Many people look upon the resurrection of Jesus as a superstition or myth. Or, if they do believe it is a fact of history, they see no reason why it should affect us today. They ask, “What difference does it make that Jesus Christ arose from the dead?” Well, it makes all the difference in the universe—for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest fact of history and the greatest demonstration of the power of God.
To begin with, the resurrection of Jesus Christ makes the difference between life and death. Jesus Christ did die—there is no question about …
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him.” Put the stop right there. “In love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
In the third verse the apostle gives thanks to “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the source of all our blessings—“who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” And now he carries our minds back to the past eternity that …
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.”—Psalm 17:15
The potency of a whistle or bell is nowhere better illustrated than in the pouring streams of humanity from factory and mine, office and shop, as the day’s work has come to a close. Streets and roads are crowded, traffic is congested, and the state of rush and hustle is terrific. It would seem that life in all its intricacies had broken a main spring and had begun to unravel—but it is just “quitting time.”
In our series of studies in “The Family Prayer,” we come to Matthew 6:12, the first phrase: “Lead us not into temptation.”
This is a prayer of constant movement. In the first section of it, which has to do with God, it moves from the inner shrine of worship, “Our Father, which art in heaven,” to the outer sphere of service: “Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” And in the second part, which has to do with ourselves, it moves from the outer place of material necessity, “Give us this day our daily bread,” right …
L-I-F-E—life. A word so simple a child can spell it; a word so profound a philosopher cannot fully explain it. Life—that wonderful thing we so easily take for granted. Where did it come from? Where is it going? Does it have any meaning at all?
Does life have any meaning, or is everything we see just an accidental meeting of atoms? George Bernard Shaw once suggested that, if the other planets are inhabited, they must be using Earth as their insane asylum. And Shakespeare has Macbeth tell us that life is a “tale told by an idiot, full of sound …
“Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the Grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”—Acts 11:22-23
I don’t know how many of you have clearly in mind the background of these verses but some years had elapsed since the glorious Pentecostal outpouring when the work of grace began in the city of Jerusalem. Our blessed Lord had instructed …
“Bill will attend his church and I’ll go to mine.”
“We’ll work it out as we go along.”
“We truly love each other, and love conquers all.”
These are some of the carefully chosen phrases used to launch a mixed marriage. But actual living proves the statements to be false. The irrefutable fact is that divorce occurs three times as often in mixed [faith] marriages as in marriages between members of the same faith.
The thrill of loving and of being loved temporarily minimizes all obstacles to a mixed marriage. The enchanting ecstasy of marriage plans, the flowing beauty …
If you were to mention the eagle to a Jew in Jesus’ day, you would probably get scorn and anger in return. At that time, the eagle was the symbol of the Roman legions; and no loyal Jew wanted his nation controlled by a foreign power.
But if you were to mention the eagle to an Old Testament Jew, he would most likely respond with a smile of joy. Why? Because to the believer in the Old Testament days, the eagle was a symbol of God’s gracious care for His people, Israel.
We find this question in Mark 4:38: “He was in a hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow, and they awake Him and say unto Him, ‘Master, carest Thou not that we perish?’”
The incident is familiar, I am sure, to most of you. The day had been a very busy one. The Lord Jesus Christ had preached some wonderful parables; He had effected some amazing cures. At the end of the day He and His disciples took ship to go to the other side of the sea of Galilee. Here the Lord of glory is weary and …
In a sophisticated civilization such as ours, here in the mid-twentieth century, we think of our conduct as a pretty highly polished way of life. We observe the rules for etiquette, congratulate our friends in their promotions, play it cool when we’re crossed so we don’t appear ruffled by all the idiots around us, and smooth over the weaknesses of our loved ones. We smile at people we dislike and exchange greetings with our enemies, invite the new neighbors in for coffee and give Thanksgiving baskets to the poor family on the other side of the tracks, and then pat …
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