What proclaims at once that so many people who call themselves Christian are not Christian is that Christ as a person is not at all essential to them.
- Lloyd- Jones
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The Furniture in My Father's House
When I was a child living under my parent’s roof, I remember those times when I would come home to find the furniture in the living room rearranged. It always surprised me at first. Sometimes I did not like it. Yet, it was my father's house and his furniture. But, in a little while I discovered that nothing about the house had changed. My father was still my father, I was still his son. He still loved me and was still providing for me. He was, still is, far more important to me than the furniture.
Brethren, our houses, jobs, and earthly possessions are furniture which belongs to our heavenly Father. When things are rearranged we are troubled at first. Fear not. It is our Father's house and furniture. We like to point our couches toward man-made lakes. What love when God, our faithful Father, rearranges the room so as to sit his child down in a better direction, facing Christ! We soon discover that nothing in our Father’s house has changed. He is still our Father and we are still his child. He still loves us and still continues to provide all for us in Christ our All. This is the Peace that Christ gives, not as the world gives (not peace in the furniture) but the Peace of knowing we are accepted in the Beloved and nothing shall change his Love to us. God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord is far more important than the furniture!
- Pastor Clay Curtis
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What is it to be saved? To have the kingdom of God set up in your soul and the kingdom of God is the rule of God.
How does the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ save a man? He saves him by taking him out of the kingdom of darkness (that's Scripture), and putting him over into the kingdom of God's dear Son.
There is no salvation except as God Almighty plants His sovereign rule in your life.
- Rolfe Barnard
When, by His grace, I know WH0 HE IS, I better understand who and what I am!
When I know WHAT HE DID in obedience and death, I realize what I cannot do!
When I understand WHY HE MUST SUFFER, I understand how God can be just and justify me.
When I know WHERE HE IS, I can rest in the blessed hope that I shall one day be there too!
-
Henry Mahan
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The Help of the Very Present God
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
A help that is not present when we need it is of small value. The anchor which is left at home is of no use to the seaman in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of no worth to the debtor when a writ is out against him. Very few earthly helps could be called "very present": they are usually far in the seeking, far in the using, and farther still when once used. But as for the Lord our God, He is present when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when we have already enjoyed His aid. He is more than "present," He is very present. More present than the nearest friend can be, for He is in us in our trouble; more present than we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of mind. He is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present, and altogether present. He is present now if this is a gloomy season. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon Him; He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now. We need not have a moment's care or an instant's fear. "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."