Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 9; Jeremiah 17; Philippians 2:12-30

 

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity.  Proverbs 1:3

When the Scottish Parliament was established a decade or so ago, it commissioned the manufacture of a mace as a symbol of its powers. Inscribed into the mace are four words—“Wisdom, Justice, Compassion and Integrity”. These are intended to convey the aspirations of the Scottish Government as to its principles of governing. Whether the characteristics are evident all the time may be questioned by some but they were all constantly evident characteristics in the life of Christ and should be evident in the lives of all Christians. —Brian Powlesland

Oh to be saved from myself, dear Lord, Oh to be lost in Thee,
Oh that it might be no more I, but Christ, that lives in me.
—Ada Whiddington

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:31-66; Jer. 16; Philippians 1:21 to 2:11

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  John 5:24

Can you look back to a time when you passed from death into life?  My date was March 2, 1938 when I first heard and understood the gospel. I was a very rebellious young man and refused to obey my parents. But I knew I was a sinner. That afternoon a man of God sat down with me in our home and explained the gospel to me. With tears I opened my heart and received Christ as my Lord and Saviour. It was the beginning of a new life for me. Have you as a broken sinner, repentant and believing, received the Lord Jesus? —Donald L. Norbie

Will you take Jesus to be your guide? His love will brighten the way;
Safe in His keeping you may abide; will you take Jesus today?
—W. Rock

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15; Philippians 1:1-20

 

The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.  Ruth 2:12
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

In every age God says that there is a reward to those who seek to please Him. Wouldn’t the goodness of God in creation and in salvation be enough? Aren’t we blessed in just the living of a godly life? To be rewarded for seeking Him, for doing good in His name seems to be a goodness beyond expectation, blessings beyond reason. —D. Pickup

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open, we shall tread the streets of gold.
—Hewitt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 7; Jeremiah 14; Ephesians 6:10-24

 

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  Ephesians 5:30

Many years ago at the Keswick Convention in England, a Christian said to George Silwood, “Is it not blessed to be safe in the arms of Jesus?” “Yes,” said Mr. Silwood, “but I am safer than that.” When asked how this could be, Mr. Silwood happily replied, “Why, I am as safe as an arm of Jesus,” then quoted the words of our text. If you have genuinely believed on Christ, then you are not only eternally saved but eternally safe and secure. —W. Ross Rainey

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, 
I will not, I will not desert to his foes; 
That soul, tho’ all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
—Author Unknown

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 6; Jeremiah 13; Ephesians 5:22 to 6:9

 

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst…stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  Revelation 5:6

There stood a Lamb. Majestic sight! In all His glory! The Lion of the tribe of Judah fully possesses all the attributes of deity. The seven horns are symbolic of His omnipotence. The seven eyes are symbolic of His omniscience and omnipresence—the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And all of this glory proceeds from a slain Lamb! Does anything in all creation compare with the suffering and glory of the Lamb? —Shane Johnson

Behold the glories of the Lamb, amidst His Father’s throne.
Prepare new honours for His name, and songs before unknown.
—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 4-5; Jeremiah 12; Ephesians 5:1-21

 

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel.  Psalm 106:13
This do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19

Ancient Israel shows humanity’s capacity for spiritual forgetfulness. One would think that the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea were not easily forgotten, but they quickly “forgot his works”. Amidst increasing demands on our time, believers today may similarly forget the Lord’s works for them. Therefore, it is essential for the church to maintain the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper which offers the opportunity to remember His person and work from eternity to eternity. It gives incentive for communion with Him daily. —K. R. Keyser

Thou, Lord, didst seek that we should be,
With grateful hearts remembering Thee.
—G. W. Frazer

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 3; Jeremiah 11; Ephesians 4:17-32

 

And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?  Judges 13:12

After learning that God was giving him and his barren wife a son, Manoah asked the Lord how the child should be reared? The Lord affirmed the instructions He had previously given Manoah’s wife: “All that I commanded her let her observe” (Judg. 13:14). The Lord did not give Manoah a “How To” book on child rearing, but rather affirmed that parents were to have a God-honouring testimony in the home. Children will be more likely to follow the Lord when they see and hear God’s Word lived out before them. —W. A. H.

Happy the man who fears God, whose feet His holy ways have trod;
Thy wife shall, like a fruitful vine fill all thy house with clusters fine;
Thy children all be fresh and sound, like olive-plants thy table round.
—Martin Luther

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 2; Jeremiah 10; Ephesians 4:1-16

 

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly…  Joshua 2:1

The two spies did excellent service. They risked their lives to bring back a good report. However, despite the successful expedition and their honourable work, they are not named. How the flesh desires recognition—whether we admit it or not. The Lord loves the brother or sister who quietly gets on with their service for Him. Their heavenly reward will be great. Those of us who are named may well be regarded as having their reward on earth! —Brian Russell

So send I you to labour unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown;
So send I you to toil for me alone.
—N. Clarkson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 1; Jeremiah 9; Ephesians 3

 

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.  1 Peter 2:24

Trees feature prominently in the Scriptures. In Eden trees evidenced God’s goodness. They were pleasant to the sight and good for food. But in the midst of the garden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree became the symbol of man’s iniquity as he disobeyed God’s injunction not to eat of it. As a result sin passed upon all men. Humanity had to perpetually bear this curse of sin and a tree became its symbol: “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). To redeem man, our Saviour came and was obedient unto death, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree to save us. Jesus Christ took your place on the tree. Do you believe it? —K. C. Ung

Would Jesus have the sinner die? Why hangs He then on yonder tree?
What means that strange expiring cry? Sinners, He prays for you and me.
—Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 24; Jeremiah 8; Ephesians 2:11-22

 

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.  1 Samuel 12:24

The word “consider”, means “to reflect on” or “contemplate”. Scripture encourages us to consider many things and to learn from them. When you have some time consider: the lilies (Matt. 6:28); the ravens (Luke 12:24); the ant (Prov. 6:6); the heavens (Ps. 8:3); your ways (Hag. 1:5); one another (Heb. 10:24); the Lord Jesus (Heb. 12:3); the wondrous works of God (Job 37:14)! When was the last time you really stopped and considered what great things God has done for you? Try it! It will lift you up from the depths of despair to the heights of delight! —E. V.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 
—J. Oatman