Contemplations
Do You Enjoy a Vital Union with Christ?
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6) There’s a magnificent beauty in the simplicity of nature. Consider, for example, the splendid display of...
Is Christ Lord of All to Me?
“And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:33) Christ is recognized in Scripture as a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. As Prophet, He is the very Word of God (John 6:68) and the ultimate revelation of...
Have I had a Life-Altering Vision of 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) Isaiah recounts a vision of God Almighty in chapter 6 of his book that shook him to the core: “In the year that king Uzziah died I...
Transforming Treasures Reserved for God’s Elect
“I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” (1 Timothy 5:21) In a world where many spend their life pursuing material wealth,...
Learning the Fear of the Lord
“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11) One of the best ways to understand how to properly fear God is to consider how a wise son fears a good and honorable father. A son who respectfully fears his father wants to obey...
The Marriage of the Lamb
“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7) Marriage was originally established by God in the Garden of Eden between the first man, Adam, and his helpmate Eve,...
Do You Worship God in Vain or in Truth?
“…in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9) When comparing this verse in Matthew with John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” it is clear there are two...
My One Lord
“…yet for us there is one God, the Father … and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:6) The LORD our God is One LORD,” (Deut. 6:4) and yet His nature is divinely mysterious and infinitely unique...
Christ Our Deliverer
“…Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10) Sin is an affront to God’s holiness and must justly be punished by His wrath. But in His infinite love and mercy, God offers deliverance from His wrath to all those who believe and...
Abounding in Knowledge
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” (Philippians 1:9) Wisdom is a wonderful quality to possess. The ability to discern, to see beyond the obvious, to weigh a matter thoroughly so you can make...
Justified with Christ’s Righteousness
“…who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:25) Notice how your ears perk up when you hear someone say, “I’ve got some good news!” But do you have the same response when the gospel – or “good news” – of God is...
The Foundational Nature of God’s Covenant
“But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” (2 Tim. 2:19) The foundation of a thing is critical to its integrity, strength, and longevity. In...
Growing Through Prayer
"Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan," (Psa. 55:2). Oppressed by enemies and deserted by friends, the writer of Psalm 55 cries out for help, “I mourn in my complaint.” C.F. Pfieffer said in his commentary on this passage, “In...
Reconciled to God
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.” (Colossians 1:21-22) Just how destitute is our condition...
God Sees You and Me
“For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.” (Job 34:21) Right now, this very moment, God sees you and me. While Christ has a glorified body, He is also like God the Father as an eternal spirit and as such He is infinitely and eternally...
The Omniscience of God
“And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) God sees and knows everything everywhere, for He fills both heaven and earth. He inhabits eternity – every space at every...
God’s Righteous Works
“Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.” (Daniel 9:14) The righteousness of God is not just one attribute among many; it is intricately woven...
Giving Thanks for the Family of God
“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) As Paul reflects on the salvation...
Awareness of God’s Providence
“He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:21) Instead of being concerned with making a list of resolutions, the New Year is an excellent opportunity for a...
Born of a Virgin
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) More than 700 years beforehand, Isaiah prophesied that Christ’s coming would be quite miraculous. And one of the most...
Greater Condemnation
“Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.” (Mark 12:40) One of the most sobering realities revealed in Scripture is the nature of God’s just judgment—particularly the truth that His punishment of the...
Exalting God’s Holiness in Our Holiness
“Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.” (Psalm 99:9) One of our ongoing duties as believers is the solemn responsibility of assessing whether our inner desires, outward actions, and daily conduct exalt the holiness of the...
Christ the True God
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20) The word “Trinity” may not appear in...
The Reason for Thanksgiving
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:8) The countless hosts of angels, elders, and all living creatures who inhabit heaven continually do one thing, day and night – they give thanks, honor, and...
God Draws Near a Broken Heart
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) Those who are truly contrite and broken because of sin are in a state of grace. How do we know this? Because Scripture tells us the Lord is near to them. The one who is...
Praise to the Lamb
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12) The fifth chapter of Revelation begins by describing a heavenly courtroom—God seated on His throne, holding a scroll in His right...
Which Side Are You On?
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has...
God’s Enduring Covenant of Grace
“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”(Ephesians 1:4) From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture weaves a single, unbroken thread—that of God’s enduring covenant of grace. This covenant...
Rejoicing in God
“My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:47) Picture a poor outcast, sitting outside the city gates in the sorrow and shame of an ash heap, begging for his next meal. Filthy, gaunt—a mere skeleton of a man—his hollow eyes reflect only desperation and need....
