Sound Words for Pilgrims

Naomi said…Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.     Ruth 2:20

As the book of Ruth opens its drama, Naomi is bitter (1:13, 20-21); a grieving discouraged widow, turning souls away from God (1:8-15). God providentially brought Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer, (2:19) manifesting His kindness to reach out and warm Naomi’s cold heart. She declared His kindness as being toward both the living and “the dead”--surely a picture of us, “dead in trespasses and sin.” God’s kindness quickly transformed a bitter woman into a praising, thankful, faith-expectant woman, trusting the Lord to unite Ruth and Boaz in marriage. He can do the same for us.         --S. Thorpe

How good is the God we adore, Our faithful, unchangeable Friend,
We’ll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that’s to come.

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.    1 Thessalonians 1:9

The human heart “abhors a vacuum.” Before the Thessalonian saints left their idols, they had Someone to turn to–Someone Who was far more attractive to them than the useless idols to which they had once been so dedicated. The Lord now filled their spiritual gaze and drew them to Himself. As such their faith was spoken of by even the unbelievers. Does He mean as much to us today?
--Garry Seale

Oh how the thought of God attracts and draws the heart from earth,
And sickens it of passing shows and dissipating mirth! --F. W. Faber

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.     John 1:1

Three thoughts here radiate forth the Lord’s glory. Christ never had a beginning. The sense of the verb “was” means “was and continued to be”--He eternally existed. Then, John tells us of Christ’s fellowship with the Father and the Spirit, saying literally “He was toward God”--face-to-face in intimacy with the triune Godhead. Finally, we discover that the Word was fully divine, co-equal with the other members of the Trinity. These truths make us rejoice that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14).
--Keith Keyser

All things were made by Thee and for Thee, O Lord!
Yet Thou didst leave Thy bright throne for earth’s shame,
And clothed with humanity, our Saviour became!
--A. P. Gibbs

The Helper

Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.    Revelation 4:11

In the 17th century, Joachim Neander, under persecution, found quiet retreat in a little glen in the Dussel valley of Germany. There he composed some of his choicest verse, extolling the greatness and goodness of God. The glen was named in his memory--Neanderthal (Neander Valley). Subsequently, men defaced its beauty in pursuit of the cement industry. They found there a skeleton and acclaimed it as a missing link in the evolutionary chain. God brought men’s designs to naught--the cement industry ceased, the claims for Neanderthal man were discredited. But Neander’s song lives on.    --J. Strahan

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
Oh my soul bless Him, for He is thy strength and salvation. --J. Neander

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.    2 Timothy 4:7

The saintly British preacher, F. B. Meyer (1847-1929), one day said to a friend, “I do hope my Father will let the river of my life go flowing fully until the finish. I don’t want it to end in a swamp.” Among many examples of those who failed to finish well, are Judah’s good kings--Asa, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, and Hezekiah. They followed God for many years, then turned away. Why? They failed to keep following and obeying the Lord and His Word. We need to pray daily, “Lord, help me to finish well!” God forbid that after many years of faithful service we should “end in a swamp.”   
--W. Ross Rainey

Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving to Thyself and still believing,
Till the hour of our receiving promised joys with Thee. --Thomas Kelly

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.    Lamentations 3:22,23

Yesterday’s supply of the Lord’s compassions was adequate for that day’s demands. Now a new day with its pressures and uncertainties has dawned. Be assured that with the new day there comes a fresh supply of His tender mercies. They are “new every morning.” Take courage and press on in your heaven-bound pilgrimage; lean upon His unfailing faithfulness.    --G. Hall

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
--T. O. Chisholm

He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion…He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name.   
Psalm 111:4, 9

God delights when His wonderful works are remembered. There are so many, but what can be greater than the work accomplished at Calvary? As we meet week by week to remember Him, let us remind each other of the centrepiece of His wonderful works--Calvary. It, and all the works of our Lord, will stand fast forever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness.   
--Margaret Peters

