Marching Forth!

 King Solomon admonished his son in Ecclesiastes 12:12 , " ...of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh ."  It is no easy feat to write a book (especially that is widely read), and it is easier to collect books than read them.  It would be a great shame to put our effort into acquiring books to our library without reading them with careful consideration.  Whether our books be many or few, their primary value is not as familiar decor:  we ought to read and re-read them as we welcome their input like dear friends.  The pile of books to be read for the first time can be interrupted as the LORD leads by books we already possess. One book which has proved to be an invaluable resource over the years is C.S. Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students .  It is by far the most useful book I own outside the scriptures, as it has provided great insights, wise counsel and encouragement from a man of godly character.  One of the ch...

" Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD . 20 This is the gate of the LORD , through which the righteous shall enter. 21  I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation ." Psalm 118:19-21 The psalmist asked God to open the gates of righteousness so he could go through them with praise.  All who attempted to become righteous by attempts to keep the Law of Moses ended in failure without any assurance of salvation.  Even before the Law was given the life of Abraham demonstrated plainly righteousness comes by faith in God alone.  The Gospel of Jesus provides righteousness to all who trust in Jesus Christ who is the Door by faith through whom Jew and Gentile alike must enter the kingdom of God.  If we want to receive salvation, we must enter in by faith in Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  To these souls by grace God imputes salvation, and all praise to Him. Ther...

In New South Wales we remain under the COVID restriction of congregants refraining from singing during church services.  While the worship team was wrapping up the service with a song of praise to the LORD, I considered the words being sung.  Then suddenly I had a thought that never occurred to me before. I recalled that when we were legally free to sing without restrictions, not everyone was pleased with their "singing voice."  This may also be reflected in the way people critically view their own bodies.  As happy we are to have a living, functional body there can be aspects of our appearance some might change:  people can criticise their body's shape, size, height or lack thereof, type or colour of hair, noticeable features they find embarrassing, scars and defects.  People think about their perfected, eternal state and look forward to having the "perfect body" or "pitch-perfect" voice with immaculate rhythm.  As I worshiped silently with the worshi...

It is amazing the God who knows all things determines not to remember the sins committed by those who have received atonement and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for sins and His righteousness has been credited to those born again by the Gospel.   Hebrews 10:14-17 states, " For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15  But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16  "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD : I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," 17  then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."   People agree no one is perfect, yet Christians certainly ought to affirm Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  There will be no divine recall of our sins in the eternal state, for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ...