DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 16:1-17:19; Ezekiel 37:1-28; John 15:1-16
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3
These words of the Lord were spoken to Jeremiah while He was in prison. Are you facing a difficult trial at present? If so take these words to heart. First we note that prayer is commanded. God desires that all His children communicate with Him. Share with Him your deep concerns. Next we notice that His answer is promised. It may be immediate, or He may require us to wait, but He will answer. Finally we see that, through it all, our faith will be encouraged. He is able to do anything and delights to do the unexpected! —Pete Smith
The need is deep, the care is great, the burden hard to bear; Roll it on Him with all its weight, and leave it resting there. —H. M. Moule
“Behold, I come, in the scroll of the book it is written of Me.” Psalm 40:7, NKJV
In 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped out of a lunar modular and placed a human foot for the first time ever on the moon. He went down in history as saying, “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” Never before had mankind reached such a milestone in space exploration. For the first time ever we had breached the lunar world. We had come a long, long way.
God had come a long way, too. Stepping out of His own lunar module called Mary’s womb, after taking His first look at planet Earth, He too could say, “That’s one small step for God, one infant step, but one giant leap for mankind.” That one small step jumped the galaxies in order to breach one giant divide. Timely and eternal, small and colossal, that one infant step provided the only Mediator for all mankind. That “one small child in a land of a thousand” bridged a chasm so vast no mere human being could ever have hoped to cross it alone. That one small step forever forged a union of fragile humanity with iron divinity, creating a God-Man who would totally obliterate the sins of this world. “Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary” (At Calvary, William Reed Newell).
But that first manger step was only the beginning of a long journey that lay ahead of Him. After a brief stay in Bethlehem, the little Saviour travelled to Egypt to escape the first of the hostilities He faced on this planet, for the power hungry Herod killed every infant in Bethlehem in a vain attempt to kill Him. Then for thirty years He lived in Nazareth working as a humble carpenter, though He was the architect of the whole planet. He served in the local synagogue in appearance as a worshipper, but in reality the object of their worship. Lastly, His journey took Him through the streets and hamlets of Galilee, unknown to men but known and adored by all heaven. At the end of the line, He eventually came to Judea and to Jerusalem where He would be crucified. His visit to planet Earth would indeed be a hostile one.
Yet that first peaceful night, when the angels of heaven told the shepherds of His soft, soft landing, it was just the beginning. Just as Neil Armstrong planted the American flag on the moon’s surface declaring the beginning of space exploration, so too the Saviour planted His flag on planet Earth, declaring He would one day redeem it in His own time. And His banner over us was love.
One tiny step is all He took
but O the gulf He spanned!
For us He donned those peasant rags
and left Immanuel’s Land.
DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 14:1-15:19; Ezekiel 36:16-38; John 14:15-31
Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Psalm 84:3
A sparrow and a swallow are used in this psalm to represent us in our restlessness. In a beautiful image, their restlessness finds a house, a nest, a family and a rest in the Lord’s house. Jesus said, “Come unto me…and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). We find rest for our souls when we rest in Him. —Rex Trogdon
My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed; I trust the ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead. I need no other argument, I need no other plea, It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me. —Lidie H. Edmunds
DAILY READINGS: 2 Chron. 12:1-13:22; Ezekiel 35:1-36:15; John 13:31-14:14
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:17
God emphatically does not remember the sins of the one who trusts in Christ. Omniscience has chosen to exclude them. Never again will they be mentioned (Ezek. 18:22). Therefore, we who are saved will always remember Him who took our sins away! We remember His great work every day, and especially every Lord’s day in the breaking of bread. We do it in remembrance of Him. But this is only the beginning. In heaven we will sing with the multitude of the redeemed, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain” (Rev. 5:12). Blessed eternal memory! —Carl Knott
Saviour, we remember Thee! Thy deep woe and agony, All Thy suff’ring on the tree: Saviour, we adore Thee. —Samuel T. Francis
DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 10:1-11:23; Ezekiel 34:1-31; John 13:1-30
He will judge the world in righteousness. Acts 17:31
The prisoner had appeared before Judge Gray when he presided over a lower court. On both occasions, the prisoner had escaped conviction on a technicality. Addressing the accused, the judge said, “I know you are guilty and you know you are guilty. I remind you one day you will be dealt with according to justice and not the law.” Accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour. It is the only way to not meet Him as Judge some day. —Arnot P. McIntee
When the judgment overtakes you, And those words appear in sight. How they prayed and pleaded with you, But you answered, “Not tonight”. —Author Unknown
This commentary on Job will prove to be helpful, practical and challenging to the believer who is interested to learn of God’s ways in the Old Testament.
