Table of Contents

Introduction

What I have learned from the Bible - Part 1

The Living Creatures

Search the Scriptures

The Little Foxes

The Cherokee Legend

The Oldest Children’s Hymn

Questions and Answers

The Endless Song

Have you read the Book?

The Throne of Grace

January 2010

Dear Reader,

"Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19).

These are two wonderful places available to all who love the Lord Jesus. We have boldness for both and the great high priest is mentioned in connection with both. The throne of grace is place of prayer and supplication, where we obtain grace for all our needs. It is there we have our great High Priest Jesus. He has carried into the glory the same tender compassionate heart that was His when here and He is able to sympathize with us in all our weakness and infirmities. He is also the Son of God! In addition, there is divine power in Him and He is able to support and sustain us in every weakness and trial. The holiest is our place of worship. It is there where we behold the glory of God and there we have Him as "the minister of the sanctuary" and a "High Priest over the house of God." He is there to bring us into it suitably to the holiness and glory of it that we might delight in God and bring the incense of our worship through Christ to Him. May we find afresh in His presence this New Year a place of encouragement, rest and joy as we await His soon coming.

Dear Friends, we are thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness and goodness toward us in the past year. I am grateful to those faithful saints who have quietly been a source of help and encouragement to me in producing Toward The Mark. The Lord is their rewarder. Also, I want to thank all of you dear readers for your overwhelming response to the magazine. It is our prayer that the Lord will use Toward the Mark to help you to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him.

Please keep praying for the Lord’s blessing on Toward the Mark.

Yours in our soon-coming Lord,

Emil S. Nashed

Milk

The truth shall make you free

What I Have Learned from the Bible - Part 1
J.N. Darby

I learn from the Scriptures that there is one living God, (1 Timothy 2:5; 4:10) fully revealed to us in Christ, (John 1:18) and known through Him as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Ephesians 2:18) in the unity of the Godhead, (John 5:19; 1 Corinthians12:6) but revealed as distinctively willing (John 6:38-40; 5:21; 1Corinthians12:11) acting, (John 5:17; 1 Corinthians12:11) sending, sent, (John 14:26, 15:26, 5:24-37; 1 Peter1:12; 1 John 4:14) coming, (John 15:26; 16:7, 8, 13) distributing, (1Corinthians 12:11) and other actings; or, as habitually expressed amongst Christians, three persons in one God, or Trinity in Unity. God is the Creator of all things; but the act of creating is personally attributed to the Word and the Son, and the operation of the Spirit of God. (Genesis1:1-2; Job 26:13; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews1:2)

I learn that the Word, who was with God and was God, was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us, (John 1:1, 2, 14) the Father sending the Son to be the Savior of the world. (1John 4:14) That He, as the Christ, was born of a woman, (Galatians 4:4) by the power of the Holy Spirit coming on the virgin Mary, (Luke 1:35) true man, (Philippians2:7; Hebrews 2:14-17; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 7) without sin, (Luke 1:35; 1 John 3:5) in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, (Colossians 2:9) the promised seed of David according to the flesh, (Romans1:3; Acts 2:30; 13:23; 2 Timothy 2:8) the Son of man, (Matthew 16:13) and the Son of God, (John 1:18-34) determined to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, (Romans 1:4) one blessed Person, God and man, (Philippians2:6-10; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Hebrews 1 and 2; 1 John 2:23 to 3:3, 5:20; Revelation 22:12-13; John 1:1-14, 8:58, and many others) the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5) the anointed man, (Acts 10:38) Jehovah the Savior. (Matthew 1:21 The word Christ or Messiah means anointed, and Jesus or Joshua, Jehovah or Jah the Savior)

I learn that He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians15:3) having appeared once in the consummation of ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; (Hebrews 9:26) that He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree suffering for sins the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God; (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18) and that He is our righteousness before God. (1Corinthians1:30; Hebrews9:24)

