Key Verse: "Beloved, now are we the
sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know
that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is."
- 1 John 3:2 KJV
Think of the possibilities of man, in the light of the revealings of Christianity. You know what the Christ says of the future of everyone who believes in him—but have you ever thought deeply about it?
Key Verse: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."
- John 15:9 KJV
This is the most amazing verse in the Bible! Who can fathom the unimagined depths of that love which dwelt in the bosom of the Father from all eternity towards His Son? — and yet, here is the Savior's own measure of His love towards His people!
Key Verse: "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
- 1 John 2:6 KJV
Throughout Scripture, God highlights the lives of men who stood firm in their faith amidst adversity, temptation, and even death. These godly men serve as examples for us today. Their courage, purity, and dedication were not based on their strength, but on their unwavering trust in the Lord. Let’s reflect on five such men and what we can learn from their lives:
Key Verse: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
- Psalm 34:19 KJV
Christians, when shut up in the depths of afflictions, "when set in dark places as the dead, when hedged about that they cannot get out," have their eyes on God alone, who can bring them out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay. Then their thoughts ascend to heaven, and heaven shines down into their souls; while the world, in all its glittering vanities that strike the carnal eye, is cut off on every side. A communication is opened between God and the soul: "To this man will I look, even to him who is poor, and of a contrite spirit," a spirit broken with affliction; yes, with such he will dwell, to revive the hearts of the contrite ones.
Key Verse: "And, behold, thou shalt
be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be
performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be
fulfilled in their season."
- Luke 1:20 KJV
The gospel writer Luke described Zacharias and Elizabeth as an elderly couple, “both advanced in years,” and without children. “Elizabeth was barren.” Zechariah was a priest who married a woman of priestly descent. “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6 KJV).
Key Verse: "For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you."
- Deuteronomy 12:9 KJV
It is a richly instructive and deeply sanctifying thought- the futurity of the heavenly rest. When told that we are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord our God gives us, we are gently reminded that we have each one a niche in life to occupy, a sphere to fill, a mission to perform.
Key Verse: "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."
- 2 Corinthians 1:5 KJV
Here is a blessed proportion. The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of scales—in this side He puts His people's trials, and in that He puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty—you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition. And when the scale of trials is full—you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy. When the black clouds gather most—the light is the more brightly revealed to us. When the night lowers and the tempest is coming on—the Heavenly Captain is always closest to His crew.
Key Verse: "And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
- Romans 12:2 KJV
How shall we find the will of God acceptable? Only as we are renewed in the spirit of our mind, and are transformed and conformed to the suffering image of the sorrowing Son of God. How fearful, then, how dangerous, and yet how ensnaring is that worldly conformity which sets us in deadly opposition to that good and perfect will of God which was, and is "acceptable" to his dear Son, to all the holy angels round the throne, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to his spiritually-minded people on earth, and hateful to none but devils and carnal, ungodly men.
Key Verse: "Therefore whosoever
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man, which built his house upon a rock:"
- Matthew 7:24 KJV
Christ ended his sermon on the mount by warnings against the danger of an empty profession of religion. He first gave the warning in plain language, saying, "Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." Then he related a parable on the subject. It is the first of his parables recorded. It resembles his last parable in this point—both of them convey a dreadful warning to false professors of religion. In the parable of the talents an unprofitable servant is described, who is cast into outer darkness. (Matthew 25:30.) And in this parable a foolish builder is spoken of, who, we have reason to believe, was crushed beneath the ruins of his own house. Why did Jesus thus begin and end his series of parables with warnings against the same sin? Was it not that he knew the great danger in which we stand, of being satisfied with a mere form of godliness?
Key Verse: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV
Every believer encounters moments of failure when we fall short of God's will and feel the weight of sin. In those moments, we are faced with two paths: remorse or repentance. Though they may seem similar, scripture draws a vital distinction between them.
Key Verse: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
- John 17:15 KJV
Christ does not wish that we shall be kept from suffering—but that in our suffering, we shall not sin. He does not wish that we may never have sickness—but that in our sickness, we may not fail of patience, sweetness, and trust. He does not wish that we may have no trials or struggles—but that in our trials and struggles, we may not be overcome and our lives hurt or marred.
Key Verse: "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
- Matthew 11:30 KJV
Can the same be said of Satan — or sin? With regard to them — how faithfully true rather is the reverse, "My yoke is heavy, and my burden is grievous!" Christ's service is a happy service, the only happy one; and even when there is a cross to carry, or a yoke to bear — it is His own appointment. "My yoke." It is sent by no untried friend. No, He who puts it on His people, bore this very yoke Himself. "He carried our sorrows." How blessed this feeling of holy servitude to so kind a Master! not like "dumb, driven cattle," goaded on — but led, and led often most tenderly when the yoke and the burden are upon us. The great apostle rarely speaks of himself under any other title but one. That one he seems to make his boast. He had much whereof he might glory — he had been the instrument in saving thousands — he had spoken before kings — he had been in Caesar's palace and Caesar's presence — he had been caught up into the third heaven — but in all his letters this is his joyful prefix and superscription, "The servant (literally, the slave) of Jesus Christ!"
Key Verse: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
- Psalm 34:19 KJV
The world complains of affliction as the worst thing that can befall a man—but for my part I never shall. Were it as bad as we apprehend, how is it that from Adam to this very day, the saints have had so large a share of it? Now, among the many precious fruits of affliction, I shall only name one, and that is—earnestness and importunity with God in prayer. A gracious soul may walk with God in close communion, as Enoch, captivated with the glory of his countenance, and lifted above the world by the outlettings of his love. But as this is not the ordinary attainment of the saints in general—it is their mercy to be driven near the throne, and made earnest in their prayers. A godly man may walk in the course of pious duties—but affliction gives a sharper edge to his devotions, importunity to his petitions, and makes him draw nearer to the throne, stay longer, and cry louder.
Bible Reading: 1 John 3:1-8 KJV Key Verse: " Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but...
