Verse of the Week - Isaiah 16:5 - January 22, 2017

The Lamb of God 

"Send him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God." Matthew Henry

Yourself a living sacrifice, giving yourself to God through Jesus, the Lamb of God.

I haven't thought about my surrender to Jesus in quite this way before. Mostly, I think about how I surrendered my self-will to Jesus. I made a decision to be a servant in all areas of my life, but hadn't considered this as giving myself as a living sacrifice. 

"Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey."Matthew Henry

I love this simile from Matthew Henry. After reading it, I can picture Satan as a bird of prey that will snatch you up if you will not choose to stay safe in the nest of Jesus Christ.  

 Submission Doesn't Mean Worldly Wealth

Even though we submit to Jesus, we may not enjoy worldly riches, honour, or a wealth of wants. However, even if we are living in poverty and persection, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life in heaven waiting for us. Serenity and an eternal life in heaven is the reward for following Jesus Christ. 

Psalm of the Week - 89:2 - January 15, 2017

God is faithful. His faithfulness is know in the very heavens. Praise his faithfulness today!

Verse of the Week - Isaiah 9:7 - January 15, 2017

Jesus the Messiah

• The Messiah's kingdom shall ever increase more and more; there shall be no limits to it; ultimately it shall fill the world (comp. Matthew 28:18, 19). 
• The continual spread of Christianity tends to the accomplishment of this prophecy. 
• That the Messiah is to sit on the throne of David, suggests, but does not absolutely imply, his descent from King David. That descent is, however, announced with sufficient clearness in Isaiah 11:1, 10. 
•  A gradual establishment of the kingdom would seem to be implied, such as is taught also in the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven. 
• The kingdom is to be both universal in respect of extent and in respect of duration eternal. 
• God's zeal...which is bound up with the prosperity and final triumph of his people over all their enemies, will assure the performance of all that is here prophesied.

adapted from the Pulpit Commentary

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/isaiah/9-7.htm

Psalm of the Week - 89:1 - January 8, 2017

 "Faith in the boundless mercy and everlasting truth of God, may bring comfort even in the deepest trials." Matthew Henry

Praising God no matter what is happening in my life is important. Praising Him in the midst of a chaotic situation shows that my faith is unshakeable and I believe that God will intervene for me.

Faith is:fearlessly proclaiming the Word of God with courage and boldness. Acts 4:29

Faith is: always turning to God in repentence. Mark 6:12

Faith is: invariably honoring my parents and loving my neighbor. Matthew 19:19

Faith is: trusting God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to be "over all, through all, and in all." Eph. 4:6

Faith is: honestly trying to walk in love, just as Jesus loves me, and died for me. Eph. 5:2

Verse of the Week - Isaiah 9:6 - January 8, 2017

• This Child (Jesus) was born for the benefit of all sinners and believers, from the beginning to the end of the world. 
• He is called Wonderful, for he is both God and man. His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints. 
• He is the Counsellor, for he knew the counsels of God from eternity; and he gives counsel to men, in which he consults our welfare. 
• He is the Wonderful Counsellor; none teaches like him. 
• He is God, the mighty One. Such is the work of the Mediator, that no less power than that of the mighty God could bring it to pass. He is God, one with the Father. 
• As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; he is the Giver of peace in the heart and conscience; and when his kingdom is fully established, men shall learn war no more. 
• The government shall be upon him; he shall bear the burden of it. Glorious things are spoken of Christ's government. There is no end to the increase of its peace, for the happiness of its subjects shall last for ever. 

The exact agreement of this prophecy with the doctrine of the New Testament, shows that Jewish prophets and Christian teachers have the same view of the person and salvation of the Messiah.
                                                                                                                                                      adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary