Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 3; Micah 6; Romans 11:13-36

…he that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

In hushed and reverent tones, the tour guide explained the beauty and detail of the great cathedral. Suddenly a hand was laid on his shoulder and an impatient lady said, “Young man, tell me—has anybody been saved here lately?” The question hung there, unanswered. Ornate cathedrals don’t last for eternity, but saved souls do. May the Lord give us a passion today, not for the beautiful and temporal, but for the never dying souls of men. —Arnot P. McIntee

If He should come today,
And find I had not told;
One soul about my heavenly Friend,
Who’s blessing all my way attend;
What would He say? —Grace E. Troy

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 2; Micah 4:9 to 5:15; Romans 11:1-12

He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:13-14

We’re told here of an entire army dressed in clean, white linen. But its Leader’s vesture is blood covered. That blood was shed 2,000 years ago, and is evidence of what He accomplished then so the rest of us could be with Him forever. His vesture also displays a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS”. Praise Him today for who He is and what He has done for you. —Ken Gross

The Lord is risen; and death’s dark judgment flood,
Is passed, in Him who bought us with His blood.
—William P. Mackay

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 1; Micah 3 to 4:8; Romans 9:30 to 10:21

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. – Psalm 46:11

David Livingstone often suffered terrible ailments and life-threatening situations while spreading the gospel among African tribal people. Livingstone’s Bible was recovered at the time of his death. It was noticed that he had passed his finger over Psalm 46:6 and 11 so often that the ink was nearly rubbed off. Comforting words for a man who was far from home and venturing through jungles infested with mosquitoes, dangerous beasts and cannibals. The Lord’s abiding presence is a great encouragement to keep venturing with confidence into the unknown for the cause of Christ! —W. A. H.

When the storms of life are raging, tempests wild on sea and land,
I will seek a place of refuge, in the shadow of God’s hand. —M. Servoss

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 30-31; Micah 1-2; Romans 9:1-29

Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:21-22

Many things can distract us and cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus. In Peter’s case it was a storm (Matt. 14:3) and on another occasion it was the splendour of the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5). In today’s reading, he was occupied with what John would be doing. Jesus lovingly admonishes Peter to “Mind his own business” and to refocus on following Him. May we also seek the Lord’s help to refocus from the many distractions in our lives and to refocus again onto our Lord and Saviour. —E. V.

O fix our earnest gaze, so wholly Lord on Thee,
That with Thy beauty occupied, we elsewhere none may see. —C. Bernstein

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 28-29; Isaiah 66; Romans 8:18-39

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

Are you struggling today? Overwhelmed by circumstances? Do you feel as if no one cares? Take heart child of God—your heavenly Father has not forgotten you! Note first His character. He can’t help but be good to you! Then mark His comfort. He is our place of refuge, a fortress able to withstand anything and everything. Finally remember His care. He knows both you and your present situation. He is well aware of what you need and is able to help you—right now! The secret is to trust Him. —Pete Smith

‘Til the storm passes over, ’til the thunder sounds no more;
Hold me fast, let me stand, in the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe ’til the storm passes by. —Mosie Lister

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 26-27; Isaiah 65; Romans 8:1-17

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:7

It seems that much of my work in recent years has been to take funerals. Most of them are for people who lived in our town and who I may not have known and certainly have no idea whether they were saved. At such times, we cannot give false hope, for ultimately the eternal destination of each one rests in the Lord’s hands. Yet so often when I meet families they show no concern for their own mortality or the judgement of God, even in the face of losing a loved one. Sadly the focus is upon the monetary and material instead of the spiritual and eternal which is found in Christ. —Paul Young

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation;
And take me home—what joy shall fill my heart! —Stuart K. Hine

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 25; Isaiah 63:15 to 64:12; Romans 7:7-25

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal…And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me…And he offered the burnt offering. 1 Samuel 13:8-9

As soon as Saul had wrongly offered the burnt offering, Samuel arrived within the prescribed seven day period. Saul was not willing to wait on God’s time. One of the hardest things to do sometimes is to wait on the Lord. Have events not happened as quickly as you wanted? Be patient. God’s timings are always perfect. —Brian Russell

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee;
In closer, dearer company.
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong. —W. Gladden

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Sam. 23-24; Isaiah 62 to 63:14; Romans 6:15 to 7:6

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

Abram was exhausted after his conflict with five kings. Following that great battle, Melchizedek appeared to him and refreshed him with bread and wine. After these events, the Lord came to Abram and told him not to be afraid for He was his shield and exceeding great reward. In the battles and struggles of life, we have One who is our shield, preserving and protecting us day by day. At the end of life’s journey, He will be our exceeding great reward! What a promise! —Jim Comte

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. —Esther Rusthoi

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 21-22; Isaiah 61; Romans 6:1-14

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice… Leviticus 1:3

The burnt offering was the best sacrifice a worshipper could offer. It was to be a bullock or a lamb without blemish and offered voluntarily. It was the one sacrifice which was wholly consumed of God; no one was to share it. It typified the Lord Jesus, who of His own free will (Heb. 10:7), offered Himself completely. Only God could fully appreciate this offering. With His one offering the Lord Jesus satisfied God and perfected that which was required for our redemption. There is now no need for anything else! Hallelujah! —K. C. Ung

No blood, no altar now,
The sacrifice is o’er!
No flame, no smoke ascends on high,
The lamb is slain no more. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 19:8 to 20:42; Isaiah 60; Romans 5:12-21

And they shall see his face…Even so, come, Lord Jesus. -Revelation 22:4, 20

The harried, young mother was waiting for her meal at a local restaurant. Her soldier husband had been deployed overseas for months and she didn’t know when he would return. Imagine her shock when her food was delivered not by her waiter, but by her husband! He had arranged the dinner to surprise her! The array of emotions on her face was incredible: amazement, joy, relief, peace. Beloved, what will it be like for us, in the middle of an ordinary day, to come face to face with the Lord Jesus? Maybe today! —Lynn Shatford

Face to face with Christ my Saviour, face to face what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?—C. Breck