Teaching The Truth

The best men of Old and New Testament times were men of meditation as well as of action. Now, we live in a time when action is felt to be everything...there is a multitude of distractions...every hour may easily be occupied with some kind of activity...and a positive effort must be made to secure a quiet hour. As a result, Christian character is suffering. The present-day Church is not where she should be - spiritually speaking! And, it is all due to a lack of meditation on God's Word!

Is your life a life of listening to God? Or, are you more concerned about what man, self, or the world has to say? Are you guilty of giving a willing ear to all others but a closed ear to God?

No matter how hopeless your condition may be in the sight of men, there is no room for despair. All things are possible to God. You have a promise of restoration. JESUS is as good as He is powerful. Hope therefore in Him.

"To walk in the land of the living is the wicked man's desire, yea, were it possible he would walk here for ever; but for what end? Only to enjoy his lusts, have his fill of pleasure, and increase his wealth; whereas the godly man's aim in desiring to live is that he may 'walk before God,' advance His glory, and perform His service." (Charles Spurgeon) What does it mean to "walk before God"? What does it entail? Do you realize that it is your duty to "walk before the Lord" - to do all that you do as in His Presence and under His eye? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did it! David, Solomon, and Hezekiah did it! So can you! You can "walk before the LORD in the land of the living" because the LORD your God, before Whom you walk, is Almighty, keeps covenant, and has done so much for you in the past. He will not stop now from "keeping your feet from falling."

"Many are inclined to preach, but the Psalmist was inclined to practice; many are inclined to perform ceremonies, but he was inclined to perform statutes; many are inclined to obey occasionally, but David would obey alway, and, alas, many are inclined for temporary religion, but this godly man was bound for eternity, he would perform the statutes of his Lord and King even unto the end. Lord, send us such a heavenly inclination of heart as this: then shall we show that Thou hast quickened and taught us." (Treasury Of David) Are you having problems obeying the Lord in a certain area? Is God requiring something that you are finding to be very difficult at this time? You have not because you ask not! Ask for an inclination! God wants to help you to where your obedience is easy and a delight!

"Luther counsels every Christian to answer all temptations with this short saying, 'Christianus sum,' I am a Christian; and I would counsel every Christian to answer all temptations with this short saying,'The Lord is my portion.' O Christian, when Satan or the world shall tempt thee with honors, answer, 'The Lord is my portion'; when they shall tempt thee with riches, answer, 'The Lord is my portion'; when they shall tempt thee with preferments, answer, 'The Lord is my portion'...yea, and when this persecuting world shall threaten thee with the loss of thy estate...with the loss of thy liberty...with the loss of friends...and...with the loss of life, answer, 'The Lord is my portion...' " (The Treasury Of David)

"We are too often in haste to sin; O that we may be in a greater hurry to obey...To be slow to keep the commands is really to break them. There is much evil in a lagging pace when God's command is to be followed...Many are zealots to obey custom and society, and yet they are slack in serving God. It is a crying shame that men should be served post haste, and that God's work should have the go by, or be performed with dreamy negligence." (The Treasury Of David) Are you slow in keeping God's commandments? Are you slack in serving God? Do you find that you serve men post haste, yet perform God's work with dreamy negligence?

"Whatever others do, this I will do; though I be singular, though all about me be evil-doers, and desert me; Whatever I have done hitherto, I will for the future walk closely with God. They are the commandments of God, of my God, and therefore I will keep them. He is God and may command me, my God, and will command me nothing but what is for my good." (Matthew Henry) It's time for separation. It's time to separate from everyone and everything that is hindering your obedience to God. It's time to be resolved - to make up your mind that you will obey God. For you do not want to hear the words of the Master when separating from you and saying - "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you."

"It is the mark of a growing Christian that in his view Christ increases; the mark of a great Christian that to him Christ is very great. Augustine, Bernard, Leighton, Rutherford, Owen, Martyn - were these great Christians? And what had they in common? Large and admiring thoughts of Christ...A great Christian is one to whom the Lord has given 'largeness of heart.' " (The Pulpit Commentary) Secretariat - the American thoroughbred racehorse - was able to break all records and run at phenomenal speed because he had an enlarged heart. That's the way God wants you to run for Him - to obey Him. The secret of your speed, power, and progress will be the enlargement of your heart. When God enlarges your heart, you will have no problem running for Him at breakneck speed - like Secretariat - breaking all records.