Reformed Christian Studies

 'The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto' — Deuteronomy 28:8 If we obey the LORD our God He will bless that which He gives us. Riches are no curse when blessed of the LORD. When men have more than they require for their immediate need and begin to lay up in storehouses, the dry rot of covetousness or the blight of hard-heartedness is apt to follow the accumulation; but with God's blessing it is not so. Prudence arranges the saving, liberality directs the spending, gratitude maintains consecration, and praise sweetens enjoyment. It is a great mercy to have God's blessing in one's iron safe and on one's banking account. What a favor is made ours by the last clause! "The LORD shall bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand unto." We would not put our hand to anything upon which we dare not ask God's blessing, neither would we go about it without prayer and faith. But what a p

'And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD' — Jeremiah 15:20 Stability in the fear and faith of God will make a man like a wall of brass, which no one can batter down or break. Only the LORD can make such; but we need such men in the church, and in the world, but specially in the pulpit. Against uncompromising men of truth this age of shams will fight tooth and nail. Nothing seems to offend Satan and his seed like decision. They attack holy firmness even as the Assyrians besieged fenced cities. The joy is that they cannot prevail against those whom God has made strong in His strength. Carried about with every wind of doctrine, others only need to be blown upon and away they go; but those who love the doctrines of grace, because they possess the grace of the doctrines, stand like rocks in the midst of raging seas. Whenc

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me" — Psalm 23:4 Sweet are these words in describing a deathbed assurance. How many have repeated them in their last hours with intense delight! But the verse is equally applicable to agonies of spirit in the midst of life. Some of us, like Paul, die daily through a tendency to gloom of soul. Bunyan puts the Valley of the Shadow of Death far earlier in the pilgrimage than the river which rolls at the foot of the celestial hills. We have some of us traversed the dark and dreadful defile of "the shadow of death" several times, and we can bear witness that the LORD alone enabled us to bear up amid its wild thought, its mysterious horrors, its terrible depressions. The LORD has sustained us and kept us above all real fear of evil, even when our spirit has been overwhelmed. We have been pressed and oppressed, but yet we have lived,

 By Sarah Ivill - Posted at Place for Truth: One of the things we most want in life is to be loved. We want our parents and siblings to love us. We want our friends and extended family members to love us. We want our coaches and teachers to love us. If we are married, we want our spouse to love us. If we are parents, we desire our children to love us. But in this broken world, there are many relationships in which we feel unloved and unwanted. So, we end up turning to other things to fulfill this deep desire of our hearts, but none of them quench our thirst for love. In fact, we often feel even emptier than when we began because our search for love in the wrong places leaves us disillusioned, depressed, and devoid of joy. Where then do we turn to find true love? The answer is found in one of the most neglected books of the Old Testament, the book of Zephaniah. There are three main points that arise from Zephaniah’s prophecy. First, Zephaniah declared and described God’s com

 By Tim Challies We live out our Christian lives in a place between Egypt and the Promised Land. We have been justified but not yet glorified—we have been delivered safely through the Red Sea but have not yet forded the Jordan and arrived on its far bank. We may not physically wander as did the Israelites of old and we may not actually follow pillars of fire and cloud, but we no less make a pilgrimage and we are no less dependent upon the goodness, the grace, and the guidance of our God. We are no less reliant upon his promises to sustain us when the path is uncertain, when our enemies rise up, when the way before us seems to stretch on interminably. The Israelites were prone to doubt God—to doubt his strength, his power, his intentions. They were prone to doubt that he would prove true to his promises and lead them to the land that flowed with milk and honey, the land that would be their home and their rest. In so many ways the story of the Pentateuch is the story of God proving his f

"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you" — Isaiah 66:13 A mother's comfort! Ah, this is tenderness itself. How she enters into her child's grief! How she presses him to her bosom and tries to take all his sorrow into her own heart! He can tell her all, and she will sympathize as nobody else can. Of all comforters the child loves best his mother, and even full-grown men have found it so. Does Jehovah condescend to act the mother's part? This is goodness indeed. We readily perceive how He is a father; but will He be as a mother also? Does not this invite us to holy familiarity, to unreserved confidence, to sacred rest? When GodHimself becomes "the Comforter," no anguish can long abide. Let us tell out our trouble, even though sobs and sighs should become our readiest utterance. He will not despise us for our tears; our mother did not. He will consider our weakness as she did, and He will put away our faults, only in a surer, safer way tha

"He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great" — Psalm 115:13 This is a word of cheer to those who are of humble station and mean estate. Our God has a very gracious consideration for those of small property, small talent, small influence, small weight. God careth for the small things in creation and even regards sparrows in their lighting upon the ground. Nothing is small to God, for He makes use of insignificant agents for the accomplishment of His purposes. Let the least among men seek of God a blessing upon his littleness, and he shall find his contracted sphere to be a happy one. Among those who fear the LORD there are little and great. Some are babes, and others are giants. But these are all blessed. Little faith is blessed faith. Trembling hope is blessed hope. Every grace of the Holy Spirit, even though it be only in the bud, bears a blessing within it. Moreover, the LORD Jesus bought both the small and the great with the same precious blood, and He has

