“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”

Luke 4:14-16

Though Jesus was always God during His entire earthly life, He was also human and had to learn and grow. One of the things that He learned from childhood was the importance of hearing God’s Word preached and taught, and the importance of following God’s commands regarding gathering to worship Him. Joseph and Mary set this example for Jesus in their own lives. “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover” (Luke 2:41). It is no surprise then to read that Jesus as an adult made a custom of going to the synagogue on the Sabbath. It is critically important, not only for our own sakes but also for the sake of our families, that we are faithful in gathering to worship each time we can.

Dr. John Rice wrote, “At our home as a boy we always expected to go to church. My father, my step-mother, the whole family (too many to ride in one carriage!) went to church. We went when it was cold, we went when it was hot. We went when it rained, we went when it was dry. It was rare indeed that any were so sick they could not go, and if that were true, the rest of us went to church, and just one stayed home to care for the sick. We went to church and Sunday school on time. We went to prayer meeting. I thank God for the happy memories that proved to me the sincerity of my father’s faith in God.”

“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Luke 12:29-32

Too many times people view God as if He were stingy, holding back on what He could do if He were willing. The Bible paints a very different picture. It shows us God as a loving Father who cares for His children deeply. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). The reality is that God delights in giving to His children. He gives to us, not because we are so deserving, but because it is His nature to do so.

God is generous and giving by His nature. He is not selfish or stingy. He does not dangle good things in front of us only to snatch them back. We do not have to convince Him to help us—He delights to do so. The problem is not on His end, but on ours. People are willing to do almost anything except what God has provided to get what they want. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). When we act as if God is not willing to give us what we need, we are slandering His holy name. And we are besmirching His perfect character. Instead we should joyfully claim His promises, realizing that when we ask God to provide, we are bringing Him great delight.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Acts 20:28-31

Missionary Isaac Headland told of a poor Chinese woman who came to visit his wife. “Miss Kan, I’m so tired. I’ve walked fifteen miles today because I heard that you were going to the city soon, and I have not learned the Lord’s Prayer yet.” The missionary asked the exhausted woman holding a small child in her arms, “Why did you not wait till I came back again?” The woman replied, “Who knows whether I shall be living when you come again, I want to learn it now.” Dr. Headland said the woman would not allow his wife to go to bed until she was able to recite the Lord’s Prayer from beginning to end.

One of the tragedies of the church in our day is the casual way in which we approach spiritual things. When we read of Paul trying to reach people in Ephesus for Jesus both day and night while weeping, and doing it for three years, it seems strange to us instead of normal. The only day we know for sure we have to work for God is today. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). Rather than carelessly approaching life, we need an appreciation for the urgency of the work God has called us to do.

“The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.”

Psalm 118:14-17

In May of 2019 the Journal of the American Medical Association reported on a study that has been going on since 1992. Beginning that year, and each year since, the Health and Retirement Study interviews adults in or near retirement age. By following these people from year to year, and by adding new participants to the study over time, they are able to track the factors that have the greatest impact on the lives and health of thousands of people. They summarized their key finding this way: “A growing body of literature suggests that having a strong sense of purpose in life leads to improvements in both physical and mental health and enhances overall quality of life.”

What is true in retirement is true throughout life—those who have a definite purpose and goal in life tend to lead happier, healthier lives than those who do not. Every child of God is gifted differently, and there are many avenues through which we serve Him. But no matter the role or roles we play, no matter the talents or abilities we have, and no matter what our physical limitations may be, there is one thing that every living Christian can do—praise God.

When we recognize the importance of bringing glory to God, we understand that we always have an important purpose in our lives. No matter what we can or cannot otherwise do, we can always praise Him. “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 104:33).

“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:39-42

There are so many distractions that draw us away from God. Many of them are not wrong or evil things, but rather good things that deserve some of our time and attention. The problem comes when we allow those good things to keep us from the most important thing. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). People are constantly looking for new methods and techniques of improving their spiritual lives, their finances, their families and their sanctification. Yet the answer is not in a new idea, but in practicing an old one—sit down at Jesus’ feet.

Charles Spurgeon said, “I know this, that the death of all that is sinful in me is my soul’s highest ambition, yes, and the death of all that is carnal and all that savors of the old Adam. Oh, that it would die. And where can it die but at the feet of Him who has the new life, and who by manifesting Himself in all His glory is to purge away our dross and sin?” The time that we spend with God is vital for our spiritual health and well-being. But it goes far beyond that. The time we spend with God improves every facet and relationship of life.

“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Ephesians 4:20-24

Though Ruth was born in Moab rather than Israel, she recognized the God of her new family as the true Lord of all and began worshiping him. Even after the death of her husband, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law, Ruth trusted in God. When Naomi decided to return to Israel, she urged Ruth and Orpah to stay behind, but Ruth refused. She issued this ringing declaration of her commitment: “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:17).

God saved us from sin, and calls us to become more and more like His Son. Though God provides us the power through His Spirit and the knowledge through His Word, we must do our part in the process for it to achieve its desired goal. The tentacles of past sin grow deeply in our hearts, and we must ensure that we are looking forward rather than back. If we are dwelling on what was behind, we will certainly be presented an opportunity to return to our sin. “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned” (Hebrews 11:15). Instead we must focus on Jesus and on moving forward. The sins of the past are forgiven and the power of sin to control us is broken. But we must not look back.

“And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.”

Deuteronomy 11:19–21

It is not exactly news that our society is becoming increasingly wicked. Ungodly actions that used to bring shame in our society are now openly celebrated and flaunted in front of even young children. But we must not think that our experience is unique. There have been many times throughout history when evil ran rampant. As the Israelites faced their entry into Canaan, they were going to a place where they would be surrounded by idolatry and immorality. Their children would need a strong foundation of faith if they were to follow God. The solution for families in a wicked world is to make the home a place of instruction in what God teaches. It is easy to criticize the world for being hostile to God, but we must not neglect our responsibility to pass on our faith.

Dr. John Rice wrote, “What hypocrisy it is for Christian people to indignantly blame the action of the Supreme Court about no Bible reading and no prayer in the schools when they do not have it at home! There is no law to prevent you from praying with your children. There is no law to prevent you from reading the Bible in your home and teaching your children the Bible. And it is a poor kind of escapism to blame the courts for forbidding Bible teaching in the schools, when you do not sincerely care enough about it to have it in your own home.”

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Luke 23:44–46

From the time shortly after the exodus from Egypt, God’s presence on earth was symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. It was shrouded from view, first in the tabernacle and later in the temple in Jerusalem. Only one person, the high priest, was allowed in its presence, and that was just once a year on the Day of Atonement when he took the blood of the sacrifice to the Mercy Seat. There was a thick veil some thirty feet high that hid the Holy of Holies in the Temple. But on the day Jesus died, it was ripped apart, not by human hands, but instead from the top to the bottom and the way to God was opened to us. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” (Hebrews 10:19–20)

We have such an amazing privilege of access to God. The way has been opened once and for all. And yet too often we act as if there is still a barrier preventing us from coming into His presence. The reality of the torn veil does not benefit many Christians because they do not live as if it were true. Prayer is not just for emergencies, and fellowship with God is not just for Sundays. There is a real and living God who has invited us to come before Him. And though all Heaven and earth bow before Him, we get to call Him our Father.

“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”

Luke 19:11–14

God as the creator of everything is the only rightful ruler of the entire universe. Yet since before the world was created, there has been rebellion against Him. Satan led an angelic revolt meant to replace God on the throne. Adam defied the only command he had been given to do something in direct disobedience to God’s instruction. Israel rejected God for the false idols worshiped by their neighbors. Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders of His day because they feared they would lose their privileged positions.

The world does not want God to rule over them. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:2–3). While rebellion against God by the world is still sinful, it is not shocking. But many Christians also struggle with the issue of obedience to God’s commands. Often it is not that we do not know what we should do, but that we would rather go our own way. We do not have that right, because we do not belong to ourselves. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

“But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:40–43

The two men crucified with Jesus had earned their punishment by their evil deeds, but Jesus died as an innocent sacrifice for the sins of the world. As the crowd mocked Jesus on the cross, one of the thieves joined in. But the other responded with an acknowledgment of the perfection of Jesus and His rightful role as Lord of all. This thief was forgiven. Why? Because he put his faith in Christ. But to do that, he had to first accept responsibility for what he had done. He admitted that his punishment was just and deserved.

Until we come to the point where we are willing to acknowledge that we are wrong, we cannot experience the joy of God’s forgiveness. The pattern stretches all the way back to the Garden of Eden where Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. It has continued throughout history. Aaron told Moses the fire had made the golden calf. King Saul claimed it was the people’s fault that the best livestock had been spared rather than destroyed.

