Friday, February 19, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 10; Psalms 42-43; Acts 4:32 to 5:11

LORD, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place
where Thine honour dwelleth. Psalms 26:8
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass Thine altar,
O LORD. Psalms 26:6

The Psalmist loved to spend time in the presence of the Lord, meditating
at the altar and dwelling on His beauties. He was conscious
that such communion needed personal, spiritual preparation. He
promised to approach God with washed hands, in innocence. Only
when our hearts and lives are right, and in tune with the music of
heaven is such worship possible and desirable. —Milton Haack

Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way! —B. M. Ramsey

Thursday, February 18, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 9; Psalm 40-41; Acts 4:1-31

Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the
shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with
night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out
upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: Amos 5:8

Jehovah is the God of creation. He made the stars also and with
His power He can turn mourning into morning. Mourning signifies
a loss but morning shows the faithfulness of God and implies a new
start. Many of the Lord’s people sadly mourn but joy comes in the
morning. We must embrace the changed and difficult circumstances
and move on into the day. The Lord is in control! —Roy Hill

Wide the gates of morning open, spreading far o’er land and sea,
Softly, gently passing thro’ them, comes the morning light to me.
—Solomon. W. Straub

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 8; Psalms 38-39; Acts 3

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the
body; is it therefore not of the body? 1 Corinthians 12:15
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor
again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 1 Cor. 12:21

Each member of the body is indispensable. In our first verse, Paul
addresses the “have nots” and explains the necessity of diversity. He
designed us to be distinct and fitted for an individual purpose. Then
Paul addresses the “haves” and explains the necessity of unity. He
designed us to need each other. May we celebrate our differences and
our solidarity. —Jason Bechtel

One heart, one spirit, one voice to praise You,
We are the body of Christ, one goal one vision to see You exalted,
We are the body of Christ. —Scott W. Brown & D. Hampton

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 6:14 to 7:25; Psalm 37; Acts 2:22-47

And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the
LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the
LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the
uttermost parts of the camp. Numbers 11:1

Why do people complain? Is it not because we count our burdens
instead of our blessings? The Israelites murmured because their
wilderness situation was less desirable than what Egypt offered, forgetting
the slavery they had endured there. When judgment came, it
was those furthest from the Lord that suffered the most. Nearness to
Christ and a Christ-focused mind alleviates complaining and its consequences.
—Warren Henderson

Taken up with Thee, Lord Jesus, I would be,
Finding joy and satisfaction all in Thee. —Henry Bennett

Monday, February 15, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 5 to 6:13; Psalms 35-36; Acts 2:1-21

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Psalm 77:9
I will remember the works of the Lord. Surely I will remember thy
wonders of old. Psalm 77:11

When, as a believer, you feel abandoned and forgotten by your
friends, it is only natural to wonder if God has forgotten you as well.
What was the psalmist’s remedy? To remember His works of old in
your life, and to remind yourself that He is the God who does wonders.
What He has done in the past He can do again—no matter how
deep the waters are at present. —Brian Russell

O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come;
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home. —Isaac Watts

Lord’s Day, February 14, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 4; Psalm 34; Acts 1

The love of Christ. Eph. 3:19; Rom. 8:35; 2 Cor. 5:14

Paul uses this poignant phrase only these three times in the New
Testament. In Ephesians, he challenges us to explore the limitless
dimensions of a sacrificial love “which passeth knowledge.” His love
is infinite. In Romans, having listed those things which might separate
us from Him, he affirms that Christ’s love is indivisible, eternally
binding us to Him. In 2 Corinthians, the apostle reminds us of the
motivating power of the love of Christ. It is irresistible, moving us to
serve such a loving Saviour, and to pour out our love in worship to
Him. —S. McEachern

Stronger His love than death or hell; its riches are unsearchable;
The firstborn sons of light desire in vain its depths to see;
They cannot reach the mystery, the length, the breadth, the height. —C. W.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Ex. 2:23 to 3:22; Psalms 32-33; Matt. 28

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. 1 John 5:12

A friend and I visited a neighbour’s home. We talked of heaven
and as we were leaving my neighbour turned to my friend and referring
to heaven, skeptically asked “Will I be there?” My friend simply
stated, “The Bible says, ‘He who has the Son has life, He who does
not have the Son of God does not have life.’ Do you have the Son?”
—J. Fleming

I am on my way to Heaven where I’ll see my Saviour’s face,
There I’ll sing redemption’s story, blessèd song of saving grace!
—H. J. Lacey

Friday, February 12, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Ex. 1 to 2:22; Psalm 31; Matt. 27:45-66

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine
heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and
hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. Judges 16:15
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
Me?…Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:17

How different from Delilah’s is the Lord’s response to Peter’s
three denials. Our flesh may cause us to fail our Saviour, but there is
forgiveness when we have repented. The Lord wants to use us in His
service. Learning our own weakness often makes us more gracious
when helping others with theirs. —D. M. McCulloch

Jesus! What a strength in weakness, let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing, He, my strength, my victory wins.
—J. Wilbur Chapman

Thursday, February 11, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 50; Psalm 30; Matt. 27:27-44

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come
down from the hill, much people met Him. Luke 9:37

It’s great to be on the mountain top, but we cannot remain there.
The valley is filled with trouble and it needs the help and power of
God. However, we need the mount, since it is the inspiration for our
work in the valley. Life is made up of mountain and valley experiences,
and the former prepares us for the latter. Observe that gloom
and glory are never far apart. But some day there will be no gloom.
Until then let us be faithful in bringing the glory of the mount to the
gloom of the valley. —W. Ross Rainey

O Master, let me walk with Thee, in lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear, the strain of toil, the fret of care.
—Washington Gladden

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 49; Psalms 28-29; Matt. 27:1-26

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our
transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a
cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee. Isa. 44:22
He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into
the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19b

A few moments consideration of these precious verses will assure
us of two facts. Firstly, our forgiveness is all-inclusive and perfect.
Secondly, the sin-atoning work of the Lord Jesus is unlimited and
unfailing. His work alone, is the basis upon which our cleansing
“from all sin” rests secure. (1 John 1:7). —G. Hall

O, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow:
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus. —Robert Lowry