DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 1; Micah 3 to 4:8; Romans 9:30 to 10:21
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. Jeremiah 15:16
This verse expresses the intimacy that God’s people are meant to have with His Word. As the food we ingest becomes a part of us, so too we absorb the Word of God as we feed on it. It should become a part of us. What are you eating today from God’s Word? Are we spiritually famished or well fed? Peter had the right answer. “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Don’t starve. Eat and enjoy! —Vernon Markle
Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, As Thou didst break the loaves, beside the sea. Within the sacred page I seek Thee Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, Oh living Word! —Mary A. Lathbury
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 30-31; Micah 1-2; Romans 9:1-29
…behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him. Luke 5:12-13
A surgeon was asked, “Do you ever fear losing the feeling in your fingers so you are unable to perform surgeries?” “No”, he replied, “but I do fear the day when I lose the feeling for my patients.” An outcast of society begged Jesus to touch him. Dr. Luke, in using the term, “full of leprosy” indicates he was beyond human help. But he was never beyond the Saviour’s healing touch. Leprosy is a picture of sin and in that matter we are beyond help. We need the forgiving touch of the Saviour. Trust Him and He will cleanse you today. —Jim Comte
Just one touch! And He makes me whole, Speaks sweet peace to my sin-sick soul. —B. Bell
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 28-29; Isaiah 66; Romans 8:18-39
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. Philippians 4:15
There are those whom we have commended to what we call “full time” work, who serve diligently and faithfully amongst us, yet can’t make ends meet because of a lack of generosity from we to whom they minister. Some who contribute to this calendar may be in such a state, yet say nothing. May the Lord grant us to be less self-absorbed with our own needs and wants, so that those who serve need not fret about the things we take for granted. —Rick Morse
Give as ’twas given to you in your need; Love as the Master loved you. —Ira Wilson
Christian Devotedness (Revised & Updated) By: Anthony Norris Groves Published by: Gospel Folio Press (reprint 2010) Available in paperback and eBook formats. “Most readers of Precious Seed International will be familiar with the name of Anthony Norris Groves, missionary to Baghdad and India. This is a revised and updated edition of the second version of a book originally published in London in 1829 and included in a biography entitled Anthony Norris Groves, by G. H. Lang. “Believing the words of the Lord in Matthew chapter 6 verse 19, ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth’, are to be taken literally, Mr Groves expounds the practical implications of this, especially in connection with a believer’s possessions, salary and wealth. He expresses a conviction that ‘early Christianity owed much of its power to the . . . disciple’s open public display of their love’. Something he saw as being the product of the ‘surrender of themselves, their property, time and talents to Christ’. He develops his theme around two basic principles, the first, ‘The only acceptable way to live the Christian life is by deliberate and continual self-denial’, the second, ‘Because God is our Heavenly Father, we ought to ask Him only for our every need, and rely on Him alone for every provision’, principles that the author himself had sought to live by. Mr Groves considers the meaning of the Lord’s exhortation not to lay up treasure on earth the way it was understood and implemented by the apostles, and how the truth of it is emphasized in the New Testament. He strongly asserts that a Christian should not save his money but rather use it in the cause of Christ and that it is a grave mistake, with potentially serious spiritual consequences, for believers to store up wealth with the sole object of leaving an inheritance for their children. Biblical passages are frequently quoted, the majority of which are from the New King James Version. There are a few printing errors, some of which require the reader to work out for himself exactly what the writer means! “It is stated in the preface that George Muller likened the reading of this book to a ’second conversion’ and that Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael were greatly influenced through reading it. In the overtly material age in which we live, the message of this book is timely and very challenging.” ~Richard Catchpole, South Norwood, England (Precious Seed magazine, Volume 66, Issue 1) Available in paperback and eBook formats.
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 26-27; Isaiah 65; Romans 8:1-17
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1
We will never out give the Lord. He is a debtor to no one. But when we give to His work, hoping for nothing in return (Luke 6:35), He will undoubtedly repay in His time and in His way. It may not always come back the way we think, but in time it will and we can be sure that He will make good on His Word. Don’t be stingy with God. He will astound you with His generosity! —Mark Kolchin
We give Thee but Thine own, Whate’er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. —William How
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 25; Isaiah 63:15 to 64:12; Romans 7:7-25
The high priest…shall not…rend his clothes. Leviticus 21:10 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy. Matthew 26:65 Then the soldiers…took his garments…They said…Let us not rend it. John 19:23-24
Who was the real high priest? Since the Jew’s high priest would not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and tore His clothes, God used the ignorant, ungodly soldiers to show who was truly His High Priest. They spared His coat from being torn as He prepared to purify heavenly things with the better sacrifice of His own blood. Let us draw near to Him today and worship our great High Priest. —Tom Steere
Enthroned in Majesty, the High Priest sits within; His precious blood, once shed, has made and keeps us clean. —Horatius Bonar
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Sam. 23-24; Isaiah 62 to 63:14; Romans 6:15 to 7:6
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers tempations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3
Dear Christian, is the way hard for you today? Our loving Father is too kind and too wise to make a mistake. God tests us to demonstrate our faith. Trust Him. Are you enduring with joy what He has allowed upon you? If so, this is a proof of your faith! Patience and a godly character will be the outflow of such abiding trust. —E. MacLelland
What love to Thee we owe, our God, for all Thy grace, Our hearts may well o’erflow in everlasting praise. Help us, O Lord, to praise Thee thus, For all Thy boundless love to us. —Anne Gilbert
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 21-22; Isaiah 61; Romans 6:1-14
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran… Acts 8:29-30
When the Spirit tells us to do something, we ought to run to do it. Had Philip delayed or deliberated he would not have arrived at the exact moment the Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53. Instead he came upon him at a time when he was full of spiritual questions and utterly open to hearing of the Saviour. When the Spirit speaks, our response is to walk through the doors He has thrown wide open—and right away! —Shane Johnson
He makes the path grow brighter ev’ry passing day; He makes the burden lighter all along the way; His Word is my delight, His will I now obey, And all the time I’m singing glory! —L. R. Minor
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 19:8 to 20:42; Isaiah 60; Romans 5:12-21
…I being in the way, the Lord led me… Genesis 24:27
A street name in the French town of Travaillan when translated into English means, “The way of the Plan of God”. Are you a believer seeking a way forward in your life? Firstly, there is a need to recognise that God has a plan for your life. Then you need to establish what that plan is. Seek His guidance; read and reflect on His Word; be sensitive to circumstances and interventions in your life. Then you can come to know His plan and purpose for you. —Brian Powlesland
Have faith in God, the sun will shine, Though dark the cloud may be today, His heart hath planned your path and mine: Have faith in God, have faith alway. —May Agnew Stevens
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 18:6 to 19:7; Isaiah 59; Romans 4:23 to 5:11
…Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:16
The building at which I looked was attractive in design and finish. Why then was it to be demolished? The foundation was defective! How important it is to have “a sure foundation” for eternity! Only in Jesus Christ can spiritual security be had. Our “good works” provide no salvation. Whoever trusts in Christ is for ever secure (John 3:16). —George Hall
On Christ salvation rests secure; The Rock of ages must endure; Nor can that faith be overthrown, Which rests upon the “living Stone”. —Samuel Medley
