Roots by the River

CCM has just created a Kindle version of Assurances of Salvation ! You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Assurances-of-Salvation-ebook/dp/B007V96UAM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334864280&sr=8-1 Or you can download a free PDF version here: http://www.ccmbooks.org/?i=14114&mid=17 In all Christian religions there is a promise of salvation. The promise may be conditional, or it may be positive, but it will be based on doctrine or works. This little booklet gives nine biblical, experiential evidences of salvation. When a person compares his experiences with these described in the Bible, he may come to one of several conclusions: 1. He thought he was not saved, but he finds out that he is. 2. He thought he was saved, but finds out he isn't. 3. He thought he was not saved, and that is confirmed. 4. He thought he was saved, and now he knows that he is. "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that yo...

By Bessie Wilson "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5) Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” We have all heard this verse quoted so often to quell criticism that our mouths are closed and the person using the quote goes away satisfied. There are two dangers in the misuse of Jesus’ statement: 1. We fail to read on to the end of verse five to see that we need to see clearly before we “remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Phillips renders it vividly...

By Bessie Wilson We have all known the frustration of dealing with a stubborn child or adult who will not respond to reason or argument. We know what stubbornness is even if we cannot define it. The dictionary lists many synonyms for this word such as obstinate, mulish, pig-headed, stiff-necked, arrogant or defiant. Like so many other English words, the definition of stubbornness has gone through a transition. The original meaning of the word included such good qualities as sturdy, fixed, resolute and unyielding. However, today the emphasis seems to be on the negative aspect of the word. So it is in the Bible. When speaking to King Saul, the prophet Samuel said, “For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance (stubbornness in KJV), like the evil of idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23, NIV). What was the sin of Saul in this case? He insisted on his own way while declaring that he had obeyed the Lord (1 Samuel 15:20). Perhaps verse 12 gives us a hint of this when Samuel hea...

By Bessie Wilson "O that their hearts were inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29) Moses is quoting the Lord in these words as we see from verse 28, “and the Lord said to me.” We need to pause long enough to hear the yearning heart of God over His people. He longs to see His people fear Him and keep His commandments. It seems to burst from Him in an exclamation, “O that there was such a heart in them,” yearning, loving and seeking. It is an aspect of the character of God we rarely consider. We find it also in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. And here in Deuteronomy 5:29 the thought is the same, “that it might be well with them and with their children forever.” I have often said in my ...