Growing in Grace – November 2025

November 2025

“Now His [the Lord Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when He [the Lord Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast” (Luke 2:41-42).

We do not know for sure at what age the parents of the Lord Jesus started to take Him up to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, but we do know that He went up at the age of twelve. People did not travel much in those days, so it was probably quite an event for children to make that kind of a trip. They likely enjoyed traveling with their friends, for most people probably walked in those days, although some might have had donkeys on which to ride. We know that when the parents of the Lord Jesus started home after the Passover, and did not see their son the Lord Jesus, they just assumed that he was with others in the company, and were not concerned until they had traveled a whole day. While those Jewish people surely appreciated the significance of the Passover, the children probably liked a trip to “the big city” of Jerusalem.

But have you ever thought of what the Lord Jesus must have been thinking as He kept the Passover, even as a boy? Although I am sure that He behaved as a perfect twelve-year-old boy, yet He could say to His parents, when His mother scolded Him a little for staying behind in Jerusalem, “Wist ye not [didn’t you know] that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). As God, He understood perfectly that one day He would be the true Passover. One day He would suffer and die, so that the matter of sin would be settled once and for all. We want to say all this very reverently, but we can only imagine what thoughts must have gone through His heart, even as a boy, as He saw those lambs killed every year. For the Jews, it was celebrating the fact that their firstborns had not been killed on that night back in Moses’ time, when the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. But for the Lord Jesus, all this was also a picture of His death on the cross.

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Copy link Print

“For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

When the Israelites kept the Passover, they probably did not realize the full meaning of it. Yes, they knew that if they put the blood on the door, they would be safe inside, and the firstborn in that house would not be killed. Later on, when the Lord gave them the law through Moses, they learned the importance of sacrifices in which blood was shed. However, the full importance of the Passover was not brought out until the New Testament.

As we see in our verse for today, the Apostle Paul could remind those in Corinth that “even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” This shows that the Passover was a picture of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, for He was the true Lamb of God. When John the Baptist first saw the Lord Jesus, He said by inspiration, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). All those lambs that were offered every year when the Passover was kept could not take sin away permanently; they rather looked on to the Lord Jesus, who was the true Passover.

History tells us that at the time the Lord Jesus was here on this earth, the population of the city of Jerusalem was about 55,000 people. However, it is estimated that at Passover time, there were about 180,000 people in the city. They came from many areas around Jerusalem, to keep the Passover there. Can you imagine that number of extra people in the city? They did not have hotels and other accommodation the way we have today, and even today, more than 100,000 extra people coming into a city of that size would make many problems — water, places to stay, toilets, garbage disposal, etc. You can picture it, and smell it! Somehow they all had to find places to sleep at night, and food to eat.

Can you imagine the number of lambs that were slaughtered every year at that time? Every family would have had a lamb, so thousands would have been sacrificed. The narrow lanes of that city would have been crowded with lambs being led along. Yet those sacrifices “can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11). But the Lord Jesus, “after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). The work was done, and God was fully satisfied. His Son was the true Passover.

Friday, November 28, 2025

Copy link Print

“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months … it is the Lord’s passover” (Exodus 12:2, 11).

Probably all of you have heard of the Passover, which the Israelites first kept more than 3,500 years ago. But have you ever thought of where the term “passover” came from? The word teaches us something about how God works in both love and holiness.

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for about 200 years, and the Egyptians had made life very hard for them. They had been compelled to make bricks for Pharaoh, in order to build treasure cities. There were taskmasters over them who made them work hard, and sometimes those taskmasters beat them to make them work harder.

But the time came when God was going to deliver them, and bring them out of Egypt into the land of Canaan, where they would be a free nation. In the first few chapters of Exodus, you can read about all the plagues that the Lord brought upon Egypt, in order to persuade Pharaoh to let the people go. But sadly, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and even though the land of Egypt was devastated by those plagues, yet Pharaoh would not let the people of Israel go.

Eventually the Lord said that He would bring one last judgment on Egypt. He said that “all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die” (Exodus 11:5). There would be a night when the Lord would pass through the land of Egypt, and in every house the firstborn would be killed. However, what about the Israelites? Could the Lord kill all the firstborn of the Egyptians, and simply leave the Israelites alone? No, for the Israelites were sinners too, and deserved the judgment of God. This is where the Passover comes in.

God told the Israelites that they were to take a lamb and keep it from the tenth to the fourteenth day of the month. Then, in the evening of that fourteenth day they were to kill that lamb, and put its blood on the two side posts and the upper door post of their houses. It was on that fourteenth night that the Lord was go through the land of Egypt, and kill all the firstborn. The Lord said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). This is where the word “passover” comes from, for the Lord passed over those houses where the blood was on the door. Tomorrow we will see the significance of that blood.

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Copy link Print

“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2).

How long is the rest of your time in this world? How long is the rest of my time here? We have to admit that none of us knows the answer to this question. Most of you who are reading this devotional are probably young, and if the Lord does not come, you expect to have many years ahead of you in your life down here. But things do not always turn out that way.

More than fifty years ago I was working in the emergency room of the Hospital for Sick Children in downtown Toronto. An ambulance brought in a beautiful young girl who was only twelve years old. She had been walking home from school with her friends, and a boy teased her with a large black rubber spider. She squealed and jumped back … right onto the street in front of a cement truck. We did all we could to save her life, but she was too badly hurt. At only twelve years of age, she died.

I am sure that she did not expect to die that day. She was healthy, and probably left her home that morning feeling good. But before the day had ended, the “rest of her time” had ended too.

Tragedies like this remind us of two things. First of all, it is important to know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, and to be ready if we are called to die. That girl had no chance to accept Christ at the last minute, and I hope she knew the Lord Jesus.

But there is also a lesson for us who are saved. We too have some time in this world, but none of us knows how much time is “the rest of our time.” Are we using it for the Lord, in order to have treasure in heaven, or are we wasting our time? Let us make the best use of our time down here, for how we use our time here will affect us in eternity.

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Copy link Print

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

When someone has done something wrong to us, our first thought naturally is to find some way of doing something bad to them. The world has a saying, “Don’t get mad: get even!” If we do not respond in this way, we may be looked upon as cowards or “wimps.” This is true of individuals and is true of nations as well. If one nations fires missiles at another nation, the nation that is attacked will usually fire some missiles back, or perhaps find some other way of taking revenge.

