Category: Uncategorised

Nehemiah 6:1-19; Zechariah 1:1-21; Revelation 11:1-19

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

Who can forgive sins but God only (Mark 2:7)? That forgiveness is ours because of the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). What price was necessary to obtain that forgiveness? Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22) and we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19). Mere men have no power or authority to forgive sin—only God knows the true value of the work of His Son on Calvary. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Happiness is to know the Saviour,
Living a life within His favour,
Having a change in my behaviour,
Happiness is the Lord.  —Ira Stanphill

Nehemiah 5:1-19; Haggai 2:1-23; Revelation 10:1-11

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them. Matthew 15:30

We each have family or friends who fit spiritually into this category. They may be “lame”, not walking with the Lord. They may be “blind” to the truth of the gospel. They may be “dumb” not speaking for the Lord. Let us make every effort to bring them to the feet of the Lord in prayer for healing and restoration. —D. Sabourin

Prayer is the simplest form of speech,
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach,
The Majesty on high.  —James Montgomery

Nehemiah 4:1-23; Haggai 1:1-15; Revelation 9:1-21

We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Daniel 6:5

Daniel’s godly character was evidenced by his integrity in the service of the Babylonian and Medo-Persian civil services. Rising to the government’s highest levels, he had opportunities for great fiscal malfeasance. Yet he worked honestly, knowing his accountability to a greater Master (Eph. 6:5-9). Consequently, his envious enemies plotted to judicially murder him. King Darius unwittingly played into their hands, but Daniel’s faithfulness to God was unwavering, even when facing the den of lions. Likewise, believers’ work must reflect their relationship with the Lord. —K. R. Keyser

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope shall change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise. —H. F. Lyte

Nehemiah 3:1-32; Daniel 12:1-13; Revelation 8:1-13

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
For every man shall bear his own burden. Galatians 6:5

There are two different Greek words used here for “burden.” In verse two the word is baros, meaning “heavy, weighty, or burdensome.” The word used for “burden” in verse 5 is phortion, referring to “something to be borne, my portion or responsibility,” with no reference to weight. Let us gladly take responsibility for ourselves and then be willing to come alongside and aid those who have a heavy burden to bear, all for the glory of God! —E. C. B.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace. —Annie Johnson Flint

Nehemiah 1:1-2:20; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7:1-17

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. Psalm 112:6

It was a privilege, on a tour of Princeton, to view the grave of Jonathan Edwards who stands out in early American Christianity as someone devoted to God. He was a compelling preacher, instrumental under God in bringing revival and also left a legacy of wonderful Christian writing which included “The Life and Diary
of David Brainard.” It is a rich blessing to know that we stand on the shoulders of such giants from the past and their lives act as a challenge to the superficiality of our age. —Paul Young

Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing,
Of Calvary. —William Reed Newell

Ezra 10:1-44; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6:1-17

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2

Some sports fans are too nervous to watch their team play animportant game. Instead of watching it live, they record the event, deleting it if their team loses. If they win, they enjoy the recording.  However, we can be at peace and rejoice now about our future glory. The Bible has recorded it, revealing the end of our salvation. The indwelling Spirit confirms it—Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ has already won. —George Ferrier

Oh, that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace, I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.  —Charles H. Gabriel

Ezra 9:1-15; Daniel 10:1-21; Revelation 5:1-14

For you have not come to the mountain. Hebrews 12:18 NKJV
But you have come to Mount Zion. Hebrews 12:22 NKJV

Two mountains are brought before us here to illustrate where we have or have not come. They represent the great contrasts of law and grace, judgment and the gospel, death and life. The most striking of all is what happened on these two mountains in “His-story.” At Mount Sinai the Law was given and three thousand were slain. At Mount Zion, the gospel of grace and life in Jesus’ name was announced on the day of Pentecost and three thousand were saved! To which mountain have you come? —Rex Trogdon

The terrors of law and of God,
With me can have nothing to do;
My Saviour’s obedience and blood,
Hide all my transgressions from view. —Augustus M. Toplady

Ezra 8:1-36; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 4:1-11

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15

These two crimes are an abomination to the Lord and both of them occured when the Lord Jesus was crucified! The chief priests and the Jewish elders persuaded the people to free Barabbas, a murderer and a mob insurrectionist; and Pilate consented to the crime (Matt. 27:20-21; Mark 15:7, 15). They justified the wicked! The people cried out, “Crucify him” (Mark 15:13) and Pilate gave the order though he was convinced that Jesus was innocent (Mark 15:15). They condemned the Just! “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust…” (1 Peter 3:18). —K. C. Ung

Rejoice and be glad! Now the pardon is free!
The Just for the unjust, Has died on the tree. —Horatius Bonar

Ezra 7:1-28; Daniel 8:1-27; Revelation 3:7-22

As they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” 2 Kings 4:40 NKJV

Elisha came to Gilgal during a famine and commanded that a pot of stew be set before the prophets. Food was scarce, so wild gourds were added to the pot. When the stew was served it was found to be unsafe to eat, but Elisha added flour to the pot and purified its contents and everyone ate the stew without harm. Only God can displace death with life, for He is life. The flour put into the pot, pictures what the Lord Jesus did to offer us life—He cast Himself into death, so that those who would partake of Him would receive
life (John 6:32-35). The Lord Jesus experienced the death we deserved so we can experience His life. Praise be to God! —W. A. H.

Under the burdens of guilt and care, many a spirit is grieving,
Who in the joy of the Lord might share, life everlasting receiving. —W. Leslie

Ezra 6:1-22; Daniel 7:1-28; Revelation 2:18-3:6

Seek those things which are above…set your affection on things above…Christ, who is our life. Colossians 3:1-2, 4

The Scriptures do not indicate that intimacy with Christ is linked to something mysterious. It is the lifting up of our heart and affection to our Saviour, who is seated on the right hand of God. This is not wishful thinking. It is an act of faith as we look to our risen Saviour. His finished work of redemption has justly brought us into this heavenly sphere where He is. There, in His dignity and authority, He enables us by His power to live out our resurrection life here. —G. C. G.

May our affections thither tend,
And thither constantly ascend,
Where seated on the Father’s throne,
Thee, reigning in the heavens, we own! —The Venerable Bede