This is a limited edition hardcover copy so order online to get your copy before they are sold out!
DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 8:1-9:31; Ezekiel 33:1-33; John 12:20-50
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Psalm 30 is a penitential psalm of David. This verse speaks of the dawn of a new day after seemingly endless nights of weeping. Often we have our “nights” over past sin or because of trials we may be passing through. Paul calls it, “our light affliction” and then reminds us that this “light” trial is “[working] for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). The night is a brief, passing time, but when the dawn comes, all our tears will have dried up; all our sorrows will be replaced for there will be “no night there” (Rev. 22:5). Weeping today; the shout of joy tomorrow! —Jim Comte
But Christ will soon appear, to catch His bride away; All tears forever over, in God’s eternal day. —Esther K. Rusthoi
“This is the fifth book in the Tell me more about … series, prepared for young believers who are seeking to learn the fundamentals of “the faith … once delivered unto the saints” (Jude v 3). The writer is conscious of his diverse readership, so “complicated sentences and difficult words” are noticeably absent.
The book has four chapters – The Holy Spirit and His Work; The Holy Spirit and the Believer; The Holy Spirit and the Church; and The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Tongues and other Miraculous Signs. These are important aspects of truth relating to the Holy Spirit that believers must grasp if they are to make progress in their understanding of the Bible, and are to appreciate the great blessings into which they have been brought. Each of the chapters concludes with a helpful summary of key points, and guidance as to further study. The author begins chapter 1 with a consideration of the word ‘trinity’; a word that Unitarian writers oppose so vehemently. He emphasises that that “there is one God” (1 Tim 2.5), and outlines the Scriptural revelation of three Persons without reverting to ancient creeds, with which few readers would be familiar.
Tell me more about the Holy Spirit also includes clear statements about other areas of controversy such as the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit. The author distinguishes Biblical terms that are often confused, such as the baptism in the Spirit, the filling of the Spirit, and speaking with tongues. Clarity is a marked feature of this helpful publication.”
DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22; Ezekiel 32:1-32; John 11:55-12:19
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:71
The flesh hates affliction. But faith knows affliction is good. Affliction brings glory to God when we suffer cheerfully for Him. But that’s not all. Affliction is good for me too. Difficult circumstances are often the best way to learn. The lessons leave a lasting impression. When we are afflicted, God has our utmost attention. Affliction makes me say, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:10). Are you afflicted today? Rest in Him—He will bring you through. —Shane Johnson
Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long. —G. A. Young
DAILY READINGS: 2 Chron. 6:12-42; Ezekiel 30:20-31:18; John 11:28-54
And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him… and the Lord shut him in. Genesis 7:5, 16
Noah wasn’t spared the storm—but God’s hand shut the door— as proof of His protection. The Ark endured the greatest storm this world has ever seen, and Noah, his family, and the animals were kept safe. Obedience has its rewards. We may not be spared the storms of life, but if we obey God, we will know and experience His hand of protection. The Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Today, those who follow Christ and obey His words find rest in Him. May this be your experience! —Deborah Manera
He can only keep those, who have handed themselves over to Him. —Watchman Nee