Once again we find that God’s wisdom for us as believers is the exact opposite of human wisdom. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, they were new Christians who had believed on the Lord Jesus only a short while before. They had been idol worshipers, but now they knew the Lord Jesus. Paul gave them a lot of basic instruction about their behavior as Christians, and one thing he told them, as we see in our verse for today, was never to do something evil to someone who had done something wrong to them. They were always to follow that which was good.

When we do this, it does not make us look like cowards, but rather displays the grace and love of God, and opens the door for us to tell people about the Lord Jesus. If they have done something bad to us just because they do not like us, then treating them well will often make them ashamed of what they have done. We can leave the matter of the wrong done to us with the Lord. He has said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay” (Romans 12:19). If those who have wronged us never repent of it, and never come to Christ, the Lord will repay them in a coming day, and we can leave all that to Him.

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Copy link Print

“In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

“The Gentiles, which have not the law … shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” (Romans 2:14-15).

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18).

Among Christians and even out in the world, we often speak of our conscience, but do you really know what our conscience is? Normally we think of it as that part of us that enables us to tell right from wrong, and that is true. But did you know that man did not always have a conscience?

When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, they were innocent, and did not have any thought of good or evil. When Satan tempted Eve to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, he told her that if she did so, she would know good and evil. This was true, for Satan often mixes truth with a lie. But Adam and Eve did not need to know good and evil; God had made them so that they did not have to think about such things.

However, when they sinned, they acquired a conscience, and had a sense of good and evil. As the Bible says, immediately they knew they were naked. Since then, every man and woman has had a conscience, with some sense of right and wrong. That is why God says in Romans 2 that the Gentiles, who had no law, have a law written in their hearts, for their conscience tells them right from wrong. Also, the author of the book of Hebrews (probably the Apostle Paul) asks them to pray for him, that he might live with a good conscience.

Since we have a conscience, people sometimes say, “Let your conscience be your guide.” Is this good advice? Not really, for in order to work properly, our conscience needs the light of the Word of God. Yes, we all have some sense of right and wrong, but without the guidance of God’s Word, it is easy to persuade ourselves that it is all right to do something wrong.

Our conscience is really like our eyes. We may have good eyes, but if we are in a totally dark room, our eyes cannot see. We need the light in order for our eyes to see properly. In the same way our conscience needs the light of God’s Word so that it will work properly.

When we do something wrong, our conscience bothers us, and that is good. Before we are saved, God uses our conscience to show us that we are sinners. After we are saved, God uses our conscience to convict us if we have sinned. But again, our conscience works properly only if it is guided by God’s Word.

Monday, November 24, 2025

Copy link Print

“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11).

“And now I [Paul] exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship … Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God” (Acts 27:22, 25).

These verses are concerned with the Apostle Paul’s journey to Rome. When the Lord spoke to him in our first verse, Paul had been taken prisoner in Jerusalem, and would spend two years in prison in Caesarea before being sent to Rome. But Paul knew that he would go to Rome, and that he would get there safely, for the Lord had told him so. The Lord Himself told Paul to “be of good cheer,” and after that, Paul could endure the difficulty of being held in prison for two years, and then being taken as a prisoner to Rome.

When he was finally sent to Rome, he was put on one ship, then later placed on a ship of Alexandria. Alexandria was a port in Egypt at the mouth of the Nile River, and the ship was probably a grain ship, since much of the grain in the Roman Empire was grown in Egypt. These ships were large and could carry up to 2,500 tons of grain. The ship on which Paul sailed also carried 276 people, in addition to grain. It was a large ship for those days. But the Lord allowed this ship to be broken up in a storm, and Paul and the others were shipwrecked on the island of Melita, now known as Malta.

What is important to notice is that because Paul had been told by the Lord to “be of good cheer,” and had been told how the journey would end, later he too could tell the men on the ship to “be of good cheer,” even when they were in the middle of a serious storm, and the others had given up hope of their being saved. As a result the others eventually were “all of good cheer,” and took some food, along with Paul.

The world today is in a serious state, and many are very afraid of what may happen. But you and I know where our journey will end, and we can not only be of good cheer ourselves, but can encourage others too. We can tell them how they can be saved, and how they too can “be of good cheer.” The future is always bright for the believer, for he knows where the journey will end.

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Copy link Print

“Out of the eater came forth meat [food], and out of the strong came forth sweetness” (Judges 14:14).

Have you ever had someone give you a riddle, to see if you could figure it out? It can be fun to think and try to figure out what a riddle means. Here in our verse for today we find a riddle that Samson gave to some young men who were invited to his wedding.

Earlier, when Samson had first come down to Timnath, a city of the Philistines, a lion had attacked him, and he had killed it without having any weapon in his hands. Later, when he came back to the carcass of the lion, he found that some bees had made a home there, and had made some honey. This was the basis of Samson’s riddle that he proposed to those young men. They made an arrangement that if they could figure it out, he would have to give them some new clothes, but if they could not figure it out, they would have to give Samson some new clothes.

The men could not figure it out, and finally persuaded Samson’s wife to ask him the answer, and then she told the young men. Samson was angry, as then he had to give some new clothes to the other young men.

But did you know that there was an important meaning to Samson’s riddle? In the Bible a lion speaks of Satan and his power. He is strong, and we read in 1 Peter 5:8 that “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” He is definitely strong, and he is certainly an “eater.” But we know what happened at Calvary’s cross. The Lord Jesus met Satan and defeated him there. Just as Samson killed the lion, so the Lord Jesus defeated Satan at the cross. What is the result of that victory? Instead of Satan “eating up” those whom he attacks, there is food for us, and sweetness, from the victory the Lord Jesus has won. All the evil that Satan has introduced into the world has only resulted in blessing for man, for the grace of God, and the work of our Lord Jesus on the cross, has turned it into something good.

Of course, we must be willing to come to the Lord Jesus and accept Him as Savior. But then we find that instead of being attacked by Satan, we find food and sweetness.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Copy link Print

“Therefore shall ye keep My commandments, and do them: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 22:31).

