Grace Gems for JUNE 2025

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Christ is the least expensive Physician.
He takes no fee. He desires us to bring nothing to Him but broken hearts. And when He has cured us, He desires us to bestow nothing on Him but our love.

Christ heals with more ease than any other.
Christ makes the devil go out with a word (Mark 9:25). Nay, He can cure with a look: Christ's look melted Peter into repentance; it was a healing look. If Christ does but cast a look upon the soul, He will heal it.

Christ is the most tender-hearted Physician.
He is not more full of skill than sympathy, 'He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds!' (Psalm 147:3) Every groan of the patient, goes to the heart of this Physician.

Christ never fails of success.
Christ never undertakes to heal any, but He makes a full cure.

Other physicians can only cure those who are sick, but Christ cures those who are dead!
"And you has He quickened, who were dead!" (Ephesians 2:1) Christ is a Physician for the dead! Of every one whom Christ cures it may be said, "He was dead, and is alive again!" (Luke 15:32)

Christ is the most bountiful Physician.
Other patients enrich their physicians; but here the Physician enriches the patient. Christ elevates all His patients. He not only cures them, but crowns them! (Revelation 2:10)

Christ does not only raise them from the bed, but to the throne!

He gives the sick man not only health, but also Heaven!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 37:4, "Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires."

"Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You!" Psalm 73:25

The world clamors after countless delights: riches, fame, lust, success. But the Word of God redirects the soul with this divine imperative: "Take delight in the LORD." This is not a bare command, but a gracious invitation into the very joy and satisfaction of God.

True religion is not found in cold duty or lifeless religious rituals, but in the warm, living enjoyment of God Himself. The believer is called not merely to serve the Lord, but to delight in Him. He is to find . . .
his chief joy in God's glory,
his deepest satisfaction in God's presence,
and his highest pleasure in doing God's will.
This delight is not superficial--it flows from a heart transformed by saving grace.

The natural man has no desire for God; he finds . . .
no sweetness in Christ,
no loveliness in a holy life,
no beauty in the bloody cross.

But when the Spirit of God regenerates the soul, a miracle occurs: the heart is drawn irresistibly to the Lord. The believer now sees in Him infinite worth and majesty.
His love becomes better than life.
His favor is counted more precious than gold.
His Word becomes the soul's delight,
and His will becomes the soul's aim.

The Christian's desires for God are intense, continual, and insatiable. The heart refuses to be content with anything but the living God.

It is to such a person that the promise is made: "He will give you your heart's desires." But note carefully--this is not the promise of carnal wishes being granted, but of holy desires being fulfilled. The one who delights in the Lord no longer craves the empty husks of the world. His heart's desires are shaped by God's Word and aligned with God's purposes. He desires . . .
communion with Christ,
conformity to Christ,
usefulness for Christ,
and ultimately, to be with Christ forever! These are the desires God gladly fulfills, because He Himself planted them.

The one who makes the Lord his delight, will find in Him the fountain of all true delight--unchanging, eternal, and all-satisfying.

Dear believer, fix your heart upon Christ.

And as your desires are drawn upward--He will fill them with Himself.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Psalm 42:1-2

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 31:15, "My times are in Your hands!"

What a sweet and trusting declaration from the lips of David! In the midst of trouble, betrayal, and weakness--David casts himself wholly upon his Savior-God. These are not merely words of resignation, but of restful trust in the absolute sovereignty of God.

The believer knows that . . .
his every moment,
his every event,
his every affliction,
and his every joy,
are lovingly decreed and directed by his wise and gracious Father.

Nothing is random.
Nothing is meaningless.
Nothing is outside of His control.

"My times"--not just the favorable ones, but the painful ones too!
Times of darkness and delay,
times of persecution and sorrow,
times of temptation and confusion
--they are all in His loving hands.

Whose hands?
The hands that fashioned the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth.
The hands that uphold universe by the word of His power.
The hands that were pierced for our transgressions.
The hands that . . .
gently lead His flock,
carry His lambs,
and uphold His weak ones.
Into those hands, David entrusts not only his soul, but his very moments and seasons.

This is the anchor for every storm-tossed saint--that his life is not governed by chance, nor is it at the mercy of evil men or fickle circumstances. His times are in the hands of Him who cannot err, who always acts for the good of His people and the glory of His Name.

The believer may not know what tomorrow holds--but he knows Who holds tomorrow.

He may not understand the present sorrow--but he is assured that not a moment of it is wasted, for all is measured out by unerring wisdom and infinite love.

Here is rich comfort: Nothing can touch the believer, but what first passes through the hands of his heavenly Father.

Sickness may come, but it is sent by Him who is the Great Physician.

Loss may break in, but it is ordained by Him who gives and takes away with perfect wisdom.

Delay and disappointment may shadow our path--but behind every dark cloud, is the smile of sovereign mercy.

Christian, rest your weary soul in this truth today: "My times are in Your hands!"

But in Your hands--Fatherly, faithful, and full of compassion.

Never lean on your own clouded understanding, but surrender every hour, every season, every unknown--into His wise and loving care.

The believer sees his life as a tapestry woven by divine fingers.
Though he may not see the pattern now, he trusts the Weaver.

"My times are in Your hands!"

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

What a majestic opening to the Word of God! With ten simple words, the Bible shatters every false philosophy!

Pantheism is dismissed--for God is distinct from His creation.

"In the beginning, God--this is where all true knowledge must begin. Before time, before space, before anything that is seen--there was God. He is self-existent, eternal, and independent. He needs nothing, but out of His own sovereign pleasure, He spoke the universe into being! Everything that exists--every atom, every planet, every creature--owes its existence to Him. The psalmist declares, "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth!" (Psalm 33:6)

This first verse of Scripture is foundational. If we do not believe that God created the heavens and the earth, then we will not rightly understand the rest of Scripture. Hebrews 11:3 reminds us: "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." God alone is the Creator, and the Owner, and the Sustainer, and the Ruler--of all things in His creation.

