Luke 14:27
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple."
Here we have our Lord’s use of followers with a listening ear and open heart. Among the crowds; He knew that there were many light and superficial souls who had not realized the cost involved in discipleship. Mark the thrice-repeated words-cannot be my disciple.
Our love must be greater than the ties of family affection, Luke 14:26; must be greater than our love for our own way, which must be nailed to the Cross, Luke 14:27; must be greater than our love of possessions and property, Luke 14:33. Christ has done more than any other teacher to cement the relationships of human love, but He always asks that they should be subordinated to the claims of God.
What a comfort it is to realize that God counted the cost before He set about the task of redemption, whether of a world or of us as individuals. He knew all that it would cost, and surely He did not begin what He cannot complete! Oh' For the love that Paul had; "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" Phil. 3:7-8.
Amen!!
Reading: (Luke 14:25-33)
(Phil. 3:1-11)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 9, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Assurances Passed On
Deuteronomy 31:8
"And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he
will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither
forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
God buries His workers, but carries on His work. None are indispensable. Moses is succeeded by Joshua; Stephen by Paul. "The grass withereth; but the word of our God shall stand forever."
The old Lawgiver passes on the assurances on which he had rested. After all, men are but the figureheads of movements which are greater than themselves. God goes before; God destroys; God accompanies and delivers. He lets timid souls take courage, and when the Good Shepherd puts them forth He precedes them, John 10:4. The iron gates stand open at His summons, and the big stones are rolled from the door of the sepulchers, Acts 12:10; Mark 16:3. Then He tells us, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," Hebrews 13:.5. This is the right of all believers. It is for me and you!
Amen!!
Reading: (Deut. 31:1-23)
(Acts 12:1-19)
(Heb. 13:1-25)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
"And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he
will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither
forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
God buries His workers, but carries on His work. None are indispensable. Moses is succeeded by Joshua; Stephen by Paul. "The grass withereth; but the word of our God shall stand forever."
The old Lawgiver passes on the assurances on which he had rested. After all, men are but the figureheads of movements which are greater than themselves. God goes before; God destroys; God accompanies and delivers. He lets timid souls take courage, and when the Good Shepherd puts them forth He precedes them, John 10:4. The iron gates stand open at His summons, and the big stones are rolled from the door of the sepulchers, Acts 12:10; Mark 16:3. Then He tells us, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," Hebrews 13:.5. This is the right of all believers. It is for me and you!
Amen!!
Reading: (Deut. 31:1-23)
(Acts 12:1-19)
(Heb. 13:1-25)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
Saturday, March 7, 2015
An Outsider’s Faith
Matthew 15:26
"But he answered and said, It is not meet
to take the children's bread,
and to cast it to dogs."
A crumb from the table of our Lord can make the heart satisfied and glad. But the suppliant must take the right place and give Him His right place. This poor Gentile mother had no claim on Jesus as the son of David; He was therefore silent. It was impossible for her to come in by the door of the covenant, but His silence led her to knock at another door, and taught her to cry, Lord, help me.
There was yet another lesson for her to learn and the Lord knew that she was capable of learning it. She must realize that for the time His ministry was confined to the Chosen People, so that the Gentile claim could be recognized only incidentally. But when she was willing to take the low place under the table and ask for the children’s crumbs, He put the key of His unsearchable riches into her hand, saying, "O Woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Those who yield to God most absolutely are able to decree things! Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways (Job 22:28). My friend you must be willing to take the low place and get upon your knees, and recognize that without faith there is no place for you at God's Table.
Amen!!
Reading: (Matt. 15:21-28)
(Job. 22:12-30)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"But he answered and said, It is not meet
to take the children's bread,
and to cast it to dogs."
A crumb from the table of our Lord can make the heart satisfied and glad. But the suppliant must take the right place and give Him His right place. This poor Gentile mother had no claim on Jesus as the son of David; He was therefore silent. It was impossible for her to come in by the door of the covenant, but His silence led her to knock at another door, and taught her to cry, Lord, help me.
There was yet another lesson for her to learn and the Lord knew that she was capable of learning it. She must realize that for the time His ministry was confined to the Chosen People, so that the Gentile claim could be recognized only incidentally. But when she was willing to take the low place under the table and ask for the children’s crumbs, He put the key of His unsearchable riches into her hand, saying, "O Woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Those who yield to God most absolutely are able to decree things! Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways (Job 22:28). My friend you must be willing to take the low place and get upon your knees, and recognize that without faith there is no place for you at God's Table.
Amen!!
Reading: (Matt. 15:21-28)
(Job. 22:12-30)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, March 6, 2015
What Really Defiles
Matthew 15:19
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, blasphemies."
It is good to study our Lord’s list of the sources of soul-pollution. Evil thoughts come first. We cannot prevent an evil suggestion being presented to our minds, but we can refuse to dwell on it. To resist to dwell on it strengthens us in the opposite direction; to yield to it is to commit the sin in our heart, which, in God’s sight, is equivalent to the outward act. Notice that railing, that is, unkind and uncharitable speech, is in this black-list.
The heart, rather than the body, is the source of sin. Out of the heart! The body is the note pad on which the soul registers its improvement or deterioration. Do not find fault with your members: look to your heart and keep it beyond keeping, for out of it are the issues of life. Ask God to create in you a clean heart. See that you distinguish between the first Adam and the second. Deny what you inherit of human weakness and sin, and affirm all that is of Christ’s imparting. The cross of Calvary and the Resurrection of the living Christ are facts of God's love toward us.
Amen!!
Reading: (Matt. 15:1-20)
(Mark 7:1-23)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, blasphemies."
It is good to study our Lord’s list of the sources of soul-pollution. Evil thoughts come first. We cannot prevent an evil suggestion being presented to our minds, but we can refuse to dwell on it. To resist to dwell on it strengthens us in the opposite direction; to yield to it is to commit the sin in our heart, which, in God’s sight, is equivalent to the outward act. Notice that railing, that is, unkind and uncharitable speech, is in this black-list.
The heart, rather than the body, is the source of sin. Out of the heart! The body is the note pad on which the soul registers its improvement or deterioration. Do not find fault with your members: look to your heart and keep it beyond keeping, for out of it are the issues of life. Ask God to create in you a clean heart. See that you distinguish between the first Adam and the second. Deny what you inherit of human weakness and sin, and affirm all that is of Christ’s imparting. The cross of Calvary and the Resurrection of the living Christ are facts of God's love toward us.
Amen!!
Reading: (Matt. 15:1-20)
(Mark 7:1-23)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
What A Day That Will Be
Isaiah 12:2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and
not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH
is my strength and my song ; he
also is become my salvation."
When the sinner first finds peace and joy in believing; and to the believer, when his peace is renewed after corrections for backsliding; and to the whole company of the redeemed, when they meet before the throne of God in heaven, the promise is sure. The blessings contained are very rich; and the benefits enjoyed through Jesus Christ, call for the most enlarged thanksgivings. By Jesus Christ, the Root of Jesse, the Divine anger against mankind was turned away, for he is our Peace. Those to whom God is reconciled, he comforts. I will trust him to prepare me for his salvation, and preserve me in it. I will trust him with all my concerns, not doubting that he will make all to work for the good.
My friends; Faith in God is a sovereign remedy against tormenting fears. Many Christians have God for their strength, but those who have God for their strength ought to make him their light and give him the glory. This salvation is from the love of God the Father, it comes to us through God the Son, it is applied by the new-creating power of God the Spirit. When this is seen by faith, the trembling sinner learns to hope in God, and is delivered from fear.
This work flows through the mediation of Christ, and is conveyed to our souls by means of God's ordinances. Blessed be God, we have wells of salvation opened on every side, and may draw from them the waters of life and consolation. As believers we need to encourage one another to praise God, and draw others to join us. No difference of opinions or other such matters, ought to divide the hearts of Christians. Let it be our care that we may be placed among those to whom he will say, Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.
Amen!!
Reading: (Isaiah 12:1-6)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and
not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH
is my strength and my song ; he
also is become my salvation."
When the sinner first finds peace and joy in believing; and to the believer, when his peace is renewed after corrections for backsliding; and to the whole company of the redeemed, when they meet before the throne of God in heaven, the promise is sure. The blessings contained are very rich; and the benefits enjoyed through Jesus Christ, call for the most enlarged thanksgivings. By Jesus Christ, the Root of Jesse, the Divine anger against mankind was turned away, for he is our Peace. Those to whom God is reconciled, he comforts. I will trust him to prepare me for his salvation, and preserve me in it. I will trust him with all my concerns, not doubting that he will make all to work for the good.
My friends; Faith in God is a sovereign remedy against tormenting fears. Many Christians have God for their strength, but those who have God for their strength ought to make him their light and give him the glory. This salvation is from the love of God the Father, it comes to us through God the Son, it is applied by the new-creating power of God the Spirit. When this is seen by faith, the trembling sinner learns to hope in God, and is delivered from fear.
This work flows through the mediation of Christ, and is conveyed to our souls by means of God's ordinances. Blessed be God, we have wells of salvation opened on every side, and may draw from them the waters of life and consolation. As believers we need to encourage one another to praise God, and draw others to join us. No difference of opinions or other such matters, ought to divide the hearts of Christians. Let it be our care that we may be placed among those to whom he will say, Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.
Amen!!
Reading: (Isaiah 12:1-6)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Shame Will Not Bring Gain
Isaiah 29:15
"Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel
from the Lord, and their works are in the dark,
and they say, Who seeth us?
and who knoweth us?
The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may learn the truth and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it, the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is "lip labor" only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they are thinking of a thousand other things. They worship God according to their own gain
Numbers have become important in worship. And religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But wanderings of the mind, and lack of devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God. And those who make religion no more than a pretense, deceive themselves. Those that think they conceal themselves from God only, fool themselves. Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Amen!!
Reading: (Isa. 29:15-24)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel
from the Lord, and their works are in the dark,
and they say, Who seeth us?
and who knoweth us?
The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may learn the truth and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it, the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is "lip labor" only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they are thinking of a thousand other things. They worship God according to their own gain
Numbers have become important in worship. And religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But wanderings of the mind, and lack of devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God. And those who make religion no more than a pretense, deceive themselves. Those that think they conceal themselves from God only, fool themselves. Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Amen!!
Reading: (Isa. 29:15-24)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 2, 2015
Plans And Deliberations
Proverbs 16:3
"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and
thy thoughts shall be established."
As a child opens it's heart to a loving parent, so should we show our desires and intentions, to His trusting guidance and care. Then the plans and deliberations out of which the "works" come, will be with a complete and happy fulfillment, because they were undertaken according to the will of God, and directed to the end by His guidance.
My friends; the safest way in which to travel is the way of the upright, a way which God makes plain to those who desires to walk in it. We should take heed of deceiving ourselves by resting in that which seems right, but is not really so! Make sure it's right by walking with and listening to God.
Amen!!
Reading: (Pro. 16:1-33)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and
thy thoughts shall be established."
As a child opens it's heart to a loving parent, so should we show our desires and intentions, to His trusting guidance and care. Then the plans and deliberations out of which the "works" come, will be with a complete and happy fulfillment, because they were undertaken according to the will of God, and directed to the end by His guidance.
My friends; the safest way in which to travel is the way of the upright, a way which God makes plain to those who desires to walk in it. We should take heed of deceiving ourselves by resting in that which seems right, but is not really so! Make sure it's right by walking with and listening to God.
Amen!!
Reading: (Pro. 16:1-33)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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