Psalm 25:4-7

Rest

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for THOU LORD ONLY makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

Better than bars and locks is the protection of our Lord. Armed men kept the bed of Solomon; but we do not believe he slept more soundly than his father, David, whose bed was the hard ground, and who was hunted by evil men.

Note the word “only” which means that God alone was his keeper; and that though alone, without man’s help, he was in good keeping; for he was, alone with God.

O Lord, give us calm repose on Thee that, like David, we may lie down in peace and sleep each night while we live and then joyfully lie down at that appointed time to sleep in death and rest in Christ.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1985)

MERCY

Here is a prayer that God never says no to… “Have mercy upon me.” Whenever someone asks for mercy, they are acknowledging their guilt before God, they are acknowledging His sovereign right to give or withhold it as He sees fit, and they are pleading their need of mercy. Everybody who truly pleads for mercy will have it. If you say, “I asked the Lord for mercy and He did not give it to me,” then you really never asked for mercy. You may have used the word “mercy,” but that is not what you meant. Because if you meant what the Bible means by mercy, you would have it! The Lord did say, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” If you are not received in mercy by Him, it is because you never came to Him for mercy in the first place! Remember, “He delighteth in mercy.”

Pastor Todd Nibert

BY HIM

“…PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS, BY HIM TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS UNTO HIMSELF; BY HIM…” (COLOSSIANS 1:20).

The message of the Gospel is seen here in these two words “by Him:” the ‘Him’ of the gospel is Christ. Beloved, can you hear the gospel of our salvation in these two words here in verse 20? ‘By Him’! It does not say ‘by you’ beloved. The gospel is not; “Jesus did all He could, now please won't you let Him save you!” No beloved, He did it all! “He did it all, all to Him I owe.” Jesus paid it all, “All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, and He washed it white as snow.” (HEBREWS 1:3) The Him of the Gospel is our Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, on that day, every sinner found believing, trusting, resting on Christ will be presented by Him, “holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight” (Col. 1:22).

Pastor Joseph D. Murphy

THE ONLY REASON FOR SALVATION

“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake” (1John 2:12).

There is only one reason revealed in Holy Scripture that any sinner would be pardoned from all sin. That one reason is Christ alone (Eph.4:32). Christ Jesus was manifested to take away our sin and in Him is no sin (John 3:5). The only reason for grace, is Christ (John 1:16). The only reason for mercy is Christ (Titus 3:5). The only reason for salvation is Christ (Acts 4:12). The only reason for sanctification is Christ (1Cor. 1:30). His name's sake includes all these things and much more (Rom. 5:20). Salvation is not because of our merit, nor our baptism, nor our works, nor our prayers, nor our repentance, nor our faith; but for the sake of Christ, his blood, sacrifice and satisfaction; and it reaches to all our sins, original and actual, secret and open, past, present, and future. The only reason for our salvation is not found in us, but rather in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Isa.43:1-7; 44:21-23).

THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF FAITH

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).