Five Keys to Opening the Holy Scriptures

The Third Key...The Scriptures Must be Opened

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

  

It is not difficult to know when Christ is opening the scriptures to us. Our testimony will be like that of the disciples, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us...while he opened to us the scriptures?" Holy Ann, an old Irish scrub woman, could miraculously read the Bible, but nothing else. Her employer teasingly showed her a newspaper in which the word "Lord," referring to a politician, was found. When shown, she recognized the word, but said, "This 'tis not speakin' of me Lord, for me heart does not burn within me when me reads it." 

Great Bible saints, both in Old and New Testament, were fully aware of this. David, a man after God's own heart, penned, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." And Paul prayed for his converts that God would open the eyes of their understanding. We need to pray the Holy Spirit that he would apply the eyesalve spoken of in Revelation, to our eyes, when reading the scriptures, that we might see. May our request be always that of the blind man, when Jesus asked, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight." 

Open my eyes that I may see

Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;

Place in my hands the wonderful key

That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see;

Open my eyes, illumine me,

    Spirit Divine!

  

Five Keys to Opening the Holy Scriptures

The Second Key...The Scriptures Must be Believed

"...when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

Just as a stick of dynamite, the Bible lies dormant until the fuse of belief is lit. It is the power of God to everyone that believeth. The preserved Word of God, the A.V. 1611 KJV, consists of 3,566,480 letters. But all of these remain in the 'dead letter' bin until given life by the spirit of belief. It is at this time the explosion occurs: walls fall down flat; lions' mouths are closed; mountains are moved out of their place; violent storms are calmed; fiery trials are quenched; bitter waters are turned into sweet, etc.

But if God is to blow the hinges off the prison gates that hold us captive, there must first be belief in His Word! The writer of Hebrews tells us, speaking of our forefathers, "but the word...did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Satan's purpose from the beginning was to destroy all belief in the Word of God. The Psalmist plainly tells us we can "limit the Holy One of Israel," by unbelief. We are told of Jesus' ministry, "He could there do no mighty works because of their unbelief." 

My favorite New Testament story is found in John's gospel, chapter four. It illustrates what I've been attempting to get across. 

"There was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house."

"Act as though it were, and you'll experience it as it is." - rds

   

Five Keys to Opening the Holy Scriptures

The First Key...The Scriptures Must Be Read

"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. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written..."

Familiarity with a subject precedes understanding your subject. It is no wonder then that Jesus challenged the people of His day to follow His example: "Have ye not read what David did; have ye not read in the law; Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning; have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God; And have ye not read this scripture; have ye not read in the book of Moses; Have ye not read so much as this..." 

Jesus was literally saturated with the scriptures, so much so that He is refereed to as, "The Word of God." My wife can attest to the fact that my constant prayer is, "Lord, I want to be 'soaked' in the scriptures." Paul admonishes us to, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly." I fear many, if not most, professing Christians are paupers when it comes to storing up God's treasure in their "earthen vessels." A sad testimony is this: "I have nothing to set before them."

I'd like to give you, my readers, the same good advice Isaiah gave the people of his day, "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read." I doubt seriously anyone can be in the Will of God without making much of the Word of God! I want to encourage any and all who have grown weary of the Word, to read David's one-hundredth and nineteenth Psalm. I guarantee, if you're a sincere believer, you will say with darling David when finished, "O, how love I thy law! 

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

In H.A. Ironside's little book on Song of Solomon, he presents a most blessed and precious devotional teaching to this misunderstood book. He shows that the bride's shepherd lover is secretly her king, in disguise. When brought into the royal banqueting hall to be married to the king, with amazement, she finds her lover was her king all the time; they were one in the same. For the Spiritually minded I need not expound or apply this truth any further. Your heart is already leaping, I'm sure.

In my devotional time, when possible, I like to go through a book at one sitting. That way I get a hold on the book's overall teaching; but whats even more important, it gets a hold of me. Recently, as I was listening to this book being read by the golden-voiced Alexander Scourby, I was impressed with one great truth. No matter one's interpretation, there is one overriding fact, above all else. These two lovers could talk of nothing else other than each other; they were hopelessly and helplessly in love. Whenever a friend or acquaintance of one met the other for the first time, I'm sure they said, "So glad to meet you, I've heard so much about you!" 

