God''s Mercy and Love

John 3:16  

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should 

not perish, but have everlasting life."

    To God however, it isn’t merciful to destroy what is good or beautiful even if it means eradicating something that is bad. God will keep what is good even if it means suffering for it. He came down from heaven to suffer and to die for us so that when He rises again, He could also draw us all into His saving love!
    We have all suffered from sin. But God, instead of destroying us all, saved us. Even if all that remains within our souls is a little spark of love, He will not let it be extinguished! He will purify us until He could save all that could still be saved.
Amen!

Reading:  (John 3:9:21)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

We Cannot Cheat God!!!

1 Kings 14:6  

"And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came 

in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam;

why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am 

sent to thee with heavy tidings." 

    How blind we become when we sin against our conscience! "Each act of willful sin puts another shade on the window of the soul." “Their foolish heart was darkened,”  "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened," (Rom. 1:21). Surely if the prophet were able to predict the issue of this sickness, he would be able to penetrate the mother’s disguise, although she brought only the gifts of a poor peasant woman. 

    Jeroboam had devised this ruse, partly, because he did not wish the nation to know that he was consulting a prophet of Jehovah-an act which might invalidate his new temple and the calves, and also because he wanted to get a more favorable answer than that which he anticipated in case the prophet recognized the inquirer. We may disguise ourselves as we will, but we cannot cheat God, and no dissembling can ever turn away the arrow that speeds straight to the guilty heart.
    Jewish historians say that the exception was made in Abijahs case,  "And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam," (1Kgs. 14:13), because he interceded with his father that all Israelites who wished might be allowed to go to the feasts at Jerusalem, without being penalized. There is always discrimination in the divine judgments. How often God has brought beautiful lives out of foul surroundings, as the pure lily-cup out of a muddy pond! 

Amen!

Reading: (1 Kgs. 14:1-16)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

There Is No Alternative To Worshiping God!

1Kings 12:28  

"Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, 

and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to 

Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which 

brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." 

    Jeroboam offered the people idolatry as an alternative to worshiping God. Jeroboam knew better than to make the two calves. The prophet had clearly told him that the stability of his throne was contingent upon his obedience. "And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee," (1 Kgs 11:38). It was definitely promised that if he would hearken to do all that was commanded him, God would be with him and build him a sure house. But he was not content with that. 

    Afraid, that if his people went up to the annual feasts at Jerusalem, they would return to their ancient loyalty to David’s throne and kill him, Jeroboam set up the worship of God under the semblance of the two golden calves, "Idolatry."  He broke not the First but the Second Commandment, and sowed seeds from which his descendants were destined to reap a succession of bitter harvests. He was like the foolish man of our Lord’s parable, who heard and did not; and whose house, however carefully it might have been constructed, was sapped by the rising waters. 

    My Friends, Expediency always deceives those who turn from God and rely on the devices of their own hearts. There is no knowing to what lengths men may drift, when they lose their anchor in God. 

Amen!

Reading: (1 Kings 12:25-33)

Ref:( HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

God's Power Is In The Reach Of Your Hand

1Kings 17:18  

"And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, 

O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to 

call my sin to remembrance, 

and to slay my son?"

     It must have been a severe trial to Elijah’s faith, first to note the gradual diminishing of the brook; then the hopeless poverty of the woman to whom he was directed; and finally the illness and death of her child. But through it all, he held fast to the living God. It was still, “O Lord my God.”  "And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? " (1Kgs. 17:20).
    Affliction is no proof that we are off the path of duty. The way of obedience is sometimes paved with large bulging rock, as every servant of God has discovered. But the difficulties only give room for the exercise of greater faith, and reveal more of the delivering power of our Almighty God.
    A physician bends over the little child, eager to save a human life; but his power is limited. Through faith and prayer, other forces are available, which accomplish what no skill or medicine can. When we have confessed and put away sin which the hour of anguish has brought to light, room is made for the exercise of that divine power which is always within the reach of hands that are lifted without fear or doubting. 