“We are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:15).

“And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3).

We have the word “commandments” in both the Old and New Testaments, yet the words have a different meaning in each case. It is important to see the difference, for some dear believers do not understand that we, as believers in the Lord Jesus, are no longer “under the law,” but rather “under grace.” What does this mean?

In the Old Testament, the Lord gave the children of Israel the law, through Moses, and they agreed that they would obey it. The law consisted of the ten commandments, and also many other rules by which they had to live. But could the Israelites keep that law in their own strength? No, they could not, and neither could you and I. It is impossible for us, with sinful natures, to come up to God’s standard.

When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He suffered for sin, so that you and I could have a new life in Christ — a life that wanted to please Him. Then He sent down His Holy Spirit to be the power of that new life. Today you and I do not live by a set of rules like the law of Moses, but rather by grace, and allowing that new life in us to display itself.

But then, why are there commandments spoken of in the New Testament? If we are no longer under the law of Moses, what are the commandments in the New Testament all about? Let me explain it this way. When a husband and wife get married, they may have come from different backgrounds, with different “likes” and “dislikes.” Then they have to get to know one another’s preferences. For example, my father did not like anything with chocolate in it, and especially chocolate ice cream. Do you think my mother served him chocolate ice cream? No, she never did. He did not exactly give her a commandment never to do it, but he told her plainly that he did not like it.

It is that way with the New Testament commandments. The Lord wants us to live to please Him, and in His commandments, He tells us what would please Him. Of course, they are not only to please the Lord; they are for our blessing too. If we obey them, we will not only please the Lord, but we will lead happy Christian lives. The commandments in the New Testament are not like the rules in the Old Testament, but when we know what would please the Lord, we will want to do those things that please Him.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Copy link Print

“Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

On April 20, 1999, in Columbine High School in the state of Colorado, U.S.A., two troubled young men with guns went on a shooting rampage, killing other students and boasting as they went. They eventually killed thirteen of their fellow students. One of those students was a young girl named Cassie Bernall, who was a Christian. When the shooting was going on, and the young men with guns were coming down the hall, many students hid under tables, especially in the library. Cassie was among those in the library and was probably praying. The young men approached her and asked if she believed in God. When she said, “Yes,” they immediately shot her in the head, killing her instantly.

Cassie had no time to think about what she would say; she had to decide right on the spur of the moment, facing young men with guns, whether to confess her faith in God. Her confession resulted in her being shot. She was only seventeen years old.

Are you and I ready to give an answer to those who ask us a reason of the hope that is in us? We do not normally think that a Christian would be shot and killed for her faith in a country like the U.S.A., but these young men were fanatical, and wanted to go around killing people. Another student who overheard Cassie’s voice when she said “yes” to those young men said that her voice was strong and clear. Her confession has been an encouragement to many other young people.

You might be interested to know that Cassie Bernall was not always a nice Christian girl. When she was younger, she got in with the wrong crowd, and was involved in some Satanic activities. All this escalated to such a degree that her parents actually made her go to a different high school, and would not allow her to associate with her former friends. Cassie remained rebellious, but then one evening at a Christian camp the beautiful singing reached into her soul, and she accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior. This happened when she was sixteen. The morning of the day she was shot, she wrote a note to her good friend Amanda, saying,

“Honestly, I want to live completely for God. It’s hard and scary, but totally worth it.”

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Copy link Print

“For the invisible things of Him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen … so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

As human beings, some of us find it difficult to believe something that we cannot see. This was particularly true about 140-150 years ago, when men like Koch and Pasteur and others first began to discover germs. Before that time, even doctors and other scientists had no idea what really caused infectious diseases. It is true that a man named Leeuwenhoek had discovered bacteria back in the 17th century, but it was men like Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur who really proved the existence of germs beyond any doubt in the late 19th century, and proved that they were the cause of infectious diseases. This was when really good microscopes became widely available.

However, many doctors and scientists were skeptical of this new idea, and sad to say, reputable doctors even ridiculed the idea that microscopic organisms could cause disease.

This same ridicule caused the death of an American president — James Garfield. He was shot by a deranged man named Guiteau in July, 1881, but his wounds were almost surely not fatal. Had they been left alone, he would likely have healed uneventfully and lived. But his doctors ridiculed the germ theory, although antiseptic surgery had already been introduced by a British surgeon named Joseph Lister. Garfield’s doctors continued to probe his wound with unsterile instruments and fingers, introducing infection which eventually took his life on September 19, 1881.

With our present-day knowledge, perhaps you and I are horrified at this, and cannot understand how otherwise clever men could refuse to believe in something they could not see without a microscope. However, there are many in this world who refuse to believe in a God because they cannot see Him. As we see in our verse today, God cannot be seen, for “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24), but what God has done can be clearly seen in creation. More than this, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, has become a man who could be seen, touched, and heard. Man has no excuse today, for God has done everything possible to reveal Himself.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Copy link Print

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

Many small children, and especially babies, do not like to try eating new things. Also, I have known young people who would eat only pizza or “mac and cheese” (macaroni and cheese). Of course, those of us who are older can also become very set in our diet, and not like to try something different. We like what we have become accustomed to eating, and do not want to change. Yet often, when we are willing to try something different, we find that we do like it.

I remember a little boy about 1½ years old who had never tasted ice cream. When someone offered him a lick of an ice cream cone, he flatly refused, and consistently turned his face away. Finally the man who had the ice cream cone pushed the cone onto the boy’s lips, smearing them with a little of the ice cream. Immediately the boy licked his lips, and as you may imagine, immediately wanted more.

On another occasion the mother of a small boy wanted him to start eating tomatoes, but again, he flatly refused. Finally his father told him he had to try them, and after eating some, the boy immediately said, in his childlike speech, “Likes it!” His mother told me this story herself.

We understand all this in natural things, for often we need only to try something in order to find out that we enjoy it. But how much more is this principle true in divine things! An older Christian brother used to remind us often that “all our failures, whether as sinners or as believers, is because we do not believe the goodness that is in the heart of God.” This is true. We do not come to Christ as unbelievers because Satan persuades us that we will be happier in our sins than in coming to Christ. We do not live more for the Lord’s glory as believers because somehow we believe that a little of the old nature and the world will make us happier than enjoying the Lord.

