The Blessedness Of Keeping The Sabbath

Isaiah 56:1, 2  

"Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation 

is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is 

the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold 

on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, 

and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." 

        Special emphasis is laid on Sabbath keeping because it was the special sign of God’s connection with Israel. It was also a type and pledge of the redemption rest, soon to be brought in and perfected by Christ’s finished work, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (Heb. 4:9-10).
        What an ideal, that is presented here for character and conduct! To keep God’s rest in our heart; the rest of faith; to cease from ourselves; to be joined to the Lord by one Spirit; to minister to Him; to love His name; to be His servants! What more could we imagine as characteristic of the Christian soul! Let us ask God to bring us to His "holy mountain" and to make us "joyful" in His "house of prayer."

        Amen!!

Reading: (Isa. 56: 1-12)
Ref: (HGSB)
        (MSC)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry

                

God's Pardoning Grace

Isaiah 55:10, 11  

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, 

but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed 

to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth 

out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall 

accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper 

in the thing whereto I sent it." 

         God has a design in giving His Word to all people. He has as distinct intention in His Word as He has in sending down rain upon the earth. Whatever God's design in giving the Gospel is, it shall be accomplished. It is never spoken in vain, and never fails to produce the effect which He intends. The Gospel is no more preached in vain than the rain falls in vain. And though it often falls on barren rocks, or on dry sands; on extended plains where no vegetation is produced, or in the wilderness "where no man is," and seems to our eyes in vain, it is not. 

         God has a design in each drop that falls on sands or rocks, as in the plentiful showers that falls on fertile fields, and so the Gospel often falls on the hard and barren hearts of men. It is addressed to the proud, the sensual, the greedy, and the unbelieving, and seems to be spoken in vain, and to return void unto God. But it is not so! He has some design in it, and that will be accomplished. It is proof of the fullness of His mercy. It leaves people without excuse, and justifies himself. 
         When long presented and apparently long in vain, it ultimately becomes successful, and sinners are at last brought to abandon their sins, and to turn unto God. It is often rejected and despised. It falls on the ears of people as the rain falls on the hard rock, and there are, so to speak, large fields where the Gospel is preached as barren and unfruitful of any spiritual good as the desert is of vegetation, and the Gospel seems to be preached to almost entire communities with as little effect as is produced when the rains fall on the deserts of Arabia, or of Africa. 
        But there will be better and happier times. Though the gospel may not now produce all the good effects which we may desire, yet it will be ultimately successful to the full wish of the widest benevolence, and the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge and the love of God.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Isa. 55:1-13)
Ref: (HGSB)
       (MSC)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Wondrous Love Of God

Isaiah 54:5  

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; 

and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of 

the whole earth shall he be called."

        We have heard the exiles summoned to leave Babylon, and have beheld the Savior becoming the sin-bearer. Here our attention is recalled to the still desolate condition of Jerusalem. Jehovah says, Sing, but Israel replies that she cannot sing so long as she lies desolate. In reply God declares His inalienable love: (love that is not transferable). He is their husband still and has sworn that the waters of death and destruction shall never be able to separate them from Himself. His kindness and mercy is everlasting, and His covenant of peace shall forever be.
        In the closing paragraph, Isa. 54:11-17, we behold the chosen city emerging from her heap of ruins. Watched by the eye of the great Architect, wrought by unseen hands, tested by the line and plummet of righteousness, she arises to fulfill her mission to the world. To inspired hearts it seems as though her common stones are jewels. Her children are taught of the Lord. Every accusing voice is hushed. All weapons of destruction are no longer. The New Jerusalem seems to have come down from heaven. 
        Amen!!

Reading : (Isa. 54:1-17)
Ref : (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Hearing Doing Believing

Luke 8:21  

And he answered and said unto them, "My mother 

and my brethren are these which hear 

the word of God, and do it." 

