Roots by the River

“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth” (3 John 5-8). We do not see this passage quoted often. I want to bring it to your attention because of all of the hospitality I have received, even though I was a stranger to some of those who showed me hospitality. We have taken in strangers, too. Those who went out for the sake of the Name have always been a great blessing to us. Others we have taken in for the sake of the Name . Some of them have stolen from us, some keep coming back for more monetary help, some have just disappeared, and some have been a great blessing. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper ti

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore” (Hebrews 11:11-12). “They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation’…. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:4, 9). The first passage has to do with God’s promise to Abraham when he was 100 years old, because Abraham knew that God was faithful and would keep His promise. God kept His promise! The second verse has to do with Jesus’ promise to return to Earth. He gives us the reason for the seeming delay. He kept this promise to Abraham, and H

Some Christians believe that they are enslaved to particular sins. The truth is that they are not slaves. If you are a Christian, you are already free. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15).  “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).  “We are free indeed. ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery’” (Gal. 5:1). What are we to do with this freedom? “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect ” (Matt. 5:48). How can we do that? This verse tells us how—imitate God. “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting

This post is an excerpt from Climbing by Rosalind Goforth. Christ in you, the hope of glory.   – Col. 1:27 We had been but a short time at the Rest Home when a friend carried me off, insisting that I needed a rest. She took me to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where a Bible conference was being held. There I found myself in a beautiful hotel room with my friends nearby. The following morning, we gathered under some trees by the auditorium, before the meeting. The scenery was wonderful to me after poor, dried-up China. Through the trees could be glimpsed the beautiful Niagara River flowing down till it entered the lake. Begging my friends to leave me there, I gave myself to the exquisite enjoyment of my surroundings.      A short time passed. Suddenly there came an impelling to enter the auditorium. I obeyed, but the place being full, I walked forward and finally found a seat immediately in front of the pulpit. The speaker was just beginning his address. He was a stranger, but from almost hi

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did…. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Bad examples are warnings. Good examples are to be followed and imitated.

Early in my Christian life, I had several periods of deep and sometimes prolonged anxiety. In each case, someone else pointed me to God and His faithfulness and how to trust Him. In every case, my anxiety ended, and God answered my need. God cares for us. The more we think about God the way God thinks about Himself, the happier our lives will be. As long as we think of Him according to our accusative thoughts which are not true, we will adjust our lives based upon those lies. We think that God has characteristics that He does not have. We think He is unkind, intolerant, impatient, waiting for us to step out of line so He can swat us. That is not true. He is the opposite: He is kind, faithful, and caring. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly F