Blog - United In Christ Jesus

If Clothes Make The Man by Shane Sands

They say clothes make the man. Well, if that is true, then the very first set of clothes man had is the best! It is a foreshadowing of CHRIST JESUS and HIS sacrifice on the cross. Let’s go back to the beginning and see where this first set of clothes originated from.

21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

Here we are in the garden of Eden, immediately following the judgments of GOD on the serpent, Eve, and Adam. But, in order, for us to get a good understanding of what the above verse says, let’s travel a bit further back and do a quick recap.

GOD creates. GOD, creates the light, darkness, day, night, stars, earth, seas, dry land, sea creatures, birds, land animals, vegetation and man. GOD puts Adam in charge of the garden and over everything on the earth. This Adam is GOD’S representative on earth. You have to get that! Adam is created in GOD’S image. This same Adam is the only creation created in GOD’S image. GOD gives Adam authority to name all the animals on the earth. To use a modern euphemism, “Adam was the man”! GOD gave Adam only one negative command – do not eat from the tree of good and evil or you will die. Afterward, when GOD saw Adam was still without a suitable helper, GOD caused Adam to go into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and fashioned Eve from it. A little later on we have this interaction between the serpent and the woman (Eve was actually named after the judgement):

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” (Genesis 3:1–3).

Did you notice the underlined portion? Hopefully, the first question which comes to your mind is, “where did she get this information”? GOD never said they could not touch the tree. Adam and Eve could have slept in the tree, made swings, carved their initials in the tree, and I guess you could have even argued, cutting the tree down. What is implied is Adam told her not to touch it. Because Adam cared so much for Eve and did not want her to die, he made a rule that went beyond what GOD had said. Which, incidentally, would be the very opening that would lead to Eve being deceived! Just a side note: never add to or take away from GOD’S Word!

What happens next is an investigation and then judgement pronounced. What is interesting to me is the order of the investigation and then the order of judgement. The first party GOD asks a question of is Adam. Adam’s reply was to blame GOD for his sin (the woman you gave me…). What Adam said to GOD was “Had you not given me the woman I would never have eaten, so basically its YOUR fault, GOD. GOD does not reply to Adam, but addresses Eve and she blames the serpent for deceiving her. Because Adam was GOD’S representative GOD went directly to Adam first to inquire. Adam had the primary responsibility, above all other things, to represent GOD correctly and obey HIM perfectly. I don’t know if you have ever asked the question, “why did GOD not ask the serpent any questions?” But, for me, it seems a bit remarkable that GOD did not ask why of the serpent. GOD now proceeds to the judgement phase and immediate goes in reverse order. The serpent is punished first, then Eve, and finally Adam. Then, the truly unexpected happens. GOD, instead of instructing Adam how to provide clothing for Eve and himself, makes garments of animal skin to clothe Adam and Eve. GOD takes the initiative – the first step in redemption. Just like the judgement of the serpent, when GOD declares the crushing blow to him (serpent) will come from the seed of woman – GOD takes the initiative in declaring the end from the beginning. Now, we don’t just hear of what GOD will do – we see. GOD demonstrates it will take the shedding of blood, death of the innocent, to make atonement for the guilty. GOD HIMSELF will choose and make the sacrifice. It will be GOD who will clothe a sinner with the garments which will make them acceptable before HIM. **Another brief side thought. I know it does not specifically say it, but do you think the animal that GOD sacrificed was a lamb?** This first set of clothes GOD provided for Adam and Eve was a foreshadowing of GOD sacrificing HIS own SON, JESUS, so that we would be clothed in the righteousness of CHRIST. GOD, takes an animal, pours out its life’s blood, skins it and makes garments and clothes the rebellious. This would be the same as when the FATHER had HIS SON JESUS go before Pilot and then condemned to death. The predetermined plan of GOD to have HIS SON JESUS die on the cross for the sins of HIS creation man. GOD, instead of leaving us naked, helpless and doomed, made a way where there was none to have us reconciled to HIMSELF! Blessed be the LORD JESUS CHRIST and glory to HIS holy name!

10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.
4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”(Zechariah 3:3–4)

Shane Sands is the founder and president of United In Christ Jesus, a gospel evangelism missions ministry which began in 2010. Shane is husband to Holly, his godly wife (he defiantly married up). They both live in South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along with their ever idiotic cat, Mister Bojangles. Shane has been blessed to travel to numerous countries and states, along with his wife, to preach the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If Jehovah is Your God! by James Smith

“I will be their God — and they shall be My people!” (Hebrews 8:10)

If Jehovah is your God — then all of His glorious attributes and perfections are engaged and employed for your eternal welfare!

His mercy will supply all of your needs.
His power will conquer all of your foes.
His wisdom will direct all of your ways.
His faithfulness will answer all of your prayers.
His justice will maintain your cause.
His infinite love and mercy will be displayed in all of His gracious dealings with you!

If Jehovah is your God — then:

His promises are your heritage;
His precepts are your rule;
His doctrines are your present paradise;
His Son is your Savior and King;
His Spirit is your sanctifier and Tutor; and
He Himself is your everlasting portion! Psalm 119:57

If Jehovah is your God — then He will freely confer all really good things on you at present — and crown you at last with eternal glory! He will:

guide you continually,
chasten you occasionally,
receive you graciously,
and bless you indeed!

If Jehovah is your God — then all things are yours — things present and to come; life, death, the world, Heaven — all are yours!

If Jehovah is your God — then He will consider nothing too great to do for you — and nothing too glorious to give to you! All the treasures of time, and all the resources of eternity — will, if necessary, be employed for your spiritual and eternal benefit! You can lack nothing which is really for your good.

To have Jehovah for your God, is the highest blessedness and honor in the universe!
How blessed is the man — who has Jehovah as his God!

James Smith (1802-1862) was a faithful Pastor of Cambray Baptist Church in Cheltenham (UK). He was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841 until 1850. Early on, Smith’s readings were even more popular than Spurgeon’s.

Death to Life – The Love of God in Christ Jesus by Shane Sands

There is a saying, “the higher you go up the flag pole, the more your rear end shows”. Many will equate this to a person climbing the ladder of life and career and not being afraid to make the tough decisions which might bring about negative consequences. While that can be an interpretation, what I think is more applicable is how this relates to sin, more pointedly to CHRIST JESUS and HIS glorious sacrifice. Death to life, the love of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.

Every so often I go on YouTube and just surf around to see what is showing up on my feed. There are those animal videos which make you smile with the sound of “Awww” coming from your lips. There are the other ones which show the traumatic side of animal life/death especially in the wild. The last two weeks, my mind has had the ending of one of these videos repeating in my head. It is this particular video which the LORD used to have me think, reflect and mediate about and apply to HIS Word.

Here it was, in the wild, a mother Giraffe has just given birth to her new baby. A short time later, lions attack and are successful in separating the baby from the mother and apparently ending the life of the baby. But, that was not the case. This baby had managed to take two bites to its throat and still get up and get away. This baby then went through four days of no food or other nourishment. Finally, you see the baby giraffe in a body of water when the look on its face…the look in its eyes, show its pain and its suffering was finally beyond what it could take. There is even a fear displayed, a deep sadness I cannot explain. The baby falls backward into the water, submerges and never comes up. This baby came into the world and suffered, its only life was one of suffering. Even now, as I think about that video and the way that animal looked at its end brings me nearly to tears. Why could not the lions have just ended the animals life? Why could not the bites to its throat have crushed its wind pipe and let the suffering end? Why did it have to go on for four days – a baby doomed to die, it was just a matter of time? Why has the LORD allowed me to be so affected by this part of the wild, with this one particular giraffe?

Then my mind was directed by the SPIRIT and remembered something from Scripture:

14 “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.”
15 So Nathan went to his house. Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick.
16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.
17 The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them.
18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died…
(2 Samuel 12:14–18)

Then as I thought about this Scripture another text came to my mind:

15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
(Genesis 2:15–17)

Then it began to come clearly into my mind. I was receiving instruction and for the first time beginning to see the hope behind the horror of the suffering baby giraffe. What astonished me was the LORD did not remove the deep sadness and empathy I had for the baby giraffe – I was and am grateful to the LORD JESUS for it.