This verse also sets the tone for worship. If God is the Creator, then we are His creatures. We are not our own--we belong to Him. We are not the center of the universe--He is. We did not bring ourselves into being--we were made for His glory. "You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being!" (Revelation 4:11)

Reader! Do you live each day with this foundational truth stamped upon your heart--that God is your Maker? Do you marvel that the One who made the galaxies, also made you--and that this same God has revealed Himself in Jesus, who came to redeem fallen sinners? Let this verse remind you that the One who began it all, is the One to whom all must give account. May you live in . . .
humble reverence,
joyful obedience,
and steadfast trust,
in the God who created the heavens and the earth.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Proverbs 3:11-12, "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves!"

Knowing that each of us as sinners, deserve eternal damnation--anything better than Hell is sheer mercy! This solemn truth must settle deeply into the heart of every redeemed sinner. For if we truly understood the infinite guilt of our sin, and the unspeakable holiness of God--then we would count even the bitterest affliction as sweet, compared to what we justly deserve.

Every breath that is not drawn in Hell, is grace.

And every drop of suffering in this life, though painful, is far lighter than the cup of divine wrath which Jesus drained for us on the cross!

If we were to lie in pain for fifty years, unable to find even a moment's relief--yet had the Lord pardoned our sins and made us His redeemed people--would we not still be infinitely more blessed than we deserve? Yet God has not only spared us from Hell, but He has given us His Son, adopted us into His family, and prepared for us an eternal inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

Therefore, let us never complain under God's chastening rod, nor grow bitter in the furnace of affliction. For these light and momentary troubles are not punishments, but purifying fires. They come from a Father's hand--not to destroy us, but to refine us into the image of His beloved Son.

Therefore, as sinners deserving divine wrath, we are bound to humbly submit to the chastenings of the Lord. Let us confess that we are sinners, and that every sorrow we endure is mingled with mercy. Let us accept His chastisements with reverence--acknowledging that our worst days on earth, are still infinitely better than the Hell we've been rescued from.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him!" James 1:12

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

1 Peter 2:7, "To you who believe, He is precious!"

To the regenerate soul, Jesus Christ is the chief delight and treasure of the heart.

The world may see no beauty in Him, but to the one born of God, Jesus is altogether lovely and worthy of all of our love, honor, and adoration.

His preciousness lies first in His Person. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and yet He took upon Himself true humanity. What mystery, that He who upholds all things by the word of His power, also humbled Himself to become obedient to death--even death on a cross! Who can fathom such condescension? Who is like this glorious Mediator, who is both the Son of God and the Son of Man?

Christ is also precious in His offices.

As Prophet, He reveals the Father's will, teaching us the way of salvation with divine authority and tenderness.

As Priest, He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and ever lives to intercede for us.

As King, He rules over us with perfect righteousness and protects us from all our enemies. Each office meets our deepest need, and each one displays His surpassing worth.

Further, He is precious in His benefits. Who but Jesus can give . . .
rest to the weary,
peace to the troubled,
righteousness to the guilty,
and life to the dead?

His blood cleanses from all sin.

All the infinite treasures of grace are found in Him!

The more we grow in grace, the more Christ becomes our all. The soul cannot but long for Him, be satisfied with Him, and rejoice in Him above all things! This longing is not merely sentimental; it flows from a spiritual apprehension of His beauty through the Word and by the Spirit. This is the cry of every true Christian: "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You!" Psalm 73:25

Let us then prize Christ above all. Let us . . .
seek Him diligently,
love Him fervently,
and trust Him implicitly.

Nothing but Jesus can truly satisfy the soul of men. In life and death, time and eternity--Jesus alone is the soul's eternal portion and inheritance. O believer, cling to Him as your only treasure--for He is infinitely precious.

"Lord Jesus, open my heart more fully to see Your surpassing worth. Let the world grow dim, and let Your glory shine brighter in my heart. May I count all things loss for the sake of knowing You, and may my soul be ever ravished with Your loveliness. You are altogether precious. Amen."

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 145:3, "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom!"

God is pure Being--independent, infinite, and unchangeable. Before the mountains were born, before man was formed from the dust, before angels lifted their voices in praise--God was. He had no beginning, and He shall have no end. He exists of Himself, by Himself, and for Himself. He is the eternal I AM!

To contemplate God's nature is to approach a blazing glory that no creature can fully endure. Yet He has revealed Himself--not exhaustively, but truly--in His Word. What He makes known is sufficient to bow our hearts in reverent awe. He is spirit, not limited by body or bounds. (John 4:24) He is life itself, the fountain of all existence. He is immutable: "I the Lord do not change!" (Malachi 3:6) Nothing can add to Him, improve Him, or diminish Him. He is eternally perfect in all His being.

All of His attributes--His wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth--are not something He has, but the very essence of who He is. His justice is holy, His love is wise, His mercy is sovereign. Each attribute is harmoniously one with all the rest, perfectly united in His glorious essence.

Though we are finite and fallen, the regenerate soul delights in the nature of God. The more we see Him as He is, the more we see ourselves as we are: a mixture of dust and sin. And yet, wonder of wonders, this infinite God condescends to be known, to be worshiped, and to be loved by His creatures.

Let us then draw near with reverence and joy, remembering that to know God rightly is life eternal. (John 17:3) Let us worship Him not as a vague power, but as the living, personal, triune God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let the meditation of our hearts be guided by the unshakable truth that God is not like us--and therein lies our hope, our peace, and our everlasting delight.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17:16

What a difficult matter it is to be in the world, and yet not to be of the world! Our Lord Himself carried out this principle. He passed through the world, as one who was not of it. Oh, that we could but imitate His holy example.

It should be our whole endeavor to do all the good we can in it and for it; and yet to never imbibe its spirit, its principles, and its maxims. How can a believer walk through this world safely and securely? Only as he is upheld by a strength that is Omnipotent!

I am passing through a world lying in the wicked one.

I belong to another kingdom, which is not of this world.

Dear friend, see then, your high calling! He has called you to come out of the world and to be separate; in principle, in practice, in heart.

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19

"I have given them Your Word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world." John 17:14

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Isaiah 43:1-3
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!"

