Month: April 2022

Leviticus 27:1-34; Psalms 142:1-143:12; Mark 11:1-26

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46

Four out of seven sayings from the cross were quotations from the Old Testament. In His hour of greatest testing Christ relied on what was in God’s Word. So should we. James, in writing to people who were suffering persecution for their faith in Christ, quotes from 21 of the 37 Old Testament books. How will we stand in the day of testing? We must know the truth of His Word and the One who is the Truth. They will set us free. —M. MacMullen

How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?  —J. Rippon

Leviticus 26:1-46; Psalm 140:1-141:10; Mark 10:32-52

He saith…Let us pass over unto the other side. Mark 4:35
They…say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4:38
He said…Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Mark 4:40

The disciples were all convinced that they were going to die. The Lord described them as “so fearful” and having “no faith”. If only one had believed and demonstrated his trust in Christ, others might have been encouraged to do the same. May God help us, amidst the storms of life, to have faith in Him and to believe His Word and then encourage others to do the same. —Ken Gross

On my bark so small and frail,
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds. —W. C. Martin

Leviticus 25:1-55; Psalm 139:1-24; Mark 10:1-31

[Moses] choosing rather to suffer affliction…Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. Hebrews 11:25-26

What an amazing moment for a young man faced with the biggest decision of his life. He had the world at his feet! “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22). He could have been the most powerful ruler in Egypt. However, he walked away from it all because he had his eye on the eternal and not the temporal; the spiritual and not the material. The reproach of Christ has greater treasures than the world! Are you prepared to put in your lot with God? Or are you seeking riches or pleasures with no lasting value? —Jim Paul

Then, farewell earth with all your transient pleasures,
I’ve more in Him, than all earth’s boasted treasures. —Jim Paterson

Leviticus 24:1-23; Psalms 137:1-138:8; Mark 9:33-50

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen. Revelation 1:18

A preacher was preparing his Easter message when the thought gripped his heart that his Lord was living. He  jumped up and excitedly cried, “He is not the great I was, but the great I am”. Thank God, He is the “I Am”, who lives in the blessed present continuous tense. The Saviour did die, which, thankfully is in the past tense. The tomb is empty, but the throne is filled. Rejoice, for the Lord Jesus said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). He lives forevermore! —Jim Comte

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.—A. Ackley

Leviticus 23:23-44; Psalms 135:1-136:26; Mark 9:14-32

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Meditating upon God’s unique design of every person fills us with praise. No two are alike. With the same care He is molding each believer into Christ’s image until our future glorification. Then we shall be morally perfect like Christ. Yet in our glorification we shall retain our distinctiveness. God redeems each believer without erasing His creative design and our individuality. Praise be to our Creator! Praise be to our Redeemer! —George Ferrier

And is it so! I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory—thought beyond all thought!
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought! —John N. Darby

Leviticus 23:1-22; Psalms 132:1-134:3; Mark 8:27-9:13

There was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone…And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. Matthew 28:2, 4, NKJV
But the angel…said to the women, “Do not be afraid”…they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy.
Matthew 28:5, 8, NKJV

How different these responses! The guards shook with fear and became as dead men, while the women ran from the tomb with fear but great joy. What was the difference? The guards were far from God while the women had met the Saviour and known His companionship. Have you met the risen Christ? —Janet Fleming

“He is risen”, happy message, bringing joy to me;
Hearts once filled with sadness, now have liberty. —J. Fleming

Leviticus 22:1-33; Psalm 128:1-131:3; Mark 8:11-26

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5, NKJV

The word translated “regeneration” here is the Greek word palingenesia. Certain Greeks believed that history was moving cyclically towards a moment when the natural world would reset and start fresh. They called this  palingenesis. There is a great regeneration coming, and God will do it, when Christ the King sits upon His throne and makes all things new (Matt. 19:28). How wonderful, then, to note, that another regeneration has already happened
(Titus 3:5). God has regenerated all who trust in Christ, giving them a fresh start through being “born again”. —J. D. Fraser

Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. —Fanny J. Crosby

Leviticus 21:1-24; Psalms 124:1-127:5; Mark 7:24-8:10

He that is our God is the God of salvation. Psalm 68:20

Here the word salvation can be translated “deliverance”. Are you dreading certain events or happenings scheduled for today or this week? Remember God is still able to deliver you from the bleakest of circumstances. Our Father cares enough for us to bring about results beyond our wants and aspirations. Trust Him and go forward. —Brian Russell

‘Tis the grandest theme thro’ the ages rung;
‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;
‘Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung;
Our God is able to deliver thee.   —William Ogden

Leviticus 19:1-20:27; Psalms 120:1-123:4; Mark 7:1-23

Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? Job 12:7-9

What a wondrous creation the Lord has given to us to care for and to learn from! Do we take time to learn from the handiwork that surrounds us on every side? Perhaps it’s time that we ask the beasts, the birds, the earth, and the fishes of the sea about their Creator! —E. C. B.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art! How great Thou art! —Stuart K. Hine

Leviticus 17:1-18:30; Psalm 119:145-176; Mark 6:30-56

We give thanks to God always for you all… 1 Thessalonians 1:2

John Greenleaf Whittier was an American quaker and poet renowned for his stance on the abolition of slavery. One phrase attributed to him is “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a gift and not sending it”. We see instances of Paul being thankful to those who were involved in the work of the Lord by giving him and others help. The fact that he was thankful was one thing, but what an encouragement to those who contributed to the work to know that it was noted and appreciated by him. Perhaps somebody is deserving of your gratitude today? In which case let it be known—it could spur somebody on! —Brian Powlesland

For Thy goodness, O my Saviour, I would praise Thee o’er and o’er;
May the Holy Spirit teach me, how to love Thee more and more.  — L. Edwards