I learn that He is risen from the dead, (1Corinthians15:20; Matthew28:6, and many others) raised by God, by Himself, by the glory of the Father, (Acts 3:15; John 2:19; Romans 6:4; Ephesians1:20) and ascended up on high, (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Ephesians 4:8-10, and others) having by Himself purged our sins and sits at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 1:3; 10:12; Ephesians 1:20-21, and others)

I learn that after Christ’s ascension the Holy Ghost has been sent down to dwell in His people individually and collectively, so that in both ways they are the temple of God. (John 16:7; 7:39; Romans 8:9; The Father sends (John 14:26) Christ sends from the Father (John 14:16, 17, 26; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:16; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:30; 1:23 etc.) We are sealed (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22) and anointed with this Spirit, (2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20, 27) the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts; (Romans 5:5) we are led by Him, (Romans 8:14) and He is the earnest of our inheritance; (Ephesians 1:14; 2Corinthians 1:22; 5:5) we cry Abba Father, knowing we are sons. (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6)

I learn that Christ will come again to receive us to Himself, (John 14:3) raising those that are His, or changing them if living fashioning their bodies like His glorious body, according to the power by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself, (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1Corinthians 15:23, 51, 52; Philippians 3:20-21) and that those of them who die meanwhile will depart and be with Him. (2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; Acts 7:59)

I learn that God has appointed a day in which He will judge this habitable world in righteousness by that Man whom He has ordained, whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead, (Acts 17:31) and that at the end He will sit on the great white throne and judge the dead, small and great. (Revelation 20:11-12)

I learn that every one of us shall give an account of himself to God, (Romans 14:12) and receive the things done in the body, whether they be good or evil; (2 Corinthians 5:10) and as the righteous inherit eternal life, (Romans 6:22-23; Matthew 25:46) so the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, will go into everlasting punishment, be cast into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels; and that whosoever is not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15)

I learn that this blessed one, the Lord Jesus Christ, died for all, has given Himself a ransom for all, testified in due time, (2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2) that He has made propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the whole world.

I learn that He has thereby obtained an eternal redemption,( Hebrews 9:12) and that by one offering of Himself once for all the sins of all that believe on Him are purged, (Hebrews 1:3, 9:22, 10:2) and that by faith in Him their consciences are also purged, (Hebrews 9:14; 10:2) and God remembers their sins and iniquities no more; (Hebrews 10:17) that being called of God they receive the promise of an eternal inheritance, (Hebrews 9:15) being perfected for ever, so that we have boldness to enter into the holiest by His blood, by the new and living way He has consecrated for us. (Hebrews 10:14, 19, 20)

I learn that to enter into the Kingdom of God we must be born of water and the Spirit, born again, (John 3:3-5) being naturally dead in sins, and by nature children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:14) That which God employs in order to our being born again is His word. (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) Hence it is by faith that we become His children. (Galatians 3:26)

Meat

Sanctify them by the truth...

The Living Creatures
G. Davison

Ezekiel 1:1-12; 24; 28

At the time of this vision, Ezekiel was in a very trying position. The children of Israel were in captivity and it appeared that all hope was gone for these prisoners of war. A more hopeless condition could hardly be found, yet it was just there, in those very circumstances that this vision was given to him. Need we wonder that his name means - "God strengthens?" In all our lives there are times when we, like Ezekiel, need a fresh impression of the greatness and glory of God. We are all inclined at times to come under the power of external conditions and to be depressed as a consequence. What we need is a vision like this to restore our confidence in God.

The first thing which Ezekiel tells us he saw was, "the heavens were opened" (vs. 1). Hemmed in by man on earth, with no way out, the prophet was assured that he was not hemmed in by heaven. Whatever restrictions many may put upon him, he is to learn that heaven is always open to one who is prepared to move on earth subject to direction from heaven.

