Bear Vent

Some people allow their thoughts and desires to be chained down to earth by business duties or the worldly worries of everyday life. They are absorbed in these as if there were nothing higher or better. The sweet duty of prayer is neglected. They do not meditate on the great truths of God's holy word. Even the Lord's day makes only little difference; there is no real seeking after God's kingdom and righteousness. But you must not give up on your brightest and highest privilege. Do not cast off the joys which might in all other respects mix with your most ordinary duties. “Don’t pile up treasures on earth, where moth and rust can spoil them and thieves can break in and steal. But keep your treasure in Heaven where there is neither moth nor rust to spoil it and nobody can break in and steal. For wherever your treasure is, you may be certain that your heart will be there too!” ( Matthew 6:19-21 ) If you are then “risen” with Christ, reach out for the highest gifts of Heaven, w...

All of the disciples claimed to love Christ. But did they all really love Him? A hypocrite was among them, of whom it is written, “Not that he cared for the poor” ( John 12:6 ). And are there not some people today who call Him, “Lord, Lord,” but who do not really love Him, having failed to love His poor brethren suffering on earth? They should have taken more pleasure in helping them, than in indulging in their own appetites, beautifying their bodies, accumulating great wealth, and giving luxurious entertainments. Those who truly love Christ are kind to the hungry, to the stranger, and to the prisoner, for His sake.

Pride is a deadly sin, and God must humble every one that He would save. If we are to be saved, we must be humbled. People do not think much of what they are doing when they nurture pride in children. Many of the common methods of education tend to feed this dangerous passion. The desire to be first is encouraged by multiple means, when these ought to be used to restrain the love of eminence in the young heart. Nothing can so effectually overcome it as the Gospel of Christ. There we learn that we are polluted beings, and that nothing but the blood of the crucified Savior can wash out our stains. Do you believe this humbling doctrine? Then remember the words of the apostle Paul, “I urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness.” ( Ephesians 4:1-2 )

Matthew 23:1-4 NLT       ¹  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²  “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. ³  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. ⁴  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. ——————— We read here how the Lord warned the people against imitating the example of hypocritical religious teachers. When they read the Scriptures to the people, then they are to be regarded. Their wrong interpretations, however, must be rejected; for our Savior on one occasion reproved them for teaching as doctrines mere human rules. ( Matthew 15:9 ) Verse 3 must therefore mean, that all the instructions they give, which agreed with God's word, must be followed, however wicked these teachers might be.

Psalms 110:1 NKJV The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ——————— Part of this prophecy has already been fulfilled. Christ is now sitting at the right hand of God; but He has not yet come to put His enemies under His feet. They who once rejected Him, O with what dismay shall they behold the Son of God when He appears in His glory! “See, He is coming in the clouds and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him, and his coming will mean bitter sorrow to every tribe upon the earth. So let it be!” ( Revelation 1:7 ) Bitter sorrow to everyone who rejected Him! It was not only the Jews who said, “We do not want this man to reign over us;” it was not only the Romans who pierced Him with a spear; there are many in Christian lands who have crucified Him all over again and have trampled Him underfoot. ( Hebrews 6:6 ; 10:29 ) All who do not love Him are His enemies, and shall be put under His feet. It is a dreadful thing to fall into th...

Those who labor for your souls, whether they be ministers or friends — don't let them look in vain for fruit in your life. Be warned, God can say to a person, as He once did to a tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” Could anyone bear the prospect of never being a blessing throughout all the ages of eternity? Many who are now useless and hurting, hope that they shall one day be different. But opportunities are quickly passing away. The trees, that are now bearing the lovely fruits of praise and holiness in heaven above, began to produce such fruits for God when on earth. Even that criminal whose Christian course lasted only an hour or two, produced good fruit in his trustful request to Jesus, and in his faithful reproof of his fellow sufferer; while the aged apostle Paul was like a tree whose boughs are bent to the ground under the weight of a fragrant and delicious load. Have you begun to bear heavenly fruit? If not, when will you begin? Delay no more; you do not know...