Each year over one million wildebeest and zebra invade the Serengeti grasslands, making it a paradise for the predators the live there.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Come and eat!
(Horatius Bonar, "The Bread of Immortality")
"I am the bread of life." John 6:48
"I am the living bread." John 6:51
All food is for the sustaining of life.
Jesus announces Himself as the bread which will sustain
the life of the soul. Not merely some doctrine—but Himself.
He is the bread; not merely bread—but the bread—the one
true bread; without whom the soul cannot grow, nor its life
be sustained. For only by this life-sustaining bread, can
such sickly souls be nourished. As such, Jesus is necessary
to the soul as its food—its bread.
Outside of Him, there is no nourishment, no sustenance.
He feeds—He alone. He feeds us on Himself! All else is
husks, or mere air and vapor. Jesus, in His glorious person,
is our food—the true bread and sustenance of the soul;
the hidden manna.
Jesus applies various names to it:
"bread from heaven"
"true bread"
"the bread of God"
"bread of life"
"living bread."
All these are names indicative of its excellence, its power,
its suitableness. It is the very bread we need; no other
would do. Jesus is the soul's eternal food. This
storehouse is inexhaustible—and ever accessible!
Come as you are, poor prodigal, starving on husks—come
and eat! Eat, O friends! Eat, and live! Eat, and be strong!
Eat, and be in soul health!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I am the bread of life." John 6:48
"I am the living bread." John 6:51
All food is for the sustaining of life.
Jesus announces Himself as the bread which will sustain
the life of the soul. Not merely some doctrine—but Himself.
He is the bread; not merely bread—but the bread—the one
true bread; without whom the soul cannot grow, nor its life
be sustained. For only by this life-sustaining bread, can
such sickly souls be nourished. As such, Jesus is necessary
to the soul as its food—its bread.
Outside of Him, there is no nourishment, no sustenance.
He feeds—He alone. He feeds us on Himself! All else is
husks, or mere air and vapor. Jesus, in His glorious person,
is our food—the true bread and sustenance of the soul;
the hidden manna.
Jesus applies various names to it:
"bread from heaven"
"true bread"
"the bread of God"
"bread of life"
"living bread."
All these are names indicative of its excellence, its power,
its suitableness. It is the very bread we need; no other
would do. Jesus is the soul's eternal food. This
storehouse is inexhaustible—and ever accessible!
Come as you are, poor prodigal, starving on husks—come
and eat! Eat, O friends! Eat, and live! Eat, and be strong!
Eat, and be in soul health!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
On just such husks do the religious swine feed
(Arthur W. Pink)
"Take heed what you hear." Mark 4:24
The word hear obviously includes what is read, for
that which is written or printed is addressed to the
ears of our intellect. Few people today realize the
urgent need for 'taking heed' unto what they read.
Just as the natural food which is eaten either helps
or hinders the body; so the mental food we receive
either benefits or injures the mind, and that, in turn,
affects the heart. Now just as it is harmful to listen
to the rubbish and poison which is being served from
the great majority of present-day pulpits, so it is
exceedingly injurious to the soul to read most of
what is now being published. Take heed what you
hear—and read!
"Those who are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh" (Romans 8:5), and are charmed with
oratorical eloquence, catchy sayings, witty allusions,
and jocular displays. On just such husks do the
religious swine feed; but the penitent prodigal
can find no nutriment therein!
Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul,
cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless,
unctionless, powerless—no matter what prominent or
popular name is attached thereto. Life is too short
to waste valuable time on that which profits not.
Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books,
booklets, and magazines now being published, are not
worth the paper on which they are printed! Take heed
what you hear—and read!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
link
"Take heed what you hear." Mark 4:24
The word hear obviously includes what is read, for
that which is written or printed is addressed to the
ears of our intellect. Few people today realize the
urgent need for 'taking heed' unto what they read.