Out of the Darkness and Into the Light
“Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” (Ephesians 4:18) A full moon on a clear night is both a thing of beauty and a marvel. Recently, as my family and...
Yahweh is Salvation
“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)“Of [David’s] offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised.” (Acts 13:23) A poor, young Jewish girl in Nazareth, around the year 5 B.C., received an...
God Our Hero and Avenger
“I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 49:26) Our culture is captivated by heroes. Nearly every story, every film, centers around a figure who fights for justice, overcomes evil, and delivers the weak from harm. This is evident...
Our Filthiness for His Righteousness
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6) We desperately want to believe we are good people—that our sincerity, kindness, and best efforts count for something before God. But if we were to gather all our...
The Gift of God
“And because of Him [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30) We are accustomed to earning our way in society – we earn a living…we earn respect…we earn the trust of another…we...
King of Kings
“…who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Timothy 6:15) One of the most comforting truths in all of Scripture is that the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) has no rights to creation and no power to deceive and destroy beyond...
The Prophet Who Fulfills
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2) When we think of...
The Secret to Imitating Christ
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done…” (John 13:15) How are Christians to demonstrate Christ-likeness? Christ said in John 15:5, 8: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit,...
Christ Our Sacrifice
“Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for guilt… the will of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.” (Isaiah 53:10) One of the most effective ways to teach a new concept or principle is with a picture. It...
Forgiven
"If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." (Psalm 130:3-4) It might seem unusual that the psalmist’s response to God’s forgiveness is one of fear rather than immediate devotion,...
Amazing Faith
“When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, ‘I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’” (Luke 7:9) Faith in Christ is the foundation of our hope, the assurance of our...
By His Stripes
“…for I am the LORD, your healer.” (Exodus 15:26) You and I suffer from a fatal disease—one we inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve. We were born under the curse of the law, guilty before a holy God, separated from Christ, and utterly without hope (Eph....
From Life to Death … and Back to Life
"And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death." (Romans 7:10) The Law of God is a reflection of His virtue, goodness, and holiness. When He gave it, it was designed to bring life. Adam, created in holiness, was given a commandment of...
Watch Your Heart
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Like a fresh, pure spring brings life to all who drink from it, a heart that is pure before God produces godly attitudes and actions. But if that spring is polluted, if it is...
Christ Our Example
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) Paul’s statement to the Corinthian believers is bold, yet entirely humble. He does not present himself as the ultimate standard, but as one who follows the ultimate standard—Christ Himself. He...
Imitating Our Father
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) A good father is a treasure to his children. He protects, provides, instructs, and loves them, guiding them in truth and wisdom. And what child, blessed with such a father, does not desire to...
Alive in Christ
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22) It was a dark and dreadful day when Satan, taking the form of a serpent, entered the Garden of Eden and deceived Eve into doubting the goodness of her Creator. Adam, following...
The Perfect Word of God
"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7) Because God desires to be known by His people, He has revealed Himself through the holy Scriptures—His perfect and immutable Word. When we hear...
The Good Law of God
"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully." (1 Timothy 1:8) Weak Christians, as well as those who wish to appear Christian without having a true relationship with God, often misuse Scripture to excuse their sin. Romans 6:14 is one such passage...
Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) It would be unthinkable to approach an earthly king without first ensuring that we are properly attired and in a presentable state. Yet, how often do we presume to enter the presence of the King of...
Looking to the God of 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) At the outset of Isaiah’s ministry, he was granted a vision of God in all His majesty, seated upon His throne, surrounded by seraphim...
Holiness Matters to God
"Her priests have violated my law and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among...
God is Our Shield
"Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto those that put their trust in Him." (Proverbs 30:5) God’s people have always been strangers in a hostile land, yet the enemy cannot destroy us because God Himself is our shield (Psalm 28:7). He is our refuge and...
What It Means to Walk with God
"Enoch walked with God..." (Genesis 5:24) English clergyman Robert Bolton called walking with God “the crown of the Christian’s character.” This pattern of life can be observed in Scripture in men like Adam before the fall (Genesis 3:8), Enoch (Genesis 5:22), Noah...
Grace to Grow in Grace
"So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:7 NASB) Have you ever considered how you receive grace daily or how you grow in grace as Peter exhorts us to do in 2 Peter 3:18? Grace is a divine...