 "He that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about" — Psalm 32:10 O fair reward of trust! My LORD, grant it me to the full! The truster above all men feels himself to be a sinner; and lo, mercy is prepared for him: he knows himself to have no deservings, but mercy comes in and keeps house for him on a liberal scale. O LORD, give me this mercy, even as I trust in Thee! Observe, my soul, what a bodyguard thou hast! As a prince is compassed about with soldiery, so art thou compassed about with mercy. Before and behind, and on all sides, ride these mounted guards of grace. We dwell in the center of the system of mercy, for we dwell in Christ Jesus. O my soul, what an atmosphere dost thou breathe! As the air surrounds thee, even so does the mercy of thy LORD. To the wicked there are many sorrows, but to thee there are so many mercies that thy sorrows are not worth mentioning. David says, "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye tha

"They shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid" — Zephaniah 3:13 Yesterday we thought of the afflicted and poor people whom the LORD left to be a living seed in a dead world. The prophet says of such that they shall not work iniquity nor speak lies. So that while they had neither rank nor riches to guard them, they were also quite unable to use those weapons in which the wicked place so much reliance: they could neither defend themselves by sin nor by subtlety. What then? Would they be destroyed? By no means! They should both feed and rest and be not merely free from danger but even quiet from fear of evil. Sheep are very feeble creatures, and wolves are terrible enemies; yet at this hour sheep are more numerous than wolves, and the cause of the sheep is always winning, while the cause of the wolves is always declining. One day flocks of sheep will cover the plains, and not a wolf will be left. The fact is that sheep have a Shepherd, and this gives them proven

  " Behold the Man! " John 19:5 If there is one place where our Lord Jesus most fully becomes the joy and comfort of His people—it is where He plunged deepest into the depths of woe. Come, behold the Man in the  garden of Gethsemane . Behold His heart so brimming with love, that He cannot hold it in. Behold the bloody sweat as it distills from every pore of His body and falls upon the ground. Behold the Man upon the  bloody tree . Stand amazed as they drive the nails into His hands and feet. Look up and see the sorrowful image of your suffering Lord. Mark Him as the ruby drops stand on the thorn crown. Behold the Man when all His bones are out of joint, and He is poured out like water and brought into the dust of death. God has forsaken Him—and Hell encompasses Him. Behold and see—was there ever sorrow like His sorrow? Gaze upon Him! We have only to sit longer at the cruel cross—to be less troubled with our trials and woes. We have but to see His sorrows—and we shall be asham

  "The eternal God is your refuge." Deuteronomy 33:27 The word "refuge" may be translated "abiding place"—which gives the thought that  God is our abode, our home . There is a fullness and sweetness in the metaphor, for our home is dear to our hearts—although it may be the humblest cottage or the scantiest garret. But dearer far is our blessed God, who is our eternal refuge. It is at home that we are  safe —here we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. Just so, God is our shelter and retreat—our abiding refuge. It is at home that we take our  rest —it is there that we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. In the same way, our hearts find rest in God when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our  hearts loose —we are not afraid of being misunderstood nor of our words being misconstrued. Just so, when we are with God—we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hid

  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that  the trial of your faith —of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7 Untried faith may be true faith—but it is sure to be  little  faith, and it is likely to remain  dwarfish  so long as it is without trials.  Faith never prospers so well , as when all things are against her. When a calm reigns on the sea—you may spread the sails as you will, but the ship will not move to its harbor. Only let the winds rush howling forth—it is then that she makes headway toward her desired haven. No  stars  gleam so brightly—as those that glisten in the polar sky, no  water  tastes so sweet—as that which springs up amid the desert sand, and no  faith  is so precious—as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Trie

  "God is our refuge and strength—a very present help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1 We do not know what we might have been —if God's gracious protection had not been like a wall of fire around us, as it still is—for the Lord continues to deliver all who put their trust in Him. Believe with unquestioning confidence that God is delivering you even now. You know that He  has  delivered you—be just as sure that He will continue to help you in every time of trouble. "I am locked in a prison of despair!" Yes, but your Lord has a key that can open the door and let you out. "I am in great poverty!" another says. But He knows all about it, and He is going to supply all your needs. Yet another says, "But I am fainting!" God is near, ready to revive and encourage your fainting soul. Perhaps a person says, "I find faith for the past and the ultimate future quite easy, but I don't have enough faith for the present." We sometimes forget th