Fear often grips our hearts when we face uncertainty, suffering, and trials. But God speaks directly to His redeemed people: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you!" This is not a mere suggestion--it is a divine command grounded in His sovereign grace. He has purchased us at the highest cost--the blood of His darling Son, Jesus Christ! 1 Peter 1:18-19

Because we are ransomed, we are also called by name. This is the personal love of God toward each of His redeemed people--He knows each of us intimately, and claims us as His own. What a comfort to know that our identity is not found in our struggles, failures, or circumstances--but in the unchanging truth that we are God's redeemed children! Our trials may seem overwhelming, but they can never undo what Christ has secured for us. We belong to Him, and nothing can snatch us from His omnipotent and loving hand! John 10:28-29

The Christian life is not free from suffering, but it is never without God's presence. The Lord does not say IF you go through deep waters, but WHEN. This world is filled with trials, but the promise is sure: "I will be with you!"

Deep waters will not drown you. When trouble comes like a flood, God holds us fast. The waves may crash, but they cannot pull us from His omnipotent grip! Psalm 93:4

Rivers of difficulty will not sweep you away. Temptations, sorrows, and hardships may rise--but our foundation in Christ remains forever firm.

Fires of oppression will not consume you. Just as God preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, He will sustain us through every trial. Daniel 3:25

We do not walk alone. The sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, is our Savior. He leads us, refines us, and upholds us by His wisdom and power. Every trial, though painful, is used by God to purify our faith and deepen our dependence on Him. 1 Peter 1:6-7

You may measure the heavens with a ruler, you may weigh the mountains in scales--but the love of Christ, who shall measure that!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" Romans 8:38-39

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Isaiah 57:18, "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him."

"I have seen his ways!"

Man is as much under his Maker's eye, as the bees in a glass hive are under your eye when you stand and watch all their movements.

The eye of Jehovah never sleeps; it is never removed from a single creature that He has made. He sees man wherever he goes: in the darkness, as well as the light. He sees him through and through, so that He not only hears his words but, knows his thoughts. He does not merely behold his actions, but weighs his motives.

No stray thought of yours, no imagination, no trifle which you have quite forgotten, which indeed you never took any heed of--has escaped your heavenly Father's notice!

God has seen your ways at home, your ways abroad and your ways in the shop. He has seen the ways of your inner reasonings, the ways of your hopes, the ways of your desires, the ways of your evil lustings, the ways of your murmurings, and the ways of your pride. He has seen them all, and seen them perfectly and completely!

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives!" Jeremiah 17:9-10

"But I will heal him!"

Divine wisdom could not find anything but vices to describe the wickedness of the human heart. It is so foul a thing that He must compare it to the lewdness and filthiness of those who are given over to utter wickedness. And yet, after so describing the character, the Lord says, "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him." That is, "I have seen everything wicked in his ways, and I have perceived nothing good in them; but nevertheless, though I know all his conduct, and see the filthiness of it all--yet I will come to him, and I will heal him."

It so amazes me that God's electing love should cast its eye upon the very vilest of the vile, and then that He should say, "I have seen him. I know what he has done. I understand it all--and yet I mean to save him, and save him I will! I will bring my omnipotent love to bear on this foul, leprous, rotting, loathsome sinner--and I will make him clean, pure, and lovely!"

Oh, the marvels of sovereign grace! That the thrice-holy God would stoop to save not the religious, nor the respectable--but the vilest of the vile! Such were many of us, and yet He did not cast us off:

He drew us with cords of loving-kindness,
opened our blind eyes,
softened our stony hearts,
and washed us clean in the blood of the Lamb,
and made us trophies of His redeeming love!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword; it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

There is no book like the Bible. It is not a dead letter or a relic of the past, but the living voice of the living God. It speaks with divine authority, breathes with divine power, and works with divine precision. It does not merely inform the mind--it pierces the heart!

The above verse describes the Word of God as living and active--not stagnant, not silent, not powerless. The same Word that spoke galaxies into being, continues to speak, convict, and transform today.

Unlike the dull blade of human reasoning, the Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword. Its edge is not dulled by time, culture, or resistance. It cuts with divine skill, reaching into the deepest recesses of our being. No other voice can penetrate so deeply, discerning what no eye can see and what no man can judge--the secret thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God's Word divides soul and spirit--terms that speak of the hidden and complex depths of man. It exposes what is natural and carnal, separating it from what is spiritual and holy. It . . .
uncovers our hypocrisies,
shatters our pride,
and strips away all self-deception.
This wounding of the Word is not to destroy--it is to heal.
It convicts in order to cleanse.
It wounds that it might restore.
It rebukes to bring repentance.

We may hide from men, but we cannot hide from God's Word. When it is wielded by the Holy Spirit, it lays us bare before Him to whom we must give account.

Let us never handle the Word deceitfully, carelessly or casually. Let us not harden our hearts to its searching truths. Rather, let us come before it humbly, reverently, and prayerfully--asking the Lord to use it to search us, sift us, and sanctify us. May we ever study the Word, as a love-letter from our merciful Savior-God. May we never merely read it--but meditate on it, and be transformed by it.

"When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight!" Jeremiah 15:16

The Reformer Martin Luther, wrote these profound truths regarding God's Word:

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me.
It has feet, it runs after me.
It has hands, it lays hold of me."

"Let the man who would hear God speak, read Holy Scripture."

"The Word of God is the greatest, most necessary, and most important thing in Christendom."

"The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid."

"I have made a covenant with my God that He send me neither visions, dreams, nor even angels. I am content with this gift of the Scriptures, which teaches and supplies all that is necessary, both for this life and that which is to come."

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called . . .
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace."

In this glorious prophecy, Isaiah lifts the veil of history and gives us a glimpse of the unspeakable gift that God would send to this sinful and hopeless world: a Child born, a Son given. Yet this is no ordinary child. In His birth, He is human. In His names and essence, He is divine. Every title reveals a facet of His infinite majesty and gracious mission.

Wonderful Counselor. In a world drowning in confusion and moral blindness, Jesus comes as the infallible guide for His redeemed people. He needs no teacher, for He is wisdom incarnate. His counsel is never shallow, never mistaken, never misleading. He discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
To the weary, He gives rest.
To the broken, He gives hope.
To the perplexed, He gives direction.
Jesus is the great Counselor who can unravel all mysteries, solve all difficulties, and advise us in all dilemmas. Have you gone to Him for counsel? Have you sat at His feet and let His Word guide your steps?

