was greatly applauded for the excellent job he had done. 

After he was finished the question was repeated and an older man came forward. All eyes were fixed on him and intently they listened while he also recited the 23rd Psalm, but with a difference.

The listeners were wiping tears from their eyes.

The moderator, who had called the two men forward,  declared that the young man knew the psalm, the older man the Shepherd. 

Only when we know the Shepherd, as the older gentleman did, 

will we be able to appreciate the abundance 

which the Shepherd provides. 

There is no need that He cannot supply.

He often leads us into unforeseen circumstances that serve Him well.

To us they prove our dependence upon Him, but for Him they serve as 

a fresh occasion to show what depth of need His love can satisfy.

Only the Lord can feed the sheep and cause them to lie down in green pastures.  What satisfaction it gives when in company with Himself we have been led to the pastures of His Word. There is also refreshing for the soul while passing through a dreary land.  One who lives in the enjoyment of this is like a tree planted by the river, whose leaves do not wither and whose fruit will not fail.

(The Lord is Near - Jake Redekop)

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June 12

G I V I N G

“. . .  freely ye have received, freely give."

(Matthew 10:8)

“I went outside to find a friend, I could not find one anywhere;

I went outside to be a friend and found friends everywhere!”

(Verse 1 - Author unknown) 

O why the difference, I now ask, my friend, it’s in the giving;

For many hearts there are in need who weary are of living.

We have a living, loving God, whose giving sent us Jesus;

Though all unworthy, yet God gave, from sin and shame to free us!

Christ gave His life that we might live, God’s gift above all others!

Be blest — receive God’s gracious gift, then share it with another.  

Blessings belong to those who give, they simply can’t be silent;

God’s great forgiveness must go forth to young and old and tyrant.

The time is short—do not delay, many dear souls are hurting;

Our saving God will meet their need, find blessing now in giving!  

(Charles H. Krause - Sept. 2014)

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June 13

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Isn’t there something in us that immediately gets stirred up when we’re spoken to harshly?

Don’t we want to “fight fire with fire?”

There is a difference between reacting and responding - and reacting is likely our first impulse.

But, as Christ followers, we have the Holy Spirit of God.

He can help us display His fruit.

Part of that fruit is gentleness and self-control.

If you grew up in an argumentative atmosphere, that can be hard to overcome, but with the Lord’s help we can.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: 

but the tongue of the wise is health” (Proverbs 12:18).

“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: 

but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3). 

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

(Lifelines - with thanks to F.P.)

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June 14

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

(Ephesians 6:13)

The armour is needed in view of the “evil day”.

In a general sense the whole period of the absence of Christ is for the believer an “evil day”.

There are, however, occasions when the enemy makes special attacks upon the people of God,

seeking to rob them of special truths. 

Such attacks constitute for the people of God an "evil day".

To meet such we need to have on the whole armour of God.

It is too late to be putting on the armour in the midst of the struggle.

We need the armour “to withstand” and “to stand”.

Having withstood in resisting the enemy’s offensive in any particular 

attack, we shall still need the armour to stand on the defensive.

When we have “done all” we still need our armour in order “to stand”.

It is often when we have gained some signal victory that we are in the greatest danger,

for it is easier to gain a point of vantage than to hold it.

The armour having been “put on” cannot with safety be put off as long as spiritual wickedness is in heavenly places and we are in the scene of Satan’s wiles. 

(Hamilton Smith)

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June 15

"God for us”.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

(Romans 8:31)

How much is wrapped up in these few words, “God for us!”

They form one of those marvellous chains of three links so frequently found in Scripture.

We have “God” linked to “us” by that precious little word “for”.

This secures everything, for time and eternity. There is not a single thing within the entire range of a creature’s necessity that is not included in the brief but comprehensive sentence. 

If God be for us, then it follows, of necessity—blessed necessity—that neither our sins, nor our iniquities, nor our guilt, nor our ruined nature, nor Satan, nor the world, nor any other creature can possibly stand in the way of our present peace and our everlasting felicity and glory.

God can dispose of all—has disposed of them, in such a way as to illustrate His own glory, and magnify His holy Name, throughout the wide universe, for ever and ever.

(The All-Sufficiency of Christ - C.H. Mackintosh)

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June 16

“And the Lord God called unto Adam and said . . . Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded that thou shouldest not eat?”

(Genesis 3:9,11)

Ever since the first atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, mankind has been plagued by the destructive force of this deadly weapon of warfare.

The concern is so great that world-wide limitations on the production and testing of nuclear weapons have been in place for years, and international watchdogs exist whose sole purpose is to blow the whistle on any country that builds anything even remotely resembling the original atom bomb.

But thousands of years before the atom bomb destroyed these two cities in Japan, Adam’s bomb unleashed a far more damaging force in the world—the power of sin.

Before the Fall, man could enjoy the paradise of God’s wonderful provision. But after Adam’s sin bomb was dropped, “sorrow” and “sweat” became necessities for sustaining life.

