Category: Uncategorised

Joshua 24:1-33; Isaiah 19:1-20:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:4

The Psalms are such a comfort to read! No matter whether David was feeling up or down, his thoughts were always turned towards the Lord. As we read and meditate on them, we find the solace that we need. In this Psalm David says that regardless of the circumstances that surround him, he will praise the Lord, and trust in Him. He knows that God will deliver him from his fears and give him something positive to follow. What a confidence to have such an outlook! —G. Frear

Thy will be done! I will not fear
The fate provided by Thy love;
Though clouds and darkness shroud me here,
I know that all is bright above. —J. E. Hornblower

Joshua 23:1-16; Isaiah 17:1-18:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3

Difficult circumstances often find their way into our lives, stifling our joy and enveloping us in a spirit of heaviness. In times like these we need to ask ourselves where our joy comes from? Our outward circumstances need not affect our inner joy. Ultimately our joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. When this is fully realized, it will change our perspective, enabling us to break free of discouragement, replacing it with the quiet inner joy of the Lord. —E. V.

Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
Let the joy of gladness flow down from Your throne;
Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
Your joy is my strength alone, my strength alone. —Robin Marks

Joshua 22:1-34; Isaiah 15:1-16:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. Matthew 28:19

A missionary was telling an unbeliever that God loved him so much He sent His only Son to die for him so he could be saved. The man was thrilled and asked, “When did this happen?”. “Almost 2,000 years ago”, came the reply. With his hope shattered, the man retorted, “If that was true someone would have come long before now to tell us!”. Sadly he went back to his idols, without hope and without a Saviour. How tragic! For almost 2,000 years we Christians have been sent, yet millions still remain in darkness! “Go ye therefore!” —David Croudace

All the world for Jesus! Be this our earnest aim:
To spread the blessed tidings Of Him who once was slain.
All the world for Jesus, Let ev’ry creature sing;
All the world for Jesus, Our great eternal King. —Grace Weiser Davis

Joshua 20:1-21:45; Isaiah 14:1-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

They feared the Lord, and served their own gods. 2 Kings 17:33

How can this be true of God’s people, the Israelites, whom He had done so much for? But let’s not be too critical of them. We can easily live the same way. We can fear the Lord on Sundays but serve our own gods the rest of the week. Are we a full, seven days a week Christian? When eternity opens before us, all the things we worry about today won’t matter anymore—only what has been done for Him. Are we on track with the Lord’s purpose for us? Let’s examine our hearts today and stay focused on our Lord Jesus Christ while we live for Him every day. —Eleanor Isaacson

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. —Helen Lemmel

Joshua 18:1-19:51; Isaiah 13:1-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45, NKJV

Mark 8:35 says that those who lose their life will save it. The Lord Jesus Christ died so that the lives of those who trust in Him would not be lost. God brought absolute good from Christ’s death and in response we learn to give of ourselves to His cause. Today by the eye of faith, we see God in Christ paying the highest price so the lives of many would not be forfeit. May our worship bring much pleasure to Him. —J. D. Fraser

O what a Saviour is Jesus the Lord!
Well may His name by His saints be adored!
He has redeemed them from hell by His blood,
Saved them forever and brought them to God. —A. Midlane

Joshua 16:1-17:18; Isaiah 11:1-12:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13

The wicked shall be turned into hell. Psalm 9:17

Years ago we often heard sermons about the necessity of being born again to avoid spending eternity in hell, but that is rare now. The Psalms often have messages of comfort and encouragement, so these words stood out. They are so direct and emphatic. Hell is real. Dear one if you haven’t had your sin washed away by the blood of Christ, then you are classed as wicked, and will be “turned into hell”. Accept Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as the full price paid for
your sin and know today that you have eternal life. —M. Robins

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
Almost cannot avail, almost is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail, “Almost—but lost”! —Philip P. Bliss

Joshua 14:1-15:63; Isaiah 10:5-34; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Job 42:5

Job made this astonishing declaration at the end of his trial. His knowledge of God had deepened! Job’s relationship with the Lord, which previously had been limited to what he had heard, became instead firsthand knowledge. Things that had been theoretical became very real and personal to Job. It would seem that there are some things we simply cannot know about the Lord unless He takes us through deep waters. What a comfort to realize that even in our most challenging times, the Lord reveals Himself to us.  —Lynn Shatford

What if a thousand sleepless nights,
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise? —Laura Story

Joshua 13:1-33; Isaiah 9:8-10:4; Luke 24:36-53

And the Lord shewed him a tree… Exodus 15:25

According unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick. Numbers 8:4

And the Lord shewed him all the land… Deuteronomy 34:1

Moses was shown these things during the wilderness journey. A tree—a provision to sweeten. Thank God for the cross, for the One who suffered the bitterness of God’s wrath, that we may taste the sweet waters of salvation! The pattern—a plan to follow. A supernatural revelation that Moses never deviated from. May we follow closely all God’s instructions! The land—a prospect to enjoy. What future glory lies ahead in the Promised Land! Past, present and
future—so much to appreciate! —Pete Smith

May faith grow firm and love grow warm,
And pure devotion rise. —William Cullen Bryant

Joshua 11:1-12:24; Isaiah 8:5-9:7; Luke 24:13-35

He (Peter) said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. John 21:17

Many of us appreciate Peter because we see in him so much of ourselves. Oftentimes he was outspoken, overly self-confident and hasty and these things led him into difficult circumstances. His zeal may sometimes have been misplaced yet what is not in doubt is his underlying love for the Lord. Despite all his mistakes there was a real love for Christ. That love, coupled with the energising power of the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost, would turn him into a powerful man for God. May love for the Lord drive us forward today!  —Philip A. Kaye

I love Thee because, Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.  —Wm. R. Featherstone

Joshua 10:1-43; Isaiah 7:1-8:4; Luke 23:47-24:12

Yet there shall be a space between you and it (the ark), about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. Joshua 3:4

Israel was about to tread an unknown path. But, the Ark was the symbol of the Divine presence and they must never take their eyes from it. As we face the uncertainties of life and the unknown paths ahead, remember that our Lord in heaven has trod the path before us, and if we keep our eyes on Him, rather than our uncertainties and fears we shall move forward with confidence.—W. H. Burnett

The path where my Saviour is gone,
Has led up to His Father and God,
To the place where He’s now on the Throne,
And His strength shall be mine on the road. —J. N. Darby