You see, the higher you go up the flag pole, the more you pursue your selfish dreams and have a greater sphere of influence the more your sin will effect others around you. Quite often the consequences of my/your/our sin will have devastating, if not catastrophic outcomes on our own person, more importantly, on those whom are in your sphere of influence. When you are by yourself and have a limited number of people in your life your sin still has drastic consequences and even infects those few in your life. As iron sharpens iron so does one man sharpen another. The people you are around influence you and you them. If you were the head of a small company, as the leader of that company you would have a direct influence on many areas of the employees lives you employee.

Lets now examine, David, a man after GOD’S own heart. This is the one whom GOD found and chose. It was David from whom the line of the Messiah come forth. It was this David who brought the king and the priesthood back to one city, Jerusalem. David is the very one who had the plans and began storing up material for the temple to be built. How could we forget it was this David who defeated Goliath with a sling and stone. David was a mighty man of GOD, he is a legend throughout GOD’S Word. However, David was also a man who caused so much death, destruction, heartache, pain and suffering. Because of one sin David brought about the death of 72,000 people! But look at the Scripture above. Look at what one sin of David led too! First, he was not where he was supposed to be, out to fight with the armies of Israel. Next, he looked upon the nakedness of another man’s wife, Bathsheba. Next, he had her summoned to the palace and then slept with her. Next, she became pregnant and informed King David. Then, in an attempt to cover it up, David attempted to have her husband, Uriah, get drunk and sleep with her. When that did not work, he had Uriah murdered. Now, look closely at what is said. GOD said, “because by this deed you have given the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child born to you shall surely die.” It is bad enough that David caused adultery, murder and sowed sin in the army. This act gave rise to the enemies of GOD to blaspheme. The judgement which came as a result of this, was the death of the child born in adultery. But, pay even closer attention. GOD is the one who inflicted the sickness that lasted seven days before the child died. The child did not die right away. David’s sin caused the suffering of a baby child. This child, like the baby giraffe, was born and its life was only of suffering.

Now, lets go all the way back to the beginning to Adam. Adam was created in the image of GOD. Adam was placed on the earth to be the representative of GOD. Adam was the person in charge of the entire earth. GOD only issued Adam on negative command – don’t eat of the tree of good and evil or you will die. GOD made woman from man and Adam was the head of her. Adam had charge to teach her the command of GOD and to care for her. Instead of obeying GOD’S Word, Adam added to GOD’S Word which led to Eve being deceived. Not only was she being deceived by the devil, Adam stood there, did not protect her, and even listened to her and ate of the forbidden fruit. Because of Adams position, in the world, at that time. He was the representative of GOD and all mankind; his sin brought about death and destruction to all mankind and creation! Trace it back and all the pain, suffering, sin, death, destruction, and hopelessness come from one man – Adam. That baby giraffe suffered because Adam did not obey GOD!

Hopefully, at this point, everyone who reads this should be in a place thinking about the harm to themselves and others their sin has caused! But, the world, like Adam, wants to blame GOD for their sin!

The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”
(Genesis 3:12)

If GOD had not given Adam the woman, (the very good blessing he needed!), he would not have sinned. GOD it’s YOUR fault!

3 The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against the LORD.
(Proverbs 19:3)

But, from the very beginning GOD had a plan to work through the very suffering and death which sin brought about and through HIS SON JESUS, whom HE sent, to make all things new.

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned
(Romans 5:12)

24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:24–25)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
(Revelation 21:1–7)

What shines brighter than all the darkness of sin and death is, JESUS CHRIST the LORD, the SON of GOD, whom the FATHER sent to make a way where there was none! When we see the effects of sin as they are and realize that very same condition is in us – each of us – we can understand what a blessing of GOD it is. Because, once we know how vile and repugnant sin is to GOD, and all the pain, destruction and death it causes, we then can look to GOD, who is love and see what HE has done and is doing in and through HIS SON JESUS. You can cry out for HIM to save you from your sin and HIS wrath and be made new…a new creation in CHRIST JESUS and for CHRIST JESUS! GOD is not an evil GOD! GOD is holy and MUST punish sin regardless of intent. GOD is good and must remove sin because of the death it brings! GOD is love and did not leave us hopeless, but sent HIS Son to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. JESUS lived the life we could not – sinless. HE died the death we deserve! The third day, after being placed in a tomb – GOD raised HIM from the dead! The sacrifice and penalty for sin was paid – the innocent for the guilty! The acceptance of that sacrifice and validation of GOD’S Word was accomplished by the resurrection. Now, on the basis of JESUS’ life, rising from the dead we have the guarantee of forgiveness and life if we come to the FATHER, by faith, through JESUS. The old things passed away – behold new things have come! JESUS the beautiful, majestic, KING of GLORY – worthy is HE! If you do not know JESUS as LORD and SAVIOR come today while you still have time! Tomorrow is not guaranteed!