Mighty God. Though born as a helpless infant, He is none other than the omnipotent One! This is the staggering mystery of the Incarnation: the Almighty nursing at the bosom of a young virgin. He is not a mere man with divine power; He is God incarnate. With a word, He calmed the storm. With a touch, He healed the sick. With His death, He crushed Satan. And with His resurrection, He conquered the grave. This Mighty God makes all things work together for the good of His people. He who hung upon the cross, was the God who made the heavens and the earth. How great is the love that made Him stoop to such humiliation!

Everlasting Father. Not in the sense of replacing God the Father, but in His paternal care for His own blood-bought people. He is fatherly in His goodness and compassion. He never abandons His people, never forgets them, and never grows weary of them. He is a faithful Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He loves His people with a Father's heart. His compassion never fails. He provides, protects, and disciplines us as a loving Father does. Do you rest in His unchanging love?

Prince of Peace. He does not merely bring peace; He is peace. At the cross, He reconciled guilty sinners to the holy God, making peace through His sin-atoning blood. Now He gives peace to the troubled heart, to the sin-burdened conscience, to the fearful soul. The world offers fleeting distractions, but Jesus gives a peace that surpasses understanding. Are you looking to Him alone for peace in your soul?

These are not mere names. They are divine realities. This is the Christ we worship: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is . . .
wise in counsel,
strong to save,
tender in care,
and perfect in peace.

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Mark 7:21-23.
"From within, out of a person's heart, come . . .
evil thoughts,
sexual immorality,
theft,
murder,
adultery,
greed,
wickedness,
deceit,
eagerness for lustful pleasure,
envy,
slander,
pride, and
foolishness.
All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God."

The heart is the chief source of defilement and impurity in God's sight. Our original sinfulness and natural inclination to evil are seldom sufficiently considered.

The wickedness of people is often attributed to . . .
bad examples,
bad company,
peculiar temptations, or
the snares of the devil.

It seems forgotten that everyone carries within him a fountain of wickedness.

We need no bad company to teach us, and no devil to tempt us, in order to run into sin. We have within us the beginning of every sin under Heaven.

We ought to remember this in the training and education of children. In all our management we must never forget that the seeds of all mischief and wickedness are in their hearts.

It is not enough to keep boys and girls at home, and shut out every outward temptation. They carry within them a heart ready for any sin, and until that heart is changed they are not 'safe' whatever we do.

When children do wrong, it is a common practice to lay all the blame on bad companions. But it is mere ignorance, blindness, and foolishness to do so. Bad companions are a great evil no doubt, and an evil to be avoided as much as possible. But no bad companion teaches a boy or girl half as much sin as their own hearts will suggest to them!

The beginning of all wickedness is within!

If parents were half as diligent in praying for their children's conversion as they are in keeping them from bad company, their children would turn out far better than they do.

"Holy and awesome is His name." Psalm 111:9

Minced oaths are usually, although not exclusively, religious in nature, and date from the days when it was irreverent and unacceptable to use the name of God, Jesus, or words pertaining to sacred matters, in everyday speech. To mince your words, means to choose words so as not to offend anyone--except for God, who sees them as blasphemy! Now-a-days most all professing Christians use minced oaths on a regular basis!

The following minced oaths, along with many others, have always been seen as sinful by our godly predecessors:
Gosh — God
Jeez — Jesus
Heck — Hell
My gosh — My God
Good grief — Good God
Darn — Damn
OMG, etc., etc.

John MacArthur:
"God's name is taken more times in vain in churches than anywhere else. The blasphemy in the sanctuary is worse than the blasphemy in the street!"

Richard Baxter:
"Do not dare to use God's name without thought, lest He remember your thoughtless sin."

"Words matter; they flow from the abundance of the heart. Beware how you let God's name pass your lips."

"The careless tongue is a sign of a careless soul; do not let it profane the holy name of God."

"To speak lightly or irreverently of God or holy things, is a sin of deep impiety!"

"To trifle with holy things, even in the slightest form--hardens the heart and grieves the Spirit of God. Take heed of speaking God's name lightly or irreverently, for God will not hold him guiltless."

Stephen Charnock:
"The holiness of God's name should cause us to tremble, not jest."

John Flavel:
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, not a playground for irreverent words."

"God's name is not to be tossed to and fro by the irreverent tongue, as if it were a common or trivial thing. The sanctity of His name calls for holy trembling and awe."

"Every syllable that breathes of God, demands our utmost respect."

Matthew Henry:
"A man who misuses God's name in his mouth, has no sincere regard for God in his heart."

Cotton Mather:
"The tongue is a mighty weapon; let it not be used to profane the name that saves us."

"Profaneness in speech is a sure token of a profane heart. To trifle with the name of God is to tread upon holy ground with defiled feet."

William Perkins:
"To trifle with the Lord's name, is to trifle with His wrath!"

"The tongue is the instrument of the heart; let it not speak flippantly of the holy name of God. Idle and vain mentions of His name, are affronts to His majesty and call down His judgment."

"Words are not without weight in the court of Heaven. Those who play with God's name in minced or altered forms, shall not escape judgment."

Edward Reynolds:
"The casual profaning of God's name is a crime against His glory, for which He will judge all."

Thomas Watson:
"God will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain; such a sin cannot escape His justice."

"Men take God's name in vain when they use it in idle discourse and vain jesting, as if it were insignificant."

"How great is the profaneness of those who so lightly toss God's sacred name off their tongues!"

"To take God's name in vain is a sin that strikes at His very being and essence."

"The Lord's name is solemn and holy; it is not to be trampled upon in idle speech."

"Men excuse their talk by saying they mean no harm, but this is to add mockery to sin."

"God's name, which is as ointment poured forth, must not be used to cover the filthiness of vain words."

"It is a great sin to take God's name in vain. This is a sin that may be committed by vain mentioning of God's name. This is a great dishonor to God, and God takes this sin seriously."

"When we speak lightly or irreverently of His name, it is a taking of His name in vain. God's name is not to be spoken without holy fear."

Samuel Willard:
"The profaning of God's name by vain talk or irreverent jesting, is a bold defiance of His sovereignty. This sin strikes at the heart of God's glory and invites His wrath."

"Every vain use of God's name is a proclamation of contempt for God's majesty."

