Reaching Forward

“For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life . . . So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord” (2 Corinthians [...]

“Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him” (Mark 1:12,13).

STRANGE AS IT SEEMS, SOME THINGS GROW BEST IN BARREN PLACES. Faith and spiritual maturity are two such things. These [...]

“. . . pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

LOVE LIBERATES US FROM THE MAIN THING WE NEED TO BE LIBERATED FROM: ABSORPTION WITH OURSELVES. Sin turns us entirely inward; it twists our thinking into a selfish shape. And if [...]

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12,13).

CONCERNING SUFFERING IN [...]

“You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

THOSE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY REACHING FORWARD IN LIFE WILL RUN INTO NO BIGGER OBSTACLE THAN “MAMMON.” Money and material possessions, while not wrong in themselves, tend to draw our hearts and our hopes away from God, and their temptation is so powerful that none of us [...]

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10)

SOMETIMES WE FEEL THAT LIFE HAS NOT REPAID US FOR THE EFFORT WE’VE PUT FORTH. We know that we’ve made some mistakes, but even so, we feel that there’s an unfair difference between what we’ve [...]

“Love . . . is glad when truth is glad” (1 Corinthians 13:6 Barclay).

HERE’S A SUGGESTION: MAKE GOD’S HAPPINESS THE MAIN GOAL OF YOUR LIFE. That’s a somewhat strange suggestion, obviously. The main goal of most people is to make THEMSELVES happy, and the idea that we ought to be more concerned about [...]

“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound . . . to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called [...]

“. . . and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23,24).

IF IT’S IMPORTANT TO HATE SIN, IT’S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS. The love of God involves not only being [...]

“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts . . .” (Ephesians 4:20-22).

AS LONG AS WE DELIGHT [...]