Sweet the moments which, in blessing, musing o’er the cross we spend;
Life and health and peace possessing from the sinners’ dying Friend.
--James Allen

Every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.  Zech. 14:16
Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.    John 7:2

In Jesus day, this feast had turned into the “Jews’ feast of tabernacles” and was empty of love to man or God. How sad, as it spoke of God’s love and care for His people through their wilderness journey. When Christ returns to rule, the one feast God will again require all nations to celebrate is Tabernacles. Until then, Christ’s care and love should flow out from our hearts as we point others to the only One who can satisfy in this wilderness.    --Tom Steere

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below. --Thomas Ken

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him .    Deuteronomy 32:11-12

When an eagle’s offspring are three months old, they are toppled out of the nest to get their first lesson in eagle flying. Feeling their danger and helpless condition they scream violently for help! Then the mother sweeps under them and catches them on her huge and strong wings and all is well again. So too our God.  
--E. MacLelland

Kept by His power, whatever dangers lower,
The strength of God’s almighty arm,
Doth shield my soul from every harm,
Kept by His power.          
--William Blane

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him.    Genesis 14:17
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.    Genesis 14:18

Abraham had just succeeded in routing his enemies and rescuing his friends. No doubt he and his well-trained men were on an emotional high. Then came the temptation! Bera (“excelling in evil”) was on the spot, tempting Abraham to compromise his victory. Mechizedek (“king of righteousness”) was there, too, ready to sustain and support. We are often most vulnerable after God-given successes. Look out for the Sodoms; lean on the Salems!    --C. Funston

Do what conscience says is right, do what reason says is best,
Do with all your mind and might; do your duty and be blest. --Unknown

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.    John 16:33

Millions of dollars are spent each year in search of peace--personal, familial, corporate, national and international. Christians are not exempt from the turmoil of this sinful world we live in. But the promise that Jesus made in this verse is that He has overcome the world! So why do we worry? Because we do not believe. We let Satan use various means to sow seeds of doubt in our minds about God’s love and care for us. Let’s be of good cheer, fully believing that our heavenly Father has power over all the universe, and that He exercises it on our behalf and for our good.    
--Pam Hagey

Looking off unto Jesus my spirit is blest;
In the world I have turmoil, in Him I have rest.
--Anna B. Warner

I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah.    2 Chronicles 18:7
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?    1 John 4:20

It seems a lot easier to love God than to love a brother who is critical of me. But perhaps the disagreeable comments for which I dislike him are really God speaking through him. Let us beware lest we express our love for God, but reject reproof from His children. Take criticism to God: if valid, by His strength change; if not, leave it with Him.    --David Logan

Speak to my soul Lord Jesus, help me to heed Thy voice;
And when I heed, obey Thee, Thy heart and mine will rejoice. --L. L. Pickett
My joy flows from that grief of Thine; Thy death brings life to me. --Anon.

Looking to God

Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
--PROVERBS 16:20

THIS world of ours is a happy world, so that God is our end, so that we can say to Him, "Thou art my God." Then everything takes new hues of joy and love. Our daily comforts have a soul in them, for they abound in thanksgiving; our daily infirmities or crosses have a special joy in them, because they are so tenderly fitted to us by the medicinal hand of our God; the commonest acts of life are full of deep interest, because their end is God; daily duties are daily joys, because they are something which God gives us to offer unto Him, to do to our very best, in acknowledgment of His love.

It is His earth we walk on; His air, we breathe; His sun, the emblem of His all-penetrating love, which gladdens us. Eternity! Yes, that too is present to us, and is part of our joy on earth. God has given us faith to make our future home as certain to us, as this our spot of earth; and hope, to aspire strongly to it; and love, as a foretaste of the all-surrounding, ever-unfolding, Almighty love of our own God.
--E. B. PUSEY

Your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.    Phil. 1:5-6

Paul reminds the saints of three times: “the first day;” “now” and “the day of Jesus Christ.” This sums up the whole of the believer’s experience. The first day for the Philippians was recorded in Acts 16--the day when the gospel message reached their city and their hearts. What about our first day in Christ? It was a happy one indeed! And what about now? Have we grown in knowledge of Christ? We should have. That takes us forward to the day of Jesus Christ. What will we have to show for Him on that day?    --Reg. L. Jordan

Oh happy day that fixed my choice on Thee my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice and tell its raptures all abroad. --P. D.

