Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 21; Ezekiel 20:1-44; John 7:12-30

 

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine.  1 Timothy 4:6

When watching the change of autumn colours, I am reminded of the changes which occur in life as age progresses. We all move through the spring of infancy and childhood. The summer of life comes soon enough and seems to go so quickly. Then the fall. It is a challenge to grow older. But autumn is our time for harvest and fruit bearing. Winter’s beauty shines in a well-lived life. These latter seasons are a time when seeds are produced and sown for the next generation. May we pass on an exemplary faith to those who follow. —E. Dyck

I’ll live for Him who died for me, how happy then my life shall be!
I’ll live for Him who died for me, my Saviour and my God.
—R. Hudson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 19-20; Ezekiel 18-19; John 6:41 to 7:11

 

Neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.  Exodus 13:7

No matter how thoroughly we sweep the house, sunlight will reveal more dirt. God commands holiness in His people and thus we hate evil (Prov. 8:13) and purpose to stay far from it (1 Thess. 5:22). To that end we must search our hearts so that we can confess and forsake visible sin. Yet on our own we often fail. We need the searching light of Christ and His Word (Ps. 139:23-24) to reveal all sin, including wrong attitudes, hidden thoughts and sins of omission. Today let the Word of God expose our heart to us. —George Ferrier

More holiness give me, more strivings within.
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin. 
—Phillip P. Bliss

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 17-18; Ezekiel 17; John 6:22-40

 

The sting of death is sin.  1 Corinthians 15:56

God first created man to enjoy the fullness of His creation and to commune with Him. As a test of his obedience (a necessary condition of faith and love) God said he could eat of the fruit of every tree in the garden where God had placed him except one. To disobey would bring certain death (Gen. 2:16-17). Yet man chose to disobey and sin against God. Consequently death came. The Lord Jesus lived a life of obedience to God and gave His life to take away this sting of death. Now He offers life back to us and a restoration of our relationship with Him. Will you obey and take it? —K. C. Ung

Jesus for sinners undertakes, and died that we may live;
His blood a full atonement makes, and cries aloud, “Forgive”. 
—J. Newton

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 16; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21

 

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.  Galatians 5:6

This verse tells us that being religious or not being religious are both equally empty. What God is really looking for is a “faith which worketh by love”. Notice the motive by which faith works. It is by love. We love the Lord Jesus and want to please Him. It is the Spirit of God that sheds this love of God to us. It is our love for Him that rules in our lives, exercising us to obey Him in loving others and in loving the lost. —Harold G. Smith

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou are mine; 
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; 
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou; 
If ever I love Thee, my Jesus ’tis now.
—A. J. Gordon

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 15; Ezekiel 16:1-34; John 5:24-47

 

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.  Mark 9:24

We can identify with this distraught father! How often when trials  come, we swing from faith to fear. Be assured that even a little step of faith will “help our unbelief”, in that it draws us closer to Him who is fully aware of all our weaknesses. —George Hall

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim is higher ground.
—J. Oatman Jr.

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 13-14; Ezekiel 14-15; John 5:1-23

 

…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

What do we have to be selfish or proud about? Nothing. This world’s priorities are upside down, but ours should not be. Our Lord was pleased to humble Himself to the point of death, even the death of the Cross. He endured infinitely more suffering and reproach than we will ever have to undergo. May our hearts be subdued and humbled in grateful worship today! —Mark Fenn

We gaze upon Thy meekness,
The manger and the cross;
We cling to Thee in weakness,
Through suffering, pain, and loss. 
—J. N. Darby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 12; Ezekiel 13; John 4:31-54

 

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.  Psalm 145:18

The Lord Jesus informed the Samaritan woman: “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). The Holy Spirit guides believers into a deeper understanding of truth concerning God’s goodness in Christ (John 16:13-14). Only through Spirit-led worship founded on divine truth, can the believer offer any acceptable sacrifice of praise to God. If it is not true—it cannot be worship. —W. A. H.

Sigh in us, O Holy Spirit when we know not what to say.
Then our prayer is not in vain and our faith new strength shall gain.
—Charles Gounod

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 10-11; Ezekiel 12; John 4:1-30

 

See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Time is a precious commodity. Surely the goal of every believer is to do God’s will in God’s way and in God’s time. If that is so, then in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s promptings we will have the time needed to carry it out. No more and no less! The problems arise when all of our time is consumed with things that are not truly valuable. Of course we need to take time to live and function, but too often today, God’s people are exhausted and have little time left for the Lord. —Drew Craig

Speak now as in the old time, Thou dids’t reveal thy will; 
Let me know all my duty, let me Thy law fulfil,
Lead me to glorify Thee; help me to show Thy praise,
Gladly to do Thy bidding, honour Thee all my days.
—L. L. Pickett

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 8-9; Ezekiel 11; John 3:22-36

 

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, this is my infirmity…  Psalm 77:9-10

The familiar groans of one’s conscience can be almost too much to bear. Crushed by repeated failures, we often wonder if we’ve over-extended our demands on God’s grace and mercy. No such thing, the psalmist cries! That’s just our own weakness talking. Do you doubt your acceptance with God? Has His patience run out? Be assured that this is the flesh talking, goaded by Satan’s accusations. As for your Lord, His ears and heart are open. —Rick Morse

I am content, for I know He is near me,
Keeping me pure by His wonderful grace,
Whispering words full of comfort to cheer me,
Lighting my soul with a glimpse of His face.
—A. Ackley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 7; Ezekiel 10; John 2:23 to 3:21

 

…God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble…Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:5-6

Most of us know better than to do battle with someone much bigger than ourselves. Yet sometimes we can find ourselves working against God. This unfortunate situation occurs when we struggle with pride. In corrective discipline God will resist us and humble us. However, if we humble ourselves under His mighty hand, He will give us grace and exalt us in due time. —Ken Gross

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 
Thou art the potter, I am the clay. 
Mold me and make me after thy will, 
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
—George C. Stebbins