In Job chapter twenty-six, he describes some of the mighty workings of God and ends by saying, "but how little a portion is heard of him? Some years ago a young church pianist asked what my favorite gospel song was, that he might play it that night during our revival meeting. My answer was, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." His answer, "O, I don't think I've ever heard that one." Enough said.  

The Prison Break

“Bring my soul out of prison.” There were stocks, chains, iron bars and gates, along with the guards. But God delivered His saints from their prisons. To name just a few: Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul. But there is something worse than being held physically in prison, and that is for the soul to be imprisoned.

Thank God, David tells us the Lord can deliver us spiritually as well as physically. Many of us are held in the prison house of despair. We are confined to a cell that is dark and suffocating. There is no morning light or fresh air. There are no windows or doors for any hope of escape. It holds us with its icy embrace. It’s a castle of gloom—a castle of captivity.

But there is, “good tidings.” We are told Jesus came, “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Dear ones, He can open the door of the cage that has held us for so long in captivity. Let us take the wings of faith and fly into the Heavenlies!

Fear not: the key He holds can open any door; it’s the Master Key.

Contented...Right Now?

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Our text teaches us it is possible to live a godly life and at the same time be void of a contented life. Peter writes in his second epistle that godliness can have additives. And so Paul tells us that when a Believer adds contentment to his or her godly life, it is a great gain. Contentment has to do with our present circumstances, that is, whatever surrounds us at any given time. It does not primarily have to do with the past or future. The question to continually ask ourselves is, "Am I content right now, at this very moment?"

Contentment doesn't cancel out improvement, which is an ongoing process; but we do need to be content with who we are, where we are, and what we're doing, at any given instance. If we are surrendered to God's will, we need to realize it is He that's been making us who we are, up to this present hour. And it is He who has led us to where we are, at this period of time. Also, what we are doing now in our life, He prepared the work and qualified us for it. I have found over these many years in my own life, when discontented, I can trace the cause back to not being content with God.

"My crown is called contentment; A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy". ~William Shakespeare

A Lifetime With One Bible

A note to our readers: I originally planned a series of articles on the subject of, "A Lifetime With One Bible," but decided to bring it in one, a taster, so to speak.

I have spent all my Christian life these past fifty-five years with one Bible. While others spent countless hours comparing various translations, I was burning the night oil comparing scripture with scripture. I did not come to believe the Bible I hold to be the very Words of God, preserved for the English speaking people, because I was told it. I felt from the beginning of my walk with God that if this old beloved Bible I hold in my hands, and is so dear to my heart as it was our forefathers, was in truth, the infallible Word of God, then it must of necessity stand on its own two feet (Testaments); IT MUST PROVE ITSELF, without any help from any well intentioned religious Uzzah.

I observed early on those Fundamentalist and Evangelicals who criticized the Church of Rome for saying they were the only interpreters of the scriptures were guilty, in type, of the same error. They incessantly ran to Greek and Hebrew scholars for their final authority as to what the scriptures taught. And if not that, going to the many translations to glean out of each what he or she believed to be God's pure Word; thereby privately interpreting the scriptures, which God says is a no-no. I observed each would pick and choose what he or she believed to be God's Word, the problem being, each chose a portion another would say is not in the original, which does not exist.

The following are just a few of the many things God has used to show me personally and convince me He has only One Book! Therefore making me a man of One Book.

 1. The so-called archaic word "spue" in Rev. 3:16 is interpreted in Lev. 

     18:25,27-28 as "vomit."

 2. One does not have to go to the Greek or Hebrew to find that Christ 

     means "anointed one." Compare Psa. 2:22 with Acts 4:26.  

 3. You need not go to a dictionary to find what "succour" means. Compare    
    2 Cor. 6:2 with Isa. 49:8. It means, helper.

 4. There is no need to go to the Greek to find that the word "church" 

     means "a called out assembly," (Look up Acts 7:38 and Ex. 16:3).

 5. The Greek and Hebrew authorities tell us "inspiration," referring to the 

     Word means, "God breathed." But God's final authority tells us this in 

     the English: 2 Tim. 3:16 and Psa. 33:6.

 6. As to the word "testament" meaning "covenant," just compare Heb. 

     9:19-20 with Ex. 24:8.

 7. And that difficult passage about prophecies failing in 1 Cor. 13:8 is 

     cleared up in Psa. 12:1, where you find "fail" and "cease" are used         

     interchangeably. Therefore, prophecies will fail to be, or if you 

    prefer, cease to be. 

This brief article is presented, as all my articles, to get you to think on your own, whether you agree with me or not. Please, for your own sake, think, think, think! 

Short Prayers

If "Jesus wept," is the shortest text in the Bible, most certainly, Peter's, "Lord, save me," is the shortest prayer. David prayed a similar prayer, but with five brief words added (Psl. 3:7a). In Jesus teaching on prayer we find we are not heard for our much speaking. The false prophets prayed from morning till night with no answer; Elijah's sixty-three worded prayer brought fire down from heaven. The wise man's admonition, "Let thy words be few," could be appropriately applied here. The Lord commended the Publican's five-worded prayer over the Pharisee's thirty-four.

Usually brevity is best not only in conversation and writing, but especially in prayer. Just as in writing, so in prayer, any word we can do without is better omitted. It is wise to do away with ornamental words, God is not impressed with them. As someone said, "Those who pray longest, have least to say." And A.W. Pink adds, "Long prayers are usually windy prayers." We need to tell the Lord what is in our hearts in as few words as possible. Many of us, I'm afraid, just like to hear ourselves talk. The old-fashioned phone, when we paid by the minute, helped us to keep it short and to the point.

When I returned to Ireland the second time with my wife and our two youngest children, to say the very least, it was a long, tedious, and trying journey. When we arrived at Belfast airport, we had to go through customs, and because of the "troubles," as they called them, they were very strict. When we presented our passports to the clerk, she looked at me strangely and said, "Sir, these passports expired last year; I'm sorry you'll have to return to your original point of departure, and have them renewed." I was so tired, I hadn't slept in over sixteen hours, the children and Salle were exhausted. I bowed my head and said, "Lord, change her." Immediately, I heard the approval stamp go down four times on each of the passports. Then she said, "I'll let you through this time, but get these passports renewed." Short prayers are by no means ineffective!

Let Bygones Be Bygones

The maniac of Gadara did not spend the rest of his life in the grave yard once he was forgiven. He buried his former life there in the tombs and then threw away the shovel. He never even returned to put flowers on that miserable gravesite. Evidently he knew digging up unpleasant memories of the past gives out a worse stench than when originally buried.

We should not constantly be remembering things which God said He has forgotten. I’m told most patients in mental institutions are there because of something they cannot, or will not, forget in their past. Thus, it drives them crazy. Certainly there are consequences for past sins, but never is there condemnation once we have asked for forgiveness. What God forgives He forgets!

We cannot move on with our lives still wrapped in our grave clothes. Leave them at the grave. Both Lazarus and Jesus did!

A Saint Overwhelmed...About What?!

 "Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me." The word "overwhelmed" is found only in the book of Psalms, seven times in seven verses. Both saints and sinners are referred to in the experiencing of it. In five of these seven times, David is speaking personally of his own situation.

God's child can be overwhelmed by many things: prolonged darkness in their spiritual life; firey trials, seven times hotter than they've ever known; an unexpected personal revelation of a dreaded disease, etc. But there is one unmentionable, for to discuss it one would not come across as being "spiritual."

I speak of being overwhelmed by the scriptures. All of the demands and commands seem unreasonable at times, and not only that, but unreachable. How many of us feel as Paul, "...for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." 

A characteristic of all true children of God is a longing to be sinlessly perfect, that they might not ever again grieve their blessed Lord. But in spite of this deep seated desire, the dirt remains, ingrained in our old nature, leaving us overwhelmed with guilt and grief, all our efforts seeming to fail.

But thanks be to God, "Like as a father pitieth his children,so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." David knew, in spite of God's high standards, He still gives His children elbow room, wiggle room, if you please (Psa. 119:96).

Our Lord put the bar high, knowing we'd never clear it in this life; but also knowing those who give it a try, get closer than those who give up the attempt. The Apostle tells us he would never be perfect in this life, but he would still strive and keep reaching for it.