8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
(Romans 10:8–10)

Are We All Just Broken People? by Holly Sands

“We’re all just broken people…” I’ve been hearing this phrase parroted among believers lately. But my question is, is it true? Are born-again believers in Christ really “broken people”? Is that really the mark of a new creation? Is that really the stamp of a royal priesthood? Is that really what has been taught to us in the the epistles? I dare to say it is not.

When a person comes to the Lord Jesus, in repentance and faith, that person has a divine change come about. So radical is the change that the person is called a NEW CREATION in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) – something that never existed before. The redemption is radical and intense and life-altering. No longer are we the same. We receive a brand new nature; a new identity. The old has gone; the new has come.

To the contrary, the Bible expressly defines the life of the believer as polar opposite to being “broken”. The very word “save” in the Greek is sózó, which is an all-encompassing word that includes being saved, rescued, delivered, protected, healed, made whole and set free. In many instances, Jesus used the words saved/healed/made whole interchangeably (i.e. Luke 17:11-19; Matt. 9:20-22; Mark 10:46-52 – the same word “well” in each of the three passages is the same greek word: sózó ). Think about that for a moment. Do we think that anyone who was healed physically by the Lord Jesus remained sick, lame, or feeble? My guess would be emphatically, NO. Do we then think that anyone whom He saves is not made brand new?

In keeping with that meaning, I find it most interesting that the Hebrew word for peace is Shalom and is known to mean “nothing missing, nothing broken”. Jesus brought to us His peace. His Shalom.

Shalom is one of the key words and images for salvation in the Bible. The Hebrew word refers most commonly to a person being uninjured and safe, whole and sound. In the New Testament, shalom is revealed as the reconciliation of all things to God through the work of Christ: “God was pleased . . . through [Christ] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through [Christ’s] blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19–20). Shalom experienced is multidimensional, complete well-being — physical, psychological, social, and spiritual; it flows from all of one’s relationships being put right — with God, with(in) oneself, and with others. – The Meaning of Shalom in the Bible

Those who claim that believers are “all just broken people”, may need to refocus on what the Bible truly says about God’s people. Let’s just look at some things that are noted in Scripture as our identity in Christ (and these are just a few!):

We are washed, sanctified, and justified by the blood of Jesus (1 Cor. 6:11).
We are children of God (John 1:12).
We are saints (1 Cor. 1:2).
We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).
We are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37).
We are made alive with Christ (Eph. 2:1).
We’ve been made new because our old self was crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6).
We are reigning in life through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17).
We are triumphant in Christ (2 Cor. 2:14).
We are the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13).
We are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).
We are freed from the power of sin (Rom. 6:18).
We are now servants of righteousness (Rom. 6:18).
We are inseparable from the love of God (Rom. 8:35).
We are blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3).
We are accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6).
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph. 2:10).
We are strengthened with might in our inner man by His Spirit (Eph. 3:16).
We are strong in the Lord and power of His might (Eph. 6:10).
We are able to walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8).
We are light in the Lord (Eph. 5:8).
We have peace with God through Jesus (Rom. 5:1).
We have been raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
We have been renewed in the spirit of our minds (Eph. 4:23).
We have put on the new man which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24).
We have been delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col. 1:13-14).
We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9).
We have been made complete (Col. 2:10).

God’s purchased possession is not broken – we are whole in Christ Jesus! So please, before we begin to parrot catch phrases, let’s make sure that they are Biblical first.

