Marching Forth!

David erred in numbering the people of Israel and they were visited with three days of severe pestilence that left thousands dead.   2 Samuel 24:16 reads, " And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite ."  God was gracious to spare His people when the angel stood by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  This is interesting because this means he was a non-Jew, an inhabitant of the city of Jerusalem previously called "Jebus" before David conquered it.  It seems mercy was extended to inhabitants to a city who taunted David it could be defended by the blind and lame, for Araunah the Jebusite lived within Jerusalem who even had a threshing floor of his own. When God directed king David to erect an altar on the thre...

When reading and interpreting verses of the Bible, it is important to consider the immediate context.  Many erroneous doctrines and practices have resulted when verses are made to stand alone that are supported by preceding and following verses.  This would be like demolishing the walls on a two-storey building without consideration of how it would eventually reduce a habitable dwelling to rubble--with unsuspecting people inside! On the subject of offences in the church, in Matthew 18 Jesus taught how believers were to go to the party who trespassed against them (for instance, by deceit and theft) and seek reconciliation.  If the offender was unwilling to humble himself to admit fault, another believer was to go along to confirm the truth as a witness.  Should the offender still stubbornly justify himself, their sinful case was to be told to the believers in the church.  If the person refused to submit to the judgment of the church, then the guilty party was to...

In the American classic movie It's a Wonderful Life , George Bailey was one who gave up on his dreams of travel to help others in his small town of Bedford Falls.  He and his newlywed wife sacrificed money saved for a honeymoon trip to keep the family-run business afloat.  When dealt a cruel financial blow through the incompetence of a relative who worked for the business, George was overwhelmed with the debt, a house full of energetic kids, had too much to drink and crashed his car.  After being harshly told he was worth more dead than alive, George began to believe the lie.  He despaired of his life as he looked down into the icy water running under the bridge.  All thoughts of ending his life were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a splash and a cry for help which caused George to spring into action to help a drowning man--who turned out to be his guardian angel in a human disguise. Clarence (the angel) gave George Bailey his wish of never being born....

" Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;  43  for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God ." John 12:42-43 It is remarkable those who heard and saw all the things Jesus did would be hesitant to proclaim their belief in Jesus because of what they stood to lose over what they could gain.  The favour of man is fickle, temperamental and temporary, but the favour of God is glorious and eternal.  What I find more amazing than there were people who loved the praise of men is that the praise of God is on offer for all who declare Jesus their King. Think of it:  the eternal God in heavenly glory, the Creator of all things Who alone is worthy of praise, delights to praise those who fear Him!  The grace of God simply overwhelms the soul who believes in Him with love, mercy and truth.  As children we beamed with pride when comm...