Amen!

Reading: (1Kgs. 17:17-24)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

A Wise Choice

1Kings 3:11  

"And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked 

for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked 

the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself 

understanding to discern judgment;"

    The affinity with Pharaoh, and the two onlys of 1Kings 3:2-3 are not promising. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: "But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee," (Deut. 12:13-14). Yet there were hopeful features in Solomon’s love for God, and the devotion and obedience by which it was proved.  It remained, however, to be seen, which of these influences was to triumph in the outworking of his character. That is always the most urgent, question in life. With too many the early dew and morning cloud pass away, leaving no trace. "Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away," (Hos. 6:4).
    There is an inner wisdom which is of the heart rather than of the head, and which God’s Spirit bestows on those who love Him. Having this, we possess the key to all things in heaven and on earth.  When a man seeks first the Kingdom, all else is added. Only the man who delights in God can be trusted with the gratification of his heart’s desires. "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart," (Ps.37:4
    Live deep in God. Do not be dazzled or fascinated by outward things. Be concerned to know God’s will and become the organ of His purpose. He will add to you all else that is needful for the fulfillment of your life-course.
Amen!

Reading: (1kings 3:1-15)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

Be True To God And Yourself

2 Chronicles 15:2

"And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, 

Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, 

while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be 

found of you; but if ye forsake him, 

he will forsake you"

    As long as we are with the Lord, He is with us. Then our enemies are His enemies, and He shows Himself strong on the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.  As Joash found it in the earlier part of his reign. We need to ponder the blessings set out in Ps. 81. "I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee." (Ps. 81:14-16). But directly Joash listened to the princes and forsook the house of God and gave license to the Asherim and idols, God was turned against the people and became their enemy. The reign that commenced in sunshine was sadly overcast, and the king perished by the hands of conspirators and never came to the sepulcher of the kings.
   Then disaster after disaster fell upon the nation. They had to learn that they had been chosen for a special service in the world and could not be as others. Yet amid these dark days, what gleams of light there were!
    My Friends, it is not just our nation that disasters have be fell 2 upon, it's the entire World.  We are in a time of destruction. Why do I say that? I say that because so many people have turned against God.  2 Timothy 3 Tells us that people will turn away from God in the last days. Understand This! There will be times of great trouble. People will love only themselves. They will want lots of money. they will think they are better than others. They will say how great they are, and belittle other people. My Friends, people will not love their own family. Things will be said about others that are lies. They will not want to conduct themselves properly. They will be like wild animals and just as dangerous. They will hate everything that is good. They will turn against friends, and will not care what they do. They will not love God. They will seem to worship God, but refuse to let God work in them. You must stay away from these people. 
Amen!

Reading: (2 Tim 3)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

           

A Still Small Voice

Hebrews 3:14 

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning 

of our confidence steadfast unto the end;"

    "The path may be trodden hard by the sower’s feet."  The story of the Wilderness wanderings is for all time. Still men disbelieve and disobey; still they doubt that God is able; still they err in their hearts and therefore fail to understand with their heads; still they wander to and fro, with weary souls and restless feet. But if they who failed to believe in words given by Moses were wrapped around by the winding sheets of sand wonder until death, what will be the fate of those who refuse the words of Christ!
    How wonderful it is that by just trusting we may be partners with our Lord of  His rest, life, glory and most of His love. But we must listen to the inner voice, soft and low speaking in the core of our hearts, "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice," (1Kings19:12). Obey it, and you will enter into the rest of God; refuse it, and you will be as certainly excluded from the divine rest as they that wonder for 40 years, and never seen the Promise Land. 
    My Friends, Let's take time to ponder on our relationship with God. Do we read His word, and worship with Him personally, or do we late someone else do the reading and studying and just worship if we feel like, or because everyone else is. My Friend's We must hear that still small voice our self.  Remember what Our main Scripture is, "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end," (Heb. 3:14). 
Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry