Marching Forth!

Most Christians recognize the tangible truth of Ephesians 6:12 :  " ...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. "  In his younger days my brother used to wrestle competitively.  Combatants were paired with people of similar weight.  Brute strength was not as important as good technique and tactics.  In the spiritual battle which all Christians face, people take various approaches.  Some act like cocky street fighters, looking to pound the devil into submission.  Others are reticent and timid, desiring to hide from any potential confrontation.  Neither of these extremes seem to take into account the balance between our identity as overcomers contrasted with our need for humble reliance upon Christ. If I'm going to wrestle, I want to wrestle to win.  I don't want to wrestle against forces ...

" My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. 27 For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well. 28 She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men ." Proverbs 23:26-28   Imagine you are parched and thirsty.  You are so desperate to satisfy your thirst that you would even drink putrid, stagnant water if it could be found.  Then you come upon a sparkling well in which the water appears clean and pure.  But it is just out of your reach, tantalizingly close.  Leaning over you cannot cup the water with your hand, nor do you have any means to draw.  The only way to obtain this water is to dive headlong into it.  You do so only to find that the well narrows as it deepens, and it is impossible to turn right-side up!  Thrashing wildly with your body submerged, your hands are pinned to your sides as your feet flail for a handhold.  Your cries for help are silenced by the water....

" Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls ." Proverbs 25:28 The Word of God is more insightful than we often give it credit for.  My family and I have been reading through the Proverbs together.  It is easy to read a statement and not take time to give it deeper thought.  But below the surface lies truth so profound we benefit greatly from meditating on it.  Take the proverb above, for example.  Do you think you or your children can understand it without explanation?  It would be better to explain a single proverb in detail than reading a thousand without discussion. This proverb uses an analogy which compares the man who has no rule over his spirit to a city broken down without walls.  How does a man rule over his spirit?  There are many correct answers:  self-control concerning temper, judgments, fear, worry, cares, and many more.  The scripture teaches us that no man can even tame his o...

" The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider ." Isaiah 1:3 Yesterday I saw a remake of "The Miracle Worker," a drama I first saw in black and white.  My mind went back to the first time I saw the unforgettable scenes depicting Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller, especially the classic dining room scene .  I found it laborious to watch.   But the struggle made the end of the film so sweet when the light inside Helen finally turned on as the water washed over her hands.  How hard it must have been to break through Helen's deafness and blindness!  Inside that head was an amazing, intelligent mind isolated from communication through normal means.  Anne Sullivan was really no miracle worker in that she used natural techniques:  she firmly believed in her methods of teaching, was consistent in her approach, and was able to love the unlovable child who was clothed with violence and every manipul...

What an unfailing hope is offered all those who repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour!  While reading Ichabod Spencer's A Pastor's Sketches I came across a fitting poem for the season of Easter.  Though the bodies of all men are corrupted through age, sickness, and injury, death for Christians is not the end:  our souls are released immortal and incorruptible upon the death of our bodies.  The souls of men will either spend eternity in eternal torment and separation from God because of their sin, or will flourish in eternal strength and glory in the presence of Christ whose righteousness, suffering, death, and resurrection made it possible!  Below is the poem exactly as it appears in Volume 2, page 276. THE DEATH-BED OF THE POOR ! "Tread softly-bow the head- In reverent silence bow; No passing bell doth toll- Yet an immortal soul is passing now. Stranger! however great, With lowly reverence bow; There's one in that poor shed- One on that paltry bed- Gr...

This morning my eyes fell upon Psalm 84:8-10:  " O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness ."  What a privilege it is to be in the presence of the King of kings!  An eternity apart from the presence of the LORD cannot compare with a single day as a servant in His presence.  When we love people, we desire to be near to them.  A loving husband and wife do not live in separate houses as a rule, but they long to abide as close to each other as possible. It is obvious that followers of Jesus Christ should rejoice in His presence.  We are the ones who are honored to serve Him and be known by Him.  We are blessed, privileged, and humbled to have the Spirit of God within our hearts.  But did you realize that...

Today we had a home inspection from the real estate agent who manages the property we are renting.  Our family took care to mow the lawn, organize the garage, and clean the house top to bottom.  Though the house is large, regular cleaning thankfully left it a small chore.  As I mopped the kitchen area, a thought went through my mind.  The promise of the inspection at 11:30am Monday morning gave us a deadline to meet.  How would things be different if our house was under constant surveillance?  Would we live differently?  Would I allow my grass to grow too long?  Would I allow the garage to become cluttered in the first place? Inspections are good because they drive us to do a more thorough job than if we were under surveillance.  The best results would come from incorporating both!  The body of a Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  God is not as concerned about our physical hygiene as our spiritual purity found only throu...