Men who hope to be accepted in their own way, will find, like Nadab and Abihu, that strange fire in the censer evokes wrath and not favour. There is much self-invented service in our day, as there was in after times in Israel, and usually the invented service displaces that which has been required. God’s… Read More Today’s thought “Offering strange fire” (March 22)
Although all natural evolutions are not of God, some may be so that apparently present no features to distinguish them from natural occurrences in general. This double fact has the double effect of restraining presumption and encouraging faith towards God. We may not as a matter of natural discrimination be able with certainty to distinguish… Read More Today’s thought “Deliver us from evil” (March 20)
The maintenance of Christ during his mortal life illustrates the same principle. He was not allowed to use the miraculous power bestowed upon him, for the provision of his personal wants, though he fed a crowd of 5,000 persons with a few loaves and fishes. Yet he had to live. He was a poor man.… Read More Today’s thought “God’s providence towards Jesus” (March 17)
The combined effect of all these sacrificial provisions of the law, is, to give ground of hope to all men who fear God and submit to His appointments. They may be erring and shortcoming, and a trouble to themselves because of their many imperfections; but if they are “humble and contrite of heart”, and make… Read More Today’s thought “The forgiveness of God” (March 15)
Man can make beautiful things: but his productions fail to satisfy as Nature satisfies: their beauty is petty, limited and superficial. Nature’s beauty is thorough and inimitable, whether it be the structure of a flake of snow, the organisation of a plant or meanest insect under the microscope, or the stupendous revolutions of the starry… Read More Today’s thought “True from the beginning” (March 12)
Is it not the essential condition of even human friendship that enlightenment should be a thing of normal habit? But enlightenment is not native: darkness is. Enlightenment to be attained or retained must be kindled by external appliance, and there must be renewal. Light the lamp and leave it, and it will become dark again.… Read More Today’s thought “The light of life” (March 11)
To rectify a man’s actions you must affect the springs from which they come. Sorrow will be useful to him if it set him on the right way to do this. There is but one right way. It is indicated in those well-known words of Psalm 119: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?… Read More Today’s thought “According to the word” (March 09)
Not only a leper, but any man having a running issue out of his flesh, was to be regarded as unclean till he was cured – unclean in himself and defiling to others (Leviticus 15). All contact with him in any way was forbidden. Everything he used or touched was to be considered as defiling,… Read More Today’s thought “The law of leprosy” (March 08)
There is ample field for every liberal soul who may conceive liberal things in the service of God. By liberal things he shall stand. There are not many to whom liberality occurs in this direction. But the celestial phenomenon is not absolutely unknown. Surprising instances are permitted to break the monotony of carnal stagnation, which… Read More Today’s thought “Sowing bountifully” (March 07)
A man being Christ’s free man is a great reason why he should patiently endure the humiliations and bondages that belong to this life. Our present probation is only for a season, and that a short one. It will assuredly come to an end. The toil, and the monotony, and the weariness of body and… Read More Today’s thought “Christ’s free men” (February 24)
So with the incense, which is “the prayer of saints” (Revelation 5:8; 8:4). It is a daily obligation: a daily benefit – a pleasure of God and an advantage to His people. I have known men argue against its necessity. They say, “God knows, without being told”. This is true, but is not a good… Read More Today’s thought “The daily incense” (February 19)
It is possible to yield to fits of intense application, to be followed by intervals of lassitude and spiritual aversion. Some let weeks roll on without reading their daily portion of scripture, thinking to make it up by reading a great deal more on some particular day. Both these are mistakes. We cannot feed healthily… Read More Today’s thought “Daily bread” (February 8)
The truth is calculated to impart joy, but the absence of joy is no necessary indication of the absence of our standing in His sight; for if we take David and Jesus, we find them both overborne with suffering. Take the Psalms of David; see how much they have to do with sleepless pillows, and… Read More Today’s thought “The suffering saints” (February 7)
The signs of the times tell us that we are rapidly nearing the time of the dead when God shall give reward to His servants and the prophets: when all who fear His name, small and great, shall awake together to the joyful celebration of His praise, and the execution of His judgement upon the… Read More Today’s thought “A little more waiting” (February 4)
When the storm is past, the clouds disperse; light will break forth; the sun will pour its healing beams from a cloudless sky; all nature will smile through her tears. His kingdom alone will prevail, and all the children of wisdom in unutterable thanksgiving will rejoice in the arrival of the glorious, long-promised day when… Read More Today’s thought “Abraham and his seed” (January 06)
March 12th — Psalm 119 True frm the beginning Man can make beautiful things: but his productions fail to satisfy as Nature satisfies: their beauty is petty, limited and superficial. Nature‘s beauty is thorough and inimitable, whether it be the structure of a flake of snow, the organisation of a plant or meanest insect under… Read More Thought for today (March 12) Nature bears the impress of divinity
“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.” Here we have a most encouraging picture of the kindness of Him with whom we have to do. This character is the central glory of revelation. We fail, perhaps,… Read More Today’s thought “No good thing will he withhold” (February 17)
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom, but he that doeth the will of my Father.” Now is the time for the doing of that will as revealed. Separate yourselves from the multitude that refuse to do it. Don’t wait until the only permissible response to your frantic appeal… Read More Doing the will of God
What if we shut up the bowels of our compassion towards those who suffer? What if with plenty in our hands, we think only of our own need, and our own comfort, and our schemes are shaped and burdened only and continually with our own cares and our own interests? What if we never help… Read More Deal thy bread to the hungry
Elements of the Tabernacle to be reared up upon earth, for the glory of God, will be supplied from the ranks of Adam’s descendants in conformity with the divine specifications.… Read More The Tabernacle of God
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 