What is the answer? It is found in our verse for today; we must “taste and see.” The more we taste of Christ, the more we will want, for He satisfies, and in a lasting way.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Copy link Print

“And the men of Ephraim said unto him [Gideon], Why hast thou served us thus, that thou callest us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? … And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you?” (Judges 8:1-2).

“And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together … and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? … Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim” (Judges 12:1, 4).

Perhaps you have heard of the expression, “low self-esteem.” It has become a rather common expression during the past twenty or thirty years, and refers to those who have a rather low opinion of themselves. When I was young it was called an “inferiority complex.” It tends to make people, and especially young people, “show off” by doing things to attract attention to themselves, but sometimes it works the other way, causing people to become depressed and angry because they feel that they are not appreciated as they ought to be. In the modern world of social media, all this has become more pronounced, often prompting young people to join gangs in order to feel accepted and appreciated. Sometimes, however, those who are depressed and angry resort to violence, perhaps by taking a gun and shooting a number of people, and then often shooting themselves.

In the history of Gideon and Jephthah, we see two men, one of whom (Gideon) was comfortable with what the Lord had done in his life, but the other (Jephthah) who had a real problem with low self-esteem. We need to remind ourselves that low self-esteem is really pride, and because we are not as gifted as some others, or are not getting enough appreciation from others, we become either angry or depressed.

When the Ephraimites approached Gideon, he could have answered them roughly. But instead, he gave them credit for what they had done, and praised them for capturing the leaders of the Midianites. He cooled down the whole situation and avoided any conflict with the Ephraimites. However, when Jephthah fought with the children of Ammon some years later, the same Ephraimites complained that he had not called them to help. Of course they were very wrong to get upset like this, for there was no reason for Jephthah to call them. However, Jephthah was a proud man, and instead of giving them a soft answer, as Gideon had done, he immediately went to war with the Ephraimites. As a result, 42,000 of the Ephraimites were killed.

Perhaps you and I would say that they deserved this, and certainly their attitude was wrong. But how much better would it have been to give a soft answer to them, and have avoided killing many men. If you read the whole story of Jephthah, you will find that he had not been treated very well by his family. He too went out and formed the equivalent of what today we would call a gang, and later, when the men of Israel asked for his help against the Ammonites, he consented only if they would make him their leader. All this is pride, and not of God.

If we walk before the Lord, we can be content with His approval, and not allow low self-esteem to spoil our lives.

Monday, November 17, 2025

Copy link Print

“He [the Lord Jesus] hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

I imagine that every person who reads this page could say, “Yes, I’ve sure been lonely at one time or another!” You may have lots of friends, a happy home, and perhaps brothers and sisters. But there have most likely been times when you felt alone and not understood. No one else seemed to “get” just how you were feeling.

Do you know that the actual word “lonely” is not found in our KJV Bible? There are many examples, though, of people who were alone or forsaken. The Lord Jesus during His life on earth is a very good example of this. “Every man went unto his own house. Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives” (John 7:53, 8:1). He was often misunderstood and forsaken. Even though surrounded by huge crowds much of the time, He was alone.

There is a part of each of us that is in the “core” of our being that no one else can understand. Each of us is unique. But our Creator and Father knows us better than we can even know ourselves! That is an awesome thought. And so, there is a spot that only He can fill. Thoughts, hurts and that loneliness of yours that only He can understand.

The following poem is a favorite of mine, and explains the thought beautifully. I hope you will enjoy it and be encouraged by it.

There is a mystery in human hearts,
And though we be encircled by a host
Of those who love us well, and are beloved,
To every one of us from time to time
There comes a sense of utter loneliness.
Our dearest friend is stranger to our joy
And cannot realize our bitterness.
“There is no one who really understands
No one to enter into all I feel.”
Such is the cry of each of us in turn.
We wander in a “solitary way,”
No matter what or where our lot may be;
Each heart mysterious to itself,
Must live its inner life in solitude.
And would you know the reason why this is?
It is because the Lord desires our love.
In every heart He wishes to be first.
He therefore keeps the secret key Himself
To open all its chambers and to bless
With perfect sympathy and peace,
Each solitary soul that comes to Him.
So when we feel this loneliness, it is
The voice of Jesus saying, “Come to Me,”
And every time we are “not understood,”
It is the call to us to come again.
For Christ alone can satisfy the soul,
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have a “solitary way.”

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Copy link Print

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

In the time that we are now living, believers in the Lord Jesus are accustomed to referring to one another as Christians, and the name has become firmly attached to those who follow Christ. It is interesting to notice that this was not always so, and that in the beginning of Christianity, those who believed on the Lord Jesus, and followed Him, were simply referred to as “that way,” or “the way.” When Saul of Tarsus went to Damascus to try and arrest believers, it simply says that “if he found any of this way … he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2).

When the gospel was being spread, and many were saved in a city called Antioch, it seems that worldly people began to call them Christians, and as we would say in modern language, “the name stuck.” From that time on those who followed the Lord Jesus were called Christians. Even though it was given to them by worldly people, the name “Christian” is a wonderful name to be called. It identifies us with the name of the Lord Jesus, and with others who follow Him.

Do we always deserve that name? I am reminded of a Christian young man who was hired by a big company and given a responsible position. On his first day at work, he took his Bible with him and placed it in a prominent place on his desk. As other employees passed by and interacted with him, they noticed the Bible and asked him if he were a Christian. His reply was very good. He said, “Yes, I am a Christian, but I am not going to ask you to call me a Christian unless you see in my life the character and behavior that a Christian should have.”

Sometimes worldly people know better than we do, what should characterize a Christian, and they can be very quick to notice something that is not Christ-like. We should all want to be identified as Christians, but then our behavior should be consistent with the name of Christ.

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Copy link Print

“And Jonah began to enter into the city … and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown … So the people of Nineveh believed God … and put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:4-5).

“And God saw their works … and God repented of the evil, that He had said He would do unto them” (Jonah 3:10).

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said … I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest Thee of the evil” (Jonah 4:1-2).

