Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 25; Ezekiel 42; John 18:28 to 19:16

And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron…  Joshua 17:16

The children of Joseph complained that their allotment of Canaan’s land was “not enough” (17:16). Yet God had provisioned them with exactly what they needed in accordance with their capacity to seize it in faith. They were to stop complaining and get to work! Then they could use those resources to attain more land. In many situations God has provided all that we need to be conquerors, but either fear or complacency rob us of the blessing. Appropriate what He has given and new resources will come when they are needed. —W. A. H.

Ever forward, up and onward! Men, lift up your hearts and pray,
Trust in God and press the battle, victory will be ours today.
—E. Hoffman

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 23-24; Ezekiel 41; John 18:1-27

…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  Acts 2:47

The church is called Christ’s body (Col. 1:18). The intimacy expressed in that image is hard to fathom. We are intimately linked with Him. The foundation for the church was laid at Calvary. There our Lord settled the sin question and opened up the door to life in His body. The worship of the church begins at Calvary as well. There the  Spirit of God has opened up our eyes and given us vision to see Calvary as the divine fulcrum, upon which rests the work of God from eternity past unto the endless reaches of the eternity that lies ahead. Have you been “added” to the church? —Vernon Markle

The Church’s one foundation, is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation; by water and the Word.
—Samuel Stone

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 21-22; Ezekiel 40; John 17

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  1 Thessalonians 5:15

How quickly we want to get back at someone and return evil for evil! Slights, insults, open rejection—hurtful words and actions that sometimes come our way. Our immediate response is to retaliate, to show that we will not stand for it and to silence the source. But that strategy, appealing to the flesh and encouraged by the world often deepens the problem. If that is your situation today, commit the matter to the Lord who experienced the same (1 Pet. 2:23) and watch how He will work with you and for you. —Mark Kolchin

Jesus, meek and gentle, Son of God most High,
Gracious, loving Saviour, hear Thy children’s cry.
—G. Prynne

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 20; Ezekiel 39; John 16:16-33

Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?  Zechariah 3:2

At age five, John Wesley was rescued from the second story window of a burning house. Years later he declared himself a “brand plucked out of the fire”. Every believer may describe himself in the same way. We should have burned eternally in the lake of fire, yet God’s grace delivered us. On the cross the Saviour endured the wrath in our place. All around us, there are people without Christ who are in danger of eternal punishment. Let us proclaim the gospel at every opportunity. Give out tracts and prayerfully speak to your friends and neighbours. The Lord specializes in rescuing sinners (Gal. 1:4). —K. R. Keyser

My God, I feel the mournful scene! My bowels yearn o’er dying men!
And fain my pity would reclaim and snatch the firebrands from the flame.
—Philip Doddridge

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 18-19; Ezekiel 38; John 15:17 to 16:15

And sitting down they watched him there.  Matthew 27:36

The soldiers had finished their work not knowing they had fulfilled prophecies made a thousand years before Christ’s birth. The acts of parting His garments by lots (Ps. 22:18); not breaking any of His bones (Ps. 34:20) and piercing His hands, His feet and side (Zech. 12:10) were all foretold centuries before this event. Jesus knew all this must be done when He said, “I thirst” (Ps. 22:15). The sacrifice of the holy Lamb of God was completed and He cried out “It is finished.” Let us remember Him and His death today. —E. MacLelland

‘Tis finished here our souls can rest,
His work can never fail;
By Him, our Sacrifice and Priest,
We enter through the veil.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 16-17; Ezekiel 37; John 15:1-16

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Romans 8:35
For the love of Christ constraineth us… 2 Corinthians 5:14
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19

The love of Christ secures us in a world of tribulation. What shall separate us? Nothing! The love of Christ compels us not to live for our flesh, “…that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15). Finally the love of Christ fills us with all the fullness of God, and therefore, there is no place for the devil (Eph. 4:27). The world, the flesh, the devil. Christ’s love is sufficient. —Tom Steere

The love of Christ constraineth; then let us work and pray,
And watch the glad appearing, of that triumphal day.
—Cara B. Evans

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 14-15; Ezekiel 36:16-38; John 14:15-31

…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  Philippians 4:11-12

Often these verses are quoted whenever someone speaks about the importance of contentment in the Christian life. In them Paul says that he has learned to be content. But what was Paul’s secret? How did he learn? He states in the next verse: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If we want true contentment, we can only attain it by looking to Christ for strength. —J. Lee

In Thee alone, O Christ, my Lord, my hope on earth remaineth;
I know Thou wilt Thine aid afford, naught else my soul sustaineth.
—Johannes Schneesing

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chron. 12-13; Ezekiel 35-36:15; John 13:31-14:14

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.  Psalm 83:1
Be still, and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10

As the state of the world becomes more hostile toward the people of God, we long for the Lord to make Himself known in all His power and authority. He tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” One day Psalm 83:18 will come to pass; “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.” —Sam Thorpe

This gives us ever to rejoice,
Turning to light our darkest days;
And lifts on high each feeble voice,
While we have breath to pray and praise.
—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 10-11; Ezekiel 34; John 13:1-30

 

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  John 21:21

By God’s grace we have heard His voice say, “Follow me”. This should be our all-consuming interest but we can be guilty of looking at others and assessing what they are doing or not doing. This may be with an admiring spirit although, shamefully, more likely it is with a critical spirit. We’re privileged to be servants for the best of Masters and should remember the advice of His mother, Mary, at Cana, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). Let’s take the words of Saul of Tarsus afresh on our lips and ask, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). —Dan Coulson

With a child’s glad heart of love, at Thy bidding may I move,
Prompt to serve and follow Thee, loving Him who first loved me.
—Leeson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Chronicles 8-9; Ezekiel 33; John 12:20-50

 

[Dost thou] take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.  Judges 14:3
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. Judges 16:4

In both cases Samson chose to be unequally yoked to an unbeliever. Both of these women betrayed him to the Philistines! When seeking to know who God has chosen to be your life partner do not be deceived by good looks or other superficial characteristics nor by your emotions. Obey the Scriptures and go slowly and prayerfully and God will delight to lead you to the one of His choice. —David Croudace

I dare not choose my lot; I would not if I might;
Choose Thou for me, O Lord my God; so shall I walk aright.
—H. Bonar