Are we so concerned with our zeal for Christ and the work of the gospel that we demote our earthly concerns?

How subtle, smooth-sounding error undermines the true gospel, and how churches so often just conform to the spirit of the age.

The birth of Christ is about the coming of light to our dark and needy world, a world made wretched by the sin and unbelief of men. Some 700 years before Christ's birth Old Testament Israel was going through a grave national crisis, being attacked and humiliated by the mighty empire of Assyria. It was a time of utter darkness for the nation, succumbing as it was to the power of the enemy. In the midst of thsi crisis the coming of Christ into the world was foretold. This was Israel's true hope. Her humiliated status represents the spiritual darkness of our own nation in profound rebellion against God today. The only solution to this national crisis is repentance from sin and faith in Christ, who is the Light of the World.

In these verses 11-15 of Proverbs 3 we are exhorted not to despise not the school of the Lord, the discipline and instruction which He imparts. Our difficulties, trials and crises are all parts of the precious learning process which is being a Christian. We are called to be discplined fully fit soldiers of Christ. We never stop learning or growing in grace. There will be times of suffering where our faith will need to be proved, tried and tested. How does our faith stand up under adversity?

Let us never be weary of the Lord’s proving of us. The Lord is disciplining us, as a loving father disciplines his son. The true Christian comes to value more and more this divine instruction, the increasing knowledge of God’s word, the acquisition of deeper wisdom and understanding. He realises that nothing in all the world is more precious than the wisdom which is knowing Christ and His great salvation.

Daniel’s vision of four terrifying beasts, representing four great world empires, is teaching us that the affairs of nations are in the hands of God, and no Christ-rejecting government, whatever its earthly power, can ever ultimately prosper, for God is sovereign over all the nations.

In a time of much false teaching and seeking after popularity within churches, many people have been deceived into thinking that the Lord Jesus never judges people and that God’s love is unconditional for all. Such error is is not what the Bible teaches, but is used a pretext for condoning practices which God’s word clearly condemns. In this passage in Habakkuk we are told of God that “burning coals went forth at His feet”, referring to His anger upon those who persistently defy Him. Yes, He is also full of mercy, but He comes as Judge against those who refuse to repent of their sin.

How we today can learn from David's example in prayer

Genesis 1, verses 20-27, deal with the fifth and sixth days of the creation week. On the fifth day deals there takes place the creation of the animal life which will inhabit the waters and the skies.

Verse 26 states concerning the sixth day, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. So the Trinitarian God resolves to make man with a distinct likeness to Himself. This was not the case with the other living creatures made on day five or the land animals earlier on day six. Quite simply, the animals are not made in the image of God, whereas man is.

This tells us how special man is. Unlike the animals, his body is erect, upright and upward-looking, for man has been created not merely as an earthbound creature whose existence will be obliterated upon death, but for eternal fellowship with his Maker. He therefore possesses an immortal spirit. On death that spirit passes either into eternal blessedness or an eternal condemnation.

Man can never be like God in His omnipotence, perfect wisdom and absolute authority, but he can be like God in his holiness of life and moral disposition. Darwinian evolution, however, reduces man to just an advanced animal, whose existence is ultimately no more than a chance occurrence, but a man will live for evermore in heavenly glory, if, in this life, he turns from sin and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage is teaching us about the frightful dangers of Satan-inspired false religion. To turn to false gods brings down judgement upon any nation, for the Lord Jesus Christ is the only truth.

If a man does not take holiness seriously, he is no true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.