If you read the 3rd and 4th chapters of Jonah, you will see that once again the Lord commanded Jonah to go and give a warning to Nineveh, and this time he went. He took that long journey to Nineveh, and told them that in forty days God was going to overthrow (destroy) the city. Even though they were a heathen nation, they believed that Jonah’s message was from the Lord, and humbled themselves. Wearing sackcloth (a kind of coarse itchy cloth used to make sacks, possibly for carrying vegetables or grain) was a sign of repentance, and it is mentioned in this connection a number of times in the Old Testament. When the Lord saw their repentance, He did not bring judgment down on them, as He had said He would.

All this made Jonah very angry, for he really wanted to see them come under God’s judgment. Jonah did not want to see the Lord show any mercy or grace to these people! Yet if we think about this for a moment, Jonah himself had just been shown mercy and grace, after refusing to obey the Lord. He had been saved from drowning in the sea, and was then vomited out of the fish’s belly on dry land. Yet here he is, angry because God was showing mercy and grace to Nineveh!

Before you and I condemn Jonah too strongly, let us remember that we sometimes do the same. We who are Christians have been forgiven much, yet sometimes we are unwilling to forgive others for something they have done. Like Jonah, we often need to learn more of the grace of God.

I believe that Jonah eventually learned his lesson, for God used a big gourd to teach him something, as he sat outside the city of Nineveh. You can read about this in Jonah, chapter 4. Finally, it is almost certain that Jonah wrote the book of Jonah, and he could not have written it unless he had learned what God wanted to teach him.

Friday, November 14, 2025

Copy link Print

“Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly” (Jonah 2:1).

“And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10).

Can you imagine being in the water, and then being swallowed by a whale? It would be an awful experience, and we know from the Bible that Jonah was there, inside the whale’s belly, three days and three nights. However, Jonah recognized that the whole experience could only be arranged by the Lord, for how else could they throw Jonah out of the ship in middle of a storm, and yet somehow a whale was waiting there, just at the right moment, to swallow him and prevent him from being drowned?

When all this happened, Jonah did several things that were right, and they are good for us to remember. First of all, he admitted his wrong, and he even told the sailors on the ship that he was running away from the Lord. But most important of all, he admitted his sin to the Lord. Secondly, he recognized that the Lord could hear him in prayer, even from inside the belly of the fish. He recognized that only the Lord could save him, if He wished to do so. Thirdly, he realized that he deserved to die for disobeying the word of the Lord. If you read the whole 2nd chapter of Jonah, you will see that Jonah said all of these three things in his prayer. When it was the Lord’s time, He told the whale to vomit Jonah out onto the dry land, and of course the fish obeyed the Lord. It is interesting to notice in the Bible that when the Lord tells animals to do something, they never disobey. Yet man sometimes dares to disobey the Lord!

Even as Christians, we may dislike what the Lord wants us to do, and try to run the other way, as Jonah did. I hope neither you nor I would do such a thing, but we are capable of it, just as Jonah was capable of it. Then the Lord may allow very difficult problems in our life, to make us realize that He is in control. Even if we have sinned like Jonah, if we truly repent and cry to the Lord, He will hear us.

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Copy link Print

“Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai … But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish” (Jonah 1:1, 3).

Jonah was another prophet of the Lord, who lived about the time of Jeroboam, the great-grandson of Jehu, king of Israel, and while Amaziah was the king of Judah. This would be less than twenty years after the death of Elisha. The Lord had a message for Jonah to deliver to the city of Nineveh, the capital of the kingdom of Assyria. Assyria was the most powerful country in the world at that time, and Nineveh was a very large but very wicked city. It was east of the land of Israel, and the journey was more than 500 miles (800 km.).

However, Jonah did not want to go there and give the message the Lord told him to give. He knew that the Lord was merciful, and that if those in Nineveh repented, the Lord would not bring down judgment upon them. Jonah probably did not like the Assyrians. No one liked them, as they were an aggressive and often brutal people! Jonah would gladly have seen them fall under the judgment of God.

Because of this, Jonah got into a ship at Joppa, on the Mediterranean coast of the land of Israel, to go to Tarshish. We do not know for sure where Tarshish was. Some feel that it was in southern Spain, while others think it was somewhere down in the Red Sea. However, Jonah wanted to run away, and he headed in a different direction from the one he should have taken.

It is a serious thing to run away from the Lord, but the Lord had His eye on Jonah, and was going to put him through a really tough experience, to teach him something about grace. The Lord wants us all to be “growing in grace!” First of all, the Lord allowed a big storm to come into the sea, and it was so bad that the sailors on the ship realized it was from the Lord. Finally, Jonah admitted to them that he was the cause of it, and asked them to throw him overboard. When they did this, the storm stopped, but Jonah was not drowned. The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow him up.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Copy link Print

“And he [Elisha] went up from thence unto Bethel: and … there came forth little children … and said unto him. Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back … and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them” (2 Kings 2:23-24).

Our last meditation about Elisha was back on November 7, and we have digressed a little during the last few days. Let us return to Elisha today. We were saying that his character and his miracles were of grace, in contrast to the law that characterized Elijah. However, we see by today’s verses that grace that is despised brings judgment.

Elisha had been gracious to those in Jericho, but here in Bethel little children came out and mocked him. Those who lived in Bethel had evidently heard how Elijah had gone up to heaven, and these children were telling Elisha to go up too. They had probably heard this kind of talk at home from their parents, as it is unlikely that these little children made it up themselves. The people did not like Elijah, as he told them how wrong they were to worship idols instead of the true God. Many people in Israel were likely angry when they had to endure three years of no rain, and were glad to see him go. Now that Elisha had taken his place, they wanted him to go away too.

Elisha was a man of grace, and God is a God of grace, but this was very serious. Elijah had been a faithful man, and God’s taking him to heaven by a whirlwind was a miracle that showed the honor that God placed upon him. For others to make fun of it, and to tell Elisha to go away too, was despising the grace of God. The awful judgment that resulted showed the people of Israel what the Lord would do to those who dared to mock His grace.

It is the same today. It is the time of God’s grace, and He “will have all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). But if men today despise God’s grace, then there is nothing else for them but judgment. God’s grace does not cancel His judgment, and those who reject the Lord Jesus will suffer an awful punishment from the Lord.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Copy link Print

“Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 13:3).

