Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 6; Ezekiel 8-9; John 2:1-22

 

Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn.  Genesis 27:19
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. Genesis 32:27

God is looking for honesty from his people. That’s why He could bless Jacob at this point in his life. He was finally honest about who he was. There is no way we can enjoy God’s presence and power when we are trying to live double lives, trying to pretend we’re someone we’re not. —N. C. Funston

All my tomorrows, all my past—
Jesus is Lord of all.
I’ve quit my struggles, contentment at last! 
Jesus is Lord of all.
—Bill and Gloria Gaither

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 4:24 to 5:26; Ezekiel 7; John 1:19-51

 

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged (atonement is provided).  Proverbs 16:6
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed… Lamentations 3:22

The cry of society is for justice. Yet in the spiritual realm we dare not stand before a just God and demand justice for ourselves (thankfully it was served at Calvary), but rather we plead for mercy. On more than one occasion David’s plea was: “Be merciful to me, O, God!” We do well to echo that same cry, for mercy brings the cleansing of sin and acceptance in Him. Because justice has been served His mercy is renewed to us every morning. —William Gustafson

Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.
—W. R. Newell

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 3 to 4:23; Ezekiel 5-6; John 1:1-18

 

He brought me forth also into a large place.  Psalm 18:19
My foot standeth in an even place. Psalm 26:12
Thou art my hiding place. Psalm 32:7
Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Psalm 66:12
I answered thee in the secret place. Psalm 81:7
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place. Psalm 90:1 
…the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. Luke 23:33

Calvary is a place to gaze upon the Lord of glory. Through Calvary’s work we’ve been brought to a blessed place. Let us gather today to the place He has put His Name and worship Him. —Tom Steere

My faith has found a resting place, not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead.
—E. Hewitt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 2; Ezekiel 3:16 to 4:17; 2 Timothy 4

 

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.  Romans 8:3

There was a pool in Jerusalem named Bethesda where a great multitude of impotent folk waited for an angel to move the water and heal them. There was a man who sat by that pool who could never be healed, because he was lame and someone else was always first to the water. The Law of Moses is like that pool; the invalid man is like our flesh. The law is good and holy and right, but because of the weakness of our flesh, it cannot help. But praise God, Christ did for sinners what the Law could not do! —Shane Johnson

Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
—Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 1; Ezekiel 2 to 3:15; 2 Timothy 3

 

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.  Acts 4:29
And nothing terrified by your adversaries… Philippians 1:28

Persecution and suffering for Christ has always been present since the church began. At times, it has been on a large scale, at other times on a personal level. As the return of the Lord draws near, persecution is sure to increase as the enemy attempts to thwart the spread of the gospel, knowing his time is short (Rev. 12:2). The early church did not pray to have persecution removed, but rather met it head on by speaking the Word with holy boldness. Undaunted, we should do the same as we see the day approaching. —Mark Kolchin

Rise up, O men of God! The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task; rise up and make her great!
—Merrill

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 25; Ezekiel 1; 2 Timothy 2

 

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod…and his brother Philip…and Lysanias…Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John.  Luke 3:1-2
John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. John 10:41

God bypassed seven of the most influential men of the day from the political and religious worlds and sent His word to lowly John—a man marked by obscurity and humility. He was faithful in proclaiming it. John simply told the truth about Christ. This is all we need to do to please our Lord—are we? —Pete Smith

Christians, go and tell of Jesus, how He died to save our souls;
How that He from sin might free us, suffered agonies untold.
—Hammond

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 24; Lamentations 4-5; 2 Timothy 1

 

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.  John 2:3

What a fitting illustration of the failure of all this world’s joys. The wine ran out at a wedding feast. It is no different with the earth’s joys today. Its joys come in measured cupfuls, not in measureless fountains; and the supply soon runs out. When earthly joy fails, the Lord Jesus gives new joy! What a tragedy for those who have not received Christ into their lives, and who have nothing left but an empty cup —when earth’s wine runs out! —Sid Halsband

I tried the broken cisterns Lord, but, ah, the waters failed;
Even as I stooped to drink they fled, and mocked me as I wailed.
—Francis Bevan

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 23; Lamentations 3; 1 Timothy 6

 

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.  Proverbs 10:7

The names of Powerscourt, Livingstone, and Müller still conjure up positive images of Spirit-led altruism. In contrast, names like Haman, Hitler, and Bin Laden evoke feelings of revulsion in right thinking people. God promised to make Abraham’s name great, but the Babel builders who wanted their names remembered are shrouded in appropriate anonymity. It is better to be honoured before God in a coming day, than to have transient fame now. —K. R. Keyser

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way,
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe;
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
—Jon Mohr

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 21:19 to 22:20; Lamentations 2; 1 Timothy 5

 

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.  Isaiah 42:4

In His first advent, despite the open and hostile opposition of sinners, our Lord Jesus remained undeterred all the way to Calvary, not once becoming discouraged. Enduring the cross, patiently suffering for sin, He completed His mission and returned to His Father. Today we have complete confidence that when He returns to earth with us, He will not fail in judging the earth, putting down all enemies and setting up His visible kingdom. Then our Lord Jesus will be worshipped and exalted over the whole earth. What a day that will be. —George Ferrier

Jesus gave this gracious promise, ere from earth He went away,
That in glory He would come again, some bright and blessèd day!
— Lyman F. Jackson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 20 to 21:18; Lamentations 1; 1 Timothy 4

 

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.  Psalm 99:9

We cannot add anything to the Most High God, but we can speak of His exaltation, as our verse exhorts. Worshipping Him is the highest form of ministry. As we draw near to Him today, we enter the holy place by the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ and worship Him because He is holy. May our heavenly Father take pleasure in what we bring. —Harold G. Smith

O worship the King, all glorious above, 
And gratefully sing His wonderful love; 
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of days, 
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
—J. M. Hayden