Holly Sands lives in South Carolina at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with her loving husband, Shane, and idiot cat, Mister Bojangles. She has been blessed to travel both nationally and internationally with her husband, sharing the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Holly is co-host of the weekly podcast, “That They May All Be One“. New episodes can be heard every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app.

Whatever! by Holly Sands

Have you ever heard the phrase “Coram Deo”? It is a Latin phrase, meaning, “before the face of God”. R.C. Sproul said that the essence of coram Deo is to “live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God”.

In my prayer time this morning, I began meditating on just what it means to live in that manner. Scripture tells us:

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – Col. 3:17

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ – Matt. 25:37-40

For In Him we live and move and have our being… – Acts 17:28

It really struck me today that I need to remember that whatever I do, I do it unto the Lord; good, bad, or indifferent. My life (and yours too) is always under the watchful eye of our God. We are the temples in which He dwells. Do we really think we live unto ourselves? Our lives are not lived away from the the Lord, but in Him. Therefore, everything that is done by us is done to Him.

How carefully we should live before Him!

Holly Sands lives in South Carolina at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with her loving husband, Shane, and idiot cat, Mister Bojangles. She has been blessed to travel both nationally and internationally with her husband, sharing the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Holly is co-host of the weekly podcast, “That They May All Be One“. New episodes can be heard every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app.

Look Long! by J.R. Miller

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!” Colossians 3:16

It is in His Word, that God reveals Himself. We cannot know what He is like, nor what the attributes of His character are—unless we ponder the Scriptures. We cannot learn what God’s will is, nor what He would have us to do and to be—if we do not look into His Word. There is nothing that we need more, than to hear God speaking to us every morning. This is possible, only as we open the Bible and let its words whisper their messages to us.

No matter how familiar we may be with the teachings of the Scriptures, we need to ponder them anew every morning to keep their pure ideals and lofty requirements ever before us—lest we allow our standard of holy living to be lowered.

If we leave off for only one day, we shall become conscious of a loss of power in living. If for two successive days we fail to look into God’s perfect law—our friends around us will notice the failure in the beauty, the sweetness and the grace of our character and disposition. If for three days we fail to study the Scriptures to see how God would have us live, even the people of the world will see a lowering of the spiritual quality of our life!

One of the ways the Bible helps us, is by making Christ known to us. The noblest Christian is he before whose eyes, the character of Jesus shines in brightest splendor. Indeed, it is only when we have clear visions of Christ, that we really grow like Him.

Christ will never appear really great in our eyes, unless we make His Word our daily study. And only as He becomes great and glorious in our thoughts—will our character and standard of life be lifted up to what they should be.

James Russell Miller (1840 – 1912) was born of Irish/Scottish descent. He pastored churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois and was the author of over 60 published books, as well as countless booklets and pamphlets; and also served as supervisor of over two dozen periodicals with a combined annual circulation of over 66 million copies at the time of his death.

Neglect of the Bible by J.C. Ryle

I am convinced that one of our grave defects today, is a most serious diminishing of the good old custom of private reading of the Bible. Between the growth of Christian periodicals and books, I have a strong impression that Bibles are not read as much and as carefully as they were two hundred years ago.

I am well aware that there are more Bibles in Great Britain at this moment, than there ever were since the world began! There is more Bible-buying and Bible-selling, more Bible-printing and Bible-distributing, than there ever was! But all this time, I fear we are in danger of forgetting–that to have the Bible is one thing–and to read it privately ourselves quite another!

I am afraid that the Bible of many a man and woman in Great Britain is never read at all. In one house, it lies in a corner–as stiff, cold, glossy and fresh as it was, when it came from the bookseller’s shop! In another house, it lies on a table, with its owner’s name written in it–a silent witness against him day after day! In another house, it lies on some high shelf, neglected and dusty–to be brought down only on grand occasions, such as a birth in the family–like a heathen idol at its yearly festival. In another house, it lies deep down at the bottom of some box or drawer, among the things not wanted, and is never dragged forth into the light of day–until the arrival of sickness, or death! These things are sad and solemn. But they are true.

