Truth Archive

Brooke ~
I was once asked what my favourite verse was; many came to mind, but I was not sure of my favourite. Psalms 27:13 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” – this verse changed the way I read the scriptures. This [believing in the goodness…] was the only reason David hadn’t fainted. Seeing the Lord gives us courage. We can look for the goodness of the Lord in the scriptures.
Luke 15 – the prodigal son was encouraged when he saw the goodness of his father in the land of the living. He had spent all he had and was in want. V.17 “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” – he thought about his father’s kindness, and it gave him courage. Lev 25:39-40 The hired servant was not as a bond servant, but a brother or neighbour who had a need that he couldn’t meet himself, and so would serve, but could be redeemed. The prodigal saw others in the situation he was in, with decisions that led to poverty and captivity. He realised he had nothing to offer, but saw the goodness in the father’s house.
Mark 7:26 – the Greek lady brought her daughter to Jesus; she wasn’t Jewish, but she had a deep need for her daughter – she knew she wasn’t of the Children of Israel, but she knew there was something for her. The Lord has kindness to the stranger. Deut 24:19-22 – the sheaves, olives and grapes were to be left for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow; for those without an inheritance. The Moabites weren’t kind to the Children of Israel, but Ruth [a Moabitess] gleaned what was left in the field. There is goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
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Rachel ~
Colossians 1:21-22 “…you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”  Jesus can present us faultless before God – His working can make us faultless. V..23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled…” – much can be ours if we continue trusting.
[Matthew 8:23-7, etc] The disciples were in the boat in the storm, but Jesus was settled and asleep; His words settled them [and the storm]. When we are feeling unsettled, read about Jesus.
Psalms 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him…” When I was unsettled I wondered how to get out? [The answer was] Go back to the basics – feeding on the Lamb was the remedy. The simple words of Jesus were what we, and the disciples, need so that we can go on; we can not plan or know where it will end, but just need to follow. The simplicity of the Gospel is to be with Jesus and His Father.
Paul endured sufferings for the Gospel’s sake, and was able to encourage others. Finding Jesus in the storm is to have calm within it. Meetings can be as the calm in the midst of the storm. When God called Paul it wasn’t because he was worthy, but it was the right time. Paul’s writings were based on the teachings of Jesus – He will carry the burden of sin for us. The continuing is the part we have to do: be assured, keep believing. What God gives from His Word is real, and living. Following is the end of building on the rock: keep building and following – the foundation is sure and steady. Jesus understands, for He had a human nature too.