Saturday, December 19, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 6; Zechariah 1; Revelation 11

But he said unto them, except I shall see in his hands the print of
the nails…I will not believe. John 20:25

The foundation of our Christian life is to believe. Believing truly is seeing!
It is how we were saved. It is the only way anyone is saved (Acts
16:31). It is what pleases God (Heb. 11:6). Even now, it is imperative.
We must believe that He is going to complete the work He has begun
in us (Phil. 1:6). Thomas missed out on a whole week of enjoying the
reality of a living Lord because of unbelief. We will miss out too, if we
fail to take Him at His Word and believe. —Charlie Tempest

Once again the Gospel message, from the Saviour you have heard;
Will you heed the invitation? Will you turn and seek the Lord?
Come believing, come believing, come to Jesus, look and live.
—Daniel W. Witt le

Friday, December 18, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 5; Haggai 2; Revelation 10

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He
increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29

“Low on power? Get a free charge!” So read a number of signs in
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Travelers were invited to recharge their
electronic equipment without cost. As a believer, are you running low
on power? Did you run well at one time, but now you desperately
need to reconnect to the greatest source of power? The above verse
gives the solution, “He giveth power”. His power is found as you
bend your knees before the Lord and an open Bible. He promises to
increase your spiritual strength. Connect today. —Arnot McIntee

His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infi nite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again! —Annie Johnson Flint

Thursday, December 17, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 4; Haggai 1; Revelation 9

What will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation
which shall come from afar? To whom will ye fl ee for help? And
where will ye leave your glory? Isaiah 10:3

The context of this verse is judgement for defrauding the poor, but a
“day of visitation” from the Lord can occur for many reasons. Visitation
is a signifi cant intervention by God to bring about a change
in the situation of His people. There have been many days of visitation
when God has dealt with His people in a corporate way, but He
loves to be involved with us on a personal level too. When was the
last time He had a “day of visitation” with you? Have you been giving
Him opportunity? —Duncan Maxwell

Jesus, before Thy face we fall, our Lord, our life, our hope, our all!
For we have nowhere else to fl ee, no sanctuary, Lord, but Thee! —S. Medley

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 3; Daniel 12; Revelation 8

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto
men. Colossians 3:23

In Gordon Brown’s acceptance speech as the new Prime Minister,
of the United Kingdom he said, “I will do my utmost.” If someone
can bring this sentiment and ambition to a work that is earthly and
temporary, surely we can give our all for that which is glorious and
eternal. The world is full of unbelievers living their lives fully for
this world’s ambitions. Where are the believers who are living with
such passion for Christ? —Brian Powlesland

Who answers Christ’s insistent call, must give himself, his life, his all,
His purpose aye unshaken.
Who sets his hand unto the plough and glances back with anxious brow,
His calling hath mistaken. —Author unknown

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 1-2; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten
my darkness. Psalm 18:28

A room may have a candle in it, yet be totally dark if the candle is
not lit. For an unlit candle is as dark as all that surrounds it. Perhaps
you are surrounded by darkness, sitt ing in an atmosphere of sin
or fear. Let the Lord light your candle. He is light itself. In Him is
no darkness at all. Where He is, it cannot be dark. So, get into His
presence. Abide in the light of His Word and His person. Then you
will fi nd that He has lit your candle; driven the darkness away, and
brought light to your life. He will light your candle. —Doug Kazen

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin;
Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in,
The Light of the world is Jesus. —Philip P. Bliss

Monday, December 14, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 10; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward
God. Luke 12:21

Rather than acknowledge God’s goodness as a means to serve others,
the rich fool hoarded and gloated over his increased riches. In
the end he lost everything. Missionary Hudson Taylor said that
there are two ways to be rich. “In the abundance of possessions or in
the fewness of wants.” He added, “I enjoy the luxury of few things
to care for.” Missionary Anthony Groves’ mott o was, “Labour hard,
consume litt le, give much and all to Christ.” He also said, “Love is
measured by sacrifi ce.” May we seek to sacrifi ce the temporal to apprehend
the eternal glory of Christ. —Warren Henderson

Our souls and bodies we resign; with joy we give to Thee,
Our all, no longer ours, but Thine, to all eternity. —C. Wesley

Lord’s Day, December 13, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 9; Daniel 10; Revelation 5

Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also
last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. Mark 12:6

Clearly, our Lord’s introduction of “the son” into His parable is a
reference to Himself. It is evidence of His awareness of His unique
relationship to His Father. The words “one” and “well-beloved”
portray Him as distinctive from the “many others” who had preceded
Him (v. 5). Note, too, that the son was the last to be sent. In
sending His Son, God has spoken His fi nal word to mankind. Divine
revelation has climaxed in His unique and well-beloved Son.
He deserves our adoration and worship today. —George Hall

Thou are the everlasting Word, the Father’s only Son,
God manifestly seen and heard, and heaven’s beloved One. —Josiah Conder

Saturday, December 12, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 8; Daniel 9; Revelation 4

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

The story is told of a teacher who posed this question to a young
lad. “If a farmer had ten sheep, and one crawled through a hole in
the fence; how many sheep are left ?” “None” was the reply. The
lad explained in this fashion, “My dad has sheep, and if one crawls
through a hole in the fence, they will all follow, and you won’t have
any left .” Adam went astray, and we all like sheep followed him into
sin and transgression. But now as believers, we have been drawn
back unto the good Shepherd, because He gave His life us. Have
you returned? Do it today. —Milton Haack

When we like sheep had gone astray, our Shepherd came,
And on His shoulders bore our shame. —L. E. Smith

Friday, December 11, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 7; Daniel 8; Revelation 3:7-22

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matt hew 5:13

Salt is a very useful substance. It enhances fl avour, cleanses and melts.
But when it loses its savour, it really isn’t much good for anything.
The Lord warns us that we can be savoury, useful servants for Christ,
but that it is possible to lose our savour and become unprofi table. Are
we being fully used of God? He is in the business of restoring savourless
believers. May we always be salty! —Craig Funston

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord, in me abide. —J. Edwin Orr

Thursday, December 10, 2009

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 6; Daniel 7; Revelation 2:18 to 3:6

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1b

As I checked my fi shing net, I discovered that I had caught a cormorant.
I put on a pair of gloves and aft er an hour of work I fi nally
managed to disentangle the large bird from its prison. It promptly
dove under the water and seconds later resurfaced, tangled in the
net again. It still hadn’t learned its lesson! Christ has cleansed us
from our sin but so oft en we fi nd ourselves going back to those
things from which we have already been delivered. May God deliver
us from this and help us run with patience the race before us.
—J. Fleming

Lord cleanse my heart from all its sin;
Make me clean and pure within. —J. Fleming