By the Grace of God, I am What I am

While we rejoice in God’s mercy which has saved us, in the blood of Christ which cleanseth us, and in the faith with which He has blessed us, let us always remember that we cannot stand a moment longer than God upholds us. We are like a walking cane in a man’s hand; take away the hand and the cane will fall to the ground. We are like a small infant held up by a mother’s arms; if we are left on our own, we shall immediately fall.

The flesh says, “I shall fail”; the world says, “I will deceive you”; the devil says, “I will sweep him away”; but God says, “I will keep him; I will NEVER FORSAKE HIM.”

We desire inward holiness, we long to glorify Christ in our conduct and conversation, we strive to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour; but, always before us is the truth BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I am what I am! (1 Cor. 15:9-10). Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1983)

LIKE A CHILD

“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3)

One of the wonderful and amazing things about little children is their implicit trust and confidence in their parents. They only need a simple statement or promise from Mom or Dad as the foundation of that trust and confidence. Lengthy explanations are not required nor

asked for. Simply make them a promise and sincere belief and trust springs up in their hearts. How is this manifest? They follow Mom and Dad around, living on that promise, continually reminding them of it, and awaiting its fulfillment!

Is not that the way the children of God live before their heavenly Father? “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

Pastor Maurice Montgomery

“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10).

Someone once said that when the Lord saves a fellow, even the old hound dog will know it. That man who has truly received mercy and grace from the Lord becomes a merciful and gracious man. Realizing how good the Lord has been to him, who before was no better than a beast, he in turn shows compassion to all. It is more than coincidence that, He who had ‘dove’s eyes’ had one land on His shoulder. And He tells us to be ‘harmless as doves.’ On the other hand, the wicked man who has shown little tenderness to man or beast, will, in the end, receive none from the Lord.

Pastor Paul E. Mahan

Jehoiachin was Lifted Up From Prison(2 Kings 25:27-30).

In these closing verses in 2 Kings we have the sad story of the captivity of Judah being carried away for 70 years of bondage and servitude. After 37 years of being in bondage, Jehoiachin, the king of Judah was removed from prison and blessed in so many ways. He must be delivered and preserved because the Messiah must come through him; for he was a son of David (Rom. 1:1-4). He was delivered for Christ sake (Eph. 4:32). In Jehoiachin’s deliverance we see a type and picture of the elect being delivered for Christ sake and by Him (Luke 4:18).

Notice these 6 things that are given unto us.

1). Verse 27; Jehoiachin was set free, in the 37^th year, the 12^th month on the 27^th day of the month. The Lord has fixed and determined the exact time of our salvation; the day in which He lifts us out of the pit of sin and sets us free by His purpose and grace (Gal. 5:1-4, 2 Tim. 1:9).

2). Verse 28; “The king spoke kindly to him.” The Lord speaks kindly to us, (good things marginal reference has it). Grace for the guilty, mercy for the miserable, salvation for sinners, righteousness provided (1 Tim. 1:15).

3). Verse 28; The king, “Set his throne above the throne of the kings in Babylon.” Jehoiachin was given honor.Christ has made believers kings and priests to our God and we shall reign with Him (Rev. 1:5-6).

4). Verse 29; The king, “Changed his prison garments.” Jehoiachin’s old rotten prison clothes were changed (Isaiah 64:6). The Lord has given us new garments of salvation and the robe of His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Rom. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:21).

5). Verse 29; “He did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.” Jehoiachin did eat bread continually by the king’s good pleasure; like Mephibosheth did eat at the table of David (2 Sam. 9:13). Believers constantly feed upon Christ the Bread of Life (John 6:35; 1 Peter 2:2-3).

6). Verse 30; “His allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.” He was given a daily allowance. The Lord has promised us daily grace every day, all the days of our life (Phil. 4:19, 2 Cor. 12:9, Heb. 4:16).