BJU Press Blog

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FRIEND

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The label “fair weather friend” is one no conscientious person would desire. It carries the implications of an opportunist at best and traitor-in-disguise at worst. The Lord Jesus called His betrayer “Friend” as He received his signal kiss in the Garden. Judas was the worst of fair-weather friends. Christ said in John 15:14, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Abraham was called the friend of God because he believed His word. The commandment of our Lord is “believe also in me.” I praise God that Jesus seeks, saves, and makes friends of all He enables to believe.

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“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Solomon also said, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Jesus said, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee” (Mark 5:19). His enemies charged the Lord Jesus Christ with being “a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” (Luke 7:34). But that is His true glory, for He came to seek and to save the lost. It is different when someone desires to be like the world. James warned, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (March 16 reading).]

Meeting Him: One Conversion at a Time

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Meeting Him by Beneth Peters Jones published by BJU PressFew spectacles bring more joy to the Christian woman’s heart than beholding the first expressions of faith in a fellow human being. There is hardly an experience on earth to parallel, let alone exceed seeing God’s work of grace in a soul to convict, woo, soften, and finally convert.

Just as she experiences physical birth in a way a man never could, perhaps a woman’s ability to respond emotionally to someone’s new birth is heightened as well. Just when I was hungry for such a soul-refreshing view, the Lord sent Meeting Him my way.

Showing us how women looked at Jesus and how Jesus looked at them is this author’s gift. Without criticism, comparisons, scolding, or sentimentality, Meeting Him by Beneth Peters Jones shows how the radiance of even the most saintly disappears in the brightness of Christ’s perfection and how the smudges of the most tarnished can by His forgiveness take on His brilliant luster.

Perhaps, like the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed, you cried out to the Savior in desperate need. Or maybe like the woman with the prolonged issue of blood, you  approached Him timidly and reached out with a trembling hand. Are you like old Anna, who waited a long time for Him in God’s house? Or, as with the woman at the well, did He meet you in your daily routine and silence all your arguments?

What sets the sixteen vignettes in Meeting Him apart are depth and detail. Each woman in this diverse cast of gospel characters comes to life with equal vitality. Every transformation is complete, every work of grace, irreversible. And every single encounter with the Savior has a blessed ending.

With a study guide to enhance the reading experience, Meeting Him is abundantly satisfying reading for both teens and adults.

View the table of contents and the opening pages of Meeting Him.

FLOCK

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In the verses below, we are reminded that our Lord inspired the psalmist to call Him a shepherd. Of all the names He uses to communicate Himself to His people, this may be the most often repeated and perhaps the most cherished. I must consider it a great honor to be in His flock. John 10:27 assures me that as one of His sheep, I will hear Him, be known of Him, and follow Him. No pagan deity promises such intimacy and power to its followers.

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“Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalm 77:20). David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Peter exhorted elders, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; nor for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2–3).

GOLDEN THOUGHT : Fear not, little flock.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (March 9 reading).]

FEAR, REVERENCE

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Reverential fear is an essential characteristic of the Christian and may well be the litmus test as to whether a person has genuine faith. It knows no boundaries of age or status. In Psalm 115:13, the psalmist wrote “He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.” Without fear we deem God to be our equal. But when we revere Him we find Him to be very great indeed.

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“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever” (Psalm 19:9). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27). “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27). “Servants, obey in all things your masters . . . not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God” (Colossians 3:22). “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). “Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (Revelation 19:5).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Let us serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (March 2 reading).]

EYE

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Cast out. Homeless. Destitute. With child. Hagar, Abraham’s servant-mistress was utterly alone. Then “the angel” found her, bringing direction, assurance, promise. “Thou God seest me.” God’s eye was enough for her. It is enough for me.

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“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Psalm 33:18). “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). “He that formed the eye, shall he not see?” (Psalm 94:9). “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling” (Ephesians 1:18). “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7). “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns” (Revelation 19:12). “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying” (Revelation 21:4).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (February 24 reading).]