Remember, God knows what you would do if you could do it.

Open Windows

“[Daniel] went into his house; and his windows being open...” As my dear old mentor used to say, “Daniel had religion with windows in it.” We’d say today, his life was “an open book.” Or, “He lived in a glass house.” He was not intimidated by those he knew would misrepresent his Christian character. He was secure in his God. He was not a sinless saint, but was a sterling one. What you saw was what you got. There were no skeletons in Daniel’s closet—only God.

Though some will abuse and misuse it, when they see into the secrets of our lives, God will not. When we open the windows of our souls, and we look across the way, we find God’s window open in Heaven; and His delightful smile is toward us. And we will always find it to be so when we look toward our Spiritual, Heavenly Jerusalem, rather than an earthly, carnal Babylon for help.

As Noah of old, we only need one window in our lives, if it's an upper window !

A Tug of War

For a spiritual person it is not difficult to discern and choose between right and wrong. The real tug of war comes when you have two rights before you. Either way you go would be acceptable. An example of this would be Paul’s principal that he laid down to the Corinthian believers concerning a question they had. They were inquisitive to know whether the eating of certain meats was right or wrong. His practical answer was “…for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” He goes on to tell them that as long as it doesn't infringe upon another, and does not have sin ingrained in it, they could do what they will. It was their choice. Either way God would accept them.

I find when I am in such a situation, the devil will condemn whichever way I take. That is, I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t. This tactic keeps one from peace of mind and the enjoyment of life. Satan is an expert at creating a crisis condition out of a nondescript situation. Most of our double mindedness comes from having to choose between two good things. To remain passive when you are presented with your choice of either a creamy vanilla ice cream cone, or a tantalizing milk chocolate, is to remain in a state of being neutrally miserable. Grab one or the other, and enjoy it in God’s name. And I really don’t think He would consider you double-minded if you took a dip of each.

Mistaking Your Enemy

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

It is hard to hear the truth about oneself, but many of us do not realize, it is just as difficult, (in many cases) for those who tell us the truth. As the Second World War medic told his trainees, “If you're not willing to hurt them, you can’t help them.” When those stinging, truthful, words come from the lips of loved ones, friends, and acquaintances, we need to remember the wise man's words: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

We Christians are a strange breed. We love to show our pseudo-spirituality by telling others of our unworthiness, but when someone else says the same thing to us, inwardly, we are enraged at the speaker. The sad truth is, most, if not all of us, do not believe a word we say about our condition. But by presenting this “shew of humility,” we believe people will hold us in a high position with the spiritually elite. It's important for us to be important!

Rather than deny that unwholesome man or woman we’re told we represent, we’d rather live in self-denial of him or her; and in place set up a “straw man.” But such will go up in flames at the Judgement Seat of Christ, leaving us with nothing but ashes to account for our lives lived here on earth. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, there is a well-known line that says, “To thine own self be true.” That is, be yourself; be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception. Don't put a mask on each morning.

Remember, when someone else deceives me it is without my consent; but when I deceive myself it is with my knowledgeable permission.

What Jeremiah and Paul Had in Common

God challenged Jeremiah, saying, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." And over six-hundred years later, Paul wrote, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Each of these men had two things in common: Firstly, both were shut-up, shut-in, and shut-out from any type of outward ministry. They were placed in impossible situations. And secondly, this twosome believed there was no restraint on God's part in such dire conditions, no matter how impossible it might seem!

I read a little pamphlet years by a hyper-dispensationalist, who said the only prayer promise today for the Gentile Christian, in the Church age, is Philippians 4:6-7. We are, said he, to simply make our request known to God, and not to necessarily expect an answer to our petitions. Answers to specific prayers were to the Jewish Nation alone. But this is not what Paul taught his Gentile converts. Listen to him as he enlightens and encourages believers at Rome: "Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also." 

Those early New Testament Christians would have joined us, I'm sure, in singing, "It is no secret what God can do; what He's done for others He'll do for you." Part of that faith that pleases God is believing He answers prayer, not just hears it. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." The Psalmist tells us, "Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them."

And He will us also, dear ones! For their God is our God.

