DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 15:1-33; Psalm 119:73-112; Mark 5:21-43
If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. Luke 23:37
The rulers, soldiers, bystanders, and one of the criminals who was crucified next to Christ mockingly urged Him to save Himself. Ironically, to remain true to His character and His Father’s will, this is the very thing that He would not do. In order to save sinners, the Lord gave Himself as a propitiatory sacrifice to uphold divine justice and extend divine mercy to those who trust Him. Although He was omnipotent, His love for the Father and for the world made Him lay down His life, instead of saving Himself. —Keith Keyser
Himself He could not save, Love’s stream too deeply flowed, In love, Himself He gave to pay the debt we owed. Obedience to His Father’s will and love to Him did all fulfill.—A. Midlane
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 14:33-57; Psalm 119:41-72; Mark 5:1-20
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7
As I sat donating blood, I thought of Christ’s blood shed at Calvary. He is God’s Son and His blood has infinite, eternal value. My blood can temporarily assist one physical life. But alone, Christ’s blood can give
eternal life to any who believe. Saving us from judgment—through His blood—God delivers us from sin’s captivity, forgives our debt, and sets us free. What power, grace and peace! Have you received eternal life from the One who gave His life? —George Ferrier
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood; Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow, There’s wonderful power in the blood. —Lewis E. Jones
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 14:1-32; Psalm 119:1-40; Mark 4:21-41
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. John 15:18 (NKJV)
The Lord had just told His disciples that He was leaving, but would come again for them. In His absence, they were to abide in Him and be fruitful. In doing so, they would experience: joy, the Father’s love, a powerful prayer-life and love for others (John 15:7-12). Yet, those who abide in Him must also expect distress. The word “hate” appears seven times in John 15. This hate is of the world and is contrasted with
God’s love (10 times). God’s love transcends the hate of the world! Believers living for Christ in the world can expect hatred, but they can also expect the love of God to carry them through. —W. A. H.
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. —F. Lehman
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 13:24-59; Psalm 118:1-29; Mark 4:1-20
Is not this the carpenter?…And they were offended at him. Mark 6:3
Jesus had returned to Nazareth and began to teach in the synagogue. The people who listened had grown up with Him and knew Him from the carpenter’s shop. His was a case of “familiarity breeds contempt”. They could not conceive of a carpenter being an authoritative teacher of divine truth and so they rejected Him. Their lack of faith hindered the ministry the Saviour could do in their town as we read, “He could there do no mighty work” (v. 5). May we never be instruments in limiting the work of God. —Paul Young
Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way; Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mould me and make me, after Thy will, While I am waiting yielded and still. —A. A. Pollard
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 12:1-13:23; Psalms 116:1-117:2; Mark 3:13-35
For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:18
Have you ever mistakenly entered the wrong code or password, only to get the response, “Access Denied?” How wonderful to know that access to our heavenly Father will never be denied us, because we are “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6). May we never take that free access for granted, but avail ourselves of every opportunity to enter His presence and speak with Him. —E. V.
Come into His presence, you’ll not be denied; Accepted in Jesus you’re now justified! —E.V.
On the cross our Lord sustained God’s wrath against sin; on the tree, He “was made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13); in those hours of Calvary’s darkness, the Christ of God was forsaken (Mt. 27:46). Hear the words of Scripture: “Thy wrath lieth hard upon Me, and Thou hast afflicted Me with all Thy waves” (Ps. 88:7). “Thy fierce wrath goeth over Me; Thy terrors have cut Me off” (Ps. 88:16). “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted Me in the day of His fierce anger. From above hath He sent fire into My bones and it prevaileth against them” (Lam. 1:12-13).
This is what death meant to the Lord Jesus Christ: made a curse; visited with the wrath of God against sin; in darkness, forsaken, and alone, He died for us. As another has said, “Utterly solitary He died that none of us might have to face death alone.” Or as we often sing,
“Crowned with thorns upon the tree; Silent in Thine agony; Dying crushed beneath the load, Of the wrath and curse of God.”
This was the heart-breaking anguish of His death. God left Him alone in the hour of His deepest suffering. Never in his day had David seen the righteous forsaken. The sorrowing One of Psalm 22 pleaded, “Our fathers trusted in Thee: they trusted and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee and were delivered: they trusted in Thee and were not confounded. But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men and despised of the people” (Ps. 22:4-6). The One who was the most faithful and the most beloved was the first to know the bitter sorrow of being left alone by God in the hour of His deep distress.
The honor of Christ’s Person gave infinite value to His sufferings. The pain of His obedience made the preciousness of that loving surrender to the will of God of supremely greater worth and richer fragrance. When He who became a servant, of His own unfettered will showed His love and submission to God’s word and at such tremendous cost to Himself as He did at Calvary, how gloriously precious it was! The death of God’s saints had always been precious in His sight (Ps. 116:15), but never had there been a death that so filled the heart of God with unspeakable satisfaction as the death of Him who hung in blood and shame on the cross at Golgotha.
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 11:1-47; Psalms 113:1-115:18; Mark 2:23-3:12
I marvel that ye are so soon removed…unto another gospel: Which is not another. Galatians 1:6-7
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day ofsalvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
No other message. No other person. No other name. No other time! The Bible makes the plan of salvation very clear and simple. Have you made it yours? —Sid Halsband
Now none but Christ can satisfy, none other name for me; There’s love and life and lasting joy, Lord Jesus, found in Thee. —F. Bevan
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 10:1-20; Psalms 111:1-112:10; Mark 2:1-22
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? Proverbs 27:23-24
This is an established truth. Look after what you have been given and don’t waste it. Earthly things are not for ever. Yet a child of God has heavenly riches that are forever. Calvary places us “in Christ”. There we find full blessing. He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9). His throne was exchanged for His cross. May our life and walk be worthy of the Lord. —Vernon Markle
The perfect righteousness of God, Is witnessed, in the Saviour’s blood. ‘Tis in the cross of Christ we trace, His righteousness, yet wondrous grace. —Lowell Mason
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 9:1-24; Psalms 109:1-110:7; Mark 1:21-45
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14
The compound name, Jehovah-jireh (the Lord will provide), appears only once in the Bible. This unique name was used in connection with the Lamb that God would provide on the mount called Moriah. In the New Testament that mount was called Calvary where Jesus was crucified. Just as the name, Jehovah-jireh, appeared only once in the Bible, so our Saviour appeared “Once in the end of the world hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26). He is God’s great provision. —Rex Trogdon
No blood, no altar now, the sacrifice is o’er! No flame, no smoke ascends on high, the lamb is slain no more.—H. Bonar
DAILY READINGS: Leviticus 8:1-36; Psalm 108:1-13; Mark 1:1-20
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Of Matthew 11:28, St. Augustine wrote in the fifth century A. D.: “I have read in Plato and in Cicero many sayings that are very wise and very beautiful, but I never read in either of them such words as these: ‘Come unto me.'” Have you responded to this glorious invitation to receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour? His invitation is still open to you today. Tomorrow may be too late. —W. Ross Rainey
Come to the Saviour, make no delay; Here in His Word He’s shown us the way; Here in our midst He’s standing today, Tenderly saying, “Come!” —George F. Root
