For thou art my lamp [candle], O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:29
Thy word is a lamp [candle] unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
The Lord and His Word are both candle and light to us. A candle gives enough light for one step at a time. This is the life of faith—light for each step, day by day. But the Lord also lightens our darkness and His Word lights my path. This is a shining light, eliminating the darkness and illuminating our journey. At times the way is daunting, but God’s Word and God Himself will lighten our journey through the valley. Trust in Him. —Jim Comte
When I feel afraid, still You’re there right beside me, Nothing will I fear as long as You are near.—A. Grant & M. W. Smith
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 1 Peter 3:13
Here is a special reminder of protection from the Lord. Does it guarantee that we will never be harmed for righteousness sake? Not at all, since many believers have suffered at the hands of persecutors through the centuries. However, being armed with this promise and knowing that He goes before us, we will have holy boldness to advance in His name. Whatever the Lord may be calling you to do, don’t hold back but move ahead. Remember, we are more than conquerors through Him and He will keep us safe until our life work is complete.
—Mark Kolchin
On every hand the foe we find, drawn up in dread array. Let tents of ease be left behind and onward to the fray. —John Yates
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… Ephesians 6:18
Prayer is not to be a once in a while thing, but constant and continual. Our Lord Jesus said we ought to always pray and not faint. We are to pray for other believers and all those who are preaching the gospel fearlessly. We are to pray for unbelievers who are in authority and not forget to pray for our enemies and those who treat us unfairly. To our eyes, nothing may change. But we will feel refreshed and God will be at work. We cannot pray for someone and stay bitter. —G. Frear
I asked the Lord, that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace; Might more of His salvation know, And seek more earnestly His face. —John Newton
…your fellowship in the gospel… Philippians 1:5 …the defence…of the gospel… Philippians 1:7 …the furtherance of the gospel. Philippians 1:12 Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27
Paul loved the gospel and encouraged others to love it too. Still today, how blessed are they who give and participate generously in the fellowship of spreading the gospel. How important for each one of us to live lives worthy of the gospel, going forward in unity to uphold it until He comes. —Jim Paul
Men die in darkness at your side, without a hope to cheer the tomb; Take up the torch; wave it wide, the torch that lights time’s thickest gloom. —Horatius Bonar
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. 12:2
Sir Patrick Moore was a famous British astronomer. In a tribute, a friend said of him, “He taught me to look up”. One can imagine the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, disconsolate and perplexed. They were going down and looking down! When they realized the identity of the stranger that joined them, how their outlook changed! Let us look off unto Jesus today—the author and finisher of our faith and let us look up in anticipation of Him coming soon. —Brian Powlesland
Looking off unto Jesus, I go not astray; My eyes are on Him and He shows me the way; The path may seem dark as He leads me along. But following Jesus I cannot go wrong. —Author Unknown
“If you want to know if missionaries have the same anxieties as we have, the same fears when confronted with the unexpected, the same doubts and worries, then you will find this book captivating; written in a very conversational style, it can easily be read in one sitting.
Bill Ridgeway’s start in life could reflect so many, with disadvantage and lack of opportunity having the potential to drag him down. He stood on the threshold of reform school, until God, in His infinite grace and mercy, laid hold upon him.
Amidst a wave of patriotism, as America joined the Second World War, this young man, now born again, had a desire to serve with his brothers, fighting in the forces. His heavenly Father, however, had a different plan. He was to serve One ‘who sticks closer than a brother’, first becoming an electrical engineer with the Coastguard. There he learned a skill that would later help him ‘fight the good fight’, as he sought to bring light to the villages of Ecuador, in more ways than one!
The foreword, written by Bill and Irene’s daughter Cookie, gives a flavour of the book and draws the reader into the narrative of a moving and exciting read, right through to the epilogue.
Chapter 2 recounts the Lord’s overruling in bringing Bill and Irene together, their love blossoming and growing throughout the chapters that follow. Already with missionary interest at heart, the news that five missionaries had been martyred in Ecuador brought a response from Bill and Irene, ‘Please Lord, let us take their place’.
With Ecuador as their home, now with a young family, it soon became clear that their work was to bring light to darkened villages and bring the light of the glorious gospel of Christ to the lives of a people they came to love, fulfilling the scripture ‘for God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’.
This is a good, challenging read, demonstrating that God can, and will, use personal talents and skills for His ultimate glory.”
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8
Satanically led princes of this world were not aware, that in crucifying a Galilean carpenter; they were pawns in the great plan of redemption. The execution for which they were responsible would lead to the resurrection and ascension of our Saviour. Little did the enemies of Christ realize their actions would satisfy the Father and entitle the Lord of glory to say, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).
—Arnot P. McIntee
The Lord is risen: now death’s dark judgement flood, Is passed on Him who bought us with His blood. The Lord is risen: we stand beyond the doom Of all our sin, through Jesus’ empty tomb. —William Mackay
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
Much about heaven remains a mystery. Why then would anyone want to go there? The answer is that God is there! Why is that desirable? Because He banishes tears and effaces sorrow. He defeated sin and death through His Son’s sacrifice and resurrection (1 Cor. 15), and so is able to comfort and succour His people. —K. R. Keyser
And God has fixed the happy day, when the last tear shall dim our eyes; When He will wipe these tears away, and fill our hearts with glad surprise; To hear His voice, and see His face, and know the fulness of His grace. —Joseph Swain
This month shall be…the first month of the year to you. Exodus 12:2
“This month” was the seventh in the civil calendar. But on God’s spiritual calendar, the past six months were “erased”. A new religious calendar commenced as Israel prepared to leave Egypt to begin a new life. It was founded on the Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It points to the passing away of the old life and the commencement of all things new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). The challenge is to purge out the old leaven, forget the things that are past and press onward to live a triumphant life for the Lord. Blessed New Year to all. —K. C. Ung
Onward and upward tread the road; from day to day marked out by God. Faint, yet pursuing, thou shalt see, that as thy day thy strength shall be. —Thomas Holme
DAILY?READINGS: Esther 9-10; Malachi 3:7 to 4:6; Rev. 22:6-21
Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them… John 6:7 …but what are they among so many? John 6:9 …he looked up to heaven. Mark 6:41
A new year beckons. Ahead, with absolute certainty, are joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, dark days and light. The tide of time and its accompanying circumstances are inevitable. But our perspective on all that lies ahead is not fixed. We can choose our point of focus. We can be like Philip and fixate on the immensity of our problems. We can be like Andrew and lament the paucity of our resources. Or we can look up to heaven. And be filled. —S. McEachern
We would see Jesus: it is all we are needing; Strength, joy, and willingness come with the sight— Brightness above noonday; songs in the night.
—Anna B. Warner
