We Preach Christ and Him Crucified - 1 Corinthians 1:23

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Corinthians 16:23

Something to Ponder

"Humility is a deep sense of our own baseness, with a hearty and affectionate acknowledgment of our owing all that we are to the divine bounty; which is always accompanied with a profound submission to the will of God, and great deadness to the glory of the world, and the applause of men."

Henry Scougal, 1650-1678

A most valuable lesson for every Christian to learn

"I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day." Exodus 16:4

They were not to lay up in store but were taught to live simply by the day. When night came, they did not have a supply of food left over for the next day--but were entirely dependent upon God's new supply to come in the morning.

In this method of providing, God was teaching all future generations a lesson. When the Master gave the disciples the Lord's Prayer, He put this same thought of life into it, for He taught us to say: "Give us this day our daily bread."

This is a most valuable lesson for every Christian to learn. We should make a little fence of trust around each day, and never allow any past or future care or anxiety to break in. God does not provide in advance for our needs. We cannot get grace today--for tomorrow's duties; and if we try to bear tomorrow's cares and burdens today--we shall break down in the attempt.

TIME comes to us, not in years, not even in weeks--but in little days. We have nothing to do with 'life in the aggregate'--that great bulk of duties, anxieties, struggles, trials and needs, which belong to a year or even to a month. We really have nothing to do even with tomorrow.

Our sole business is with the one little day now passing, and the one day's burdens will never crush us; we can easily carry them until the sun goes down. We can always get along for one short day--and that is really, all we ever have.

J.R. Miller

"But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend." Isaiah 41:9

If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has been to make us God's servants. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones—but yet, blessed be His name, we are His servants, wearing His livery, feeding at His table, and obeying His commands.

We were once the servants of sin—but He who made us free—has now taken us into His family and taught us obedience to His will. We do not serve our Master perfectly—but we would if we could. As we hear God's voice saying unto us, "You are My servant," we can answer with David, "I am your servant—You have loosed my bonds."

But the Lord calls us not only His servants—but His chosen ones, "I have chosen you." We have not chosen Him first—but He has chosen us. If we be God's servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace the change must be ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the voice of unchanging grace declared, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Long before time began or space was created—God had written upon His heart, the names of His elect people, had predestinated them to be conformed unto the image of His Son, and ordained them heirs of all the fullness of His love, His grace, and His glory.

What comfort is here! Has the Lord loved us so long—and will He yet cast us away? He knew how stiff-necked we would be, He understood that our hearts were evil—and yet He made the choice! Ah! our Savior is no fickle lover. He does not feel enchanted for a while with some gleams of beauty from His church's eye—and then afterwards cast her off because of her unfaithfulness. No! He married her in old eternity; and it is written of Jehovah, "He hates divorce." The eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude, and upon His faithfulness.