Secondly, he tells us that through those opened heavens he saw "visions of God" (vs. 1). He may not have been of much account on earth at the moment, but he is assured that he was an object of interest to heaven and was graciously given this vision. What a difference it makes whether we look around or look up! Are we not apt to pick up a newspaper in the morning and read about all the troubles in man’s world and as a consequence go forth with the feeling that everything is going to pieces? The result is that a cloud of depression settles upon us as we move about. If, however, we picked up our Bible instead and, like Ezekiel, obtained fresh "visions of God," should we not rather go along with a sense of victory in our souls instead of depression? Conditions in this world are serious; if it were not so, the Scriptures, would not be true; but why should these conditions affect us? We are here in the interest of heaven, and keeping in mind what we have heard in our Bible readings, let us walk in the confidence of these things, knowing that all is right in the hand of our God. Through His Word He reveals to us His majesty and His glory, and if our souls are filled with these things not anything in this world will depress us.

The third thing Ezekiel tells us is, "The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest" (vs. 3). How often do you read your Bible? No doubt this word came to him orally, whereas we have the written Word of God and much more than he could receive in his day. Note what he says about that word, it came expressly to him. Before he passed on these communications to others, they first came home to his own heart. Beloved, it is only as we allow that Word to come expressly to us; only as we are subject to and formed by the Word that we shall be capable of helping others in the precious truths of God.

The fourth thing he tells us in this opening section is, "the hand of the LORD was there upon him" (vs. 3). That hand of omnipotence rests upon each ne of us and will not be lifted from us till we are safe home in the glory. Perhaps he had often been conscious of that hand resting upon him as he performed his priestly function in the temple, but now God is saying as it were, I am as much with you here by the river of Chebar as when with you in the temple. What an encouragement this must have been to him.

In these opening verses we see Ezekiel being prepared as a vessel to receive the following vision of the living creatures; and what a preparation it was! The "opened heavens" would secure his attention to the movements of God. The "visions of God" would strengthen his faith in spite of the conditions obtaining around him. "The word of the LORD" would instruct his mind with a view to communicating these instructions to others. "The hand of the LORD" being consciously upon him would encourage his heart in view of much conscious weakness within and strong opposition without. So with his attention directed to heaven; his faith strengthened in God; his mind instructed through the Word of the LORD and his heart encouraged, he is prepared for the vision of the living creatures where we shall see a wonderful display of the resources of God to effect every detail of His will in the universe.

In coming to the vision of the living creatures, I am not going to attempt an explanation of all that is here, but there are a few of the more manifest marks about which I do wish to say something. First, what was that whirlwind out of the north? It was the invasion of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar, Ezekiel had suffered severely through that wind, hence his present conditions, but he has yet to see that God was also in the whirlwind. In the cloud he sees a fire infolding itself, not unfolding itself. This infolding would speak of the hidden ways of God with us, for there are as yet many things hidden from our eyes. The day of unfolding will surely come and then we shall see all clearly in the light. When we do so, we shall praise our God for all, whether good or bad as we may estimate it today. As one has said, "The day is coming when God will explain Himself."

The prophet is given to see coming out of that cloud the four living creatures which are used to portray the powers at the disposal of God to accomplish His will in heaven and on earth. If a comparison is made between this chapter and Revelation chapter 4, it will be seen that these powers described by the living creatures are vested in the angels, those beings who minister to the heirs of salvation. Coming out of this cloud they would assure us that while many clouds cross our pathway, God is behind them all and is using them to perfect his work in each one of us. That cloud had meant bloodshed, fire, captivity; yet the prophet has to learn that God was accomplishing His will by that very disaster. The fact that there were four living creatures would suggest that these powers are universal; for there is not a spot in the whole universe beyond the control of God. Their having four faces would suggest that they are intelligent concerning every movement in the universe. Their four wings speak of their universal activity, for they reach to every point in the created sphere. Their feet being straight and like a calf’s speaks of the evenness of their course and the endurance with which they press on towards their objective. The wings would speak of their heavenly activity and the feet of their earthly movements. The hands under the wings would assure us that they are capable of serving God both in the heavens and on the earth. Their wings being joined together would indicate that they moved with a concerted action, for only one mind governs them. Then, we are told, they went straight forward, not being turned aside by anything. Beloved, what an encouragement this ought to be to us! Here are powers which are never turned aside and we are in the care of these powers as surely as Ezekiel was. In war, we read of men having secondary plans should the first objective fail; but God has no secondary plan, for His first great plan will never fail. His plan is to fill the heavens and the earth with His glory, and here are the powers He uses till he will also see it return to the temple again (ch. 43). We understand the glory entering by the east gate to be the fulfillment of Psalm 24, "Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in" (vs. 7). That gate will be closed after the LORD has entered in; no one is allowed to use it for entrance, but David the prince will eat bread in the porch of it before the LORD.

