Month: February 2017

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58-59; Acts 10:24-48

And they told him all the words of Joseph…[and] the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Genesis 45:27

Jacob was old and his days were spent mourning his losses. Rachel was dead, he believed Joseph was too and God’s promises seemed as dry as the desert sand. His remaining comfort, Benjamin, had been whisked away in a time of famine and crisis (Gen. 43:14). Surely the end was near! But God used Jacob’s surrender of Benjamin to bring about a marvelous deliverance. God proved that circumstances don’t dictate our reality—He does. Jacob was revived, restored and renewed when his hope was in God alone. May this be our experience. —Deborah Manera

“God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” —Andrew Murray

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith…a body hast thou prepared me: Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:5, 9

We are privileged here to enter into the eternal counsels of the divine—the Son speaking to the Father. This glimpse into heaven confirms His pre-existence before His birth. It also reveals His knowledge of the redemptive plan and His delight in fulfilling His Father’s will (Ps. 40:8). As one before has noted; “Bethlehem was the beginning of an earthly human story that was to bring infinite pleasure to God.” —Pete Smith

Faithful amidst unfaithfulness, midst darkness only light:
Thou didst Thy Father’s Name confess and in His will delight.
                                                                                            —James G. Deck

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? Luke 22:64

Sinful men blindfolded the One who had repeatedly given sight to the blind. Then, after striking Him, asked the One who knew all things to say who had done it. He could have easily demonstrated His power but allowed men to exercise their blasphemy. His eventual response would be “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). His expressions of love and forgiveness led the centurion to “[glorify] God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). Today, we worship our Saviour. —Ken Gross

Crowned with thorns upon the tree, silent in Thine agony;
Dying, crushed beneath the load of the wrath and curse of God.
                                                                                                           —Guinness

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. Deut. 30:19

Man faces many choices in his lifetime. God warned Israel that to continue in sin would result in death, while obedience to God would bring blessing and life! The same warning echoes over the span of time to us today. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). To heed this warning is life. To ignore it, is certain death. Choose life and live! —E. V.

There is life for a look at the crucified One,
There is life at this moment for thee;
Then look, sinner, look unto Him and be saved,
Unto Him who was nailed to the tree.
                                                              —Miss A. M. Hull

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 15; Psalm 51; Acts 8:5-40

And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love). 1 Corinthians 13:13

1 Corinthians 13 demonstrates that whatever service, or sacrifices, we may render, if love is not the motivation, they are completely devoid of value. The apostle outlines the characteristics of genuine love, and concludes that love is the supreme virtue. We see this demonstrated in the church at Ephesus. Ephesus had much to commend it, yet the Lord says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love…I…will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). Solemn words indeed that merit our consideration personally and corporately. —W. H. Burnett

Like shoreless seas, Thy love can know no bound; Thou lovest me!
Deep, vast, immense, unfathomed, Lord—profound. Lord I love Thee!
                                                                                                                       —E. C. Quine

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49-50; Acts 7:30 to 8:4

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver. Eccl. 5:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10

The lure of more was part of the Devil’s strategy in the Garden of Eden and remains a part of our sinful flesh. Dissatisfaction, or the desire for more, is the pursuit of a happiness that does not originate with God. Once saved, we gradually learn that true happiness is total dependence on Him for everything. How slow we are to practice it. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other” (Gal. 5:17). “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” (Gal. 5:24). Soon our victory will not be temporary but eternal. —Vernon Markle

Satisfied with Thee, Lord Jesus, I am blest;
Peace which passeth understanding, on Thy breast.
                                                                                     —E. Milne

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 13 to 14:4; Psalms 47-48; Acts 7:1-29

They were mighty men of valour. 1 Chronicles 26:6

Able men for strength for the service. 1 Chronicles 26:8 A wise counsellor. 1 Chronicles 26:14

Are these possibly the Old Testament’s equivalent of the “men of good report” found in Acts 6? What a virtuous standard! Current surveys show the desperate need in the home for a visible functioning dad. In the local church the need is for caring shepherds who are examples to the flock—not just shrewd businessmen handling the affairs of the congregation, but genuine servants of God’s people. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow” (Heb. 13:7). —W. H. G.

O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him.
                                                           —Barbara B. Hart

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 12:21-51; Psalm 45-46; Acts 6

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen (nations), and sing praises unto thy name. Psalm 18:49

Giving thanks to the Lord speaks loudly in this unthankful world. God has put us here to shine as lights, to be seen as a city on a hill, and to be salt to reach out to the ends of the earth. Nothing shines brighter, is seen more clearly, and reaches further than thanksgiving and praise to Him from whom all blessings flow. Tell the Lord, thankyou, today, out loud—and by your life, so that everyone will hear! —Rex Trogdon

Yes, on through life’s long path, still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day, in gladness and in woe.
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice give thanks, and sing!
                                                                             —Edward H. Plumptre