  "Do not store up for yourselves  treasures on earth , where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves  treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 Christian! If you have anything that you prize very highly, hold it very loosely—for you may easily lose it. Hold everything earthly with a loose hand, but grasp eternal things with a deathlike grip. Of everything on earth, it is wise for us to say, " This is not mine to keep! " It is essential to realize that this it is true, for everything here is temporary. Mind what you are doing—you prosperous people, you who have nice homes, you who are hoarding up money. There is nothing permanent for you here on earth. Your home is in Heaven—your home is not here. If you find your treasure here—your heart will be here also. You must keep all earthly

  "He chooses our inheritance for us."  Psalm 47:4 "Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in  the way chosen for him."  Psalm 25:12 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 "As for God, His way is perfect. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:30 "He guides the humble in what is right, and teaches them His way." Psalm 25:9 "I guide you in the way of wisdom, and lead you along straight paths." Proverbs 4:11 Believer, if your place is a lowly one, you should be satisfied with your earthly portion—for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you. Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected the safest and best condition for you! Christian! You would run aground and suffer shipwreck—if your divine Captain did not steer you into the depths of affliction where waves of trouble follow each other in quick succe

  "Behold, I saw a Lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne!" Revelation 5:6 Why should our exalted Savior appear in Heaven with His wounds? The wounds of Jesus are . . .   His glories,   His jewels,   His sacred ornaments! To the eye of the believer, Jesus is more than beautiful because He is "white and ruddy" Song of Solomon 5:10. He is white with innocence, and ruddy with His own blood. We see Him as the 'Lily' of matchless purity—and as the 'Rose' encrimsoned with His own blood. Christ never was so matchless as when He hung on the cross! There we behold all His beauties in perfection. The wounds of Jesus are far more beautiful than all the splendor and pomp of kings. Jesus appears as the  slain Lamb  who sought our souls and redeemed them by His complete atonement. His wounds are the trophies of His love and of His victory. He has redeemed for Himself a great multitude which no one can number—His scars are the me

  "The Lord takes pleasure in His people!" Psalm 149:4 How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of His people's interests that He does not consider; and there is nothing that concerns their welfare, which is not important to Him. Not merely does He think of you, believer, as an  immortal  being—but as a  mortal  being, also. Do not deny it or doubt it: "The very  hairs  of your head are all numbered." "The  steps  of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in His way." Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your common affairs. The breadth of His tender love is such that you may resort to Him in all matters; for as a father pities his children, so does He pity you. Oh, what a heart is His—which comprehends all the diverse and innumerable concerns of all His redeemed people! Do you think that you can measure the love of Christ? Think of what His love has brought you—justification, adoption, sanctification

  "His  delight  is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he  meditates  day and night." Psalm 1:2 Do not many of you read the Bible in a very hurried way— just a little bit, and off you go!  Do you not soon forget what you have read, and lose what little effect it seemed to have? How few of you are resolved to get at its soul, its juice, its life, its essence—and to drink in its meaning. Well, if you do not do that—then your reading is miserable reading, dead reading, unprofitable reading; it is not  reading  at all, the name would be misapplied. May the blessed Spirit give you repentance concerning this thing. Meditation and careful thought, exercise us and strengthen the soul for the reception of the yet more lofty truths. We must meditate, brethren. These  grapes  will yield no wine until we tread upon them. These  olives  must be put under the wheel, and pressed again and again—that the oil may flow therefrom. In a dish of nuts, you may know which nut has been eaten by

  Could we roll all sins into one mass—could we take murder, blasphemy, lust, theft, immorality, and everything that is vile, and unite them all into one vast ball of horrid corruption—they would not even then equal  the sin of unbelief! Unbelief is . . .   the king sin,   the quintessence of guilt,   the mixture of the venom of all crimes,   the dregs of the wine of Gomorrah,   the root sin,   the masterpiece of Satan,   the chief work of the devil. Unbelief developed into  deicide —and murdered the Lord Jesus Christ! Unbelief! it has mixed many a cup of poison. It has brought thousands to the gallows, and many to a shameful grave. Many have murdered themselves, and rushed with bloody hands before their Creator's tribunal, because of unbelief. Give me an unbeliever—let me know that he doubts God's Word—let me know that he distrusts His promises and His threatenings; and with that for a premise, I will conclude that the man shall, by-and-by, unless there is amazing restraining

  "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in grace"—not in  one  grace only, but in  all  the Christian graces. Grow in the starting place of grace,  faith . Believe the promises more firmly than you have before. Let faith increase in fullness, constancy and simplicity. Grow also in  love . Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word and deed. Grow likewise in  humility . Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward—having nearer approaches to God in  prayer  and more intimate  fellowship with Jesus . To know Him is "life eternal"—and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. Whoever has sipped this wine will thirst for more; for although Christ satisfies—yet it is such a satisfaction that the appetite is not only satisfied, but invigorated. If you kn