The only way to forgiveness is through the blood of Christ. But after we are saved, the key to walking in the joy of that forgiveness is confession when we have sinned. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confession does not just mean to admit something. It carries the idea that we call sin the same thing God does—that we agree with Him that what we have done is wrong and accept personal responsibility for that sin. And when we do, we experience the cleansing only God can give.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13–16

When people talk about godliness, there is often a great deal of confusion about what it means. Some equate godliness with a solemn form of religious observance. Others measure godliness by conformity to an outward code of behavior. While genuine worship and righteous living are important, godliness simply means that we are living as God says. The trait which He has chosen to emphasize above all others is holiness. In his vision of Heaven, Isaiah saw specially created six-winged seraphs who sole responsibility is to continually proclaim God’s holiness. “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

Peter wrote, “in all manner of conversation,” or in other words, in every part of our lives we are supposed to be holy. There is no area of life—business, home, church, school, hobbies, entertainment or anything else—that should not be subject to God’s control. He calls us to be obedient to His Word, and that is the foundation of holiness. When our hearts are in tune with Him as they should be, we will not find it burdensome to give up the things of the world. God has nothing to do with the things of the world, and we shouldn’t either. “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12–14

The Christian life is meant to be lived with a forward focus rather than a backward one. While we should never lose our gratitude for what God has done for us in the past, that is not where He means for us to live. There are things ahead for each of us, no matter what stage of life we may be in, that God has planned for us to accomplish for His glory. There is a future to anticipate even when we reach old age. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” (Joel 2:28). These dream are not remembrances of the past but anticipation of the future.

A. W. Tozer said, “I always get an uneasy feeling when I find myself with people who have nothing to discuss but the glories of the days that are past! Why are we not willing to believe what the Bible tells us? The Christian’s great future is before him. Therefore, the whole direction of the Christian’s look should be forward. It is a fact that we should ponder soberly that so many Christians seem to have their future, already behind them! Their glory is behind them. The only future they have is their past. They are always bringing around the cold ashes of yesterday’s burned-out campfire!”

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:11–13

Because of speaking engagements, I fly on a fairly regular basis. On many of those flights, when I get to the gate there will be a list of people who are on standby, hoping to get on the plane if there is room for them. There is a marked difference in the way the passengers on standby act compared to the passengers whose tickets are already confirmed. The confirmed passengers know where they are going, and they’re not worried about whether they will get there. They are confident, sitting back and relaxed. On the other hand, often you’ll see standby passengers pacing with clear signs of stress and concern on their faces as they wonder if they will make it. There is a world of difference, and it comes down to whether one has a confirmed seat or not.

God does not want us to be in doubt or confusion regarding our salvation. This vital matter needs to be firmly settled. Many people struggle for years with doubts over whether or not they have truly been saved. It is important that we know we have been saved. Peter wrote, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). But when we know that matter has been settled, there is never any reason to doubt. Our future in Heaven is secure. We can live with confidence rather than with worry.

“But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”

Exodus 17:12–14

Joshua was tasked with leading the soldiers of Israel in battle against the Amalekites. But though the military conflict was real and intense, that is not where the real battle was taking place. Above the field of battle, Moses stood praying for victory. As long as he held the rod aloft Israel was winning, but when he grew tired, the Amalekites had the upper hand. The solution to Moses’ fatigue was for Aaron and Hur to hold up Moses’ arms until the victory was won. But after that victory, God had a very pointed instruction to Moses for Joshua—to have this story written down and repeated in the future so that it would not be forgotten.

The natural human tendency is for us to take credit for the things God has done. We want to lift up ourselves and brag about our power, but it is only in His strength that real victory comes. “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Every work that we do for God must be done in His power if it is to succeed. We do not bring victory over evil and sin by our effort or will or strength.

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

John 11:41–44

When news came to Jesus that His friend Lazarus was sick, the Lord did not respond immediately. This was not by accident, but by design. Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. When He arrived in Bethany with His disciples, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Mary and Martha were heartbroken, not understanding why Jesus had not come in time to heal their brother. Jesus insisted on being taken to the graveyard, and called Lazarus back to life. This is a wonderful picture of what happens to us when we are saved. We are dead in our sins, with no hope of saving ourselves until Jesus comes.

However, while Lazarus was once again alive, he was still wrapped tightly in the traditional fashion of the time. Strips of cloth would be wrapped around the body, with spices sprinkled between the layers. Lazarus was alive, but he was not free.

Similarly, coming to Christ for salvation does not remove the bindings of habitual sin that we have accumulated. While we now have the power of God to say “no” to sin, we activate that power by acknowledging we have it and resisting temptation as it comes. “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?... Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2, 11).

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.”

Romans 7:7–10

If you’ve ever done a home improvement project that involved painting, you know how important light is to getting the job done right. In a dim light, your paint job looks quite different than it does in the bright sunshine. It is easy to miss spots and think you have done a good job until the light shines on it. The same thing is true for cleaning. Dust hides in darkness, but the light reveals. The light does not make the dirt; it simply exposes it. And that is why people respond so negatively to having the truth of God’s Word brought to bear on their sin. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

What is true of the lost can be true of Christians as well. If we are drawing away from close fellowship with other believers and spending less time in the Bible, it is an indication that something is wrong in our hearts. If we are trying to avoid the light, there is likely some darkness in our lives that we are hoping to conceal. God does not want our sin to remain hidden, and He will send lights—whether from His Word, from other Christians or from circumstances—to expose what we are attempting to conceal from Him and from others.

“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.”

Psalm 130:1–5

During his time in the White House, critics of President Ronald Reagan were often disappointed that charges or accusations they made against him did not seem to have an impact on his popularity. During the lead up to the 1984 campaign that led to his reelection, Democratic congresswoman Pat Schroeder of Colorado referred to Reagan as “the Teflon president.” She said she got the idea while making breakfast for her children and seeing eggs slide around in a pan coated with Teflon. What was intended as a criticism was soon adopted by Reagan’s supporters as they celebrated his ability to avoid negative attacks sticking to the president.

When God saves us, He saves us both from what we have done—our sins—and from who we are—sinners by nature. And though there may be scars that remain from the past, the guilt is gone forever and cannot be added to our record again. This is a measure of God’s marvelous grace extended freely to us. “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10).

The Bible tells us that Satan is “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). But through God’s grace, our sins are completely blotted out, removed from our record forever. There is nothing Satan can say, even in true accusations for our failures and shortcomings, that can damage our standing in God’s family. That standing did not depend on us in the first place, but on the perfect holiness of Jesus Christ, which was given to us.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1–4

In March of 2019, Harry Krame returned a book to the library in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. That is an occurrence that happens every day. But Krame had checked out The Family Book of Verse by Lewis Ganet when Lyndon Johnson was president—fifty-three years before. The book had been stacked with others and stored in his basement. When Krame found the book during a cleanup, he said he felt guilty for keeping it so long. Though the fine would have amounted to some $2,000, the library waived all the fees. They plan to use the book as part of an exhibit to stress the importance of returning library books on time.

There are things in the past of all of our lives that we look back on with regret. Poor decisions, harsh words, failed efforts, and especially sin (both of omission and commission). Yet while we should not ever take sin lightly, we should also not be bound by guilt over what is in the past. Once we have confessed a sin and forsaken, and done what we can to make things right with those we have hurt, the sin is gone. God does not bring them up again, and neither should we. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

“Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.”

Psalm 81:8–11

When Jacob was at the lowest point of his life, running from Esau after Jacob stole the blessing that actually should have belonged to his older brother, he had an encounter with God. Though he undoubtedly knew about God, Jacob does not appear to have had a real relationship with Him. God introduced Himself to Jacob this way: “And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins” (Genesis 35:11).

God was telling Jacob that He was able to do whatever Jacob needed, even making a fugitive second son the father of a great nation. And He was faithful to that promise. Hundreds of years later, He moved to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. There was no human explanation or expectation for that deliverance, but God is able to do all that He has promised.

Dr. John Rice said, “God has more for us than we take. God has bigger plans for us than we make. God has more love for us than we know. God has more people for us to bless than we do. Oh, if we could know the breadth, the length, the width, the height of all things, and the love of God which passeth knowledge! He said He ‘is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.’ Can you ask something big? God has something bigger than that!”

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Acts 20:28–31

When Paul met with the elders of the church at Ephesus for the last time, it was a bittersweet moment. He had poured years of his life into this church, which had become one of the most important and influential churches in the world. The church had been built on evangelism, love, hard work, and a passion for others. But as good as it was, Paul knew the church would come under attack, both from without and from within.

