Category: Uncategorised

Numbers 14:1-45; Proverbs 11:1-31; 1 Peter 3:1-22

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28a

When driving by a certain church some time ago, I read their outdoor sign. It had this startling statement, “Lung cancer cures smoking.” The irony struck me when I recalled a nicotine products’ slogan blazed on billboards—“They satisfy.” All vices lead to dissatisfaction because pleasure wanes with usage. So the search
goes on. Psalm 16:11 answers this quest, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy”—complete satisfaction. He can calm the restlessness and deliver from harmful habits. —E. Dyck

Hallelujah! I have found Him whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings, through His blood I now am saved.   —Clara T. Williams

Numbers 12:1-13:33; Proverbs 10:1-32; 1 Peter 2:1-25

God…hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. Hebrews 1:1a-2a

God’s progressive revelation in the Old Testament found its climax in Christ. Our transcendent God has communicated the gospel to all through Christ, His complete revelation. He is God’s peerless messenger and message. Christ’s life, Calvary, resurrection, and ascension revealed Him as the express image of the invisible God. The glorified Christ still speaks today through His Word. Revealed in the language of His Son, the gospel is the tongue that all the nations of the earth can understand. Are you listening? —George Ferrier

Image of God invisible, Effulgence of God’s glory fair;
God’s fullness ever dwells in Him, God’s testimony He doth bear.  —John E. Gould

Numbers 11:4-35; Proverbs 9:1-18; 1 Peter 1:1-25

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:11

It seems that the voices of popular opinion and multi-culturalism, as varied as they are, are willing to unite when it comes to the defamation of Christ and His people. This world never was our home, and it feels less like it with every passing week. The principle of divine accountability for personal moral failure will not be
tolerated in this world, as our Lord Jesus was not tolerated when He was here. We can look down in fearful grief, or we can look up in joyful hope…it’s our choice. —Rick Morse

Take courage, way-worn pilgrim, though mists and shadows hide;
The face of Him thou lovest, He’s ever at thy side. —Anonymous

Numbers 10:11-11:3; Proverbs 8:1-36; Jude 1-25

When the sun was setting…He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. Luke 4:40 NKJV

It had been a busy day for the Lord in Capernaum! He had performed miracles of healing in both the synagogue and Simon Peter’s house and now the day was drawing to a close. Yet there were still more demands on His time from the gathered crowd. He neither sent them away nor healed them en-masse but gave personal attention by laying His hands on each one of them. How wonderful it is to have a personal Saviour who cares and works in our individual circumstances too! —Philip A. Kaye

Faint and thirsty Thou wilt lead us,
Streams shall from the rock abound,
Happy people!
What a Saviour we have found! —Thomas Kelly

Numbers 9:1-10:10; Proverbs 6:20-7:27; Mark 16:1-20

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26 NKJV

Notice Jesus doesn’t pray to His Father about the storm. There are instances in the Scripture where nature is altered by man beseeching God. Here, Jesus declares His divinity by calming the storm Himself. Notice also that the disciples were terrified to such an extent that they thought they were going to die. Our fears are
related to our lack of faith in God. Jesus told them they had “little faith.” How gracious and kind He is that even when we have little faith, He still takes care of us. —J. D. Fraser

No fear shall overwhelm me, for Lord I do believe.
You’re the Master and the Maker,
You’re the Man who calms the storm. —Stuart Townend

Numbers 8:1-26; Proverbs 5:1-6:19; Mark 15:24-47

Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7 NKJV

Growing up, I did not want to become a believer that is always on a journey of “self discovery”, picking and choosing what to believe based on how it made me feel. I wanted to be Biblically based. In staying focused on the truth of the Bible, I’ve learned to read and look for lessons I don’t think I’ve learned yet. To refresh
my heart and re-apply lessons I thought I had already learned. To read in order to understand the heart of God and the souls of mankind. To read with discernment, sharpening my mind, and learning to appreciate the Bible’s unique worth. —Anna Grist

Oh may these heavenly pages be my ever dear delight,
And still new beauties may I see, and still increasing light.   —Anne Steele

Numbers 7:1-89; Proverbs 4:1-27; Mark 15:1-23

Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law. Exodus 3:1

What a humbling moment. The “Prince of Egypt” became a shepherd. For forty years, he learned to rescue wandering sheep, to care for the sick, and to protect them from danger. It was only after this schooling that God commissioned Moses. Similarly, John the Baptist was “in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel” (Luke 1:80). Again, the apostle Paul spent three years in Arabia before being commissioned. Indeed, every servant of God must know something of the “desert” experience. Public service must be preceded by private preparation in the school of God.  —W. H. Burnett

In the desert, God will teach thee, about the God that thou hast found;
Patient, gracious, powerful, holy, all His grace shall there abound.   —J. N. Darby

Numbers 6:1-27; Proverbs 3:1-35; Mark 14:53-72

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

In 1844 Captain Jonathan Walker tried to help four slaves to freedom. Sadly they were caught and returned, while Walker was imprisoned, severely beaten and branded onto his hand were the letters SS which stood for Slave Stealer. When he died many years later those letters were on his headstone and many have mistaken them for Slave Saviour. Like that captain we have a Saviour who carries the marks of suffering in His hands and through those wounds we are saved from sin and experience eternal freedom,
for which we praise God. —Paul Young

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night, Jesus I come! Jesus I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light, Jesus, I come to Thee!   —William True Sleeper

Numbers 5:1-31; Proverbs 2:1-22; Mark 14:27-52

Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me…This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.  1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV

There is a beautiful simplicity in our Lord’s dying request. He gives us two emblems that are universally available—the bread and the cup. In this often-repeated drama, the bread is broken representing His body and the cup received representing His blood. Two statements should touch our hearts each time we see the
bread and cup in this forget-Me-not feast: “in remembrance of Me” and “broken for you.” —Rex Trogdon

Only bread and only wine, yet to faith the solemn sign
Of the heav’nly and divine! We give Thee thanks, O Lord.   —Horatius Bonar

Numbers 4:1-49; Proverbs 1:1-33; Mark 14:1-26

Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 1 Samuel 16:12 NKJV 

David’s lovely features pleased Samuel. Similarly, Saul loved David after first meeting him, as did Jonathan and Michal. The qualities Saul admired in David were what he wished he had himself: youthful zeal, respect, prudence, and the Lord’s presence. David’s lovely charm captivated the hearts of all who observed
him. Likewise, the One whom David typifies, the Lord Jesus, will completely enthrall every saint with His noble, charming character and the radiance of His presence. —W. A. H.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above.   —Anne Ross Cousin