PROVERBS 15


3 The eyes of Yahweh are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The world has utterly forsaken God-its sayings and doings distressingly show it.

When reminded of Him it becomes irritable and angry. It has no relish to hear His name reverently advanced. It is far more kind to the man who takes God's name in vain than to the man who upholds that Name by contending for the truth which is inseparably connected with it.

God is far from unmindful of all this. Before long there will be a terrible refreshing of the world's memory in regard to God. There have been some awful reminders in time past, but these (as so many Scriptures assure us) will pale before the one that is looming.

By fire, pestilence, and blood, will God presently assert Himself everywhere.

"I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezek. 38.; Mic. 5.; Joel 3.).

Let God-fearers be patient, and beware of thoughtlessness and unbelief. Israel stands before us as a caution. How speedily they forgot both God and His wonderful works (Ps. 106:13, 21: 78:11), although they had so much prior solemn warning (Deut. 8:11).

Israel's folly may easily be repeated by us. Nothing is more simple than to let God and His truth slip from the mind. Bible reading, and separation from the world in our leisure hours, are the safe-guards. Let us remember that there is little or nothing in our every-day affairs to tell us of God-neither in our newspapers, on the street hoardings, nor in the people with whom we mix all the day long.

But still, God can be remembered-if the mind is so disposed. Happy and safe is the man who does remember Him.

Bro AT Jannaway

The Christadelphian, Nov 1902



Our separations from wickedness must be real

God abhors worship offered with a wicked mind (Pro. 15: 8; 28:9). Loud praying and bawlings and even a -multitude of sacrifices," are no pleasure to God (Isa. 1:11). The modern application would be to what is called "the externals" of religion - chapel-going, church building, almsgiving.

We might even apply it to more scriptural things - the visible institution of the Truth.

Christ is our altar, whether in the dedicatory act of baptism into his death, or the commemorative participation of his broken body and shed blood in the breaking of bread. To be like David we must compass the altar in innocency in order to be acceptable in our approaches.

Must it not be so? How could God, who knows the heart, take any pleasure in the worshipful deferences of a man whose life and mind were out of harmony with his requirements? But as regards the other class, we are informed

"the prayer of the upright is his delight."

Seasons 2.24



14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

"Agreeing to differ" is not an apostolic recommendation. There is such a thing truly as growth; but this consists of progress in the apprehension of a principle discerned - not in the discarding of one principle for another.

TC02/1886



19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

"Buy", "Repent", "Overcome", "Do the first works,".


A false theology has obliterated this feature and paralysed human exertion in divine directions with the result of abounding sterility on all hands. There is a place where human effort is of no avail whatever - namely, outside that position in Christ to which God invites men on the belief and obedience of the gospel in baptism.

But inside that position, effort determines everything. And if we put forth no effort - in reading, in prayer, in assembling, in testifying the Truth, in doing good as we have opportunity - we must sink supine into the position of the "wicked and slothful servant," who, returning his talent to his Lord unused, was cast out into the outer darkness.

Be it ours to trade diligently with the talents confided to us, that we may be among the happy number to whom it will be said,

"Well done, good and faithful servants."

Seasons 2.28



22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Let us not mistake mere planning for true Purpose, nor mere organisation for vital Efficiency.

Truly, planning and organisation CAN be the essential skeleton of living Purpose and Efficiency, but they can also be a skeleton -- and no more.

Bro Growcott - Search Me O God