By: Mike Riley

 In Psalm 103:1,4-5, David declared, “Bless the LORD, O my soul….who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth with good things.” According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, pg. 142-143, the Hebrew word, “hesed” means “loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion.” This word is used 240 times in the Old Testament and is especially frequent in the Psalter.

By: Mike Riley

 The question might be raised: “What right does God have to demand our respect?” The answer is seen in the following four categories:

1) His Perfect Justice (Deuteronomy 32:4)

God had been true to His covenant with the Jews and their fathers. “Nothing” that He had promised had failed (1 Kings 8:56). If any severe and protracted trials had come upon them, it was because of their own undutiful and perverse conduct; not to any vacillation or unfaithfulness on the part of God (James 1:17). God’s character was marked by justice and judgment, whether they had been exalted to prosperity or plunged in the depths of affliction.

By: Mike Riley

Most of us have read about the infamous John Wilkes Booth who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But have we ever read about Edwin Booth, John’s eldest brother? Edwin Thomas Booth was a well-known American actor who one day was waiting at a Jersey City train station. Suddenly, he saw a man slip and fall off the platform.

By: Mike Riley

Christ as the master teacher (John 3:2) taught his disciples not only by word but by example (John 13:15). He demonstrated by His living how they should live before their heavenly Father. After washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-5), Christ explained to them the spiritual “benefits” of serving others (John 13:14-17).

True happiness cannot be attained in any other way. What will bring true happiness in time will also bring it into eternity (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Tim. 6:17-19). The principle of helping those who are spiritually weak (Romans 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14), of weeping with those that weep (Romans 12:15), of encouraging the lowly (Luke 6:20; Gal. 2:10) and encouraging the sinful to sin no more (John 8:11), is the essential and fundamental spirit of our Lord.