Versaday

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Joel 2:21

In troubled times we tend to fear and be pessimistic. We say, “how will we get through this?” What will become of us? We must remember that in spite of the perplexity and turmoil here below, God is still on the throne working His sovereign will. Not a sparrow falls and not a leaf moves that He doesn’t  see. With the eyes of faith we must recall the words of Romans 8:28: “And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Jesus said in regard to the pressures of the end times (which we are in), “And when these things begin to come to pass, then “look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28. Far from being a cause of worry and vexation it should be a cause of rejoicing because  “The night is far spent and the day is at hand.” Romans 13:12  Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen. Rev. 22:20.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7

The apostle Peter here tells us that all the things of this world will come to an end, and that the end is near. The things that Jesus said will characterize the end times are happening now; things such as increased earthquake activity and intensity, distress and perplexity among nations in view of world problems, deterioration of morals, increase of violence, lewdness and iniquity, etc., etc. What should we do and how should we live in view of these things? Our text tells us. Be sober, or serious minded, watch, (meaning live a godly life while looking for Jesus’ return), and pray. And first and above all, receive Jesus into your heart and life by repentance of sin, and faith in Him as your Savior.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15

I am so glad that this verse is in the Bible because it tells us why Jesus came into the world and the kind of people He came to save. If you are not a sinner, then He didn’t die for you. But I am sure that you are included  because, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. That He would die for sinners is a marvel and a wonder. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7,8. Considering all that God has done to save us, and what He continues to do, can you imagine His wrath toward those who persist in their sins and will not accept the One who sacrificed Himself for us?

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. Psalms 98:2

Indeed He has made known to us His salvation. But what if God had not revealed Himself to us through His Word and His Son? In this dark world freely floating in space we would be left to wonder and to speculate as they now do who do not know the Lord. With so many voices and opinions, one person’s guess is as good as the next person’s. Thank our precious Lord that we do not have to do that. The Lord hath made known His salvation. “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.” John 3:16. Thank you Father.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

I have chosen you out of the world. John 15:19

The complete verse reads: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” They will call you “goody two shoes, hypocrite, etc., etc. This is not exactly the “prosperity gospel” that is so popular nowadays, but it is true; history and experience bear this out. The more nearly your conduct follows Christ’s teaching, the more the world will despise you.

 But this is in the world, or those who do not follow Christ. Among Christian brethren who are like-minded you can have blessed fellowship, and in the Lord, “joy unspeakable and full of glory,” 1 Peter 1:8. Jesus said that if you come out of the ways of the world to follow Him, you will “receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting.” Luke 18:30. If you only knew. This Jesus that the world despises is “the pearl of great price,” and the one who is “altogether lovely.” Pilate had to choose. We all have to choose. What will you do with Jesus?

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst made me clean. Luke 5:12

These are the words of a man who suffered the horrible, incurable disease of leprosy which covered his entire body. Our verse says that he was full of leprosy. His physical condition has reminded many of the plague of sin that infects all of humankind. As we live a few years in this world, it dawns on us that all is not well. Listen to the news. Read the newspaper. Observe your own actions. All this confirms what the Bible says. Mankind suffers from leprosy of the soul called sin. You may have read the Bible and perhaps realize that you need a Savior but your question is the same as the leper’s question. You may feel, “I know that Jesus can save me, but I don’t know if He will. I have messed things up so badly. I just don’t know if there is any  hope. Not only can he save you and change you, if you sincerely call upon him, he will. Jesus says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He is the great physician who has never lost a case. Go to Him and you will see.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Jesus was made a surety of a better testament. Hebrews 7:22

Jesus was our surety, our co-signer, our guarantor. He took on Himself the responsibility for our indebtedness and guilt, and as a consequence he had to pay the price of our sin against God. In old England, if you were surety for someone else’s debt and could not pay, you went to jail. Under the Old Testament, or Covenant, each person was responsible for keeping God’s Law. Since we all have miserably failed, and broken God’s law, God made a NEW Testament ( or a NEW covenant ), with Jesus standing in OUR place. The full burden of our responsibility to honor and obey God’s law fell on Jesus. Since WE were guilty, and the wages of sin is death, Jesus paid the price of our sins by suffering and dying on the cross in our place. The old Covenant of the law could not save us because we were guilty under the law. So “Jesus was made a surety of a better testament.” If you TRULY receive Jesus as your surety, (or Savior) your guilt is transferred to Him and Jesus’ righteousness is transferred to you. “For He hath made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor.5:21. Now a warning. God is not mocked. He that despised the Old Covenant died without mercy by stoning. “Of how much more severe punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Jesus Wept. John 11:35

The shortest verse in the Bible. What caused the Savior’s tears? Perhaps being at the tomb of his friend reminded Him of the tragic fall of the whole human race into sin and rebellion against God. Before His eyes was the result of the ravages of sin and the inevitable destruction and dissolution that it brings. On one other occasion as He descended the Mt. of Olives Jesus wept over Jerusalem just prior to His betrayal and crucifixion. What pathos and longing are in His words as He said, “ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a  hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Luke 13:37. Perhaps there is another time that He weeps. Perhaps He weeps for you.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

It is possible to be relatively content in this world even while being in an ungodly state. The Bible calls Esau a “profane person,” and yet he told Jacob, “I have enough.” Genesis 33:11. But if you have contentment and godliness, you have it all. You have a good life now, and an eternity of joy and bliss so great that the Bible says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.1 Corinthians 2:9. These blessings are all found in Jesus Christ. “ He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. 1 John 5:12.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. Psalms 6:2

This is the kind of prayer that the LORD hears. His ear is open to the humble and the penitent, but the Bible says that He views the proud and haughty from afar off. Psalms 138:6.  Jesus told a parable of two men who prayed to the Lord. One told the Lord that he was thankful that he was not a big sinner like a lot of men, and the other could scarce look upward to heaven and prayed, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris