Year: 2012

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 7; Daniel 8; Revelation 3:7-22

 

Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: Who will give us meat to eat? Numbers 11:4-5

 

The “mixed multitude” among the Israelites stirred them up to complain against God. Instead of rejoicing in God’s promises and being thankful for His provision of manna, the Israelites were thinking about the herbs, fish, and fleshpots of Egypt. Looking back usually results in grumbling against God (Ex. 16:8). If you are engaged in the sin of complaining, repent! Acknowledge God’s sovereign goodness, and separate yourself from the mixed multitude, for “bad company ruins good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33, ESV). —Warren A. Henderson

Fond ambition, whisper not; happy is my humble lot.
Anxious, busy cares away; I’m provided for today. —Josiah Conder

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 6; Daniel 7; Revelation 2:18 to 3:6

 

 

A full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:12

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings and ye would not! Luke 13:34

 

David had undoubtedly heard of his great-grandmother Ruth, a foreigner, coming to trust the God of Israel and taking shelter under His protecting wings. When the Lord Jesus came He used the same metaphor, but His perfect shelter was refused. The comfort and shelter of those almighty wings are still offered to all who trust in Him. May we rejoice today in the peace found there. —Tom Steere

 

Thy people to Thee ever for grace and help repair,
For Thou they know wilt never refuse their griefs to share. —J. G. Deck

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 5; Daniel 6; Revelation 2:1-17

 

 

Whom having not seen,ye love 1 Peter 1:8

 

We did not have the privilege of seeing the Lord move in beauty and obedience on this earth 2,000 years ago. We never witnessed Him perform a miracle nor heard one word He spoke. Yet we rejoice we have found Him precious and we love Him. We look forward to a day when we shall see Him and be with Him for all eternity. —John M. Clegg

We saw Thee not when Thou didst come,
To this poor world of sin and death;
Nor e’er beheld Thy cottage home,
In that despised Nazareth;
But we believe Thy footsteps trod,
Its streets and plains, Thou Son of God. —John H. Gurney

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 3-4; Daniel 5; Revelation 1

 

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:38

 

Many already have been called and sent. Still there are those who, through our prayers, will hear that call to leave all and follow their Lord. But equally important are those who stay at home. They too must serve effectively. They must pray! Soon the final sheaf will be gathered in. There never was a more suitable day to pray, than today! —Drew Craig

Pray, pray for others needs,
For loved ones you may intercede,
Oh, bring each one for who you care,
Before the throne of grace in prayer. —Chas H. Gabriel

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 1-2; Daniel 4; 3 John

 

To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

 

Daily we are bombarded by a multitude of voices all claiming to be experts in their given fields of study. Man is a highly opinionated individual and quite enamoured with himself, feeling he has all the answers to the issues of life. If man’s counsel is not in agreement with the principles of Scripture then we should ignore them. There is “no light in them.” We have access to a wonderful Counselor! May we enjoy the light of His Word today. —William Gustafson

 

‘Twas sovereign mercy called me and taught my opening mind;
The world had else enthralled me, to heavenly glories blind;
My heart owns none above Thee; for Thine own self I thirst;
This knowing, if I love Thee, that Thou didst love me first. —J. Conder

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 36; Daniel 3; 2 John

 

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11

 

I made a swipe at a butterfly pest in my vegetable garden and hit a rosemary bush. As a result of the bruising, the plant diffused a lovely fragrance. So it is with God’s people. Deep sorrows bring forth sweet fragrance. It made me think of the two people in my life that I have admired greatly for their graciousness. What did they have in common? They both knew incredible suffering. Today, will life’s tragedies make you bitter or better? —J. Fleming

Flowers crushed beside the pathway, have a fragrance sweet and rare,
Their gracious scent will ease the trials, of others walking there.—J. Fleming

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 35; Daniel 2:24-49; 1 John 5

 

Never man spake like this Man. John 7:46

A colt… whereon never man sat. Mark 11:2

A new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. John 19:41

 

There are times when we must bow and say, “What manner of Man is this?” (Matt. 8:27). He spake as never man spake; He sat where never man had sat. He lay where never man had lain. He is indeed unique, in His life, in His ministry, and in His death. What manner of man is this? —Jim Flanigan

O Lord, when we the path retrace.
Which Thou on earth hast trod,
To man they wondrous love and grace,
Thy faithfulness to God. —J. G. Deck

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 34; Daniel 2:1-23; 1 John 4

 

And when they looked they saw the stone was rolled away for it was very great. Mark 16:4

 

The problem of rolling away the stone was very real to these women as they approached the sepulchre. However, the major lesson to learn is that they set out and did not remain at home, wondering. When the Lord sees our faithfulness and zeal to honour and serve Him, He will be able to remove obstacles. Set out in faith today wherever the Lord is leading you and do not fear. —Brian Russell

The Lord has Himself gone before,
He has marked out the path that I tread;
Tis as sure as the One I adore,
I have nothing to fear or to dread. —J. N. Darby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 33; Daniel 1; 1 John 3

 

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet. Jeremiah 1:5.

For we are… created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

 

These verses remind us that God has a beautiful plan for our lives, laid down long before we were born. However it requires repentance of sin, and faith in Christ, in order to start fitting into that marvelous plan. If this is followed by a daily yielding of ourselves to His will (Rom. 6:13), we will indeed lead lives of fulfilment and joy, whatever our circumstances might be. —David Croudace

 

 

God holds the key of all unknown, and I am glad;
If other hands should hold the key, or if He trusted it to me, I would be sad.—Joseph Parker

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 32; Ezekiel 48; 1 John 2:12-29

 

 

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother. John 19:25

When Jesus therefore saw His mother… He said to His mother, Behold your Son! John 19:26

 

One can only imagine the feelings of Mary as she stood vigil at the cross while her beloved Son was so cruelly treated. But what great eloquence is in her silence. Not a word does she speak, for now she understands the words that she spoke at His birth, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:47). For Him to be her Saviour, He must suffer, bleed and die. Did tears run down her cheeks as she gazed on her bruised Son? Most certainly. Her Son saw those tears too and in love He said to John, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:27). —Jim Comte

 

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! —C. Wesley