It is no different in our day. The truth is still under attack, but not just from the world around us; there are some people inside of churches who spread false doctrine. There are some churches today where many people go because they like what they hear, but what they are hearing is far from the truth. There is always a temptation to make the message more accepted by removing the “rough edges.” But that path leads to destruction.

Paul did not tell the Ephesians to be popular or accepted by the world. He told them to be on guard for attacks against the truth. Maintaining a belief in the truth requires diligence, attention, and effort. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 12:1). No one remains in the truth accidentally.

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

Revelation 6:15–17

Many people in our day treat God as a punchline. They blaspheme Him and take His name in vain without scruple or remorse. If they think of God at all, it is usually as an old man with white hair sitting on a cloud. Nothing could be further from the picture painted in the Word of God. When Jesus came the first time, He came as a lowly Saviour. People came to Him gladly, finding comfort and hope. When He returns, however, His face will be set for judgment, and so frightening that people want to die rather than face Him.

A. W. Tozer said, “I am among those who believe that the judgments of God are certain. We do not know the day nor the hour. But God is indeed going to shake the earth as it has never been shaken before, and He will turn it over to the Worthy One to whom it belongs—Jesus Christ!” We do not need to worry about the final outcome of our world. It is already settled. And the day on which God’s wrath is poured out will be a tragic day for those who have rejected Him. It will also be a day of regret for us if we fail to warn those we can of this coming judgment. The world may mock, but we still have a responsibility to be faithful witnesses of the gospel.

“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Romans 4:18–21

Abraham waited for some twenty-five years for the arrival of his promised son who would fulfill God’s promise to raise up a great nation. In that time, he had no human reason to expect a son would ever come. In fact, it was physically impossible for Sarah to bear a child. Yet in that long season when there seemed to be no reason for hope, Abraham still believed. And he continued in faith until the promised child, Isaac, was finally born. Marshal Ferdinand Foch, who commanded the French army during much of World War I said, “There are no hopeless situations: there are only men who have grown hopeless about them.”

The reason we can have hope in what may seem to others to be hopeless situations is that our hope is not based on our ability, resources, knowledge, or strength. Our hope is in the Lord who faithfully keeps every promise He has made to His children. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 42:11). Any other resource we could have can be exhausted or fail, but God never does. He is not only the source of the promises we have received, but the guarantee that they will be fulfilled.

“I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.”

Psalm 17:6–9

David spent most of his early adult life on the run. King Saul was jealous of David’s popularity and favor with God, and tried to kill the man he feared would overthrow his kingdom. David went to great lengths to survive. When he talks about looking to God for shelter and protection, it is grounded in painful experience. If God had not delivered David, he would surely have perished at the hands of Saul. But God did deliver David, and He offers the same protection and shelter to His children today.

Dr. John Rice who grew up on a ranch in Texas said, “You city slickers would not know about it, but there is something especially sweet about a mother hen taking care of the little chickens. If there is just a shadow of a hawk flying over, she clucks and they run and get under Mamma’s wings. If it rains, they get under there and the rain falls on her, not on the little chickens. They’re cheep, cheep, cheep-comforted under there. Now, a Christian is to hide under His wings, under His feathers.”

Too often we try to create our own protection to shield us from the world. We trust in our financial resources, or our strength or our friends, only to find that they are unable to meet the challenges we face. Only God has the ability and resources to shield us from any attack. When we are under His wings, we are safe from any threat that may come.

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Titus 3:4-7

We live in a world in which much of life is dictated by scarcity and limits. There are only so many hours in a day, so much money in the bank, so many skills to apply to the task at hand; and as a result, there are often times when things we would like to see cannot be accomplished. It is hard for us to comprehend the meaning of God’s unlimited power, because nothing we know in this world is without limits.

Nowhere is that more clearly seen than in the matter of salvation. God provides freely what we could never obtain on our own. The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross provides salvation through grace for all those who believe. No matter how many people accept Him as Saviour, the saving grace of Jesus is never exhausted. No matter what sins a person may have committed, grace is able to cover them all. Grace abounds more than sin ever could.

God’s grace is not just extended to us at salvation, but for every part of life. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Grace is available to us for every challenge and trial and temptation we face. There is no possibility of the supply being exhausted. There is no danger of going to God for help only to find that He is no longer willing to provide for us. We have overflowing abundant grace from God.