Category: Uncategorised

Genesis 35:1-29; Psalms 7:1-8:9; Matthew 19:16-20:16

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luke 24:26

The disciples were deeply distressed by the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. They had anticipated, as the prophets had promised, that the Lord would take His place as King. The reason for their distress was that they had been selective in their reading of Scripture. Old Testament Scriptures had also made it abundantly clear that His suffering would precede His glory. So often when times of suffering and grief come into our lives, like the disciples, we can become distressed, forgetting that such events are part of God’s plan for us in the present, but that the glory lies ahead.
—W. H. Burnett

Midst the darkness, storm and sorrow, one bright gleam I see,
Well I know the blessed morrow, Christ will come for me.—P. Gerhardt

Genesis 33:18-34:31; Psalms 4:1-6:10; Matthew 19:1-15

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 1 Chronicles 4:9, NKJV

In the midst of a lengthy genealogy, we read of Jabez. What brought him honorable mention above his brothers? It was his prayer in the following verse. He prayed that God would bless him indeed—His provision; that God’s hand would be with him —His presence; that He would keep him from evil —His protection; and that he would not cause pain. God granted his request and proved His promise, “those who honor Me I will honor” (1 Sam. 2:30, NKJV). That promise is still true (John 12:26).—Rex Trogdon

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!  —Joseph Scriven

Genesis 32:1-33:17; Psalms 1:1-3:8; Matthew 18:15-35

Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. Numbers 35:31
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. Acts 3:14

Imagine how Barabbas felt escaping crucifixion. Was it disbelief and then gratitude? Was it calloused indifference? He deserved to die because of his actions. We too deserve to die because of our sin against God. Jesus Christ died in our place. What is our attitude? Is it gratitude leading to confession or calloused indifference leading to rejection of God’s gracious gift? —K. J. W.

Children of men, attend to the word, so solemnly uttered by Jesus, the Lord,
And let not this message to you be in vain, “Ye must be born again.”  —William T. Sleeper

Genesis 31:1-55; Job 42:1-17; Matthew 17:14-18:14

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Light dispels the confusion and fear that darkness produces. Light makes things clear and enables us to move with confidence. Jesus was the supreme example of light-shining and instructs His followers to let their light shine as a testimony to others. Unfortunately, like the moon, we have no innate light of our own. The moon reflects the sun’s light and so we reflect the light of Jesus and that is why every day we need to absorb His light by reading His Word
and praying. Then we can shine brightly for the Lord. —Paul Young

Jesus bids us shine, with a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle, burning in the night.
In this world of darkness, so let us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine. —Susan Warner

Genesis 30:1-43; Job 40:1-41:34; Matthew 16:13-17:13

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind. Psalm 107:25
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:28

Here we see, that at times, the Lord brings different experiences into a believer’s life. Why the valleys? So we can appreciate firstly the necessity of prayer, and secondly that there is a God that answers prayer. Sometimes I am concerned that some believers seem to have everything so easy. Are you in a valley? Remember it can often confirm that you are one of His and that following your petitions He will answer and deliver you. —Brian Russell

Down in the valley with my Saviour I will go,
Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow;
With His hand to lead me, I will never fear;
Dangers will not fright me, if my Lord is near. —W. O. Cushing

Genesis 29:1-35; Job 38:1-39:30; Matthew 15:29-16:12

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered.  Ps. 111:4, NKJV

Throughout Scripture, God gives His people symbols to remember His wonderful works to them. Passover was instituted as a memorial reminding Israel how God delivered them out of Egypt (Ex. 12:14). Joshua was commanded to set up twelve stones taken out of the river Jordan to remind them how He brought them through on dry ground (Josh. 4:7). When we come to the New Testament, Jesus left His disciples, and us, symbols of bread and wine so we would never forget His wonderful work for us on the cross. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Ps. 107:8). —E. V.

Here in the broken bread and wine,
We hear Thee say, “Remember Me!” —James G. Deck

Genesis 28:1-22; Job 36:1-37:24; Matthew 15:1-28

When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place… Ezekiel 42:14

A smart phone can give directions while we travel, and will say “You have reached your destination” when we arrive. When we put our faith in Christ we have reached our destination. Even as we live day by day, it is our joy to know that once we’re in Christ, we’re in Christ forever. He saves to the uttermost all that come by faith to Him. How much greater will be the joy of that coming day, when once with Christ, we’ll be with Him forever. —Rick Morse

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;
There by His love o’ershadowed, sweetly my soul shall rest.  —Fanny J. Crosby

Genesis 27:1-46; Job 34:1-35:16; Matthew 14:13-36

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18, NKJV

In our daily struggle with sin, remember dear child of God you are kept securely by Christ Himself. What protection! Nothing can “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). —P. Ramsay

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations,
Sin cannot harm me there.  —Frances Van Alstyne

Genesis 26:1-35; Job 32:1-33:33; Matthew 13:44-14:12

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style. Psalm 144:12, NKJV
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

The world has its concept of beauty. God has His. The world focuses on the outward. The Lord looks at the hidden person of the heart and considers the meek and quiet spirit to be precious. How important then for parents to follow this pattern of raising their children as royalty and for us to follow it as well. —Mark Kolchin

Nor I alone; Thy loved ones all, complete,
In glory, round Thee there with joy shall meet,
All like Thee, for Thy glory like Thee, Lord,
Object supreme of all, by all adored. —J. N. Darby

Genesis 25:1-34; Job 31:1-40; Matthew 13:24-43

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

If we are going to be successful in this race, we need to ask ourselves: What is the state of our spiritual fitness? If we seem at times to be failures as Christians it is probably because we have retired from the disciplined pursuits of the spiritual athlete, accepting a more relaxed position as a spectator. Unlike physical athletics, the beauty of the spiritual life is that it does not discriminate based on age, gender, physical prowess, race, or any exterior factor. The
only limitation it knows is an unwilling heart. —Saju Mathew

Give us full-hearted souls, who love their Lord,
With a sparkle and flash in their eye;
Who are ready to fight, to work, to win,
Who are ready to do or to die. —Author Unknown