Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: Judges 11:29-12:15; Isaiah 32:1-20; 1 Cor. 10:14-11:1

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 has rightly been called, “God’s Hall of Fame.” The people listed here had triumphant faith, even when circumstances dictated otherwise. Their faith was never a matter of good luck or coincidences. They trusted amidst all of life’s challenges. Sometimes we may say, “This was a circumstance beyond my control!” But, in the life of the believer there is never “happenstance.” Every circumstance is ordained by God if we daily walk by faith. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). —Jim Comte

Faith, mighty faith, the promise claims, and looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities and cries it shall be done. —Charles Wesley

DAILY READINGS: Judges 10:6:1-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Cor. 9:24-10:13

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7

Salvation is relational. It is more than a creed or organization. Knowing the Son of God as one’s Saviour and Lord brings eternal life. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Beginning in this world for those who receive Him, this incorruptible, glorious life continues eternally. He endured the cross, an accursed tree, so that we might feed on this blessed tree of life forever. —Keith Keyser

True tree of life! of Thee I eat and live;
Who eateth of Thy fruit shall never die;
’Tis Thine the everlasting health to give,
The youth and bloom of immortality. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY READINGS: Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

Greater love hath no man. John 15:13

What love is this? Outside Jerusalem around 2,000 years ago the Lord laid down His life, not only for friends but also for those who were His enemies. The love displayed by the Lord on that occasion cannot be measured or calculated. We simply praise and thank Him today for that love displayed to each and every one of us. —John M.Clegg

The love that Jesus had for me,
To suffer on the cruel tree,
That I a ransomed soul might be,
Is more than tongue can tell. —Jane E. Hall

DAILY READINGS: Judges 8:1-35; Isaiah 29:1-24; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

He calleth them all by their names. Psalm 147:4
Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20
Whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:3

Do you have difficulty remembering names? In 1 Chronicles chapters 1-9 we find hundreds of names. We would struggle to remember only a few but they were important to God and He remembered them. Imagine for a moment the staggering number of names found in the Book of Life. And our name is among them! Some day our name will be called. What a moment! However, that is only if your name is written in the book. Our blessed Saviour came and died so that your name could be there. Is it? —Vernon Markle

“Call them in” the weak, the weary, laden with the doom of sin:
Peace and pardon freely offered; He is waiting, “Call them in”.—L. Haslup

DAILY READINGS: Judges 7:1-25; Isaiah 28:1-29; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices (plans), and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. Jeremiah 18:12

This is an apt description of our current world. Hopelessness reigns. So eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. If it feels good—do it! What a difference the entrance of the gospel makes in these desperate
times. When we trust the Saviour for salvation we have a living hope, an anchor for the soul, a helmet of salvation, the hope of eternal life. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord” (Jer. 17:7). —W. H. G.

Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what assurance in my soul!
On the storm sea, He speaks peace to me, how the billows cease to roll! —Manie Ferguson

DAILY READINGS: Judges 6:1-40; Isaiah 27:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Growing in the Christian life should be balanced between living and learning—our heart and our head. We see this in our Lord’s example—“all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1), and hear the same in His exhortation, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17). So, we are called to grow in grace for living and knowledge for learning. Keep the balance and He will get the glory both now and forever. —Rex Trogdon

Give of your best to the Master; give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part. —Howard B. Grose

DAILY READINGS: Judges 5:1-31; Isaiah 26:1-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Daniel purposed in his heart. Daniel 1:8

Daniel had witnessed the destruction of all he held dear; been abducted from his homeland; forced to march, possibly in chains, to a foreign land; there to be subjected to indoctrination and forced into a life of exile. Yet Daniel purposed in his heart. He did not conclude that God had forgotten him, or that God was not strong enough to resist the Babylonians, or that God had not kept His promises. Instead Daniel purposed to walk by faith regardless of circumstances. He chose to see his suffering and limitations as God’s invitation to enter into a more intimate relationship with Him. And what intense encounters
with the living God he enjoyed as a result. —M. MacMullen

Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose firm, and dare to make it known. —Philip P. Bliss

DAILY READINGS: Judges 4:1-23; Isaiah 25:1-12; 1 Corinthians 4:21

Then Samuel took a stone…and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 1 Samuel 7:12

The founder of the China Inland Mission, J. Hudson Taylor, had a plaque displayed in each of his residences that read “Ebenezer- Jehovah Jireh.” These Hebrew words state, “The Lord has helped us to this point, and He will see to it from now on.” Take courage troubled Christian. God is faithful to His Word. —W. Ross Rainey

Hitherto the Lord hath helped us,
Guiding all the way;
Henceforth let us trust Him fully,
Trust Him all the day. —Frances Ridley Havergal

DAILY READINGS: Judges 3:5-31; Isaiah 24; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:3

The Law of Moses was written on tables of stone, and compliance was demanded. The New Covenant does not rest upon external compliance to the Law. God’s Law has been written on the believer’s hearts and minds, and as we allow the Spirit of God to work within, we will fulfill the Law. The apple tree does not produce fruit by legislation, but as the expression of its inner nature to do so. So also we who have the Spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit. —W. H. Burnett

As a living grafted shoot, nourished by a hidden root,
We may bear all holy fruit, through the love of Christ. —William Reid

DAILY READINGS: Judges 2:6-3:4; Isaiah 22:15-23:18; 1 Cor. 2:1-16

Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 30:21

Who dares to draw near to God, who dwells in the unapproachable light of divine glory, holiness and righteousness? Sinful, mortal men and women have no natural way to enter. But the Lord Jesus has made a way. He is the way, and we are “made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). Thus Hebrews 10:22 exhorts the believer, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” God wants us near Him always! —Carl Knott

Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last. Till safe in glory my anchor is cast; 
Through endless ages ever to be, nearer, my Saviour, still nearer to Thee. —Lelia N. Morris