Thoughts On God's Blessed Man From Psalm One

The following notes are from my recent devotional study of Psalms 1:1-3 on God's Blessed Man (or Woman). Hope they will lift you spiritually as they did, and do, me.

Introduction to the Book of Psalms. 

Psalms is the Praise and Hymn book of the Bible. Hence, Let us praise Him in song. The word Praise is found over 150 times in the 150 Psalms. It's the hymn book of the Jewish Nation; also it was used by the early Church as such (1Cor.14:26; Eph.5:19; Col.3:16.

Luther said, "It is the Little Bible";  and Jerome: "It's the Bible within the Bible."

There are 150 Psalms, 2,461 verses, and 43,743 words. (KJV)

Psalms covers a full range of emotions; therefore, there is a Psalm for every condition.

Psalm 1:1-3

(1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Comments.

  

  1. In verses 1-3 we have the second Adam depicted. In verses 4-6, the first Adam.

  2. The Man Christ Jesus is the "Blessed Man."

  3. God wants to bless our lives, but we must be blessable. (Warren Wiersbe).

  4. The man of the world walks, stands, and sits; whereas, the man of the Word sits, stands, and walks. Our stand and walk is a result of where we're seated. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We are always to begin from our sitting position! Like Mary, from a resting posture. 

  5. When Peter fell he: "followed afar off" (walketh); "stood at the fire" (standeth); "sat down among them" (sitteth). 

  6. The blessed man walks, not in the council of the ungodly, but after His (God's) commandments.

  7. David delighted being "in" the law, not "under" it.

  8. David only had the 5 books of the Law to delight in; we have 66.

  9. God's Word is his meditation, not only throughout the day, but during the night season. "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."

10. This tree by the rivers of water was not wild. It was put there by God, chosen and placed there on purpose by His good pleasure. If it's not of God's planting, it will be rooted up.

11. "Rivers," not river of water; those blessed of God are not dependent upon one source. We, like the tree roots saturated with the waters, are to be soaked in the scriptures.

12. A precious cross-reference on the power of the Word in our lives is in Job 14:7-9.

13. Isaiah speaks of the blessed man and these rivers of water. "And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land"; (See also John 7:38). Has my life gone dry? "for the rivers of waters are dried up." (Joel 1:20) 

14. Our fruit is seasonal, but our leaf is continual. God's blessed man (or woman) is an evergreen tree. You can always find shade under their leaf, no matter how hot things get. And there is never any fear it will disappear as Jonah's.

15. He may not prosper materially but he or she will always prosper spiritually; compare verse 3 with Joshua 1:8.

16. The sad conclusion for the man or woman of the world is in verse 4, "The ungodly are not so." Poor carnal souls, it just ain't so with them, says the Lord.

My prayer is that the Good Lord will bless these thoughts to your head, heart, and soul. AMEN and AMEN! (rds)

Swords in the Saint's Life

“Who through faith…escaped the edge of the sword…And others…were slain with the sword.” The latter in our text had the same faith as the former, yet, while the one escapes the pain and unpleasantries of life, the "others" endure them.

David escaped Goliath’s sword, but eighty-five of God’s innocent priests were slain with Doeg’s sword. And what of James, who was slain by the sword at Herod’s command? Yet, his dear, long-time friend, Peter, escaped the same tyrant’s blade.There is no answer to this dilemma, other than God’s individual plan for each life.

I think Matthew Henry’s statement is pertinent here. He writes, “The swords of men are held in the hand of God.” We must learn to look past the human instrument to the Sovereign Hand that controls it. This way, we can always be assured that though they might have thought it for evil, God meant it for our good.

“God, be thou exalted, and, if need be, do it at my expense.” (A.W. Tozer)

When There is No Encourager

"And David was greatly distressed...all the people was grieved...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."

Some of us born with predominately melancholy temperaments are admittedly more prone to discouragement than others. Yet this plague of the spirit touches any and all, to some degree. From the richest to the poorest, from the most intelligent to the most ignorant, from the secure to the insecure, each had his or her bouts of experiencing this dark night of the soul. If darling David, a man after God's own heart, a man of great position and wealth, had problems with it, then none of us can expect to be exempted from its disheartening presence in our lives from time to time.

