Month: May 2020

Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19:1-29; James 3:1-4:12

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

What marvelous thoughts are contained within this Psalm! God, the Creator has every right to possess and rule His creatures! Yet humanity in pride has lifted itself up against their Creator and rejected His Word and His ways. But still, those who approach Him in humility have the right to come before Him. They are glad to bow before Him and acknowledge this. —G. Frear

The Earth is God’s, and His alone, He created it; it is His own,
Who can stand before His face? Who can rise to His holy place?
Those who have clean hands and heart, are those alone, who have this part. —G. F.

Numbers 21:1-35; Proverbs 18:1-24; James 2:1-26

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20

It was only after life had been lost, as a result of the fall, that Adam gave Eve her name—“living or life,” recognizing that her seed would ultimately bring the “life giver,” the Saviour! This is the greatest honour that God conferred upon Eve and it is truly a blessed privilege that God gives to all mothers. They are given the vital opportunity to train their children in truths that are eternal (2 Tim. 3:15). Society may change in many ways, but godly mothers will endure! —Jim Comte

I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me.
They have clung to me all my life. —Abraham Lincoln

Numbers 20:1-29; Proverbs 17:1-28; James 1:1-27

In the beginning God. Genesis 1:1
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

God has no beginning and no end. He is the one true God and there is no one like Him. He created us in His image but that image was marred when sin came into the world. However, God promised that He would send the seed of the woman to crush the evil one. He has kept that promise and He has sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to pay our debt in full if we believe in Jesus and receive the free gift of salvation. —Vickie Gaynier

To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son. —Fanny J. Crosby

Numbers 19:1-22; Proverbs 16:1-33; 2 Peter 3:1-18

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us. Deuteronomy 29:29

There is a trend today to emphasize the mysterious within Christianity. Searching for the truth is derided as presumptuous. It is true, there are Scriptural mysteries we will never solve, and God is far greater than we can ever comprehend. But He has spoken to us through His Son and if we have seen the Son, we have seen the Father. The mysterious unknown belongs to God. It is our joy to understand and treasure what He has revealed. —J. D. Fraser

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today;
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. —K. Getty & S. Townend

Numbers 18:1-32; Proverbs 15:1-33; 2 Peter 2:1-22

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth… it shall accomplish what I please. Isaiah 55:11, NKJV

A missionary felt compelled to preach to the trees in a nearby forest. Years later he shared this story citing that obedience to God doesn’t always make sense. A man in the audience recognized the story. “I was in those trees!” He had escaped from prison and was hiding when he heard the missionary’s message. He repented, returned to prison and completed his sentence. He was now a free man in Jesus! What a reminder that obedience to God produces results. Preach even to trees! —Deborah Manera

God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible.
What a pity that we plan only things we can do by ourselves. —A. W. Tozer

Numbers 16:41-17:13; Proverbs 14:1-35; 2 Peter 1:1-21

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts 26:28

Agrippa, like the rich young ruler (Mark 10), is one of the tragedies of the New Testament. He was “deeply swayed but not savingly changed” (quoted from Land of Revival). It is easy to be stirred emotionally by the message of the cross and yet not be fundamentally changed. Response to the Gospel is more than a momentary release of emotions but rather a surrender of the will in true repentance and a looking to the Lord to help us sustain that decision by the power of His Spirit. —Paul Young

Fully persuaded—Jesus is mine!
Fully persuaded—Lord I am Thine!
Oh, make my love to Thee, like Thine own love to me,
So rich, so full and free, Saviour divine! —J. B. Atchinson

Numbers 16:1-40; Proverbs 13:1-25; 1 Peter 5:1-14

Thou art a great people, and hast great power. Joshua 17:17

Some Bank of England £50 notes have a photograph of two great inventors and business partners, James Watt and Matthew Boulton. Boulton once said to Watt “I sell here sir, what all the world desires to have—power” (referring to the power of his steam engine). Others have sought after power in the sense of domination and control. Any power we possess is God ordained and as such any influence that believers might have over others should be used with discretion and in the light of accountability one day. —Brian Powlesland

Help me remember that if I do lead,
That people will judge each motive and deed;
So temper my actions with kindness each hour,
So no-one can claim a misuse of power. —B. P.

Numbers 15:1-41; Proverbs 12:1-28; 1 Peter 4:1-19

For you are still carnal. 1 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV

I am not sure how many times I have read this without grasping the word “still”. We can almost hear Paul’s exasperation here, as he thinks: “When will you ever grow up?” He had all sorts of expectations for his converts, but they simply weren’t growing in Christ as they should have been. There were likely many ministries in the local Church that went unfulfilled and many unnecessary problems because they were “still” carnal. Has God’s work been hindered because we’re still carnal? —N. C. Funston

With all my heart I want to love You, Lord,
And live my life each day to know You more.
All that is in me is Yours completely;
I’ll serve You only, with all my heart. —Babbie Mason

Numbers 14:1-45; Proverbs 11:1-31; 1 Peter 3:1-22

In his temple doth every one speak of his glory. Psalm 29:9b

In His temple everyone ought to speak of His glory but sometimes, we must confess, we don’t. Sometimes we think and speak of our own glory and this is to our shame. The theme in the temple should be “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory” (Ps. 115:1). For the Lord deserves glory and strength. Our thoughts and actions should reflect the wonder, awe and glory that belong to Him. —Shane Johnson

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in. —Fanny Jane Crosby

Numbers 12:1-13:33; Proverbs 10:1-32; 1 Peter 2:1-25

Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech…As raindrops on the tender herb…Ascribe greatness to our God. Deuteronomy 32:2-3, NKJV

“Does my preaching revive the saints like the first rains after a long dry summer? Does it cause young (tender) believers to grow? Does it bring honour and glory to my Lord?” That was Moses’ prayer. If I depend upon my own eloquence or wisdom it will not do that and may even bring glory to me instead of to my Saviour. But if I spend time on my knees, meditating in His Word, He will give me something which will refresh my own soul and my hearers also. —David Croudace

And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart. —Frances Ridley Havergal