Category: Uncategorised

1 Chronicles 26:1-27:34; Ezekiel 23:1-49; John 8:31-59

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

Brought up on a gold mine I often saw rough rock blasted from underground; crushed to powder in a massive mill then melted in intense heat. The mine manager knew what he was doing each step of the way until finally out from that furnace came pure gold. In the same way, God knows all about the problems; distresses; loneliness and sufferings which may be crushing me, but He is allowing them all so that one day I will come forth as gold. —David Croudace

Oh, rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake.
He knows the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold. —Ron Hamilton

1 Chronicles 24:1-25:31; Ezekiel 22:1-31; John 8:12-30

Our fellowship is with…Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3b

For some time I had an unknown friend. The kind you correspond with, hear about and almost know, yet have not met. Then it happens—you meet and settle in for a get-acquainted conversation. Rare qualities are discovered that reveal themselves through grief-packed days. This experience correlates with a Christian’s
relationship with our Lord Jesus. He is the closest Friend, yet unseen. The more we share the companionship the dearer He becomes. And when we’ve rounded the final bend of our journey and shed our last tear; the celestial gate will swing open; we’ll see Him in His glory and get to know Him fully. —E. Dyck

Until then my heart will go on singing—until then with joy I’ll carry on,
Until the day, my eyes behold that city, until the day God calls me home. —Stuart Hamblen

1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32; Ezekiel 20:45-21:32; John 7:31-8:11

Take now…thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest…and offer him there for a burnt offering. Genesis 22:2
He that spared not his own Son… Romans 8:32

How could God ask Abraham to give up his only son? Surely the sacrifice was too great! Yet God did not ask of Abraham what He was not prepared to do Himself—sacrifice His Son! Abraham proved his love for God by not withholding his only son. God demonstrated His love for us by sacrificing His only Son! For God’s Son there was no substitute. Someone has said that, in providing the ram as a substitute for Isaac, “God spared Abraham’s heart a pang He would not spare His own.” Amazing love! —E. V.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. —Carl Boberg

1 Chronicles 21:1-30; Ezekiel 20:1-44; John 7:12-30

Who do you say that I am? Matthew 16:15

Our Lord’s question is the fundamental question we all must settle in our minds and hearts. Peter correctly answered that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 16). A short while later (Acts 2), Peter preached a sermon with the same theme. He presented three arguments that proved Jesus is God’s Son. What was Peter’s evidence?
Jesus fulfilled prophecy (humanly impossible, see vv. 29-31); He performed miracles (humanly impossible, v. 22), and He rose from the dead (humanly impossible, see v. 24). Over 300 fulfilled prophecies. At least 37 recorded miracles. More than 500 eyewitnesses of the risen Christ. There’s 837 reasons why we can fully
trust and follow Christ. —Brian Cretney

“What think ye of Christ?” Is the test, to try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest, unless you think rightly of Him.—J. Newton

1 Chronicles 19:1-20:8; Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; John 6:41-7:11

God is our refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46 was one of Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) favourite passages of Scripture. It was with this psalm of praise before him that he penned his own famous Reformation hymn, “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”—“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Can you truthfully say, “God is my refuge and strength?” —W. Ross Rainey

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal. —Martin Luthe

1 Chronicles 17:1-18:17; Ezekiel 17:1-24; John 6:22-40

I will cast thee to the ground. Ezekiel 28:17
God sent him forth…he drove out the man. Genesis 3:23-24

When Satan rebelled, God cast him down four times (Ezek. 28:17; Rev. 12:10, 20:3, 10). This word “cast” carries with it the idea of casting out with no intention of retrieving or bringing back. However, when man sinned, God chose not to cast man out in the same way. God sent him out of the Garden of Eden but eventually plans to bring us back into a heavenly garden (Rev. 22:1-5). God’s great desire is to draw sinners to Himself. —Sam Thorpe, Jr.

Though millions have found Him a Friend,
And have turned from the sins they have sinned,
The Saviour still waits to open the gate,
And welcome a sinner before it’s too late. —Ira F. Stanphill

1 Chronicles 16:1-43; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. Isaiah 53:6
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

God likens unbelievers to wandering sheep, going their own sinful way and headed to a horrible end. If we have taken God’s gift of a Saviour God still likens us to sheep, but we are following the Good Shepherd who claims us as His own. He can do that because He gave His life for the sheep (v. 11) and He not only saves us, He keeps us in His hand (v. 28). What a change of venue! —Ken Gross

My sheep hear My voice and,
I know them and they follow Me,
I give unto them eternal life;
And they shall never perish. —Alfred P. Gibbs

1 Chronicles 15:1-29; Ezekiel 16:1-34; John 5:24-47

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

What an assurance for the daily grind of life! Jehovah assures us of three things; His presence, “I am with you;” His unique relationship with us, “I am your God;” and His assured strength, “I will help you, I will uphold you.” Lastly, His sustaining grace is assured; “My righteous right hand.” His right hand suggests His power, security and prosperity. For life’s daily needs, rest in His omnipotence! —Jim Comte

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest—
Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest. —Frances Ridley Havergal 

1 Chronicles 13:1-14:17; Ezekiel 14:1-15:8; John 5:1-23

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Recently I read in a Christian Missions magazine of a missionary who was thanking God for the gift of cancer. After many prayers and some tears, I now can say the same thing. Going through surgery and chemotherapy is not a joyful experience, but I know God has blessed me in ways I wouldn’t have realized months ago. To God be the glory. —Debbie Douglas

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be;
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. —Fanny J. Crosby

1 Chronicles 12:1-40; Ezekiel 13:1-23; John 4:31-54

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. Psalm 69:20

Psalm 69 is quoted seven times in the New Testament and gives a messianic shadow of the Lord Jesus as the trespass offering for us. Under the Levitical system the sin offering was needed for the offense of sin, but the trespass offering was required for the damages of sin. The Lord Jesus, as this psalm affirms, is beautifully pictured in the trespass offering as the One who compensates for the destruction caused by our sin. He willingly suffered reproach to remove all of our reproaches. Praise His name! —W. A. H.

’Twas for Thy sake, eternal God, Thy Son sustained that heavy load
Of base reproach and sore disgrace, and shame defiled His sacred face. —Isaac Watts