Roots by the River

This is what the Apostle Paul prayed for new believers: “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:9-12) We believe this was a prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore answered by God. Let’s enumerate the requests: • Fill you with the knowledge of His will • Through all spiritual wisdom and understanding • That you may live a life worthy of the Lord • And may please Him in every way • Bearing fru...

“No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—the ransom for a life is costly; no payment is ever enough—that he should live on forever and not see decay…. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself” (Psalm 49:7-9, 15). This is a wonderful expression in the Old Testament of God’s redemption as opposed to man’s inability to redeem. Please consider the following and become students of the Old Testament: “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 Cor. 10:11). “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us , so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful tor teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Join...

Here is a book recommendation. This is the abridged autobiography of a high-caste Hindu woman who received Christ through reading the New Testament. She was orphaned in her teens and widowed with a baby girl at 23. In 1896, during a severe family, Ramabai toured the villages of Maharashtra with a caravan of bullock carts and rescued thousands of outcast children, child widows, orphans, and other destitute women, bringing them to the shelter of Mukti and Sharada Sadan. A learned woman knowing seven languages, she also translated the Bible into her mother tongue—Marathi—from the original Hebrew and Greek. Her work continues today, a memorial to her life and path. CCM published this book about 20 years ago and has just completed a new edition. You can read more here .

“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:24). This is speaking of Barnabas. The preceding verse tells us that “he was glad and encouraged them all.” In chapter 4, we find that Barnabas’ name means “son of encouragement.” We also find that he “sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” When he was with Paul, he was not the chief speaker (Acts 14:12), although in Acts 14:1 we see, “There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.” Barnabas was good, full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith, glad, encouraging, generous, and unashamed to speak the gospel. The result was that great numbers were brought to the Lord. If we are not seeing great numbers turning to the Lord, it may be that we are lacking the other characteristics which were in Barnabas’ life. Join the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge here. This post coordinates with today...

Most veterans of Korea, Vietnam, or the Cold War, had at least one narrow escape. I had one on the USS Brush three months after being commissioned as an officer. The gunnery officer told me to leave my battle station in gunnery plot and come up to the main battery director. Our ship was off the east coast of Korea, closing range to destroy some railroad cars. I left the chief fire controlman in charge of plot and proceeded to the main battery director. When I got up to the director, he did not know why he had called me there. While I was there, we hit a mine on the port side. The explosion obliterated gunnery plot and flooded the forward fire room. We lost sixteen men: six in the fire room, five in plot, four overboard, and one died from burns in the hospital. That evening I conducted the funeral when we buried the chief at sea. He had died in place of me. Read the rest of the story...

Dear Friends, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7). Years ago, a friend of mine told me that he was not into evangelism because the more converts he had, the more backsliders he had. Of course, that is not a reason to hold back on evangelism, but it makes us wonder why it sometimes seems to be so. Here is a major reason. The new Christian often is not taught to live the Christian life the same as he was taught to receive Christ. He is taught a different way of living than he was taught of receiving. That is why he falls. The new Christian received Christ by grace through faith. He did not receive Christ by trying or by effort. He is not to live by trying or by effort. He is to live by grace through faith. In other words, the Christian life should be like being born again every day. If you need help with this,...

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure’” (Genesis 15:13-16). This text was fulfilled in the time of Joshua. It also gives us a reason for the conquest of Canaan by Joshua: the sin of the Amorites had reached its full measure. “After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, ‘The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousn...

I have known James Urquidez for several years. I have known him professionally. He did the wooden floors in my house; they are beautiful. I have also known him personally. He and his family were members of the Word of Life Church, which I pastored until my retirement in 2017. Here are a few things I know about him. He teaches Bible to businessmen several times a week, early in the morning. He preaches at the county jail. He corresponds with prisoners all over the country. I know that because I correspond with some of the same prisoners, and they mention him. He ministers to druggies, drunks, and many of the outcast people in this area. He is intelligent, kind, thoughtful, and considerate. I recommend him for your vote to the Moscow City Council. He will be a great asset to this city.

“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor 9:22-23) St. Paul’s versatility was a versatility of choice, decision. He gives the reason for his decisions. "to win as many as possible" (verse 19) "to win the Jews" (v. 20) "to win those under the law" (v. 20) "to win those not having the law” (v. 20) "to win the weak" (v. 22) And finally, "that I might save some" (v. 22). Paul’s decisions were to identify with the people he sought to win. He identified with opposites, and he did it without compromise. Join the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge here. This post coordinates with today's reading. Written August 1984.

A friend told me recently that he was considering opening a Christian bookstore in order to be a ministry to the people in his town. Here is what I told him: Bookstores are a very good place to do ministry, because all kinds of people come into bookstores. But the person in the store is what makes it a ministry, not the store itself. Whoever is in the store has to learn how to be an evangelist and a counselor, and it has to be someone who loves people. I’ll give you an example. I had a bookstore at the University of Maryland. A hippie woman came in, and I watched her walking around the bookstore, getting more and more turned off by the Christian books she saw. I went up to her, smiled, and said, “The books aren’t that bad.” She said, “Like what?!” I started with Narnia, telling her about various books. She was just waiting for a chance to get past me and out the door, but I held onto her (not physically, but just keeping myself between her and the door). I finally got around ...