We are then told of the likeness of the four faces of the living creatures; a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. The face of a man would convey supremacy of intelligence; the face of a lion, supremacy of power; the face of an ox, supremacy of endurance; the face of an eagle, supremacy of movement. In every sphere in the whole creation these beings are supreme, for man is supreme in intelligence, the lion supreme among wild beasts; the ox is regarded as the greatest burden bearer and the eagle the swiftest and highest flyer. The characters given to these living creatures are to assure us that in every sphere they are supreme. Satan and rebellious men have great intelligence which they use I opposition to God, but here are beings who excel in intelligence; and whatever be the power, or endurance, or the rapidity with which the enemies move to reach their objectives, these living creatures will wear them down. They will out-think, out-last, out-wear and out-distance every adverse power, and will never fail to accomplish every detail of the will of god in the universe. Going straight forward in their might, they will sweep aside all opposition till all is subdued and the glory of God comes into display in the glorified Man, Christ Jesus.

An interesting link with this chapter is found in chapter 41:18-19. We read that the cherubim in the temple have only two faces that of a man and that of a lion. The face of an ox and the face of the eagle are not used. In this chapter we have a description of the temple which will be built on earthy for the display of the glory to Israel. In that display the features of endurance and rapidity because of opposition will not be seen, for God will have reached the end to which He is working. What does abide is the witness of His wisdom and power. The face of a man is seen looking towards a palm tree and the face of a lion looking toward a palm tree, the tree which is emblematic of victory. It will be clearly seen in that day of display that God in His wisdom and power has gained the victory over every force of opposition. "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory" (1 Cor. 15:57).

One more point is worthy of notice. In verse 12 we read "whither the spirit was to go, they went". Again, in verse 24 we read, "as the voice of the Almighty." Further, in verse 26 we read of, "the appearance of a man." Whether it be the Spirit in His subjective work in the whole creation, or the voice of the Almighty commanding all, or the Man upon the throne administering all, we are given to see in this vision that all the Person of the Godhead are working together to accomplish every detail of Their eternal purpose. The vision would assure us that God has in hand irresistible powers which must result in complete triumph for Him and this will yet be seen in that coming day of display. In the light of Christianity today, we know that the Spirit, and the Father, and the Son are all working together toward that day of manifestation. With Christ already in the glory, and the Spirit active on earth, the heavenly company is being formed and fitted now in view of the heavenly sphere of administration. Then, we are assured by this vision that the earthly company will just as surely be brought into being to fill their appointed sphere in the world-to-come, and all will redound to the glory and praise of God. If we keep in mind that the complete purpose of God is to "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth" (Eph. 1:10), we shall see by this vision, alongside the outline we have hard from Acts 7, that all combine to assure us that both heaven and earth will yet be filled with the glory of God through the One Who filleth all things.

May we keep moving on with the sense of victory in our souls, being assured that all that God has planned, whether for heaven or for earth, will be carried into effect, ending in that coming day of glory.

Search the Scriptures

1. Whose face turned red with weeping?

2. What Persian king called God’s "anointed?"

3. What city was the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip?

(Answers are at the end of this issue)

Exercise

Exercise thyself unto piety

The Little Foxes
C. Knapp

The railway from Mexico City on the central plateau, 8,000 feet above sea-level, down to Vera Cruz on the Gulf, is a most wonderful engineering enterprise. About 60 miles of the line extends through the mountain region between the coast and the great Mexican plateau. This portion of the road has an average grade of 2½ feet in 100, or 133 feet to the mile, carried along the flanks of lofty mountains, through long tunnels and over bridges spanning deep ravines, affording the grandest and most picturesque scenery. When it is remembered that only one foot in the hundred is usually allowed in ordinary railroad building, some idea may be obtained of the difficulties and dangers attending the descent of this line. A traveler, commenting on the risks attending travel on this portion of the road, says "Few accidents, however, have occurred; no doubt because they have been so constantly anticipated. It is when men are heedless from a sense of perfect safety that real danger lies-not in the iron bridge watched carefully from hour to hour, but in the little culvert or the loosened rail."

