Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 24; Psalm 68; Acts 13:26-52

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. John 3:14

When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he… John 8:28

…If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32

These three statements of the Lord all referred to His crucifixion. Through our Saviour’s death He has brought us life, just as when Moses lifted up the serpent on a pole. Secondly, His death proved that He was the Son of Man. Lastly, with arms open wide He draws all peoples to Himself. Have you come to Him for life? —Rex Trogdon

Lifted up was He to die, it is finished was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high: Hallelujah! What a Saviour! —Philip P. Bliss

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66-67; Acts 13:1-25

Keep yourselves in the love of God… Jude 21

This is not a command to love God but to live in the constant and conscious enjoyment of God’s love. When out walking on a sunny day we may find ourselves under the shade of a tree and we instantly lose the full warmth of the sun. The sun has not stopped shining but the boughs of the tree have come between us and the sun. Likewise God always loves us, but all too often we allow the shadow of sin to come between ourselves and the sunshine of His love. We need to examine our lives and get rid of all that weakens our appreciation of the Lord. —Paul Young

Nothing between, Lord, nothing between;
Shine with unclouded ray, chasing each mist away,
O’er my whole heart bear sway—nothing between. —Evan H. Hopkins

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

…God is mine helper… Psalm 54:4

David’s complaint (vv. 1-3) eventually became the basis for his praise (vv. 4-7). It is a pattern we see in a number of other psalms, when overwhelming problems eventually give way to a new perspective. A case in point would be the hills that give way to the God who made those hills (see Ps. 121:1-2). David is clear that God will deal with the problems in a far better way than he could. While everyone counts on someone else to help them, we can always count on God. He will turn our sorrows to joy. —N. C. Funston

I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my guide.
—John E. Bode

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 2 Kings 4:21

An unspeakable tragedy had taken place in the home of this Shunammite woman. Her only son had died. It is worthy of note how this godly woman responded to the crisis. She put her son on Elisha’s bed, closed the door, and ran to him. There are times when crises arise in our life, where there’s nothing we can do to reverse the situation. The example of the godly Shunammite is surely our best recourse—to close the door, and leave it with the Lord. —W. H. Burnett

The sorrows of the daily life,
The shadows o’er my path which fall,
Too oft obscure the glory’s light,
Until I rise above them all. —Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:1-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

The first part of this verse is a lovely pearl! It is a well known fact that to have an optimistic attitude and a happy spirit is to promote good health. A solid, hearty laugh releases good endorphins into the system and relaxes tightened muscles. We all know what a broken spirit does to the stomach and mind—it gives no rest or peace! But to trust the Lord is to have His peace in spite of the circumstances around us. —G. Frear

‘Tis better by far to be happy and glad,
Than to be deep in misery, self pity and sad,
Our Father in heaven sees all that we do,
In pleasing Him here, we please others too. —G. F.

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19:10-25; Psalm 59; Acts 10:34-48

…my word…shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

It is the Holy Spirit who brings men under conviction of sin and brings them to Christ. To do this He uses His sword—the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). But God has given to us the responsibility of getting that Word out, so that the Spirit can do His work. It will take time and energy and we may need to give up some of our own pursuits to do this but if we do our part God will do His and bring it to fruition. It was a discarded tract, picked up from a gutter in Malawi, that God used to start a new work for Himself there. —David Croudace

When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. —Knowles Shaw

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19:1-9; Psalm 58; Acts 10:24-33

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Psalm 22:1

We can never take in what the Lord Jesus endured at the cross. Our finite minds and our dulled senses can at best only dimly grasp the sheer depths of the gulf spanned when the Holy Saviour was made sin for us. What utter grace it was that took Him there! Let us then bow our hearts in fond remembrance, as we do what He has asked of us on this first day of the week. —Mark Fenn

Thy grace, O Lord, that measured once the deep
Of Calvary’s woe, to seek and save Thy sheep,
Has touched our hearts and made them long for Thee,
Thyself our treasure and our all to be.
—Charles Andrew Coates

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

While tempting the Lord to sin, the devil misquoted Psalm 91:11-12 (see Matt. 4:6). Satan added “at any time”, and left out “to keep thee in all thy ways”. Two observations: First, the devil is never more dangerous than when he misuses God’s Word—he does so to deceive. Second, the Lord quoted Scripture to deflect the enemy’s assault (Matt. 4:4-10). If we follow His example, we too will evade the lion’s attack and trample the serpent under our feet (Ps. 91:13). —W. A. H.

There is a safe and secret place,
Beneath the wings divine,
Reserved for all the heirs of grace;
O be that refuge mine! —Henry F. Lyte

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Psalm 119:32

Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast… 1 Chronicles 4:10

Physically speaking an enlarged heart is a serious condition—even life threatening. In dramatic contrast, however, a spiritually enlarged heart is something we should seek after. If God “broadens” our love for Him and His dear people, as well as the lost, then we can ask Him to “broaden” our sphere of influence for His honour and glory.
—Wm. H. Gustafson

Give me a sight, O Saviour, of Thy wondrous love to me,
Of the love that bro’t Thee down to earth, to die on Calvary.
—A. M. Kelly

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men. 2 Timothy 2:24

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7

What a touching picture Paul paints here of his behaviour towards the Thessalonians; that of gentleness, as a nursing mother taking care of her children. Paul also reminds Timothy, that “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men.” Often, our old nature reacts negatively towards others rather than with gentleness. May the Lord help us to display the “gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1). —E. V.

You have given me the shield of your salvation,
Your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
—Psalm 18:35 (ESV)