Marching Forth!

" Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour.  9  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building ." 1 Corinthians 3:8-9 In a Bible study last night we briefly discussed the implications of being God's fellow workers, His field and building.  Those who plant and water are one, and it is the LORD who receives the increase.  The efforts we expend for the glory of our Saviour are fruitful only by His grace, and Jesus Christ deserves the credit even as the vine supplies nutrients and strength to the branches. If a farmer is motivated to clear, plow, sow, water and reap the field he owns for a bountiful crop, God is far more active in working to see the peaceable fruit of righteousness produced in us by His grace.  A farmer works the field with a long-term plan in mind:  rotating crops, building and mending fences, ensuring there is a good water supply and is at...

After King Hezekiah miraculously recovered from a grave illness, he entertained messengers from the distant land of Babylon by showing them all the treasures of his house.   2 Kings 20:16-19 says, " Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD :  17  'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the LORD .  18  'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' "  19  So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days ?" I have always thought the response of King Hezekiah was very strange, seeing the future events which Isaiah prophesied according to the word of the LORD did  not seem ...

God has revealed Himself to the world in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever ( Hebrews 13:8 )  There is no person in the history of this world other than God who can legitimately make that claim, and if the Bible is true it reveals the true identity of Jesus without doubt.   John 1:11-13 says of Jesus, " He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  13  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God ."  Through faith in Jesus all people can know God through this new and living way. Throughout history there have been many people who have refused to place their faith in the God who created the sun that shines, plants, animals and people.  Some have claimed the multitudes of gods and beliefs makes it unlikely or impossible to know w...

I am finding a recent study of the book of Hebrews most compelling, relevant and practical.  Perhaps from a worldly vantage point it seems incredible an ancient volume could speak so powerfully today, yet this is the miracle God does daily as we open His word and seek Him.  No one deserves an audience with the Almighty but by God's grace Jesus Christ invites those redeemed by His shed blood into the throne room to find mercy and grace to help in time of need ( Hebrews 4:16 ). It struck me today disciples of Jesus at the time did not understand what He was saying, misunderstood Him and other times flatly contradicted Him!  Jesus once asked, "Do you understand what I am saying?"  The apostles assured Him they did, but the Bible reveals they did not!  Those who claimed to understand Him thought Jesus was talking about bread when He was talking about doctrine ( Matthew 16:7 ) and imagined defilement came from outside rather than from within a person ( Mark 7:18-23 )...