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  --2 THESSALONIANS 1:12

Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
  --ROMANS 13:14

SEND down Thy likeness from above,
And let this my adorning be:
Clothe me with wisdom, patience, love,
With lowliness and purity.
  --JOACHIM LANGE

EVIDENTLY, in order to be a manifestation of Christ we must be in some way like Him. He is a Christian who follows Christ, who measures all things by the standard of His approbation, who would not willingly say a word which he would not like to have Christ hear, nor do an act which he would not like to have Christ see. He is a Christian who tries to be the kind of neighbor Christ would be, and the kind of citizen Christ would be, and who asks himself in all the alternatives of his business life, and his social life, and his personal life, what would the Master do in this case? The best Christian is he who most reminds the people with whom he lives of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
  --GEORGE HODGES

This "Sound Words for Pilgrims" site was begun last September and is intended to provide sound scriptural Bible ministry, helpful in particular for Christians who are earnestly desiring to grow in their walk with the Lord, and those who may be experiencing various trials in the path of faith. 

The side bar links are intended to be a supplement and to provide useful information, sound godly Bible teaching ministry, various practical helps and also scripture reference tools.  If there are any questions or concerns on any links, please feel free to contact me at soundwords@gmail.com.  In seeking to cast a broad net for Christian information on the internet, sometimes objects can be selected which might be better to discard.  Revisions may be made periodically as new resources are found and some are discontinued.

My desire is for edification (building up in the faith), exhortation (encouragement & warning), and comfort for each who reads here.

All Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them.    John 17:10

What does the Lord mean when He says, “I am glorified in them?” One of the disciples is about to deny Him and the rest will shortly forsake Him in His hour of suffering! But soon they will all be restored and the Saviour will be glorified. In spite of our shortcomings and failings, in our very existence as saints, considering what we once were, the Lord Jesus is glorified, and will yet be.    --Jim Flanigan

O Jesus, Lord, who loved us like to Thee?
Fruit of Thy work, with Thee, too, there to see
Thy glory, Lord, while endless ages roll;
Thy saints the prize and travail of Thy soul.
--J. N. Darby

Quotes from the 19th century

I know there is the Lord's bosom for the reception of every care and every anxiety.

We ought to be patient, for He is the doer of everything; and when we are not patient we really find fault with Him and His doing.

He is a great giver, and if He hides His hand from giving today, tomorrow He oft gives two-fold.

He that made all things, and upholds all things, is equal to, and a match for, any and every contingency that can befall any between Calvary and the cloud of glory.

With a heart broken, and a will subdued, I have given thanks for sorrows in which the iron entered into my own soul.  I say not with levity, but as before God, "Thou knowest I could not have lived through this and that if Thou hadst not given me grace to receive it at Thy hand, and to find that out of the eater came forth meat."

"Our Jesus hath done all things well" has long been our song.  And so it must be, whatever we may feel; for if the Father of an only-begotten Son settles everything for us which is for the glory of that Son, surely all is well.

He loves you and wants His will to be all your satisfaction; wants you to find your all in Him and in His Son ... He thinks that if all His pleasure is found in the Son of His love He can make that Son of His love enough for you when all else is gone.  He so loves you in Him that He is making every affection in you, every thought in you, to find the Lord Jesus as its centre.

His love broke my heart to make room for Christ, and I know it was love that did it.  Till then I never knew either the creature's need of Christ, nor Christ's sufficiency for a broken heart.

(Footprints for Pilgrims)

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