Month: November 2014

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 30; Ezekiel 46; John 21

God hath spoken in his holiness.  Psalms 60:6a
But thou art holy.   Psalms 22:3a

God is holy. He reveals holy wisdom, acts with holy power, and speaks with holy words. Yet at Calvary He spoke in holy silence. As our sins were laid on His Son, God demonstrated His holiness by judging sin and remaining silent to the Lord’s anguished cry. At the same time He displayed holy grace, holy mercy, and holy love towards sinners. On the cross our Lord Jesus testified to God’s holiness by replying to His silence, “But thou art holy” (Ps. 22:3). Today may we lift our hearts and worship our God in the beauty of holiness.  —George Ferrier

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love and purity.
—R. Heber

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 29; Ezekiel 45; John 20:19-31

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  Revelation 22:20

Beyond any other ambition or aspiration, are you and I waiting for the Lord’s coming? In faith, is the possibility of His coming at the centre of all our efforts, yearnings and goals? There is a crown of righteousness promised to those who would love to see Him appear (2 Tim. 4:8). Would you receive it?   —Mark Fenn

Absent as yet, we rest in hope,
Treading the desert path,
Waiting for Him who takes us up,
Beyond the pow’r of death.
—J. N. Darby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 27-28; Ezekiel 44; John 20:1-18

Fight the good fight of faith.  1 Timothy 6:12

How do we fight the good fight of faith? First of all we need to surrender to the Holy Spirit, and depend on His power. Secondly we need to lay hold on God’s Word. This is the ready sword of the Spirit and He will use it in our lives for God’s glory. The Scriptures reveal God’s will to us. It is a mighty book because it contains the living words of Almighty God. Thus it can cast down the strongholds and imaginations of philosophers and false teachers. It blesses us too because it captivates our thoughts to the obedience of Christ. It mortifies the deeds of the body and gives victory over the flesh. May God help us to love and obey His Word. —Milton Haack

Behold! The Christian warrior stand, in all the armour of his God;
The Spirit’s sword is in his hand; his feet are with the Gospel shod.
—J. Montgomery

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 26; Ezekiel 43; John 19:17-42

But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left handed.  Judges 3:15

James Strong, in his excellent concordance, indicates that one way of translating “left handed” in this context is “impeded”. Probably Ehud was disabled in that he had a weak right hand. Do you have some physical or other deficiency and feel that it limits you in the Lord’s service? Remember that the Lord can use what appears to be a weakness as an amazing tool to do His work. For example, Fanny Crosby’s blindness resulted in her memorising much of the Bible and writing some of our greatest Scripture based hymns —Brian Russell

Thou knowest Lord how very weak I am, and how I fear to stray;
For strength to serve I look to Thee alone, the strength Thou must supply!
—James McGranahan

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 25; Ezekiel 42; John 18:28 to 19:16

But his citizens…sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.  Luke 19:14
For he must reign.  1 Corinthians 15:25

It is easy to follow the godless crowd and say, “I will not have this man to reign over me.” Easy, but foolish, for God has said He must reign; He shall reign, and every knee shall bow before Him (Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10). Friend you must face Christ one day. Depending on your choice you will face Him either as Judge or Saviour. Why not turn from your sin and rebellion today and trust the One who died for you on the cross?   —David Croudace

Jesus shall reign wher-e’er the sun,
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom spread from shore to shore,
Til moons shall wax and wane no more. —Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 23-24; Ezekiel 41; John 18:1-27

God so loved the world.   John 3:16
Wherefore show ye to them…the proof of your love.  2 Cor. 8:24

While visiting a relative in Bristol Royal Infirmary, I was impressed by the very large coat of arms outside its main entrance. The motto engraved on it was “Charity Universal”. The ethos of the hospital is to provide universal care to anybody who needs it. In declaring the love of God, the Scriptures emphasise that God’s love is not restrictive or selective or partisan but that it extends to all mankind. Unfortunately not everybody reciprocates that love. But for those of us who have put our faith in Him, what proof can we offer of our love for Him?  —Brian Powlesland

O let my life be given, my years for Thee be spent;
World fetters all be riven, and joy with suffering blent;
Thou gavest Thyself for me: I give myself to Thee. —F. R. Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 21-22; Ezekiel 40; John 17

Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.  Ruth 1:3

Naomi was a single mother. The dream her husband had, in leaving famine-ridden Bethlehem, was gone and so was he. Tragedy struck again and her two sons were claimed by death. A host of unanswered questions must have swept over her like a great tidal wave. In the midst of her heartache, she learned that the Lord had blessed His people in Bethlehem with food. When the heart is broken, the believer finds sustenance only when fellowship with God is renewed. Naomi determined to return to Bethlehem and did so with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. When she went back to where they left fellowship with God, she found sustenance, a husband for Ruth, and eventually a grandson. God still blesses His people. —Arnot P. McIntee

No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you. —C. Martin

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 20; Ezekiel 39; John 16:16-33

Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  John 20:27-28

It is significant that there is no record of any of the disciples calling Jesus, “Lord,” until after His resurrection, when His deity was fully conveyed to them. When Thomas saw the scars of mortal wounds in a resurrected man he immediately realized he was looking upon Deity! We, all too often and too easily, use the term Lord without taking a moment to contemplate as to who He really is and the conduct that title demands.  —Drew Craig

Our risen Lord again we greet, radiant from death, and sin laid low;
And, tho’ with scars on hands and feet, the victor’s wreath upon His brow.
—John H. McNaughton

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 18-19; Ezekiel 38; John 15:17 to 16:15

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself.  Philippians 2:8a

Imagine the coronation of a new king and all the splendour and glory associated with such a ceremony. David was anointed king three times. The Lord Jesus Christ was also anointed three times; by a woman who was a sinner (Luke 7:37), by a friend in her home (John 12:3) and by an unknown woman in the house of a former leper (Mark 14:3). He humbled Himself.  —Sam Thorpe

Lamb of God! Thou now art seated,
High upon Thy Father’s throne,
All Thy gracious work completed,
All Thy mighty victory won.
—J. D. Deck