Is not this the secret of many a fall among the saints of God? Is it not the little, the unlooked-for things, which find them off their guard, that cause their fall? The great outstanding sins of the world around them, sins "open before-hand, going before to judgment," are seldom charged against them. But decline begins with little things usually-in habits indulged, a questionable practice followed, it may be in business, in private life, at school, or factory, the shop, the farm. It is in these small beginnings that real danger often lies; it is here that a downward spiritual course usually has its beginning.

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil (rob) the vines," is the exhortation found in Song of Solomon 2:15-those cunning little animals that do the mischief unperceived. "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" the apostle James declares, emphasizing his warning with the exclamatory, "Behold!" For, be assured, Christian reader, the danger is very real. We need to be constantly on our guard against "hidden dangers, snares unseen." I know of a case in which a shameless course, requiring exclusion from the Lord’s Table, commenced by attending "just one movie." It was the spark which set "on fire the course of nature." Another began by taking a "little nip" now and then. If "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" in the political world, how much more in spiritual things in which Satan’s wiles are encountered! We must be ever on our guard, for the flesh within us so easily responds to temptations; and prayer must be coupled with watching, for has not our faithful Leader cautioned us, "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation?"

"Few accidents have occurred," says the traveler, "because they have been constantly anticipated." And fewer falls by far would occur among the heavenward pilgrims if falls were feared, dreaded, and borne in mind as a possibility. "It is when men are heedless from a sense of perfect safety that real danger lies." Yes; and it is when saints indulge in a sense of false security-their long experience, perhaps, or their knowledge of Scripture, previous triumphs over temptations, natural strength of will, freedom from carnal desires, etc.-those often give an ill-founded sense of security, and self-judgment, constant prayer and watchfulness are no longer considered necessary; then comes the derailment, the fall!

O fellow-believer, shall we rock ourselves to sleep because of our Shepherd’s everlasting love, and our Father’s almighty hand? Shall we for this have no concern as to our walk, our habits, our words, and the company we keep, or the places we go to? Nothing can "separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord;" let us thank God for that! But it gives me no guarantee that I may not fall by the way, nor warrants me in letting up in constant watchfulness against every approach of worldliness or sin.

Yes, the "great iron bridge" of the true believer’s eternal security stands; but let us watch the "little culverts," and be on the lookout for the inconspicuous, unsuspected, "loosened rail." Here is where we are most exposed to shipwreck of faith, getting off the track, and landing broken and ruined in some gulch or quagmire by the way.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom be may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). And remember, he is more dangerous still when he stealthily comes as "an angel of light."

Rest

Shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

Cherokee Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Moral of the story:

Just because you can't see God,

Doesn't mean He is not there.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

The Oldest Children’s Hymn

Have you ever wondered while you were singing hymns at Sunday school which hymn might be the oldest Christian hymn? The oldest hymn that we know of was a children’s hymn written in Greek by a man named Clement of Alexandria. He probably wrote it about 200 A.D. and it was translated in 1846 by Mr. Henry Dexter. Here are the words:

Shepherd of Eager Youth

Shepherd of eager youth,

Guiding in love and truth

Through devious ways -

Christ, our triumphant king,

We come Thy name to sing,

Hither Thy children bring

Tributes of praise

Ever near our side,

Our shepherd and our Guide,

Our staff and song,

Jesus, Thou Christ of God,

By Thy enduring Word

Lead us where Thou hast trod,

Make our faith strong

Children of the third century must have been very much like children today. They must have wondered about things such as their safety, their future careers and their fears and temptations, just like you and I do. Many Christians were severely persecuted in those days, too. Perhaps they dressed differently and lived in different homes than we do, but I am sure that Christian children found the Lord Jesus the same then as He is today. Remember - the Lord never changes - "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He was precious to those early Christians as He is precious to us today.

