Treasure Chest
The Testimonies of Bethlehem
When my father was doing some work for a business in Atlanta, Georgia, he was invited to join the employees in some Christmas festivities. They were singing “Happy Birthday” so he assumed it was for Christmas, however he discovered that a lady there was born on December 25th. Dad was surprised to learn other distinctives…
Seeds of Forbidden Fruit, Part 2
How can we be reconciled to God? Pride, independence, unbelief, and self-will — the “seeds of forbidden fruit” — find their counterpart in the conditions for salvation. 1. From pride to humility God designed the gospel to require humility on the part of the sinner. To the natural mind, the idea of redemption through the…
Seeds of Forbidden Fruit, Part 1
Genesis is the book of beginnings. In it we discover the beginning of the universe and life on earth — plant life, animal life, and human life. Chapter two records the creation of man and the beauty of his environment: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into…
The Believer’s Fourfold Union With Christ
When our Lord Jesus was giving His farewell address to His disciples the night before His crucifixion, they desperately needed comfort. Having been with Christ for over three years, they faced the grim prospect of being separated from the Lord. How could they go on to an impossible mission without Him? This need for power…
The Secret of Victory, Part 3 (Conclusion)
God is Love, and so the third means of receiving His Resources is: Love and Faith John makes this clear in his epistle, I John 4:16: “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” I John 3:24: “He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him and He…
Encourage Yourself in God
How can you handle devastating circumstances? What can you do to move from doubt and despair to peace and confidence? Consider an example from the life of King David — a leader who experienced both tragedy and triumph. In 1 Samuel chapter 30 we find David in southwestern Israel still on the run from King…
The Secret of Victory, Part 2
A very wonderful possibility opens up before us in a consideration of the nature of the Victorious Life… Practical Experience Will you permit me to bear a personal testimony? During the first World War, while serving with the Medical Corps, I became conscious of a great need in my life, for a more consistent testimony…
What’s Your Sign? The Alternative to Astrology
When my family had lunch at a Chinese restaurant a while back, we were given a placemat that featured the Chinese Zodiac. (This system differs from the western version of astrology that designates the month of a person’s birth as their “sign,” with a corresponding symbol, e.g., July 23 – August 22 – “Leo,” =…
The Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life, Chapter 4: Liberty
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of…
Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts, Part 2
The Hatfield-McCoy Feud is a part of American folklore that has come to symbolize a long-standing cycle of conflict. This feud was a decades-long, violent conflict between two extended Appalachian families in the late 19th century. An episode of this sad story from 1882 involved Johnse Hatfield and Rosanna McCoy attempting to elope. Ellison Hatfield…