“This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

Today’s date is known as Remembrance Day in Canada and other British Commonwealth countries, and as Veteran’s Day in the United States. It is the date on which World War I officially ended — November 11, 1918. That was more than 100 years ago, yet it is still celebrated as a national holiday in many countries, and many ceremonies are usually conducted to help us remember those who died, not only in World War I, but in World War II and other wars. Old soldiers appear at a local war memorial, speeches are made, and wreathes laid on the various monuments to those who died in those wars. Sometimes two minutes of silence are observed, in quiet tribute to those who gave their lives for their country.

The children of Israel were to keep the Passover for the same reason. They did not fight a war to get their freedom, but the Lord destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, so that Pharaoh would let God’s people go. Then He eventually destroyed Pharaoh and all his army in the Red Sea. The Lord did not want the children of Israel to forget all that He had done for them. He wanted them also to tell their children about it, so that they too would value the liberty the Lord had given them.

For us, the Lord Jesus has come into this world and died for us, so that we could be delivered from the bondage of sin. He too values it highly when we remember Him. He has asked us to do so by partaking of a broken loaf of bread, and a cup of wine. When we are enjoying all the blessings of Christianity, and all that we have in Christ, it is easy to forget the cost of our redemption. The Lord Jesus does not want us to forget! Remembrance Day and the Passover come only once a year. We can remember what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross every week!

Monday, November 10, 2025

Copy link Print

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

When I was just 5 years old, a world news event hit the headlines of all the newspapers. For some reason I found it very exciting, and the subject has interested me ever since. It was on May 29th, 1953, that Sir Edmund Hillary, a mountain climber from New Zealand, reached the top of Mt. Everest in Nepal. Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world, at 29,029 feet (8,849 metres) above sea level. Not quite 50 years later I experienced an exciting moment as I saw the top of that mountain. Our plane flight from Kathmandu, Nepal into the country of Bhutan took us right past, and quite close to, the peak of Mt. Everest. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and I got a wonderful picture.

Edmund Hillary was the first to reach the summit, and he has been followed by 5,788 others. More than 300 have died in the attempt. About 800 try the climb every year, even though it costs between $30,000 and $160,000 to outfit yourself, hire a guide and obtain the necessary permits. One lady who made the climb said she did it because her life was not going anywhere, and she was bored and wanted some excitement!

As I write this there is a deep blanket of snow outside and the temperature last night at our home was minus 25 deg. C. (13 deg. below zero F.). I am all for winter sports and enjoying God’s creation. And even mountain climbing! But read today’s verse again — “I press toward the mark.” Of what? Of the top of a mountain somewhere? No, “Of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

We all like to have a goal in life. It is necessary to help us accomplish things. But the Lord wants our goal to be much higher than 29,029 feet above sea level. He wants us to have our eyes on heavenly things, even while we are still living here on His earth. We have talked in other meditations about how we are created for eternity. Our time here in this world is like the blink of an eye in the reaches of eternity. Can we make it our goal to live each day for our Savior, and ask Him each morning to make us useful, and pleasing to Him that day?

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Copy link Print

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4).

“And they stoned Stephen … and … he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).

It may seem strange to write a meditation for young people about dying. But I am sure that we each need some comfort and understanding on this subject. You may have had a beloved grandparent or a friend die. They may have been an encouragement to you in your Christian pathway. But then they die. Dying is not easy. Yes, we close our eyes here, and open them in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Wonderful! We know that happens. But it is often a struggle and may be filled with pain.

I enjoyed the way a father explained it to his little boy who had lost his mother. He had seen her suffer, but the father wanted to explain that the “sting” had gone out of death for the Christian. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:55). They were walking along the street and came to a corner and had to wait while a big truck turned the corner onto the street in front of them. As it did this, the shadow of the truck passed across the father and his son. The dad saw his opportunity. He said, “Son, see how that big shadow of the truck just went across us? But the truck didn’t touch us? Well, it is like that when someone who loves Jesus goes through death. It’s as though Jesus, on the cross, had the truck run right over Him, so we just have to pass through its shadow.” The shadow of that big truck was like, “The valley of the shadow of death,” as in today’s verse.

Another story also explains a sweet thought. Over one hundred years ago a Christian family was being hunted by those who were anti-Christian, and the father was very fearful that they would all have a terrible death if they were caught. He could not help but think how painful it would be if they all had to face a martyr’s death, even his wife and children. But the Lord reminded him of our second verse in today’s reading. It is about Stephen who was stoned to death for his faith in the early days of the church, soon after the Lord Jesus was risen. What does it say about how he died? He fell asleep! This brought the necessary comfort to that father. He knew that if it came to the point that they would all be killed, then the Lord could make it to be just like falling asleep. The Lord did not allow them to be caught and the father eventually wrote a most interesting book about their life experiences.

We are daily expecting the Lord to come and take us all to be with Him. And when He does that, we also know that those who have gone before will join us in being caught up “together” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Saturday, November 8, 2025

Copy link Print

“Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

Maybe you have heard someone use the expression, “He’s really on fire for the Lord.” What do they mean by this? Perhaps they have seen a young person attending a Bible meeting and sitting almost “on the edge of his chair” as he listens and absorbs what is being taught and explained. Maybe a boy or girl carries their Bible to school so they can always have their “sword” ready if someone asks them about their faith.

Today’s verse refers to the two people who were walking away from Jerusalem, discouraged after the Lord had been crucified. They had thought that Jesus was the Messiah who would set up His kingdom, and now He had been crucified and put in a tomb. The Lord Jesus came alongside them as they walked, and understood how they felt. He asked them why they were sad. Of course, He already knew, but He drew out their thoughts and hearts. He listened before He talked.

Then, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (verse 27). That would have been a marvelous walk! I imagine the time flew by, even though it was late and the walk was a long one. The distance from Jerusalem to Emmaus was about 12 km (or 7.5 miles). When they reached their home, the Lord Jesus started to say goodbye and prepared to go on, but they “constrained Him” to come in and stay with them. They were not going to let this One who had been such an encouragement to them just slip away into the night. In their home they realized who it was that was at their table with them.

It can be like this in our lives as well. If we get into the presence of the Lord and enjoy His company, even though it may be brief, we will have a burning desire for more. He had lit a fire in those two, and they started the long walk all the way back to Jerusalem that same night. They wanted more. The Lord Jesus loves to come alongside us and produce that spark in our hearts.

We can do a similar thing in the lives of others. Have you been encouraged by being with other young people, perhaps a little older than yourself? They may have influenced your life in blessing, and encouraged you to live for the Lord Jesus. Now perhaps it is your turn to do that for someone else. Come along beside them where they are. Enter into their feelings as best you can, and turn their eyes and hearts to the One who can make their hearts “burn” to know and enjoy more.

Friday, November 7, 2025

Copy link Print

“And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city [Jericho] is pleasant … but the water is naught [bad], and the ground barren [does not grow things very well]. And he said, Bring me a new cruse [container], and put salt therein … And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed” (2 Kings 2:19-22).

As we know from reading his history, Elijah performed a number of miracles by the Lord’s power. Here we find the first miracle that Elisha performed, again by the Lord’s power. It is the type of miracle that was characteristic of Elisha, and it shows how his approach to the work of the Lord was different from that of Elijah. Elijah’s miracles were often characterized by judgment; Elisha’s miracles were characterized by grace.

After Elijah was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind, Elisha went back to Jericho. Perhaps you will remember that Jericho was destroyed (when its walls fell down in Joshua’s day), away back when the Israelites first conquered the land of Canaan. At that time the Lord had said, through Joshua, “Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates thereof” (Joshua 6:26). Yet hundreds of years later, when Ahab was king, it is recorded that “in his [Ahab’s] days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Joshua the son of Nun” (1 Kings 16:34). This really means that both his eldest son and his youngest son died because Hiel disobeyed the Word of the Lord.

When Elisha came back to Jericho, the men of the city told him that the water was bad, and the land did not grow crops properly. Elisha could easily have said, “It serves you right! That city should never have been rebuilt! The Lord pronounced a curse on the man who rebuilt the city, and the bad water and the barren land is the Lord’s judgment on you.” However, Elisha did not say anything like that. He acted in grace, and asked for some salt, which he threw into the spring of the waters. As a result, the waters were healed.

Salt in the Bible speaks of holy grace. God did not excuse the man who had rebuilt Jericho, but He graciously healed the water and the land. This is the way the Lord Jesus has treated us. Instead of punishing us for our sins, He has made a way for our sins to be forgiven. God does not pass over our sins; rather the Lord Jesus suffered for us. Now God can come out and heal us, and we do not have to suffer for them.

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Copy link Print

“And the Lord said unto him (Elijah), Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus … and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room” (1 Kings 19:15-16).

If you read about what happened after Elijah’s victory on Mt. Carmel, you will find that he became very discouraged. Ahab’s wife Jezebel threatened to kill him, and instead of trusting the Lord, he fled for his life. Then he did something that we are all likely to do sometimes; he started to feel sorry for himself. Perhaps he expected even Jezebel to repent, but this did not happen. Then Elijah actually told the Lord how bad the people of Israel were, and how he felt that he was the only faithful one left. The Lord had to tell Elijah that this was not true; there were thousands of others who had not worshiped idols in Israel.

When he took this attitude, the Lord could not use him anymore, and he told Elijah to go and anoint Elisha to be prophet instead. I am sure that this was a real blow to Elijah and made him feel sad, but he did it. However, it is interesting that the Lord did not take Elijah away to heaven for about ten years. It seems that Elijah learned a lesson by what happened, and repented. During those ten years, Elisha was the one who served Elijah and learned from him. We will see tomorrow what Elisha did differently.

When we do something for the Lord, it is important not to get thinking about ourselves, and how important we are. Elijah had won a great victory for the Lord on Mt. Carmel, and the prophets of Baal had been destroyed. But later, when everything did not go as Elijah had expected, he became very discouraged.

Let us remember that the Lord can use us only when He gets all the glory, and when we do not think of our own reputation. He will look after us if we trust Him.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Copy link Print

“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the Lord God … Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:37-38).

If you read the whole story in this chapter, you will find that the Lord sent Elijah to meet Ahab, who was the king. Ahab was to call all the prophets of the false god Baal to Mt. Carmel, and then Elijah made a proposal to them. The prophets of Baal were to take one bullock (a young bull), kill it, and lay it on the altar. Elijah would take another bullock, kill it, and lay it on the altar of the Lord. Then the prophets of Baal would cry to him, and Elijah would cry to the Lord. The one who answered by fire, to burn the sacrifice, would be the true God.

The prophets of Baal cried all day, but nothing happened. Imagine, 450 men crying out all day, as loudly as they could! No fire came down to burn their sacrifice. Finally, in the evening, Elijah laid out his bullock and dumped barrels of water on the altar, just so that no one could accuse him of hiding fire under the wood. When Elijah cried to the Lord, the Lord sent fire that burned up everything — the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the water. You and I have never seen fire that burned stones and water!

Yes, the Lord made it clear who was God, and the people were convinced. That day they killed all the prophets of Baal. But did that stop Ahab from acting wickedly before God? No, sadly it did not. Did it stop the people of Israel from worshiping idols? Sadly it did not. The people were convinced when they saw the power of God, but their hearts were not changed. It required more than a miracle to change their hearts.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Copy link Print

“And he [Elijah] called unto her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink … and … he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said … I have … but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 17:10-14).

Please read this whole story in 1 Kings 17, to see how the Lord looked after Elijah. As we see at the beginning of the chapter, a man named Elijah suddenly appears in Israel’s history. He came from Tishbe, which was probably east of the Jordan River, in the land of Gilead. Elijah actually prays that there would not be any rain in the land of Israel. Why did he do this? It was because of Israel’s sin in worshiping idols, and not following the Lord.

As you may imagine, soon there was no food to eat, and when Elijah was told to go and stay with this widow woman, she was just about to use the last bit of flour and oil she had to make a cake for herself and her son. Then they would die from starvation. What Elijah did then seems rather strange and bold to us, for not only did he ask for some water, but he asked her to make him a cake first, and bring it to him. Then she could make one for herself and her son. Why would Elijah say this to a woman who was a perfect stranger to him?