"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious" (1 Peter2:7).

Is Jesus precious to you?

Questions & Answers

Q. What does it mean to be sealed by The Holy Spirit?

Christopher in Georgia

A. Dear Christopher,

The question you raise has a tremendous impact on how a believer lives at rest in the Savior’s Love. A seal or a signet is a mark to distinguish certain people or things. In Scripture sealing implies:

- Ownership-we are the property of God (Jer. 32:10-11, 14)

- Authentication-something real (1 Cor. 9:2). Even in the Life of Christ, God sealed Him to authenticate who He is (Jn. 6:27).

- Confirmation-God is True (Jn. 3:33)

- Identification-we are indentified with Divine Persons; sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13)

- Approval-in the case of the Lord Jesus when He was marked by the Jordan and the voice from heaven declared "thou art my beloved Son: in thee I am well pleased" (Lk. 3:22).

- Security-the believer is saved; safe and secure for Heaven and nothing can change that (Ez. 9:4, Rev. 7).

There are other thoughts connected with sealing, but I felt that if we can take hold of the truth mentioned above then we might live differently here on earth.

What a thrill to the believer’s heart to know that he/she belongs to God; it is real because God said it and He cannot lie. In grace He has identified Himself with us: God’s approval was upon Christ and the great work He accomplished upon the cross and we have been accepted in the Beloved. This should cause us to live in the good of our eternal security and not depend on our emotions that, in many cases, bring forth doubts.

Much love in Christ,

JA

The Endless Song
J.N. Darby

Part 1

Oh! the joy of the salvation
We possess around the throne!
Countless thoughts of admiration,
Mingling, leave that joy but one.

Hark! Ten thousand voices crying
"Lamb of God!" with one accord;
Thousand thousand saints replying -
Bursts at once the echoing chord.

Long, with free and glad devotion,
Universal praise prevails;
Till, blest fruit of deep emotion,
Voice by voice in silence fails.

Now, in wondrous adoration
Dwelling on His matchless love,
Swayed with power of that salvation,
Silence fills the courts above.

Then, their richest thoughts unfolding,
Each to each, with joy divine
Heavenly converse blissful holding,
Tells how bright His glories shine.

Some on God’s high glories dwelling,
Brightly beaming in His face;
Some His first-born greatness telling -
Ordering all things in their place:

These - of Godhead’s counsels deep
Him th'Accomplisher proclaim;
These - how Jesus’ self could weep,
Of Godhead's love the Witness came.

All on love surpassing rest,
That clothed in flesh the great I AM;
Till, from one heart, divinely prest,
Bursts forth at length the loud exclaim -

Have You Read the Book

A college student noticed that one of his classmates had a Bible in his backpack.  He looked at him mockingly and said, "How could an intelligent person believe this book?" The Christian student replied, "Have you read it?"  The other said, "I have no time to waste reading such an old book." The Christian answered, "So without reading it you have come to the conclusion that the book is worthless? How would you like to find out that your professor gave you a failing grade on a book report that was assigned to us this school year because he felt the report was worthless? Then when you asked him if he read it, he would tell you that he had no time to waste reading such reports. Would that be the right way to judge your report?" The student answered, "Of course not!" His friend replied, "You have just done the same thing unjustly concerning the Bible. Why don’t you read it through first before you make any judgment about this great book?"

This Book is the Word of God. It reveals the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever.

It is especially important for us today to realize that there would be much deception and false teaching leading mankind away from God and trying to persuade him that God either does not exist or He does not care for mankind thus leading him away from the love of God and the realization that receiving Christ is the only way of salvation. This is what the Bible declares:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Answers to scriptures search!

1. Job 16:16

2. Cyrus (Isaiah45:1)

3. Bethsaida (John 1)