Just as the natural food which is eaten either helps
or hinders the body; so the mental food we receive
either benefits or injures the mind, and that, in turn,
affects the heart. Now just as it is harmful to listen
to the rubbish and poison which is being served from
the great majority of present-day pulpits, so it is
exceedingly injurious to the soul to read most of
what is now being published. Take heed what you
hear—and read!
"Those who are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh" (Romans 8:5), and are charmed with
oratorical eloquence, catchy sayings, witty allusions,
and jocular displays. On just such husks do the
religious swine feed; but the penitent prodigal
can find no nutriment therein!
Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul,
cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless,
unctionless, powerless—no matter what prominent or
popular name is attached thereto. Life is too short
to waste valuable time on that which profits not.
Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books,
booklets, and magazines now being published, are not
worth the paper on which they are printed! Take heed
what you hear—and read!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
link
When Munster lay sick
("The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod"
or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes"
by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London.)
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline."
Revelation 3:19
"The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and
punishes every son whom He receives." Heb. 12:6
All the afflictions which come upon the saints,
are the fruits of divine love.
When Munster lay sick, and his friends asked
him how he did, and how he felt; he pointed to
his sores and ulcers, whereof he was full, and said,
"These are God's gems and jewels with which He
decks his best friends, and to me they are more
precious than all the gold and silver in the world!"
"It was good for me to be afflicted!" Psalm 119:71
God afflicts you, O Christian, in love! Therefore Luther
cries out, "Strike, Lord, strike, Lord! and spare not!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
link
or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes"
by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London.)
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline."
Revelation 3:19
"The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and
punishes every son whom He receives." Heb. 12:6
All the afflictions which come upon the saints,
are the fruits of divine love.
When Munster lay sick, and his friends asked
him how he did, and how he felt; he pointed to
his sores and ulcers, whereof he was full, and said,
"These are God's gems and jewels with which He
decks his best friends, and to me they are more
precious than all the gold and silver in the world!"
"It was good for me to be afflicted!" Psalm 119:71
God afflicts you, O Christian, in love! Therefore Luther
cries out, "Strike, Lord, strike, Lord! and spare not!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
link
O fearful state! O terrible condition! O awful doom!
(James Smith, "Rills from the Rock of Ages", 1860)
"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned--but whoever does not believe standscondemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son!" John 3:18
The unbeliever's condemnation is for sin; but his condemnation is not merely for violating the law--but for refusing a pardon, presented to him by God as an act of infinite mercy.
Every unbeliever is presently in a state of condemnation!
He is condemned, BY WHOM? By God, the righteous Judge, the Judge of all.
He is condemned, FOR WHAT? Not merely for breaking the law--but for insulting the Lawgiver, by refusing a pardon, procured at no less a cost than the death of his Son, and presented in the everlasting gospel.
He is condemned, WHEN? Now, already! At this moment, while he reads these lines! The manacled criminal in his cell, waiting for the day of execution, is not more really condemned, than is every unbeliever!
He is condemned, TO WHAT? Ah, who can tell? His punishment is represented . . .
by blackness, darkness, and a horrible tempest!
By weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth!
By a lake of fire, a bottomless pit, and a gnawing worm which never dies!
He is condemned, WITH WHOM? The devil and his demons--and with most depraved of the human race!
He is condemned, BY WHAT? Both the law--and the gospel; both the Creator--and the Savior!
See then, every unbeliever's state--he is condemned already! Yes, however moral the life, however amiable the disposition--he is condemned already! Condemned to be driven from God, from holy angels, from blessed believers; and to be associated with devils and damned souls forever! Condemned, just because he would not believe in Jesus--he would not accept the pardon--he would not be reconciled to God.
O strange infatuation! O fearful delusion! O astonishing power of sin!
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life--but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath abides on him!" John 3:36
O fearful state! O terrible condition! O awful doom!
Believe at once--and escape so terrible a doom!
link
"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned--but whoever does not believe standscondemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son!" John 3:18
The unbeliever's condemnation is for sin; but his condemnation is not merely for violating the law--but for refusing a pardon, presented to him by God as an act of infinite mercy.
Every unbeliever is presently in a state of condemnation!
He is condemned, BY WHOM? By God, the righteous Judge, the Judge of all.
He is condemned, FOR WHAT? Not merely for breaking the law--but for insulting the Lawgiver, by refusing a pardon, procured at no less a cost than the death of his Son, and presented in the everlasting gospel.
He is condemned, WHEN? Now, already! At this moment, while he reads these lines! The manacled criminal in his cell, waiting for the day of execution, is not more really condemned, than is every unbeliever!
He is condemned, TO WHAT? Ah, who can tell? His punishment is represented . . .
by blackness, darkness, and a horrible tempest!
By weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth!
By a lake of fire, a bottomless pit, and a gnawing worm which never dies!
He is condemned, WITH WHOM? The devil and his demons--and with most depraved of the human race!
He is condemned, BY WHAT? Both the law--and the gospel; both the Creator--and the Savior!
See then, every unbeliever's state--he is condemned already! Yes, however moral the life, however amiable the disposition--he is condemned already! Condemned to be driven from God, from holy angels, from blessed believers; and to be associated with devils and damned souls forever! Condemned, just because he would not believe in Jesus--he would not accept the pardon--he would not be reconciled to God.
O strange infatuation! O fearful delusion! O astonishing power of sin!
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life--but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath abides on him!" John 3:36
O fearful state! O terrible condition! O awful doom!
Believe at once--and escape so terrible a doom!
link
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
HD: Underwater Armageddon - Nature's Great Events: The Great Tide - BBC One
A mighty army of dolphins, sharks, whales, seals and gannets hunt down the billions of sardines along South Africa's east coast each winter. This is the sardine run: an underwater Armageddon, the greatest gathering of predators anywhere on the planet, and the most spectacular event in the world's oceans.
Open your mouth wide—and I will fill it!
by James Smith, 1840
"My grace is sufficient for you!" 2 Corinthians 12:9
You need look to no other quarter for help, relief, or comfort. Jesus assures you that His grace is sufficient. You are welcome to it. You are exhorted to have it; and to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.
His grace is sufficient . . .
to support you under every privation,
to help you over every difficulty,
to strengthen you for every duty,
to mortify every lust, and
to fill you with all joy and peace in believing!
His grace is almighty!
His grace is free!
His grace is durable!
His grace brings glorious salvation!
Look not at difficulties, dangers, or your own weakness!
Look to the free, powerful, and promised grace of Jesus!
Go to His throne of grace this morning, on purpose to receive grace for this day!
Go every day—and whenever you feel weak, tempted, or cast down!
His grace has been found sufficient for all Christians in their deepest trials; and it will be found sufficient for you!
He says to each of His children, "I am the Lord your God; open your mouth wide—and I will fill it!Come boldly to the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help you in every time of need. Everyone who asks, receives!"
You need look to no other quarter for help, relief, or comfort. Jesus assures you that His grace is sufficient. You are welcome to it. You are exhorted to have it; and to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.
His grace is sufficient . . .
to support you under every privation,
to help you over every difficulty,
to strengthen you for every duty,
to mortify every lust, and
to fill you with all joy and peace in believing!
His grace is almighty!
His grace is free!
His grace is durable!
His grace brings glorious salvation!
Look not at difficulties, dangers, or your own weakness!
Look to the free, powerful, and promised grace of Jesus!
Go to His throne of grace this morning, on purpose to receive grace for this day!
Go every day—and whenever you feel weak, tempted, or cast down!
His grace has been found sufficient for all Christians in their deepest trials; and it will be found sufficient for you!
He says to each of His children, "I am the Lord your God; open your mouth wide—and I will fill it!Come boldly to the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help you in every time of need. Everyone who asks, receives!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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