August 10
Dr. Gerald McKibben comments on the current argument that the degree of similarity between the DNA of men and chimpanzees supposedly proves the evolutionary link between humans and apes: “God used DNA and RNA as the backbone of His genetic blueprints for all organisms, from one-celled ones to the great blue whale. He did not design a different blueprint system for each class of creature.” He then points out that humans share a 50% similarity with the DNA of bananas, 60% similarity with fruit flies, and 75% similarity with nematodes, a worm with the scientific name Caenorhabditis elegans. He...
Read MoreAugust 9
“Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Pet 1:23, 25). Michael Boland, in his introduction to John Flavel’s The Mystery of Providence (p. 11), tells the story of Luke Short who heard Flavel preach in Dartmouth, England, when he was a boy. In his mid-teens, Short emigrated to New England. There he lived a long and prosperous life without much thought of God. Then Boland describes what happened: “One day as he sat in his fields reflecting upon his...
Read MoreAugust 8
The primitive churches were not mere assemblies of men who agreed to meet together once or twice a week, and to subscribe for the support of an accomplished man who should on those occasions deliver lectures on religion. They were men gathered out of the world by the preaching of the cross, and formed into society for the promotion of Christ’s kingdom in their own souls and in the world around them. It was not the concern of the ministers or elders only; the body of the people were interested in all that was done, and according to their several abilities and stations, took part in it....
Read MoreAugust 7
Col. Robert Ingersoll, the apostle of agnosticism in nineteenth century America, once had the task of speaking at his brother’s funeral in Washington, DC. In the middle of his talk, he broke down and wept bitterly. Then, regaining his composure, he said: “Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of a wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word.” What utter hopelessness! Is there a way out of miasmatic fog of human speculation? Thank...
Read MoreAugust 6
“And Samson called to the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once…” (Jud 16:28). Have you started poorly as a witness for the Lord? Do you recall with pain opportunities missed that you cannot now recall? Have you been harsh around your unsaved relatives and feel you have disqualified yourself from speaking to them about Christ? Have you been careless around your workmates? The enemy of souls will try to convince you that you’ve blown the race. But Samson made it into the Faith Chapter after all! Carl Lewis, winner of nine Olympic...
Read MoreAugust 5
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found” (Lk 15:32). As soul-winner Charles H. Spurgeon passionately wrote about the lost: “People are lost willfully and willingly; lost perversely and utterly; but still lost of their own accord, which is the worst kind of being lost. They are lost to God, who has lost their heart’s love, confidence, and obedience; lost to the church, which they cannot rightly serve; lost to truth, which they will...
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