Before the Fall, man walked with God in the garden. But now, because of sin, death is his portion and eternal separation from God is all he has to look forward to.

The power of the first Adam’s bomb has affected every man since the Fall.

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

And man’s inability to control its destructive force results in this payment: 

“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  

But God loves His creature, man, so much that He has provided a “Last Adam” who, seeing the horrible effect of sin upon mankind, came as a “life giving spirit” and as  “the Lord from heaven” to bring victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:45-57).

If you trust Him for your salvation, you don’t have to worry about the destructive force of either the atomic bomb or the Adamic bomb, because your eternal future is secure in Jesus Christ.

(The Lord is Near - L.J. Ondrejack)

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June 17

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, 

but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable 

fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

(Hebrews 12:11)

My finger was caught on a thorn while pruning roses.

It hurt to move my hand in the direction of the thorn but it was the only way I could get free.

Life trials, whether physical or emotional, can seem unbearable at times.

There seems to be no way out, but this is where faith is forged.

Endure.

Go where God is leading, even when there is pain and hurt.

Trust Him.  He will make a way.

(Jerry Proctor)

In this world of so much suffering, may we hear Your word anew:

“I will never leave you orphaned; I will not abandon you.”

(C.W. Gillette)

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June 18

Suppositions

“Supposing Him to be in the company . . .”

(Luke 2:44)

“Supposing Him to be the gardener . . .”

(John 20:15)

They did not miss Him.  Ah, they knew it not

That He was absent, or they had forgot.

They careless thought that near them He had been,

Yet all a “three days” distance lay between!

How Mary missed Him!  Ah, she knew too well

The Lord was absent, and those weepings tell.

How deep her longing to behold the Face

Which not an angel’s brightness could replace.

They missed Him not, so He remained behind,

She missed and sought Him, and who seeks shall find.

’Tis when we’ve learned His absence, He’s revealed,

If we “suppose” Him here,  He’s still concealed.

(Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait)

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June 19

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.”

(Acts 10:38)

Only good came from the actions and words of the Lord Jesus.

His goodness demonstrated His perfect qualification

to be the sinless sacrifice for the believer.

But what of ourselves?

Has our pilgrim pathway, since we were separated by God’s grace,

always been characterized by the goodness of God reflected in us?

Cleansed, we are called to serve a Lord who is good in the fullest sense.

May God help us to do so.

(Mark Fenn)

How good is the God we adore, our faithful, unchangeable friend,

Whose love is as great as His power, and knows neither measure not end!

(Joseph Hart) 

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June 20

The Faith  Rising

“Forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

(Philippians 3:13)

In the final scene (Genesis 50:15-26) between Joseph and his brethren,

the faith of Joseph rises above all the glories of this passing 

world and looks on to a better and brighter world that is yet to come.

He thinks and speaks no more of the things that he had suffered,

the power he had wielded, or the good he may have done.

He forgets the things that are behind and reaches 

out to the the things that are before.

(Joseph - Hamilton Smith)

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June 21

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  (Romans 8:18) 

If God should never again send any trials intended to point us and others to Him, would all our sufferings cease? 

NO.

Left to ourselves, with our sinful natures unchecked,

greater harm would result. 

But as it is, He gives us only that which works for good 

and which will bring us closer to Him.

And there is something else:

If we know Him as our Lord and Saviour,

we will, at His time, go to heaven, where we will never suffer again.

(Corrie Ten Boom)

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June 22

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,

He went out, and departed into a solitary place, 

and there prayed.”

(Mark 1:35)

I Met God in the Morning

I met God in the morning, when my day was at its best

And His presence came like sunrise, like a glory in my breast.

All day long His Presence lingered; all day long He stayed with me;

And we sailed in perfecta calmness o’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered, other ships were sore distressed,

But the winds that seemed to drive them brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings, with a keen remorse of mind.

When I too had loosed the moorings with His Presence left behind. 

So I think I know the secret, learned from many a troubled way;

You must seek Him in the morning if you want Him through the day.

(Ralph Spaulding Cushman)

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June 23

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12)  

It is quite possible that the two gifts (evangelists & pastors) may exist in the same person, as in Paul’s case; but whether this be so or not, each gift has its own specific sphere and object.

The business of the evangelist is to call out the brethren;

the business of the pastor is to look after them.

The evangelist goes first, and preaches the word of the Lord;

the pastor goes again and visits those upon whom that word has taken effect.

The former calls out the sheep;  the latter feeds and takes care of them.

The order of these things is divinely beautiful.

The Lord would not gather out His sheep, and leave them to wander uncared for and unfed.

This would be wholly unlike His gracious, tender, thoughtful way.

Hence He not only imparts the gift whereby His sheep are to be called into existence,

but also that whereby they are to be fed and maintained.

(C.H. Mackintosh)

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June 24

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Faith is not occupied with faith, 

nor godliness with godliness,

nor humility with humility, 

nor spirituality with spirituality, 

nor worship with worship.

Faith is occupied with its object; 

godliness with God, 

humility with service,

spirituality with God’s interests, and 

worship with Him who is worthy.

(John Kaiser)

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June 25

“. . . this Man hath done nothing amiss.”

(Luke 23:41)

It was just as if he (the thief) had known Christ all his life.

He had a divine perception of His character.

And so with the Christian now.

Have you such jealousy about the spotlessness and glory of 

Christ that you cannot help crying out when you hear Him slighted?

He believed that He was the Lord, the Son of God, 

and so could answer with assurance for what He had been as a man.

As completely a man as any other, 

the holy obedience of Christ was divine.

“This Man hath done nothing amiss.”

What a response in the renewed heart to the delight of sinlessness!

His eye glances, as it were, over the whole life of Christ;

He could answer for Christ anywhere, because 

he has learned to know himself.

(The Man of Sorrows - J.N. Darby)

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June 26

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart.”

(Psalm 4:7)

“The glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”

(Proverbs 15:14

I had a friendly smile, I gave that smile away - 

the postman and the milkman seemed glad of it each day.

I gave my smile away as happy as could be - and every time I gave it, my smile came back to me.

It would be foolish to think that all who smile are happy.

There are “smiles” and “smiles”: - smiles self-conscious, smiles self-complacent, smiles conceited, smiles sarcastic, smiles superficial, smiles satanic, smiles cynical, smiles critical, smiles occasional, smiles habitual, smiles spiritual.

There are smiles good, smiles better, and smiles best.  Each sort has its own peculiar value.

It is the “best” sort of smile we advocate.  The “best” sort go deepest, last longest, and accomplish most good.

The best kind of smiles are not ”put on.”  They “come out” because they are “in.” They are the result of a satisfied, thankful, and glad heart. They are the exterior expression of an interior joy, which glows and grows as the days go by. 

It is the satisfied and restful heart that makes a radiant face.

When we are contended at the center, the countenance will be calmly cheerful.

When the spirit is satisfied and glad, the glory is expressed in look and touch and tone.

Christ is the secret, the source, the substance, the center,
and the circumference of all true and lasting gladness. 

(Streams in the Desert)

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June 27

“For precept must be upon precept . . . line upon line . . .

here a little and there a little.”

(Isaiah 28:10)

Several years ago my husband received
an apple tree as a Father’s Day gift.

It grew year by year and now bears abundantly,

unless hindered by a late frost.

Likewise, spiritual maturity is not an overnight occurrence.

Nutrition from the Scriptures, prayer and
learning from others contribute to growth.

When we stray from the path or rebel at hardship,

a chilling occurs and growth is stunted.

The warmth of Christian fellowship helps restore development.

May we not be a disappointment to the Keeper of the vineyard but 

keep on bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

(E. Dyck)

I would draw near to Jesus, nothing withholding from Him,

Knowing He loves to be gracious, I would draw nearer to Him.

(R. Harness)

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June 28

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16)

It may seem old-fashioned in these days to talk of souls, perishing souls, needing salvation.

But the study of John 3:16 is a motive power that accomplishes results in and through believers that all the wisdom and resources of the world cannot equal.

We may have more wealth in these days, better education, greater comfort in traveling and in our surroundings even as missionaries, but have we the spirit of urgency, 

the deep, inward convictions that move those who went before us;

have we the same passion of love, personal love for the Lord Jesus Christ?

If these are lacking, it is a loss for which nothing can compensate.

Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways and seek to please and glorify 

Him in everything, great and small.  Depend upon it,

God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies.  

(Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret)

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June 29

Prayer & Reality

“And there is none that calleth upon Thy name, 

that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee.”

(Isaiah 64:7)

Prayer is an act in which we have immediately to do with the great God, to whom we approach in prayer,  It is too sacred a duty to be performed between sleeping and waking, with a heavy eye or a drowsy heart; this God complained of: (Isaiah 64:7 quoted above).

He counts it no prayer where the heart is not stirred up and awake.

Our behaviour in prayer hath an universal influence upon all the passages of our whole life; as a man is in prayer, so he is likely to be in all the rest; if he is careless in praying, then he is negligent in hearing and loose in his walking.

Prayer is a channel, in which the stream of divine grace, blessing, and comfort, runs from God into the heart; dam up the channel and the stream is stopped.

(William Gurnall - The Christian in Complete Armour -1617-1679)

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June 30

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)

I do not care what it is you imagine you have to do in order to keep saved; whatever it is, you put yourself on legal ground if after believing on the Lord Jesus Christ you think that your salvation is made more secure by baptism, by taking the Lord’s Supper, by giving money, by joining the church. 

If you do these things in order to help save your soul, you have fallen from grace—you fail to realize that salvation is by grace alone, God’s free unmerited favour.

Someone asks, “Don’t you believe in doing those things?”

Indeed, I do; not in order to save my soul,

but out of love for Christ.  

"I would not work my soul to save, that work my Lord has done;

But I would work like any slave from love to God’s dear Son.”

(H.A. Ironside)

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