Category: Uncategorised

2 Chronicles 5:1-6:11; Ezekiel 29:1-30:19; John 11:1-27

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Psalm 89:14, NKJV

Anything that is built is only as good as its foundation. How wonderful to know that the throne of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ is built on a foundation of righteousness and justice. Nothing that happens on this earth is a surprise to Him. It is all according to His plans and purposes and no promise of His will ever go unfulfilled. Mercy and truth go before His face because He is their personification. —Annette Baal

He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
He is exalted, forever exalted,
And I will praise His Name,
Forever His truth shall reign. —Twila Paris

2 Chronicles 3:1-4:22; Ezekiel 28:1-26; John 10:19-42

Behold, I will rebuke your descendants and spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your solemn feasts; and one will take you away with it. Malachi 2:3, NKJV

Because the Jewish priests were far from the Lord, they did not feel the weight of disgracing the Lord’s name as Malachi did. The prophet warns them that their polluted sacrifices would cause their children to suffer. The priests had brought sickly and maimed sacrifices to God’s altar, but the Lord rejected these. May we remember that the Lord desires fresh Spirit-led worship founded in truth, He doesn’t desire devotionless rituals, and our deadness of heart today will harm the next generation. —W. A. H.

O take this heart of stone away!
Thy sway it doth not, cannot own;
In me no longer let it stay;
O take away this heart of stone!—C. Wesley

2 Chronicles 1:1-2:18; Ezekiel 27:1-36; John 10:1-18

Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Psalm 18:39

Like David, we also have enemies: the devil and other fallen angels. However, we are not to be obsessed with or fearful of them. Rather we are to recognize that there is a spiritual battle and be prepared for it so we are not caught off guard by their many schemes: like sowing discouragement, division, and error. Thankfully God has provided the necessary armour (Eph. 6:10-18). Put it on. Each day is a new battle but His grace is sufficient for victory. —George Ferrier

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. —Martin Luther

1 Chronicles 29:1-30; Ezekiel 26:1-21; John 9:18-41

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

For days a battle raged on the slopes of Triangle Hill, Korea. When brave American troops retook their position of the previous day, they found their major dead. Moved by his death, a young soldier said, “He didn’t belong on this hill, he didn’t have to be here, but he was just the same.” In being thankful today for peace in our time, may we also ponder those words as we reflect upon another hill and the one who died, so that we could have “peace through the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:20). —Pete Smith

Remember Thee and all Thy pains, and all Thy love to me;
Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains, would I remember Thee. —James Montgomery

1 Chronicles 28:1-21; Ezekiel 24:1-25:17; John 9:1-17

And if thy hand offend thee, cut if off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. Mark 9:43

The story appeared in the Echoes magazine of a man who burned his hand while cooking his dinner. He felt the pain and into his mind came a vision of hell and of how much worse that would be than a burned hand! As a result he came to the Lord. What a glorious blessing and it reminds us that we cannot limit how God works. Jesus made it clear that hell is a reality but He came to deliver us from such a dreadful destiny. As we trust Him we can rejoice that Heaven is our eternal home. —Paul Young

When with the ransomed in glory, His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages, to sing of His love for me. —Charles H. Gabriel

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

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Jn. 17:16

In the 4th century, the “pillar-saints” thought a proper application of this verse was to live their lives atop a platform or column. Simeon Stylites was one of them. He lived for 37 years atop a sixty foot pillar, eating only what was given to him in a bucket raised by a rope. These men literally lived in the middle of the city but were raised above it, separate and distinct. Let us do the same but without the pillar. Let people realize there is something distinct about us, that we live lives that are raised above the value systems of this world. —Shane Johnson

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You. —Scruggs, Thompson

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

For I am the Lord, I change not. Malachi 3:6
But we all…beholding…the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image. 2 Corinthians 3:18

How marvellous that the God who cannot change can change everything! This transforming work of the Spirit is unparalleled. Beginning with salvation, we become a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). This change continues as we are daily being conformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18). The final transformation will take place in the twinkling of an eye, when we shall all be changed, eternally, to be like Him (1 Cor. 15:51-52). —E. V.

This is where my hope lies, this is where my souls sighs I will always find my rest in You;
You cannot change, yet You change everything. —Jordan, Leonard, Fox

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

Saul was very wroth…They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 1 Samuel 18:8

Pride, jealousy and vain glory are still human weaknesses. The fallen nature we inherited from Adam still clings to them. Am I able to rejoice when others are praised and seemingly valued above me? The solution? The words of the Lord. “What is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:22). Fellow believer let us keep our eyes on the Lord. —Sid Halsband

Go, labour on, ’tis not for naught;
Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee, not;
The Master praises—what are men? —Horatius Bonar

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

Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ…shall not lose his reward. Mark 9:41

It was time for my cactuses to bloom, but some had no buds and were very dry—desperate for irrigation. Within moments of being watered, they came alive! That cup of water transformed them into blooming plants. We too can bring refreshment to others. A kind word, a shared meal, a thoughtful deed may be what someone desperately needs today. Ask God where you can tilt your watering can. You’ll bless a weary soul and be blessed by God in return! —Deborah Manera

Give as ’twas given to you in your need; love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed; unto your mission be true. —Ira B. Wilson

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

Ye are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13

Many spiritual lessons are suggested by salt. Among them is that salt passes from sight in its use. Have you ever noticed that salt sprinkled on a hot vegetable disappears, leaving only droplets of moisture? It was John the Baptist who said of Christ, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Like the wick of a candle or lamp, our place is to spend and be spent, to deny and efface self, yea, to be used up in order that the Lord Jesus Christ might be exalted. —W. Ross Rainey

May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory. —Kate B. Wilkinson