Jesus Christ:
"I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak!" Matthew 12:36

God Almighty:
"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." Deuteronomy 5:11

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

1 Samuel 7:12, "Hitherto has the Lord helped us!"

The word "hitherto" is like a monument of grace planted in the path of every believer. It invites us to look back and remember the unbroken line of God's mercies. With Samuel, we too may raise our Ebenezer and say, "Hitherto has the Lord helped us," through . . .
every storm and every season,
in times of plenty and times of need,
through weariness and wonder,
in valleys and on mountaintops.
Not one step of our pilgrimage has been without the presence, power, and provision of our faithful God.

Pause, dear believer, and look down the corridor of your past years. See the green boughs of God's mercy arching overhead, like a living cathedral of divine goodness. Each year, each trial, each answered prayer--these are like strong pillars holding up a sacred temple of remembrance. Listen carefully, and you will hear songs in the branches--sweet songs of God's providence, love and care. The Lord has helped you. Not merely watched, not merely pitied--but helped with almighty grace and tender compassion.

Yet "hitherto" also points us forward. It implies a future still unfolding under the shadow of the Almighty. The same God who has brought us this far, will not forsake us in the next step. Yes, more trials may come, but so will more grace. More burdens, but more strength. More temptations, but more deliverances. And when at last we reach the end of our earthly path, when sickness or age weakens the body and death approaches the door, will His help fail us then? Never! For death itself is but the final threshold into glory! And beyond it lies the eternal "help" of God:
the face of Jesus,
the fellowship of the redeemed,
the joy of Heaven, and
pleasures at His right hand forevermore.

Take courage, weary pilgrim. Raise your Ebenezer in quiet worship today. Look back with gratitude, look ahead with hope. For the God who has helped you "hitherto" will surely help you to the very end, and beyond!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

The apostle Paul opens the book of Ephesians by lifting our eyes to the heavenly places that we can view our every spiritual blessing. Verses 3 through 7 of chapter one, unfold a golden chain of divine blessings, granted before time began, and stretching into everlasting glory!

BLESSED (verse 3)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms, with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

God Himself is the source of all blessing, and in Christ, He has already granted us every spiritual blessing. These are not temporal or material gifts--but eternal treasures belonging to all who are savingly "in Christ". If you want to see the 'heavenly realms' while still on earth, meditate often on your election, adoption, redemption, and forgiveness.

CHOSEN (verse 4)

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."

This sovereign act of divine love was done in eternity past. God did not choose us because we were in any way better than others--for we were all equally lost and on our way to perdition. His aim in election was that we should stand before Him holy and blameless, clothed in the righteousness of His beloved Son.

PREDESTINED (verse 5)

"In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will"

Predestination is God's gracious purpose, carried out with certainty. It is not cold fate, but loving design. We were marked out beforehand to be part of His eternal family--not as servants, but as sons! Predestination is not a hard word for the believer--it is full of comfort. The Father chose us lovingly, freely, and eternally to be His own dear children.

ADOPTED (verse 5)

"In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will"

By nature, all people are children of the devil (John 8:44). By grace, all believers are adopted into the family of God. As such, we are the objects of God's eternal love and care--cherished and secure.

REDEEMED (verse 7)

To be redeemed is to be bought with a price. That price was the precious sin-atoning blood of Jesus. We were slaves to sin, but now we are free--ransomed from the bondage of sin and Hell.

FORGIVEN (verse 7)

"In Him we have...the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."

Forgiveness is not earned; it flows from God's abundant grace. Our every sin--past, present, and future--has been laid on Christ. "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him!" (Romans 4:7-8)

Such is the believer's golden chain of divine blessings! In Christ, and by His sovereign grace--we are . . .
Blessed,
    Chosen,
      Predestined,
        Adopted,
          Redeemed,
and Forgiven!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Hebrews 3:13, " . . . that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Sin is the greatest evil in the universe. It is the parent of all other evils. All evils draw their bitterness from this fountain of wormwood and gall. If a man had every possession a mortal could desire, sin could turn every blessing into a curse. And on the other hand, if a man had nothing but suffering, but stood clear from all sin--then his afflictions, his losses, his deprivations, might each one be a gain to him. We ought not to pray so much against sickness, or trial, or even against death itself--as against sin. Satan himself cannot hurt us, except as he is armed with the poisoned arrows of sin.

Alas! We are sadly prone to sin, and evil has great influence over us. Sin never presents itself in its true colors. Like a skilled deceiver, it comes as an angel of light, promising freedom, but delivering bondage; offering pleasure, but producing pain. Sin's most deadly weapon is its power to delude the soul. It is not the roaring lion--but the subtle serpent, that we have most cause to fear!

Sin deceives in many ways:

Sin softens its name--what God calls rebellion, sin calls mistake or infirmity.

Sin minimizes consequences, whispering, "You shall not die."

Sin appeals to the affections, drawing the heart toward what seems desirable; but is in truth, destructive. Sin first fascinates--and then slays. Sin . . .
blinds the judgment,
hardens the heart,
and ultimately damns the soul.

One of sin's deadliest lies is that it is harmless in small doses. The point of the sword is small, and for that reason the more deadly! We permit "little sins," imagining them to be harmless. But little sins soon grow into great sins, and great sins damn the soul.

A single sinful thought, once indulged, makes way for a sinful act. A moment of sinful pleasure, can open the floodgates to years of regret. The hardening effect of sin is gradual--but certain. The more a man sins, the less he feels it:
his conscience grows dull,
his affections grow cold,
and his will becomes enslaved.

Sin is sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly. It is honey dipped in poison.

Sin is not to be played with. It is a fire that burns us, a venomous serpent that bites us, and a sword that kills us.

Every sin is a step towards Hell. Though the first steps may seem harmless, the descent is speedy, steep, and slippery!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions..."

What a glorious name is here given to our God! He is called "the Father of mercies" and "the God of all comfort." Not only does this reveal the tender character of God, but it opens a window into His gracious dealings with His redeemed people. He is not a distant observer of our pain, nor a cold deity unmoved by our trials. He is a Father--and not only of justice, but of mercies. He is the God--not merely of power and glory, but of all comfort.