         Inconsistency, unkindly words and acts, disobedience to our known duty will prevent our light from shinning. If Christ has illuminated your soul, see that you trust Him to find for you your stand, from which you may emit the clearest rays. You are a light to be shined!
The closest relationship to Jesus is not that of nature but of grace. To listen in your heart to God’s voice, to hear it in His Word and in Providence and then to do as it decrees, will bring you into the closest relationship with your Lord.
        Be prepared for storms if you link your lives with Christ. But they cannot hurt you. Men and demons will rage against you; but there is a limit to their power. Jesus rules the waves. "The sea is His and He made it." If only you can include yourself and Christ in that pronoun "we" of  Luke 8:24  "And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm."  You can never perish although there be as many demons against you as tiles on the roof of a house. In the Book of Isaiah God's Word tells us; "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD" (Isa. 54:17).
        Amen!!

Reading: (Luke 8:19-21)
               (Matt. 12:46-50)
               (Mark 3:31-35)
Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry

      

 

A Forgiven Sinners Love

Luke 7:44   

"And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? 

I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: 

but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped 

them with the hairs of her head."

        What a trio! Christ stands here as a manifestation of the divine love, as it comes among sinners. The love of God is not dependent on our merits; the word frankly, in Luke 7:42, is "freely." It is not turned away by our sins: she is a sinner. It manifests itself as the clearing of debts. But it demands recognition and service: "Thou gavest me no kiss. But this women, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss feet."
        The woman represents those who express sorrow for sin and wrong doing and lovingly recognize the divine love. She was not forgiven because of her love; but her love was the sign that she had been forgiven and recognized it. What will not God’s love do! What Jesus did for her He can do for our many sins. Pardon will lead to much love, and love becomes the gate of knowledge and the source of obedience. "And he said to the women, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace (Luke 7:50)."

        Amen!!

Reading:( Luke 7:40-50) 
Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Faithfulness Brings Worthiness

Luke 7:5  

"For he loveth our nation, and he 

hath built us a synagogue

         "For he loveth our nation;" The Jewish nation, which was Christ's nation, as well as theirs, he being a Jew;  "Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?" (John 18:35). This they mention as an argument to induce him to have a regard to the centurion, though he was a Gentile; since he was a friend of the Jews, and well affected and disposed to them, which was very rare: it was not common for the Gentiles to love the Jews, any more than the Jews the Gentiles; there was an hatred, yes, an enmity between them; but this man, very likely, was a new convert to their religion, as the following instance seems to show: "and he hath built us a synagogue;" at his own private charge, and by the assistance of his soldiers under him, whom he might employ in this work:
        The centurion built them a Synagogue and had paid for it himself, and then he goes to Jesus on behalf of his servant who was sick. The love and care he had for others showed in his actions and therefore the elders of the Jews said to Jesus, "That he was worthy for whom he should do this" (Luke 7:4)
        My Friends, it is a blessing for others to count you worthy, because  they have seen the grace and love of God within you. However remember as Christians we do not do things just to be counted worthy.  I will leave you with this. Faithfulness Brings Worthiness.
        Amen!!   

Reading: (Luke 7:1-10) 
               (Matt. 8:5-13)
               (John 4:43-54)
Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Year Of Our Lord

Psalm 40:5  

"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, 

and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up

in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, 

they are more than can be numbered."

        One of the greatest lessons I have learned, and the most wonderful privilege of my life is trusting God. My Christian Brothers and Sisters, in 2016 we must unite and walk in "true faith" and learn to put complete trust in God. The more you trust God the more confident you will be in your service to Him, and be able to handle even greater things that God has in store for you.
        What a wonderful opportunity it will be to walk into a New year with a New beginning with the King of Kings. Every day from the time we awake in the morning until we go to sleep at night is a Blessing to serve The Almighty God. I thank You Lord for allowing me to be able to Worship with all the Cross Life Readers another year.  
        Amen!!

"God Bless Our Nation

In 2016" 

Reading: (Ps. 40:1-11)

Ref: ( HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry