Dear Ones: Charles Wesley wrote a tremendous hymn about soldiering entitled “Soldiers of Christ, Arise.” In the first stanza he writes: “…Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armor on.” Now, what happens to a soldier who does not put his armor on, nor take his weapons in hand? In all likelihood, in facing his…
Dear Ones: I am sure that you have heard the expression, “…(he) has won his spurs.” In part, the phrase means that the individual has experienced, and accomplished, his personal victory. We do not know the age of Samson when he met the lion. What we do know is that a young lion roared against…
Dear Ones: To each his calling…for such a time as this. Such was the case of Noah. We know the story of how the heart of man “evolved” to the point where “… every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) What a testimony to the fallen nature of…
Dear Ones: What comes to mind when one thinks of a flood? For me, it is the matter of being “overwhelmed.” It speaks of the destructive power, and authority, of water, to break into, down, and reduce to nothing. But what about “stemming the flood?” What comes to mind? Impossibility? Powerless? Helplessness? If we were…
Dear Ones: Even friends can be the source of suffering and hurt. Such was the case with Job’s friends. They seem to be earnest in their apparent identification with Job in his suffering, but their portrayal of God to Job, at a time of great anguish, just put “salt in the wounds,” and did nothing…
Dear Ones: Among the most extraordinary statements that we have in the Apostle Paul’s writings is this one: “…when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, who called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach him…”(Gal. 1:16) From the very moment that Christ revealed Himself…
Dear Ones: One thing about the Bible that is so unique…it is timeless, and time-expansive. Indeed, it reveals to us the eternal existence of God, His unchanging character, and his immutable objectives which are realized in HIS time and in HIS way. The partial history of a tract of land between the towns of Ai…
Dear Ones: In our relationship with Christ, where does assurance, confidence, come from? When the Bible speaks of “…full assurance of faith,” does this not seem to be an unattainable attitude? Assurance is one thing, “full assurance” is another. To answer this matter, as it is very important, especially when it comes to praying in…
Dear Ones: To be such a small word, “IF” carries with it great significance. It seems to be a substitute for that which is conditional, or the certification of a promise. For example, “IF you believe this, then THIS will occur.” This is the conditional use. But if we say, as Elijah said, “IF I…
Dear Ones: We are all apt to think that the calling of God is to a work, mission, or occupation. These are outward aspects of the calling. The unchanging, undiminished calling of God is for us to fellowship with the Father and the Son, by the Spirit. John, in his first letter, writes: “That which…