Thursday, March 11, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 29:1-37; Psalms 76-77; Acts 17:1-15

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who
both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will
make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man
have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5

Many Scriptures refer to humans praising God and this is understandable.
But, amazingly it is clear that God will find reason to
praise men at Christ’s Judgment Seat. Through the power of God we
are being conformed to the image of His Son. As a result, every man
will be able to present something that will be praised by God. If a
Holy God can find something praiseworthy in each of us, how much
more should we see reasons to find good in one another.—Ken Gross

What was it, blessed God, led Thee to give Thy Son,
To yield Thy well-beloved for us by sin undone? —Ann Gilbert

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 28:15-43; Psalms 74-75; Acts 16:16-40

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had
gleaned. Ruth 2:17

Ruth was a diligent woman. During the day she gathered from the
field, but when evening came she threshed the wheat, to get to the
kernel that would sustain her. This is an important lesson for us in
our day. There is much that we gather as we read God’s word, attend
meetings and conferences, but if we are to get the full benefit, we
must beat out what we have gathered. The apostle writing to young
Timothy exhorts him, “Meditate on these things, give thyself wholly
to them” (1 Tim. 4:15). May we engage in the holy art of meditation,
and thus receive the blessing from God’s Word. —W. H. Burnett

We taste of Thee, Thou living bread, and long to feast upon Thee still,
We drink of Thee the fountain head, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill.—B. of C.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 27:20 to 28:14; Psalm 73; Acts 15:36 to 16:15

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet
again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 2 Kings 19:30

Judah had suffered greatly under the hand of invading armies and
all the crops were destroyed. If, going forward, there was to be fruit
where would it come from? It is a principle of horticulture that before
fruits come roots! Fruit upward demands root downwards. Planting
needed to be undertaken immediately and roots would go downward,
thus, in course of time, producing fruit upward. So too, spiritually,
we must be rooted in faith and love, in God and His word,
before we can expect to bear fruit to His glory. —Roy Hill

O multiply the sower’s seed! And fruit we every hour shall bear,
Throughout the world Thy Gospel spread, the everlasting truth declare.
—Augustus G. Spangenberg

Monday, March 8, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 26:31 to 27:19; Psalm 72; Acts 15:22-35

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect
in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9

Noah lived in a wicked world, yet he maintained his testimony
and integrity, which attracted the eyes and heart of God. There are
other saints who have this testimony: Joseph, Daniel, and many others.
This doesn’t mean they were sinless, but they practiced instant
confession and their sins were forgiven and forgotten. The testimony
and integrity of a man like Noah can’t be ignored by his fellow man
and with respect to God, he enjoys unbroken communion and a clear
conscience. It is to walk as Christ walked! —Milton Haack

Though snares and dangers throng my path,
And earth and hell my course withstand;
I triumph over all by faith, guarded by His mighty hand. —J. Newton

Lord’s Day, March 7, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 26:1-30; Psalms 70-71; Acts 15:1-21

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

The Lamb, although it seems a paradox, stands for the conquering
champion of God. We are urged to “Behold the Lamb,” not as weak,
and defeated, but victorious. He alone fought against sin and Satan
and in one single blow at Calvary He defeated the prince of darkness.
No wonder John urges us to “Behold the Lamb,” for He died and carried
away our sin, and set us free. May our eyes focus on Him, the
Lamb of God’s providing, (Genesis 22:8) as we remember Him today.
—Jim Comte

The Lamb of God to slaughter led, the King of Glory see!
The crown of thorns upon His head, they nail Him to the tree!
—R. C. Chapman

Saturday, March 06, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 25; Psalm 69; Acts 14

Shall Thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or Thy faithfulness
in destruction? Psalms 88:11

Yes, all that man can see and yearn after, is God’s. Moreover, God
will not relinquish His ownership. The mind of man is set on the possession
of something he did not create, cannot control, cannot own.
For, it is all God’s. And God has already told us He will sweep it all
away. The manner of this creation’s demise is set (2 Peter 3:7). Even
the memory of the present scene will be eternally banished (Isa.
65:17). No wonder we are admonished to set our affection on things
above—not on things of the earth. —Doug Kazen

Calm in thy secret presence, Lord, I rest this weary soul of mine;
Feed on the fullness of thy Word, and die to all the things of time.—Anon.

Friday, March 5, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 24; Psalm 68; Acts 13:26-52

Clearly you are an epistle of Christ…written not with ink but by the
Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of
flesh, that is, of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:3 (NKJV)

When God gave the Law, He wrote it in stone. Now He is writing
on our hearts and we are to live out His message. If people read you
like a book, do they get your story or His? Remember, you are the
only Bible some people will ever read—living epistles “known and
read of all men”. —Rex Trogdon

We each write a Gospel, a chapter a day,
By deeds, looks and likes, the things that we say.
Our actions betray us—words faithful and true,
Say, what is the Gospel according to you? —Unknown

Thursday, March 4, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66-67; Acts 13:1-25

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall
give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Genesis 41:16

These dreams are the third group that Joseph experienced. The
first set concerned Joseph and his brothers, his immediate family; the
second set (the butler and baker) moved beyond family to the immediate
world; this last set had even wider implications, the national
and international world. In addition to the expanding sphere,
Joseph’s approach to expressing and explaining the dreams grew
with each. There was more Joseph and less God in the first group of
dreams, but more God and less Joseph in the third pair. God was
moulding His man even as He used him! —C. Funston

Learning to lean, learning to lean, I’m learning to lean on Jesus;
Finding more power than I’ve ever dreamed, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.—J. S.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

On one occasion, while fighting Great Britain, George Washington,
Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, went alone into the
woods at Valley Forge to pray. He was overheard by a Tory on the
side of England, who returned to his home shaken. He said to his
wife, “Our cause is lost. I came unexpectedly upon a person kneeling
in prayer. I heard the impassioned plea of his prayers. I saw tears on
his cheeks and knew our cause was lost!” —R. E. Surgenor

Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear.
The upward glancing of an eye, when none but God is near. —J. M.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:12

The “I will” statements of God in Hebrews 8:8-12 are in stark contrast
with the “I will” declarations of Lucifer in Isaiah 14. God
extends promises and covenants for the purpose of saving, restoring,
and blessing repentant sinners. Satan had no goal of helping others,
but rather desired heavenly preeminence, the worship of creation,
and the authority to rule it. He wanted to be God. May we humbly
align our “I wills” to God’s will and follow His example of being others-
focused in service. To God be the glory! —Warren Henderson

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