God's comfort is not reserved for mild inconveniences or minor hurts. He comforts us in all our afflictions. There is . . .
no sorrow too deep,
no trial too complex,
no burden too heavy
for His consoling grace.

When His children pass through the furnace, it is not to destroy them, but to refine them. And in the heat of that affliction, He draws near to pour in the oil of gladness, to whisper peace, to uphold with His righteous right hand.

This comfort does not come merely in the form of changed circumstances, but through the very presence of God Himself. He comforts by giving more of Himself.
His Word revives the fainting soul,
His Spirit applies truth with power,
His providence gently overrules for our good.

Let us then bless our God--not only when the sun shines, but when the storm breaks. Let us trace every ray of comfort back to its Source: the heart of the Father of mercies. And in every sorrow, let us remember that we are not abandoned--we are being drawn closer to the God who has pledged Himself to comfort us in all our affliction.

God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be mistaken. When you cannot trace His providential hand, you can trust His fatherly and loving heart.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 16:11,
"You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand."

This is the language of one who knows his God, who has walked with Him, and who has learned that there is no joy like that which comes from the conscious nearness of God.

How great is the mercy of our God, that He has not left us to grope in darkness or stumble blindly through a world cursed by sin. Earthly joys always disappoint, decay, and die.

But in His infinite grace, He has made known to us the path of life--a path not known by the wisdom of man, nor paved by human merit, but graciously revealed through His Word and perfectly embodied in Jesus. He is the only path of life--the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Outside of Him, there is no life at all--only despair, death, and damnation.

The world offers many paths--broad paths of avarice, pleasure, and pride--but these all lead to eternal destruction. The path of life is narrow. It is marked by humility, faith, repentance, and obedience. It leads upward, against the sinful customs of the age, and can only be walked by those whose eyes have been opened by the sovereign working of the Spirit.

For those who walk this path, even though it is steep and narrow, it ends in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy. Not the hollow joys of earthly gain, or temporary relief; but deep, abiding, soul-satisfying joy--in the presence of Jesus, our precious Savior.

In Heaven, sin will be gone, sorrow will vanish, and every holy longing will be satisfied. The pleasures that await are not fleeting or shallow--they are everlasting delights; pure, perfect, and ever-increasing--poured out by the God who delights to bless His redeemed people. Oh, how glorious is our destination!

Brethren, do not envy the foolish and fleeting pleasures of the wicked. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and follow in His path with steady steps and a trusting heart. Jesus Himself is our portion, and in His presence is joy unspeakable and full of glory.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Imagine standing at a crossroads. Before you are two gates.

One gate is wide and inviting, leading to a broad, easy road filled with crowds of people.

The other gate is small and almost hidden, leading to a narrow and difficult path, traveled by only a few people.

Which would you choose?

Jesus spoke about these gates in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

1. The Wide Gate, the Broad Road, the Fatal Destiny

Our Lord's solemn warning here shatters all illusions of neutrality. Every soul is on one of two roads.

The wide gate and broad road, represent the way of the world. This path is easy, accommodating, and popular. It is a path where we can hold onto our sins, and ignore the demands of Jesus. It allows for pride, selfishness, ease, indulgence, comfort, compromise, lust, and worldliness. There are no demands to take up our cross and follow Jesus, and no requirements to swim against the tide of sinful culture. It accommodates every fleshly desire, every prideful ambition, and every worldly philosophy. There are no boundaries to restrain the lusts of the heart.

And tragically, it is crowded. "MANY enter through it." Religious hypocrites walk here. So do those who scoff at truth; and those who presume that they are saved by their infant baptism, or a passing profession of faith; and those who never pause to consider eternity.

This road may glitter with pleasures and success, but it leads to the blackness of darkness forever. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death!" (Proverbs 14:12) Hell is the dreadful destination of the broad road: a place of conscious, eternal punishment--the just wages of sin.

What a tragic paradox: a road that seems so pleasant and right, but ends so wrong!

2. The Narrow Gate, the Narrow Road, the Glorious Destiny

In contrast, Jesus beckons His hearers to strive to enter through the narrow gate, and walk on the narrow road. This path demands something radical. It calls for repentance, surrender, and unwavering allegiance to the Lord Jesus. To enter it, we must leave behind the baggage of sin, pride, and self-importance. The narrow road isn't crowded, because it's so costly. It requires us to reject the fleeting pleasures of sin and the applause of the world. To walk the narrow road means choosing holiness over compromise, obedience over convenience, and truth over comfort. It's a road marked by discipline, perseverance, and difficulty. It excludes all self-righteousness, all human merit, all worldly baggage. One must enter stripped of pride, broken in spirit, and trusting in Christ alone.

The road beyond the gate is narrow--it is the way of holiness, obedience, self-denial, and cross-bearing. It is not popular. It is not comfortable. But it is the only path that leads to life--glorious, everlasting life in the presence of God. Few find it, because few are willing to forsake all to follow Christ. Yet for those who do, there awaits an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs the afflictions of the journey.

The narrow way ends in Heaven--a place where sin is no more, where Christ is all in all, and where the redeemed shall dwell with Him forever.

Which road are you on? The end of your path is no mystery--it is plainly revealed in Scripture.

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter, and will not be able to!" Luke 13:24

Spurgeon: It will be an awful thing to have come up to the very gate of Heaven, and to have looked in, and to have seen the feast and heard the music, and then to be shut out! There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth among religious people, as well as among the openly profane! There are thousands who imagine that they are saved, who will awake in eternity to find themselves undone forever!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Psalm 119:67 71 75,
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your Word."

"I know, O LORD, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me."

Trials, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, are a great help to overcome our corruptions. The sharper the trial, the sweeter the result--when it is sanctified by the Spirit.

When trials come, they whip us home to our heavenly Father! Sheep do not stray very far when the big black dog is after them--his barkings make them run to their shepherd. In the same way, affliction is the Good Shepherd's black dog which He sends to fetch us back to Him; otherwise we would wander to our ruin. When trouble comes, it should drive us to God, just as the shipwrecked sailor is driven to the shore. If the gold knew why it was cast into the fire--it would thank the Refiner for putting it there.

Our heavenly Father loves us too much to exempt us from trials. Let us believe that His choicest love-letters are sent to us in black-edged envelopes. We are frightened at the envelope; but inside, if we know how to break the seal, we shall find riches for our souls. We draw nearest to God, in our brokenness.

There is no school like the school of trial, and the rod of affliction is the best instructor. By affliction, the Lord separates the sin which He hates, from the soul which He loves.

It is a blessed thing when the mind is brought to humbly submit to the chastisements of God, and to acquiesce in all of His providential trials. Knowing as we do, that God causes all things to work together for our good, and that we never endure a single trial more than our heavenly Father knows to be needful for us--we are bound to cheerfully submit to all that He appoints for us.

We are certain that His all-wise will, far surpasses our deficient and short-sighted desires. We realize that if we could see the end from the beginning, we would find that everything that God has chosen for us, is exactly what we would choose--if we were as wise and good as our heavenly Father is.

When we can't understand our Father's providential hand in afflicting us, we can trust His wise and loving heart in doing what is best for us. Let us always remember: "Father knows best!"

James Smith, 1802-1862, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!"

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

1 John 3:2-3, "Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him--for we shall see Him as He is!"

Let us endeavor to realize our present sonship; it will produce . . .
boldness at His throne of grace,
contrition at His cross,
confidence in His Word,
love to His person,
contentment with our lot,
victory over the world,
zeal for His glory, and
encouragement under all our trials and troubles!

We are either children of God, or enemies of God! Every child of God . . .
mourns over sin,
flies to the Savior,
and departs from iniquity!
God is now his Father.
All the promises are his.
The eternal inheritance is his.

Let us look back to the rock from whence we were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence we were dug:
How base was our origin--the dust!
How degraded was our condition--slaves of sin and Satan!
How fearful was our character--enemies to God!
How dreadful was our eternal doom--the lake which burns with brimstone and fire!

Contrast this with . . .
our present relationship--children of God;
our high standing--in heavenly places in Christ;
our glorious privilege--justified from all things;
our fixed destiny--to be forever with the Lord!

And to what is this astonishing change to be ascribed? To the love of God in Christ Jesus! "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us--that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

What a mystery of mercy is this!

But if we are UNbelievers, then we are . . .
God's enemies,
children of wrath,
under the curse,
in imminent danger!
Satan is our father!
Sin is our element!
Hell is our eternal portion!

Reader, are you a child of God? If not, then you are the child of Satan!

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Job 11:7-8,
"Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens!"

Lift your eyes to the heavens, and you will see something truly astonishing: a universe without measure! Billions of galaxies, each filled with billions of stars, stretch out across an unfathomable expanse. The sheer scale of creation defies comprehension. It is not just vast--it is infinite in every direction we look. And Scripture tells us exactly why--it is the handiwork of the infinite God.

"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit!" (Psalm 147:5). His power knows no boundaries, and neither does His creative capacity. What He has made is not only beautiful, but also boundless--designed to reflect His limitless glory. And if that is so, then who are we to say that He has not populated this vast universe with other creatures of His design--beings perhaps utterly unlike ourselves, beyond all human imagination!

The Bible is clear that God created man in His image and placed him upon the earth to display His glory. But the Bible does not say that this is all that God has done. It would not be inconsistent with His wisdom or power to form other worlds, filled with rational beings that we cannot fathom--creatures who serve Him in ways known only to Him. Their form, purpose, and nature may be entirely different from ours. Yet all would exist for the same ultimate reason: to glorify their Maker.

Such a thought does not diminish man's significance--it exalts God's magnificence. We are not the center of the universe--God is. And it is entirely fitting for an infinite God to create far more than we can see, understand, or even imagine. His works are unsearchable, and His ways are past finding out.

Let us humbly stand in awe of the greatness of God. Let us be content to marvel at what He has revealed, and to trust Him for what He has kept hidden. The infinite universe is not about us--it is about Him. And whether in earth or heaven, in this world or in others yet unknown, "the whole earth is full of His glory!"

Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!"

Isaiah 55:8-9, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways!" declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts!"

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

"And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read 'lives of Christ', beautifully and eloquently written; but the best life of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of His people.

If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, then we would be pictures of Jesus. Yes, such striking likenesses of Him, that the world would, when they once beheld us, exclaim: "He has been with Jesus; he has been taught of Him; he is like Him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and daily actions."

A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God.

Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly--that men may say of you, "He has been with Jesus!"

Imitate Jesus in His holiness.

Was He zealous? So be ever going about doing good. Let not time be wasted; it is too precious.

Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the same.

Was He devout? Be fervent in your prayers.

Had He deference to His Father's will? So submit yourselves to Him.

Was He patient? So learn to endure.

And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as He did; and let those sublime words of your Master, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," always ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Good for evil, recollect, is godlike.

Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, "He has been with Jesus!"

"And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

When a lost man dies!

Charles Spurgeon, et al.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Mark 8:36, "What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?"

When a lost man dies:
his relatives scramble for his money;
    the worms scramble for his body;
      and the demons scramble for his soul!

What a fearful and sobering picture this is! The world may dress death in velvet and flowers, but God reveals its true horror for the unregenerate soul. The instant a man without Christ breathes his last, everything he loved is torn from him. His money is left behind, becoming a point of contention and greed among his relatives. The body he once adorned and pampered, is claimed by corruption and decay. And his soul--the most precious part of his being--is cast into eternal Hell.

The world's goods, its riches, its pleasures, its pomp, its fame--what are all these without Jesus? They are a painted pageantry to go to Hell in! They are a mockery to an immortal spirit. They are like a mirage in the desert, deluding the traveler, but not yielding one substantial drop of joy.

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind!" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Yes! This poor world is a heap of chaff; the only enduring treasure is to be found in Jesus. If you neglect Him, you neglect all that is worth having.

For the lost, death is not an escape--it is the doorway to everlasting punishment. Jesus spoke more often of Hell than of Heaven, warning us with great compassion: "Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5). The man who lives for himself and dies without Jesus, does not rest in peace. He awakens to eternal torment, where hope never dawns, and mercy is no longer offered.

Dear reader, do not be deceived.
Life is short!
    Death is certain!
      Eternity is near!

A golden coffin will be a poor compensation for a damned soul!

"It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment!" (Hebrews 9:27).

