The Iron Pen #103

Historically, George Read (1733-1798) is known as "the father of Delaware." He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. He wrote the first edition of Delaware’s laws and state constitution. These were the requirements necessary for holding office: "Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust…shall make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit: " I (state your name), do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament of being given by divine inspiration." (Adapted from America’s God and Country by W. J. Federer)

Precious – Psalm 19:10

Perfect – Psalm 19:7

Pure – Psalm 12:6

Powerful – Hebrews 4:12

Profitable – 2 Timothy 3:16

Prophetic – 2 Peter 1:19

Purifying – Psalm 119:9

"It is not enough that we decay not in our spiritual condition, that we be not diverted and carried off from a steady course in obedience by the power of temptations; but an endeavor after an improvement, an increase, a thriving in grace, that is, in holiness, is required of us." - John Owen (1616-1683)

Dr. David L. Brown

Someone once asked me, "What’s the big deal about being born again?" The answer is, being born again is important because Jesus Christ said, "Ye MUST be born again" for without being born again, you will not ever see Heaven. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Since that is true, the obvious question is, how can a person be born again? First, a person is born again by hearing and believing the Gospel. The Bible says, "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15. James put it this way, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." James 1:18 . In fact, people are born again by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior. The Apostle John wrote, "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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18. In John’s little letter of 1 John he says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God..." 1 John 5:1. If you have never been born again, why not stop and pray. Tell God that you believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again. Admit that you are a sinner and tell the Lord that you know you cannot save yourself. Tell Christ that you are a sinner and that you are fully trusting in Him to save you from your sins. Invite Him to take control of you life and make you the person He wants you to be.

When parents instruct not their children, they seldom prove blessings. God often punishes the carelessness of parents with undutifulness in their children. - Thomas Watson