There will be intervals in our earthly journey when all those around us, as in David's case, are in the valley of despair themselves, and cannot be looked to for any type of lifting up of our drooping heads. What is one to do at such trying times? I like the remedy Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones prescribes. He tells us in his book Spiritual Depression, there are times when we must simply take ourselves by the nape of the neck, shake ourselves, and give ourselves a good talking to. As my Granny used to say, "You need a good talkin' to!"

He gives David as an example at such times."Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance," (Psalms 42:5,11; 43:5). It's never hopeless if we have, "The God of all hope!" Therefore, as David, we can praise Him by faith during those times when the sun goes dark, being assured He is hidden behind the cloud. Clouds do not last, but pass in time, and the bright shining of the sun always returns.

Thank God, in heaven, every day will be a cloudless day! 

Extravagance Commended

The definition of the word extravagant is: “going beyond reasonable limits; excessive.” The disciples criticized Mary for the extravagance she showered on Christ, but our Lord commended her. Nothing is ever wasted that is done for Him. Mary didn't hold back her best; she gave one hundred percent. She kept nothing in reserve. Christ was going to give His all for her, and she felt she could do no less for Him. Mary was not commanded to give her all; she was constrained by her love for him to do so. 

One never has to be concerned with going to extremes when it has to do with Jesus Christ. You can never give too much praise, worship, adoration, and service to Him. We will always come miserably short. I am cautious with saints who are cautious about giving their all to Christ.

The transaction is not complicated; it’s childlike. It is simple and marvelous. It’s staking your all on Jesus Christ and His Word. It is risking everything on God. Or, as Oswald Chambers wrote, “Bank all your faith in Christ, and damn the consequences!”

The Night Light

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world"..."Ye (Christians) are the light of the world..."

 There is no contradiction here, no more than saying the sun is the light of the world, then adding, the moon is the light of the world. That is, until the world gets between the two, then the eclipse, and the shadow comes. We saints, like the moon, also get our light from the Son. But when we allow the world to come between us, darkness. 

An old woman had a parrot she taught to say "Good night," when putting him in his cage of a night. And to say, "Good morning," when she took him out of the cage in the morning. One night she said, "Good night, Polly," and the bird answered, "Good night." That next morning, as usual , she said, "Good morning Polly," to which the parrot answered, "Good night." Unknown to the woman, during the day sometime, the cat had clawed out the bird's eyes. There would be no more "Good mornings"; only sad "Good nights."

The god of this world will blind us with the things of this world if we are not careful. It is then that "all that are in the house" are in danger of stumbling, for the nightlight will have gone out. And not only this, but the lost without will no longer "see our good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Is it any wonder Paul challenges the saints at Philippi, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." I don't think it would hurt any of us to daily remind ourselves of this, by singing the little children's song, "This little light of mine."

In London, England, in olden times, there was a blind man who carried a lantern with him at night, whenever he went out. Someone mentioned that it didn't do him any good. He replied, "I know, but it keeps someone else from stumbling over me." 

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

"And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.”

Our scripture is just one of a score that proves both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ. The human side of Him needed rest, while His divine side rebuked the elements. Our Lord was all God, and at the same time all man. Thomas refers to Him as, “My God,” and Paul as, “The man Christ Jesus.” He was, is, and will forever be, the God-Man!

We can learn much from Jesus’ humanity. Although He was without sin, yet He was like unto us in all other points. He never apologized for His human limitations, for He understood they were part of humanity’s make-up. It was part of being identified with the human race. In spite of the Divine nature within Him, while on earth, there were certain restrictions because of His humanness.

I've mentioned on many occasions in my writings something my pastor son Andrew said to me some years ago. It brought about a great turning point in my spiritual life, and for this I’ll be forever grateful to him. His comment was, “Dad, we cannot run from our humanity.” Jesus never attempted to divorce Himself from His, yet many of us spend a lifetime trying to separate ourselves from ours.

We need to learn to give some elbow room to that human being known to each of us as “Me.” Yes, we have a divine nature that indwells us, but at the same time there is and always will be, as long as we abide in the flesh, a human nature also. And along with this, comes limitations. As our beloved Paul states, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

If the apostle understood this, you can be assured our precious Lord does. (Matt.26:41,b)