I am afraid that many in Great Britain who do read the Bible–yet do not read it aright. One man looks over a chapter on Sunday evening–but that is all. Another reads a chapter every day at family prayers–but that is all. A third goes a step further, and hastily reads a verse or two in private every morning, before he goes out of his house. A fourth goes further still, and reads as much as a chapter or two every day, though he does it in a great hurry, and omits reading it on the smallest inconvenience. But each and every one of these men does what he does–in a heartless, scrambling, formal kind of way. He does it coldly, as a duty. He does not do it with appetite and pleasure. He is glad when the task is over. And when the book is shut–he forgets it all! This is a sad picture. But in multitudes of cases–oh, how true!

But why do I think all this? What makes me speak so confidently? Listen to me a few moments, and I will lay before you some evidence. Neglect of the Bible, is like disease of the body–it shows itself in the face of a man’s conduct. It tells its own tale. It cannot be hidden.

I fear that many neglect the Bible–because of the enormous ignorance of true religion which everywhere prevails. There are thousands of professing Christians in this country, who know literally nothing about the Gospel. They could not give you the slightest account of its distinctive doctrines. They have no more idea of the true meaning of conversion, grace, faith, justification, and sanctification–than of so many words and names written in Arabic! And can I suppose that such people search the Scriptures? I cannot suppose it. I do not believe they do!

I fear that many neglect the Bible–because of the utter indifference with which they regard false doctrine–as if it did not signify much, and was all the same thing in the long run–whether one was a Roman Catholic, or a Socinian, or a Mormonite, or a Deist, or an Agnostic. And can I suppose that such people search the Scriptures? I cannot suppose it. I do not believe they do!

I fear that many neglect the Bible–because of the readiness with which they receive false teaching. They are led astray by the first false prophet they meet with, who “comes in sheep’s clothing,” and has a pleasant voice, a nice manner, and a gift of eloquent speech! They swallow all that he says without inquiry, and believe him as implicitly as papists believe the Pope! And can I suppose that such people search the Scriptures? I cannot suppose it. I do not believe they do!

I declare my firm conviction, that an idle neglect of the Bible is one cause of the ignorant formal Christianity which is so widely prevalent in these latter days!

Brethren! We are drifting, drifting, drifting–and what the end will be–no man can tell.

John Charles Ryle (May 10, 1816 – June 10, 1900) was an evangelical Anglican clergyman and first Bishop of Liverpool. He was renowned for his powerful preaching and extensive tracts.

Love Letters from God to You by Shane Sands

1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation

All too often people say they can know and worship GOD in their own way. But, it is these same people who will readily admit to not reading GOD’S Word. Here is a short video which will encourage and exhort you to be daily/faithfully in GOD’S Word.

Begin at My Sanctuary by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Stirring message on repentance and revival. Transcript is provided below.

Full transcript can be found here.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth has touched the lives of millions of women through Revive Our Hearts and the True Woman movement, calling them to heart revival and biblical womanhood. Her love for Christ and His Word is infectious, and permeates her online outreaches, conference messages, books, and two daily nationally syndicated radio programs—Revive Our Hearts and Seeking Him.

She has authored twenty-two books, including Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free, Seeking Him (coauthored), Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together, and You Can Trust God to Write Your Story (coauthored with her husband). Her books have sold more than five million copies and are reaching the hearts of women around the world. Nancy and her husband, Robert, live in Michigan.

Others May, You Cannot by G.D. Watson

When I was a young believer, I came across a little tract by the above title. It made quite a lasting impact on my life. Recently, I have been thinking on it quite often and so I wanted to share it here on our blog. May the Lord use it for His glory, in your life, as He has in mine. ~ Holly Sands

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.

God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.

G.D.Watson
1845-1924

George Douglas Watson was a Wesleyan Methodist minister and evangelist based in Los Angeles. His evangelistic campaigns took him to England, the West Indies, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Korea. he Master’s work continued to a part of his life well into his advanced years. But even then, he only refrained from the calling that had been placed upon him when his health was in question. He also wrote several books.

It was while serving in the confederate army that the Lord became a living reality to him. So heavy was the conviction of the Holy Spirit when the call was upon him for his eternal well-being that while in the midst of a game of cards, he threw down his hand stating to the others, it was his last game. And so it was! The next evening, August 11, 1863, his name became a permanent part of the registry in the book of life.

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share and Enjoy !

Share

Copy short link