Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20

…your fellowship in the gospel… Philippians 1:5
…the defence…of the gospel… Philippians 1:7
…the furtherance of the gospel. Philippians 1:12
Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27

Paul loved the gospel and encouraged others to love it too. Still today, how blessed are they who give and participate generously in the fellowship of spreading the gospel. How important for each one of us to live lives worthy of the gospel, going forward in unity to uphold it until He comes. —Jim Paul

Men die in darkness at your side, without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch; wave it wide, the torch that lights time’s thickest gloom. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 4-5; Job 6-7; Matt. 4

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. 12:2

Sir Patrick Moore was a famous British astronomer. In a tribute, a friend said of him, “He taught me to look up”. One can imagine the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, disconsolate and perplexed. They were going down and looking down! When they realized the identity of the stranger that joined them, how their outlook changed! Let us look off unto Jesus today—the author and finisher of our faith and let us look up in anticipation of Him coming soon. —Brian Powlesland

Looking off unto Jesus, I go not astray;
My eyes are on Him and He shows me the way;
The path may seem dark as He leads me along.
But following Jesus I cannot go wrong. —Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 3; Job 4-5; Matt. 3

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8

Satanically led princes of this world were not aware, that in crucifying a Galilean carpenter; they were pawns in the great plan of redemption. The execution for which they were responsible would lead to the resurrection and ascension of our Saviour. Little did the enemies of Christ realize their actions would satisfy the Father and entitle the Lord of glory to say, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).
—Arnot P. McIntee

The Lord is risen: now death’s dark judgement flood,
Is passed on Him who bought us with His blood.
The Lord is risen: we stand beyond the doom
Of all our sin, through Jesus’ empty tomb. —William Mackay

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

Much about heaven remains a mystery. Why then would anyone want to go there? The answer is that God is there! Why is that desirable? Because He banishes tears and effaces sorrow. He defeated sin and death through His Son’s sacrifice and resurrection (1 Cor. 15), and so is able to comfort and succour His people. —K. R. Keyser

And God has fixed the happy day, when the last tear shall dim our eyes;
When He will wipe these tears away, and fill our hearts with glad surprise;
To hear His voice, and see His face, and know the fulness of His grace.
—Joseph Swain

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1 to 2:3; Job 1:1 to 2:10; Matt. 1

This month shall be…the first month of the year to you. Exodus 12:2

“This month” was the seventh in the civil calendar. But on God’s spiritual calendar, the past six months were “erased”. A new religious calendar commenced as Israel prepared to leave Egypt to begin a new life. It was founded on the Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It points to the passing away of the old life and the commencement of all things new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). The challenge is to purge out the old leaven, forget the things that are past and press onward to live a triumphant life for the Lord. Blessed New Year to all. —K. C. Ung

Onward and upward tread the road; from day to day marked out by God.
Faint, yet pursuing, thou shalt see, that as thy day thy strength shall be.
—Thomas Holme

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 9-10; Malachi 3:7 to 4:6; Rev. 22:6-21

Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them…  John 6:7
…but what are they among so many? John 6:9
…he looked up to heaven. Mark 6:41

A new year beckons. Ahead, with absolute certainty, are joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, dark days and light. The tide of time and its accompanying circumstances are inevitable. But our perspective on all that lies ahead is not fixed. We can choose our point of focus. We can be like Philip and fixate on the immensity of our problems. We can be like Andrew and lament the paucity of our resources. Or we can look up to heaven. And be filled. —S. McEachern

We would see Jesus: it is all we are needing;
Strength, joy, and willingness come with the sight—
Brightness above noonday; songs in the night.
—Anna B. Warner

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 7-8; Malachi 2:10 to 3:6; Rev. 21:9 to 22:5

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  Psalm 23:2

As our great Shepherd, Jesus Christ brought us into an everlasting covenant based on His blood (Heb. 13:20). This covenant has brought us to green pastures. Here we not only find food fit for our souls, but a place of quiet rest and still waters. And when the sorrows of life intrude, our Shepherd feeds us and carries us in His arms close to His heart (Isa. 40:11). —G. W. T.

My shepherd, You supply my need; most holy is Your name;
In pastures fresh You make me feed, beside the living stream.
You bring my wand’ring spirit back, when I forsake Your ways;
You lead me, for Your mercy’s sake, in paths of truth and grace.
—Isaac Watts

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 5-6; Malachi 1 to 2:9; Rev. 20:7 to 21:8

…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  Esther 4:14

The name God does not appear in the book of Esther, but the providence of God is evident on every page. The nation of Israel was threatened with annihilation, but this can never happen with God on the throne. In the shadows, God had Mordecai, a man of faith, and Esther, a godly woman, available, “for such a time as this”. Both Esther and Mordecai had humble backgrounds, but they became instrumental in God’s plan of deliverance. Our background doesn’t matter to God. He is looking for committed believers He can transform into faithful servants. “Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8). —Milton Haack

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
—Fanny Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 3-4; Zech. 13:7 to 14:21; Rev. 19:11 to 20:6

And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country…to bear his cross.  Mark 15:21

Simon, a Cyrenian, had travelled from present-day Libya to Jerusalem and was watching an assumed criminal in a procession being led to Calvary, the place of execution. Custom dictated the guilty carry His own cross but in a small mercy a surprised Simon was commanded to walk beside Jesus, with the cross now on his back. Simon’s family is mentioned here. It appears he was known to the gospel’s author. It does not seem strange to think he became a believer. When I get to Glory, I want to thank Simon for bearing the cross of the One who was bearing the load of my sins. —Arnot P. McIntee

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!
—J. Hall

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 2; Zechariah 12 to 13:6; Revelation 19:1-10

…And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him…  Zechariah 12:10

What a moment of revelation for Israel, when they realize that the Messiah who has returned to save them is the self-same One whom they crucified. Surely the words of Isaiah will be upon their lips, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). We thank God that many of us have already looked upon the pierced Saviour, and have embraced Him as Saviour and Lord, and we look forward to sharing His Glory when He returns. —W. H. Burnett

Jesus bruised and put to shame, tells us all Jehovah’s name,
God is love we surely know, by the Saviour’s depth of woe.
—R. Chapman