Key Verse: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
- Ephesians 4:32 KJV
Forgiveness is one of the clearest marks of a heart transformed by grace. It does not come naturally to the flesh, which desires justice, vindication, and repayment. Yet Scripture teaches that forgiveness flows from remembering how much we ourselves have been forgiven by God.
Key Verse: "And have hope toward
God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a
resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."
- Acts 24:15 KJV
A hope of resurrection to a believer in Christ—ought to be a wonderful inspiration in the earthly life. The grave is not the end; we shall come again from it in new beauty, and shall live on forever. Not only did Christ teach that the dead shall rise again—but he himself went down into the grave and then came out again, after three days, alive! Thus he showed the reality of resurrection; one man died and rose again, and may not all? But his resurrection meant more than that. He was the head of his people, and as such—his victory was for them. He met and conquered death for them.
Key Verse: "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
- Psalm 35:27 KJV
What is "prosperity?" Is it threads of life weaved into a bright outcome? a full cup? ample riches? worldly applause? an unbroken circle? No! these are often a snare; received without gratitude; dimming the soul to its nobler destinies. Often spiritually, it rather means God taking us by the hand into the lowly Valleys of Humiliation; leading us as He did His servant Job of old; out of his sheep, oxen, camels, health, wealth, children; in order that we may be brought before Him in the dust, and say, "Blessed be His holy name!"
Key Verse: "When I was a child, I
spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things."
- 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
When I look back a few years, I recollect, that my thoughts about common things were much contracted to what they are now. "When I was a child, I thought as a child;" for though I heard surrounding sounds, and the speeches of all about me, yet they were too vast for me to comprehend; nor could I convey my ideas to them in articulate words. Yes, when I rose a little from this infantile state, I could not shake myself free of my ignorance, nor from any proper notion of the embelting oceans, opposite poles, and the earth hung upon nothing. Still I knew nothing of the heavenly bodies, of the glorious sun, splendid moon, or sparkling stars; of the beauteous rainbow, falling showers, and flashing thunders. These things, then too sublime for me to think on, are now, in some sense, both intelligible and familiar; and this arises, not from any addition of new powers—but from an increase of the faculties of my soul.
Key Verse: "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." - 1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV
Spiritual growth is making real in our daily experience what is already true for us in Christ. Our progressive sanctification is an ever putting off all that belongs to the old man, and putting on all that belongs to the new man in Christ.
Key Verse: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV
Will it add nothing to the glory of that event, and to
the happiness of that moment, when the Son of God descends, and, dissolving
the soft slumbers of the holy dead, will reanimate each with its former
occupant, that then we shall perfectly recognize those we once knew and
loved, and renew the sweet communion, before imperfect and limited, but now
complete and eternal? Dry, then, your tears, and cease to mourn, you saints
of God. They are "not lost, but gone before." Their spirits live with Jesus.
And when He comes, He will bring them with Him, and you shall see and know
them with a cloudless sight and a perfect knowledge. The very eyes which
once smiled upon you so kindly- the very tongue which spoke to you so
comfortingly- the very hands which administered to you so skillfully- the
very feet which traveled by your side so faithfully- the very bosom which
pillowed you so tenderly- you shall meet again. "The coming of the Lord
draws near," and those who "sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Let us
"comfort one another with these words."
Key Verse: "Then Jesus beholding him
loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."
- Mark 10:21 KJV
You have not the liberty of making of your own
cross; although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making. Neither are
you permitted to choose your own cross; although self-will would
gladly be lord and master. Your cross is prepared and appointed
for you by divine love—and you are cheerfully to accept it. You are to
take up the cross as your chosen portion, and not to stand caviling at it.
Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32 KJV Key Verse: " And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as ...
