BJU Press Blog

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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).]

ENDURE

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Nothing pertaining to this life or this earth shall endure. II Peter 3:10 reminds us that “the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” But that which is holy and uncorrupt will never perish. The verses below are a great comfort for those of us who are “graven” in the palms of His “hands.” Like the psalmist I rejoice that my eternal life rests secure in the “Holy One” who will never “see corruption.”

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“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). Reverence toward God is pure and will last forever. That is because God is holy and eternal. The psalmist says, “His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun” (Psalm 72:17a). God’s name is the manifestation of His nature. “But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations” (Psalm 102:12). “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Peter 1:25). His word will endure because God endures. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Believers can endure difficult times because they know that God will endure and will triumph at last.

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (February 17 reading).]

DESIRE

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“Success” in the Lord’s work is no indicator of genuine belief or pure motives, but desire is. If there is a desire to glorify God, any spiritual endeavor is not in vain regardless of the perceived outcome. The following verses remind me that what I hunger for, reveals who I am.

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The psalmist says of the words of God, “More to be desired are they than gold” (Psalm 19:10). “Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee” (Psalm 38:9). God knows fully the deepest longings of the human heart. “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted” (Proverbs 10:24). The wicked, who fear above all things the loss of material goods, will in the end loose every last thing. But the righteous, who long for the presence of God, will be fully satisfied at last. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The believer should hunger and thirst for the knowledge of the Word of God. “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: The desire of the righteous shall be granted.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (February 10 reading).]

CROWN

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Crowns are rare things. They can be hard to acquire and even harder to hang onto. The crowns promised by our Lord to His people were indescribably difficult and costly to acquire. But they will never, EVER be taken away from us. See how He gets the glory for both the getting and giving.

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“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). The Lord Jesus, the great King, will provide crowns for His faithful people as well. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). The tests of this life do not harm us; they will produce crowns of victory in the next. The apostle Peter addresses the elders of the churches and promises them, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4). The Lord Jesus promised the church of Smyrna, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: The Lord Jesus will give you a crown of life.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (February 3 reading).]

COME

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To “come” is the hardest and easiest task any human will ever have. Coming to Christ means relinquishing pride. He is the only deity that requires that of His followers. The other so called deities say, “Bring me your works, and we’ll see if they’re acceptable.” Only the true God offers Himself on behalf of His followers. Note how clearly the following verses convey this glorious truth.

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“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psalm 95:6). All men need to worship God in reverence. Believers need to sing praise to Him. “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). The Lord Jesus gave a universal invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29). Only the Lord Jesus can give rest to the soul. “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Jesus says, “Come unto me.”

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (January 27 reading).]