May 29^th 2022

9:30 am ------------------------------------------------Christ: The Ready Scribe – Ezra 7

10:00 am ----------------------------------------------Ye Must Be Born Again – John 3:1-8

Wednesday: 7:00 pm ---------------------------For God So Loved the World – John 3:9-20

THE MIRROR -- Colossians 3:5

When a person stands before a mirror, he sees three things--the mirror, himself, and other things, which are in the room. When I sincerely look by faith into the scriptures, I see many things, but primarily three things. . .

(1) I see the LORD JESUS CHRIST, for He verily is the WORD OF GOD. It is of Him, from Him, and to His glory that it is written. "To Him give all the prophets witness."

(2) I see MYSELF as I truly am, for the word reveals the true nature and need of this son of Adam. "Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner! Let Thy blood atone for me on the mercy-seat."

(3) I see OTHER PEOPLE and my RELATIONSHIP and my RESPONSIBILITY to them!

The image of myself reflected in a mirror is larger than others in the room, but NOT SO WITH THE SCRIPTURES. "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:27-28). Paul rebuked those at Ephesus who "walked in the vanity of their own minds and desires," and said to them, "You have not so learned Christ." The person who is often in the word of Christ is often in prayer, in concern, and in the care and concerns of others! – Henry Mahan

“He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off, nor is it he who says it is near.

It is he who, whether it be far or near, awaits it with sincere faith, steadfast hope and fervent love.” -- Augustine

The Call to Preach

Those whom God calls to the work (of preaching) He usually so strips and empties, so pulls down, humbles, and abases, so shows them what the ministry is, and their own unfitness for it—that they shrink back from so arduous and important a work, and can scarcely be persuaded that they are called to it. We need hardly remark how different this is from the forward, pushing, bold, if not presuming spirit which the many false prophets manifest in their ambitious aim almost to force their way into the pulpit. – J.C. Philpot

The Green Pastures Bleed Red

Once while walking in a green pasture after a rainstorm, I looked down at my feet and noticed red water coming up wherever my feet made an impression. Such is the nature of Virginia soil that, even in green pastures, the red clay will somehow be revealed, especially after a good rain.

The “green pastures” spoken of by the psalmist (23:2) are the Word of God. Upon walking through His Word, if God the Holy Spirit is pleased to shower a blessing upon you and anoint your steps, you will find that the green pastures bleed red. Such is the nature, the sum and substance, the purpose, rhyme, and reason of all Scripture. — The Blood! — The Blood! — The Blood! As Moses took the blood of the sacrifice and “sprinkled both the book, and all the people” (Hebrews 9:19), so God has covered every page of His book (and His people) with the blood of His Son. As you study God’s Word, as you walk through His Word, if your feet are “shod with the preparation of the gospel” and you ponder the path of your feet, you will find that the ground of all your hope, and the foundation upon which you stand is red; for — “It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul!” Look for it . . . the blood, as you read God’s Word . . . look unto Him, the Lamb Whose blood cleanseth from all sin.

The Word of God

-- The more reverence we have for the Word of God, the more joy we shall find in It. – Matthew Henry

-- Few tremble at the Word of God, few, in reading It, hear the Voice of Jehovah, which is full of majesty. – R.M. M’Cheyne

-- The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible is the religion of Christ’s church. – C.H. Spurgeon