“For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17). “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:19-21). What we have here is a testimony about Timothy’s life. He is known for his godliness. Paul had earlier written this instruction to Timothy: “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely.” So I pass the same onto you—“Watch your life and doctrine closely.” Join the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge here. This post coordinates with today's reading. Written April 1992.

This article made a great impression on me when I first read it years ago. It assumes that you are already reading your Bible regularly. If you are not, let me encourage you to get into the habit of daily Bible reading. You can j oin a good Bible reading plan here . – Jim Wilson The Study of the Bible I take it for granted that we all believe the Bible to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. I take it for granted that we all read the Bible with regularity. What I am going to plead for, however, is concentrated, sustained, devoted study of the Bible, the kind of study that is not fulfilled by the perfunctory reading of some passages each day. The set periods of family worship are not, of course, by any means to be disparaged. This is a highly necessary and most fruitful exercise. The influence for good exerted by honouring God’s Word in this way is incalculable for all concerned. Indeed, the minimal use of the Bible in this way has often left an indel...

Sunday morning, the 6th of October, was my 92nd birthday. I was just reading hymns from a hymnal called Hymns II. I would like to share with you the last two stanzas of “Jesus, the Name High over All” by Charles Wesley. His only righteousness I show, His saving truth proclaim; 'tis all my business here below to cry, "Behold the Lamb!" Happy, if with my latest breath I may but gasp His Name, preach Him to all, and cry in death, "Behold, behold the Lamb!" In the Lord Jesus Christ, Jim Wilson

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5). We have all known of God’s love and that our hearts should be directed into it. But we may not have known or thought of the “steadfastness” (RSV) or the “perseverance” (NIV) of Christ. What is it? How was it shown, and how should our hearts be directed into it? Hebrews 12:1-4 answers all three questions: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding ...

Early in my Christian experience, before I knew the definition of apologetics, I sensed the need of an adequate apologetic for every accusation against, and question to, the Christian faith. There were so many people who did not know God, and there were so many questions that seemed to stand between them and God. If their questions could be answered clearly, rationally, intelligently, and kindly, these students would stand convinced and would then become believers (or so I thought). I set myself the task of getting the right answers. Before I became accomplished in this pursuit, I began to have doubts. The doubts arose as I began to practice my growing knowledge in face-to-face encounters (arguments) or large bull sessions. It was great fun arguing. It was even more fun winning the argument. But there weren’t any results. No conversions. Part of the problem was that I found it difficult to be kind while I was being methodically rational and clear in my presentation. There was anoth...

Jesus made a statement recorded in Matthew 23:1: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” This is following a teaching that we are not to be called master, father, or teacher. Jesus said approximately the same thing in Luke 14:11, only in this case He said "everyone" instead of “whoever.” It was the conclusion of a command not to take the place of honor but to take the lowest place at a wedding banquet. He said it again in Luke 18:14 with the same conclusion; this time it was the conclusion to a parable of a man who considered himself more righteous than another man. There seems to be more than one way to exalt yourself. They all seem to be evident in today’s society. They are evident because we can see self-exaltation in other people , but we do not see it in ourselves. What should we do about this? Let us pray that we will be able to reject self-exaltation and that we will humble ourselves. Written January 1985.

“...but that night they caught nothing.” “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” “Come and have breakfast.” “Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” (Selections from John 21) Jesus had been fishing. Jesus had made or purchased bread. Jesus started a fire and cleaned the fish. He cooked the bread and the fish. He invited the men to breakfast. He served them their breakfast. This was the risen Christ. “None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord.” Isn’t this a wonderful picture of the risen Lord? He is still a servant. We are to be like him. Join the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge. This post coordinates with today's reading. Written June 1988.

“I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father” (John 16:25-28). This is a wonderful statement! The Father Himself loves you. Many Christians do not believe that, even though they know John 3:16 and Romans 5:8. They read those verses in such a way as to read, “For Jesus so loved the world,” and “Jesus commends His love for us.” The Father loves us. We should dwell on that fact. It influences all of our actions. Join the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge here. This post coordinates with today's reading. Written August 1986.

“Nevertheless many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogues: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:41-43). There seem to be two reasons for this unwillingness to confess Jesus Christ: fear and love. It is fear of men instead of God and love of the praise of men instead of the praise of God. The fear anticipated something bad happening in the future, i.e. being put out of the synagogue. The love is past-tense. They already knew what it was like to be praised by men, and they liked it. They wanted the pleasant things from men and did not want unpleasant things from them. In other words, they were concerned about the opinions of the world and, in this particular instance, that part of the world that controlled the existing church. Join the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge here. This post coordinates with today's reading. Written November 1...

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life’” (John 4:13-14). When I was 9 years old, we sang this song in church: Jesus gave her water That was not in the well, Gave her living water, And she went forth to tell. She went away singing And came back bringing Others for the water That was not in the well. Have you taken Jesus Who is the well of life? For He gives salvation, And keeps from sin and strife. Then you will be singing, Others you'll be bringing To the loving Savior Who gives eternal life. Join us for the #keepthefeast Bible Reading Challenge here. This post coordinates with today's reading. Written August 2019.