Month: February 2019

Exodus 19:1-25; Psalms 58:1-59:17; Acts 10:24-48

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19

The world’s justice is at times so unfair! Evil people do evil deeds and then seemingly get away with it. Let us remember that our confidence is not in the justice of man but in the God of justice! He will one day hold all to account. Whether it is a crooked politician or a common street thug. The child of God can find peace knowing it is not his business to settle scores, it is the Lord’s. God will one day make things right. —Sid Halsband

Leave to His sovereign sway,
To choose and to command;
So shalt thou, wondering, own His way;
How wise, how strong His hand. —Paulus Gerhardt

Exodus 18:1-27; Psalms 56:1-57:11; Acts 10:1-23

What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart. 1 Kings 8:38

We all carry the plague of sin in our hearts. The origin of this plague was Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. That fall was passed on to the human race, (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:23; 6:23). What is the cure for this plague of sin? Jesus Christ’s finished work at Calvary. There our sin was placed upon Him and we were cleansed in His righteousness. Ask Him to be your personal Saviour today. —Annette Baal

God could not pass the sinner by, his sin demands that he must die;
But in the cross of Christ, we see how God can save us righteously. —Albert Midlane

Exodus 17:1-16; Psalm 55:1-23; Acts 9:32-43

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8

The first mention of help in the Scripture is God’s statement in Genesis 2:18, “I will make him an help meet (fit) for him”. The last mention is Hebrews 4:16 “grace to help in time of need”. Just as God created Eve to come alongside Adam and complement him, our Lord Jesus Christ is able to come alongside us and minister to our need, whatever it might be. That resource is encapsulated in the phrase “the name of the Lord” as stated in our text. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Take the name of Jesus with you, child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you, take it, then, where’er you go. —Mrs. Lydia Baxter

Exodus 16:1-36; Psalm 52:1-54:7; Acts 9:1-31

And I will give her…the Valley of Achor (trouble) for a door of hope: and she shall sing there. Hosea 2:15
Who passing through the Valley of Baca (weeping) make it a well. Psalm 84:6

What a beautiful picture of hope and encouragement these verses present to us! Even though the Lord may see fit to lead us through valleys of trouble and tears for a season, the comfort and joy of His presence and His Word will open a door of hope to us. This will result in strength for the journey, and a song of joy in our hearts. Dear child of God, expect that door of hope to open for you today! —E. V.

Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning! —Psalm 30:5

Exodus 15:1-27; Psalm 51:1-19; Acts 8:5-40

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!…Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. Psalm 33:1, 3, NKJV

The Israelites had recently returned from captivity. Although they had finished only the foundation of the Temple, they stopped to celebrate. Their celebrations were loud—a “great shout” (Ezra 3:11); noisy—the sound of their shouting reverberated for miles; joy-filled—mingling tears with rejoicing. We have a finished work to celebrate. We are God’s eternal Temple. Might He be pleased as we celebrate, singing our joyful songs with conviction, with intensity, enthusiasm and sincerity. —M. MacMullen

Streams of mercy never ceasing;
Call for songs of loudest praise. —Robert Robinson

Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49:1-50:23; Acts 7:30-8:4

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28

The word “pluck” means to snatch away, signifying a sudden and powerful plunder. This Greek word is also used for the rapture when we shall be powerfully “caught up” to Him. Believer, be encouraged that nothing has the power to remove us from Christ’s loving grasp. Furthermore, our failures will never move Him to release us. The Overseer of our souls watches over us and our eternal security rests with Him. —George Ferrier

Fear not, I am with thee, O, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand. —K.

Exodus 13:1-14:4; Psalms 47:1-48:14; Acts 7:1-29

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Deuteronomy 8:2

Have you wondered about your life? Why certain trials have come? Our time on earth is a proving ground, to prove whether we will yield all that we are to our King and loving Saviour, or whether we will seek our own temporal gain and happiness. “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). —D. Pickup

Yielded to Thee I come, dear Lord. Save me from sin and strife.
I give myself to Thee, not only Saviour to be,
But Lord and King of my life, to walk through me,
Talk through me, Thine image to be, that I might win others to Thee. —Arthur S. Flick

Exodus 12:21-51; Psalm 45:1-46:11; Acts 6:1-15

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a, NKJV

To get down to the heart of the matter, knowing that the Lord sees our hearts, can be comforting or convicting. If our heart is filled with everything but Him, we need to acknowledge our sin and turn back to Him. Then, with a heart that is for Him and Him alone, we find His presence becomes our strength. He calls today, “My son, give me your heart” (Prov. 23:26, NKJV). —Rex Trogdon

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord—in me abide. —J. Edwin Orr

Exodus 11:1-12:20; Psalm 44:1-26; Acts 5:12-42

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:31

Isn’t it daunting, the American bride-to-be was asked, to marry into the British Royal family? She explained that since she grew up in the United States, she hadn’t heard the rumours or gossip about the prince’s family. “Everything I know about him and his family, I’ve learned from him”. Are you merely relying on what others have told you about God? Could it be that you have some misconceptions about Him? Turn to His Word to find out what He is really like, and all that He has done for you. —Lynn Shatford

More about Jesus let me learn, more of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me. —E. Hewitt

Exodus 10:1-29; Psalms 42:1-43:5; Acts 4:32-5:11

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2

Does it feel like no one understands or cares? That you can’t bear the trial anymore? That you don’t know where to turn in your hour of despair or grief? Dear one, your “Heavenly Rock” is near at hand! He is above all your circumstance and awaits your cry of faith, to draw you to Himself. In Him you’ll find solace, safety, and strength! —Pete Smith

Oh, safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly:
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine would I be,
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee. —W. O. Cushing