We learn from the New Testament that this woman had faith, and evidently had cried to the Lord for His help. When Elijah appeared, she recognized him as the one whom the Lord had sent to help her. However, her faith was about to be tested. If she made a cake for Elijah, she would use up all her flour and oil. But Elijah had said that the flour and oil would last until the rain came. Could she trust his word? If she made a cake for Elijah, would the Lord provide more for her and her son? She had faith, and when she did as Elijah asked her, the Lord provided more flour and oil, not only that first day, but every day. It was not the nice mix of foods that most of us eat every day, but it was food that kept them alive.

What do we learn from this? When the Lord says something in His Word, we can trust Him. He may test our faith, and He tested this woman’s faith, but He will never disappoint our faith. Sometimes we may find ourselves in the middle of a problem, and perhaps the Lord shows us what He wants us to do. Do we have faith to obey the Lord, and trust Him? If we do, He will never let us down.

Monday, November 3, 2025

Copy link Print

“For our commonwealth [citizenship] has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior” (Philippians 3:20 JND).

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

As I write this meditation in February, 2022, there is a large protest going on in the city of Ottawa, the capital of Canada. A group of truckers, supported by many other people, are protesting the government’s rule that all truck drivers who cross the Canadian/U.S. border must be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. A lot of big trucks have been driven to the city, and the protesters are vowing to stay there until they get what they want. Many other protests have taken place at different times in various countries, and sometimes the protests have concerned things about which Christians could agree. What should we do in such situations?

It is sometimes hard to know what to do, for when we have a new life in Christ, that new life wants righteousness in this world. We want to see wrong things straightened out, and we want to see good moral principles upheld. However, I believe that our verses today give us clear instruction as to how to act.

First of all, we must remember that this is not our home. As our first verse says, our commonwealth (or citizenship) is in heaven. Yes, we are all naturally citizens of the country to which we belong, but our real citizenship is heavenly.

Secondly, we are sent back into this world as ambassadors. An ambassador is one who is sent from one country to another, in order to represent the interests of the country to which he belongs. For example, there is an American ambassador here in Canada. He is a U.S. citizen, but he is sent here to Canada to represent the interests of the United States.

Would you expect to see the American ambassador out on the streets of Ottawa right now, waving a placard, and shouting out that he or she supports the truckers in their demands? No, you would not see that happen. If it did happen, the American government would quickly recall him or her, and make it clear that this was not the proper way for an ambassador to act.

What then does an ambassador do? He makes sure that his government’s point of view on any matter is clearly stated. This is the right way for us to act as Christians. We are not here to straighten out this world; it is under judgment. In the same way the American ambassador is not here to straighten out affairs in Canada. But if he is asked, he will give his government’s position on any matter that affects Canada/U.S. relations.

We are far more effective as ambassadors in this world, than if we join forces with this world and try to set the everything right. Rather than straightening things out, our job is to give out the gospel, so that people can be saved.

Sunday, November 2, 2025

Copy link Print

“Then I [Solomon] looked on all the works that my hands had wrought … and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

As we saw yesterday, Solomon asked the Lord first of all for wisdom, and the Lord gave it to him. However, the Lord also gave him riches and honor. Sadly, we saw that Solomon did not manage his riches and honor well, and disobeyed the Lord in getting a lot of horses, silver and gold, and wives. He had to find out that none of this made him happy. He did not need all those horses and chariots to defend himself; the Lord could have protected him without all that. He did not need to gather as much silver and gold as he could; he could not take it with him, and what good did it do him? Finally, he should not have had so many wives; they too did not make him truly happy.

Toward the end of his life, after he had tried all these things, Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. The word ecclesiastes means “the preacher.” Solomon had tried everything in this world and had found out that it could not make him happy. However, Solomon had learned something from all this, and that is why he wrote the book. Now you and I do not have to try everything Solomon tried, to see if it will make us happy. We can read the book of Ecclesiastes and learn from Solomon’s experience.

The book of Ecclesiastes is sometimes rather sad, for Solomon explains very clearly all the frustration and disappointment that he experienced when he tried so many things. He had to learn that all of man’s efforts to find happiness outside of God will end up in vanity, which means emptiness. There will also be “vexation of spirit,” which means that we will have a lot of irritation in this world, because nothing is perfect. Sin has spoiled everything.

For you and me who know the Lord Jesus, we can find happiness and rest in Him. Only He is able to fill our hearts.

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Copy link Print

“Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose … He shall not multiply horses to himself … neither shall he multiply wives to himself … neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:15-17).

“And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen … and the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones” (1 Kings 10:26-27).

“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines” (1 Kings 11:3).

The law made it very clear that there were three things a king of Israel was not to do. He was not to multiply horses for himself, nor was he to multiply wives for himself. Finally, he was not greatly to multiple silver and gold. Yet Solomon did all three of these things.

We know that Solomon really wanted to please the Lord when he first became king. When the Lord asked him what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom so that he could govern the people correctly. God said that because he asked for wisdom, He would also give him riches and honor. It seems that when all this came to Solomon, he rather quickly forgot what was written in the law and disobeyed all three commandments.

He was not to multiply horses to himself, for in those days, horses were the strength of the army. Solomon ended up with a big army, but the Lord wanted him to trust in Him, not in the size of his army.

He was not to multiply silver and gold, for there was no need for this. Yes, there was plenty of gold available to build the temple, and that was all right. But later, Solomon got as much gold as he could, just to have it around. His heart was on the silver and gold, not on the Lord.

Finally, he was not to multiply wives for himself. Yet Solomon actually had seven hundred wives, and three hundred other women beside. Can you imagine a man with seven hundred wives? As we would say today, that is mind-boggling! It tells us that when Solomon was old, his wives “turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). He had married a lot of women who came from heathen backgrounds, and they worshiped idols. His affections were divided, and he did not follow the Lord like David his father. He thought he could find happiness with many wives, but it did not work.

Solomon thought he knew better than the Lord and decided to disobey the Lord’s commands. He found out that the Lord was right, and this should be a lesson to us. Obedience and happiness go together.