When we allow ourselves to spiritually take in the person of Christ, we are nourished by truth—the love, the forgiveness, and the empowerment of the risen body of Christ. When we come together to worship, Jesus is there with us

I have felt bound to plead their cause, in season and out of season, to endeavor to put my soul in their souls’ stead, and to aid, all in my power, in every right effort for their immediate emancipation. This duty was impressed upon me at the time I consecrated myself to that gospel which anoints “to preach deliverance to the captive,” “to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

The confidence in that “something of God in everyone,” combined with a commitment to this earthly life as the place where oneness is to be realized, leads people to cherish communal life and do everything possible to mend it and make it whole.

True peace is not attained simply by getting away to a mountain stream and fishing in order to forget everything at home. Of course it can be refreshing to get away into nature, except when we are running away from a situation which ought to be faced and worked out. The problem will always be there until it is solved.

The world’s struggle—our human effort—for peace tries vainly to produce peace by a display of power, only to be confronted with the invention of a more deadly power against which defenses must be devised. Jesus’ way of giving peace is not by intimidation, coercion, or displays of power, but the transformation of character by which the need for making war is gone, and the power for making peace is given.

Thank God for Christ Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. Thank God for our hope for things we cannot yet see. Thank God for love which knows no limits!

God’s Spirit within us empowers our faith, equips us to work effectively with Christ in our world, and transforms us from the inside out to be like Jesus. Scripture talks about the power of prayer; we’ve likely all been disappointed when it hasn’t seemed to ‘work.’ But living fully as a loved and forgiven person makes the difference

We gravitate toward rule-based limitations – they make us feel safe – rather than trusting and submitting to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives, daring to live in the freedom we’ve been given.... God’s grace is not juxtaposed against God’s call to live a holy life – grace inspires gratitude that motivates us to want to please God.

And now it rises in me to write a word to comfort you, you Friends of the Bridegroom, that mourn for his Withdrawing, and eat your Bread with Quaking, and drink your Water with Trembling, as those who find no comfort till you do enjoy him. Wait without Weariness, and you shall behold his Countenance

Gifts of the Spirit come to us when each one is doing just what he or she is called to do, no matter what it is, and no matter whether we know about it

The psalmist calling Yahweh “a shield around me” makes me think of a force field that renders all attacks useless. Despite being surrounded by thousands of enemies, the psalmist can lie down and sleep in complete safety (v. 5).

One aspect of this prayer that may surprise Christians is the affirmation that sacrifices and offerings are not required for forgiveness (vv. 16–17; Psalm 40:6; Micah 6:6–8). The psalmist knows that sacrifices don’t pay for sin; one can only repent and ask God for forgiveness and trust in God’s hesed. Sacrifices and offerings are part of the ensuing worship that celebrates God’s forgiveness (v. 19).

This psalm invites us to take refuge in God, to ‘take refuge in the shadow of [God’s] wings until the disaster has passed’ (v. 1). After asking God for help and describing the dire situation, the psalmist is encouraged and ends the prayer by exalting God (vv. 7–11).

In Bible stories, villains sometimes end up becoming a hero, such as Saul (Paul) in the book of Acts (see Acts 8–9). Other villains meet their deserved doom in the story, such as Haman in the book of Esther (see Esther 7–9). The introduction of this psalm invites the reader to think about a villain who did not receive the punishment he deserved—Doeg the Edomite.

A recurring feature in Hebrew poetry (see Psalm 119, Lamentations, Proverbs 31:10–31), an alphabet acrostic can be used to emphasize completeness. In this way the first line, ‘I will bless Yahweh at all times,’ encapsulates the entire psalm in expressing a complete act of praising God.

There is a deep Feeling of the Way of Purity, a Way in which the Wisdom of the World hath no Part, but is opened by the Spirit of Truth, and is called the Way of Holiness; a Way in which the Traveller is employed in watching unto Prayer

As far as I can see from the evidence of the New Testament, there were no solitary Christians. If you were a Christian, this meant that you were an integral part of the community of Christians.

Jesus purchased my salvation to open the way for a close relationship. And Jesus wants this relationship to inspire a life lived out on the main street of my daily activity and interaction with others. Reflect on how highly Jesus values you.

To be chosen gives us the feeling that we are good enough, and we are wanted. This is reality for all of us in the family of God

After many years, which included hardship and mistreatment, Joseph was redeemed with favor because of God’s providential deliverance. The result was a restored relationship with his brothers and father.