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Philippians 1:21-24, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." This is the desire of a man who has been saved from sin and damnation by Jesus, and now lives only for Him. Paul's dilemma is not born of doubt, but of devotion. His heart is stretched between two holy desires: to serve Jesus on earth--or to see Jesus in Heaven.

"For to me, to live is Christ" meant that Paul viewed Jesus as his absolute Lord and Master. His life was not his own. Whether preaching in synagogues, writing letters in prison, or suffering beatings and rejection--he counted it all as "fruitful labor" for his Savior. He did not crave ease, pleasure, or honor. So long as his heart beat, it would beat for the Lord Jesus.

Yet "to die is gain." Not because Paul saw death as an escape from trouble, but because he saw death as the entrance to endless joy. Death for him was not the end of life--it was the beginning of glory. He does not speak of death with hesitation, but with longing. "To depart and be with Christ... which is better by far!" Not just better, but far better! His heart was not attached to this fleeting and disappointing world. Paul realized that on the day of his death, he would behold King Jesus in all of His beauty!

Still, Paul says, "it is more necessary for you that I remain." This is the heart of a true shepherd of souls. Though he yearned for Heaven, he willingly delays his crown for the sake of God's flock. What an example of selfless devotion.

Dear believer, are you living in Paul's dilemma? Does your heart long for Jesus above all, yet remain gladly willing to labor on for His name's sake? The Christian life is marked by a holy tension: a life fully yielded here, and a soul homesick for Heaven.

A Christian would rather die than live, if it were not that he desires to glorify Jesus by his life. Beloved, we are immortal until our work is done. And when it is done, we shall not wish to linger on earth. Let us live for Jesus, until we are with Jesus. And when the final summons comes, we too shall say, "To die is gain!"

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:1-2

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

"For who makes you to differ from another?
And what do you have, that you did not receive?"
1 Corinthians 4:7

We are all . . .
fashioned from the same mold,
hewed out of the same rock,
made as it were, of the same cloth,
the path of the scissors making the only difference between one person and another. It is therefore only the free love and grace of God, which makes all the difference between us.

No believer should ever insolently demean the unsaved, who, like miserable drudges, allow their corrupt nature to carry them to any villainy, lust, or lewd course; and who damn themselves in the devil's slavery!

Alas! our hearts should bleed within us at beholding so many around us imbruing their cruel hands in the blood of their own souls: by their ignorance, worldliness, drunkenness, lust, unbelief and scoffing at true religion.

What heart, except it be hewed out of the hardest rock, or has sucked the breasts of merciless tigers; but would yearn and weep to see a man made of the same mold with himself, willfully, as it were, against a thousand warnings, and God's many compassionate invitations--cast himself, body and soul, into the endless, easeless, and remediless miseries of Hell? We should the rather pity and pray for such a one who follows the bent of his own evil heart, to his own everlasting perdition!

It is only the free mercy, goodness, and grace of God which has made the difference between them and us. If God should give us over to the unbridled current of our corrupt nature, we might be worse than them, and run riot in this world of wickedness. If the same God visits them in mercy, they may become every way as godly, or better than us!

"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Romans 12:1-2

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God..." So begins Paul's earnest plea. He entreats us by the wondrous mercies of our wondrous God described in the previous chapters of Romans:

God's sovereign mercy. (Romans 9:15-16)

Paul's entreaty is all-encompassing: "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice." Not merely your thoughts, words, or Sundays--but your whole life. A living sacrifice means continual yielding, moment by moment; not a one time gesture, but a continuous daily surrender. Unlike Old Testament sacrifices, which were slain and offered once, we are called to crawl continually upon the altar--offering our eyes, our hands, our tongues, our feet, our time, our energy, our all.

Such surrender is described as "holy and pleasing to God." Astonishingly our imperfect obedience, when offered sincerely in Christ--is pleasing to our Father!

This sacrifice is our "reasonable service." It is not extreme or fanatical. To hold anything back from the God who gave His Son to die for our sins, is what is truly unreasonable. A life wholly given to God is the only fitting response to the cross.

Paul continues, "Do not be conformed to this world." This world seduces us to fit in, to love ease and pleasure, to seek applause, to live for self. But this poor world is passing away. To be conformed to it, is to be shaped by sin and destined for damnation. We are called to stand apart and resist being squeezed into the mold of godless culture!

Instead, we are to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds." This transformation begins with truth--God's Word saturating our thoughts. This renewed mind leads to a transformed life--a life that delights in God's will and walks in it.

"And you will prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." As we surrender to Him, we come to know by experience that His will is not a burden, but our best blessing. His will is not only perfect in design, but perfect in result.

Have you surrendered ALL to your loving Savior? Not just in speech or sentiment, but in truth? Let your devoted life be the reasonable response to His marvelous mercies. Present yourself to God--not as a partial offering, but as a living, holy, daily sacrifice. This alone is true worship.

Lord, I surrender all.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Matthew 6:11, "Give us today our daily bread."

While this applies to physical provision, it also reflects our need for continual spiritual sustenance. Just as our bodies need daily food, our souls need to feed on Jesus daily.

John 6:48, "I am the Bread of Life!"

The same Jesus who saved us, must also sustain us. We need Him as much for our continual spiritual nourishment, as we did for our initial salvation.

Spurgeon rightly said, "A living Jesus must be the food of a living Christian." Just as the physical body will waste away without food, so will the soul wither without a continual feeding on Jesus. Yesterday's grace will not sustain us today. Yesterday's strength will not triumph in today's trial. We must feast afresh on Jesus, drawing from Him all that we need for living a holy life, pleasing to Him.

The true food of the believer is Jesus as the slain Lamb. His sin-atoning sacrifice is not just the foundation of our forgiveness, but the daily food for our souls. This continual feasting on Jesus as the slain Lamb, is the secret of a healthy Christian life.

Many believers are weak and tossed about, because they are malnourished. They snack on the spiritual junk-food that is continually distributed by the shallow and lukewarm churches of our day. Neither can today's pseudo-Christian books provide any soul-nourishment. They may nibble on Scripture--but they do not provide the true Bread of Life, Jesus Himself.

Christian, do not neglect your daily Bread. Feed on the slain Lamb, and your soul shall thrive.