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Friday 31 March 2017

Esther and Mordecai

ESTHER and MORDECAI
In my morning devotion today I read, along with other Scriptures, a little portion from the beautiful Book of Esther. Two phrases lodged in my heart and called for a little meditation on my part.
Beloved brethren and sisters in Christ we have a responsibility for our children throughout our life-time. Not an exclusive one of course, because when they attain to independence and leave the family home, their personal accountability becomes much greater. But our responsibility for them is never fully discharged in this scene.
Mordecais' attitude most surely and clearly demonstrates this aspect of truth.
Esther 2:11.
Next we have the subjection and obedience of the orphaned Esther. It is exquisite, and reminds one of the Lord Jesus as a boy, when seen in lowly subjection to His mother and adoptive father. What divine condescension! What moral perfection!
Esther 2:20; Luke 2:51.
Finally there is the commendation of the parental role assumed by Mordecai. For his godly uninterrupted care and concern for his charge was rewarded by Esthers' subsequent appropriate behaviour and modest deportment in the palace of Shushan. Esther 2:9,15. 
She was a credit to her benefactor, and an evidence of the masterly way he had brought her up, his influence still holding sway in her manner of life; unlike that of the profligate son! Luke 15.
Would that all the children of believers enjoyed such an upbringing that it would be reflected in their lives after leaving the family home. Would that every believer had their children ever upon their hearts and always in their prayers!  


Wednesday 29 March 2017

The Psalms: A New Version by Lord Congleton

The Psalms: A New Version by Lord Congleton
Some years ago I foolishly sold a considerable part of my "library" consisting  mainly of Brethren works; I think I mentioned this in an earlier "post" on this Blog. I have regretted it ever since. I decided to try and replace as many of my books as possible. It has proved to be almost impossible, certainly very difficult and expensive. Works written by Brethren, and those written from similar points of interpretation have become very desirable and inflated the cost beyond reasonable measure. Almost any book of a dispensational, pre-millennial and/or pre-tribulation character are now very collectible and expensive. I have no real idea why; but it has made purchasing of any of them, if, and when found, in many cases well beyond my finances.
Recently a copy of the above very rare title became available at auction. It was an extremely poor copy and as such really did not interest me other than to see how much it was valued at by the eventual buyer. It was ridiculously over-valued I felt as being at best in "acceptable" condition, however "rare."
Now I am in possession of a really nice copy, perhaps even slightly better than the previous one I owned! It is the same 1875 edition as the other two I have written about, i.e. my earlier copy and the auctioned one.
Nowadays it is nigh impossible to share such "finds" with anyone, as there is so little interest in these writings, certainly when it comes to "physical" books! But as I am so elated, and only paid a fraction of the cost realised by the poor copy, I had to unburden myself on Blogger.
I trust that some of you who read this will understand the thrill of such a find!


Thursday 16 March 2017

International Tract Distribution Day (1)

National/International Tract Distribution Day
TUESDAY 18th APRIL 2017
Today, as I moved along from door to door posting "Via Magazine," I began to muse, as believers are apt to do! I felt an exercise that became clearer the longer I dwelt upon it. "What if every believer who was physically able,"pledged" to distribute at least one, (if only one,) tract or magazine, or indeed any divine "missive" on the same chosen day all over the world? What if those who use "social media," those who have access to various means of publicising events, those who "give out the notices" in their local Assembly or congregation, what if they all agreed to nominate a particular day as "International Tract Distribution Day?" How many souls would be given the opportunity to believe the Gospel of the grace of God concerning His Son, and thus come into all the blessings of salvation. I dare to suggest it would be an unnumbered multitude! And what if we knew it would be a "day"which pleased our God, and was to be etched upon records kept in Heaven, and that for eternity! Would you not, would I not, love to be associated with such a privilege?
Today is the 16th day of March 2017; if we arranged such an "exploit" for our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,"giving ourselves one calendar month from now to organise it, if He will, we could announce the 18th day of April, just two days after the universal celebration of Christs' resurrection, to be the marked out "Day."
If the Lord will, I will begin to proclaim this personal exercise to all with whom I have "links," and would lovingly request others to do the same, please.
May God be pleased to bless this effort for His own glory, and for the glory of His only-begotten Son; may there prove to be such satisfaction for Him in answer to the travail of His soul.