Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 11-12; Isaiah 8:5 to 9:7; Luke 24:13-35

 

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.  Galatians 3:13

When Adam sinned, he brought a curse into the world, under which humanity lives even today. The Law when it was introduced accentuated that curse by reminding us of God’s inflexible standards of righteousness and made man more conscious than ever of his plight. But God has removed that curse. At Calvary we see the sinless Sufferer wearing the symbol of the curse upon His blessed brow—the crown of thorns—reminding us that He took our place and became accursed for us, to redeem us from the curse of the law. —W. H. Burnett

Whatever curse was mine He bore; the wormwood and the gall,
There in that lone, mysterious hour, my cup—He drained it all.
—Author Unknown

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 10; Isaiah 7 to 8:4; Luke 23:47 to 24:12

 

This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.  Luke 22:19

Remembrance is a solemn act. It is a time to consider the greatness of the divine sacrifice. It requires an examination of the heart—taking the “pulse” of our spiritual health. Repentance, thanksgiving, worship and praise flow from a heart that regularly meditates on Him. Our Lord didn’t tell us to celebrate his birth—but to remember his death—for it’s only through His death that we have forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God. Think on Him today! —Deborah Manera

Upon a life I did not live,
Upon a death I did not die; 
Anothers life, anothers death, 
I stake my whole eternity.
—Horatius Bonar

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 9; Isaiah 6; Luke 23:13-46

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

How many times have we cried out to God and questioned Him as to what He is doing in our lives? We can feel frustrated, even angry. Our hearts ache and call out. Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Who of us can plumb the “depths of His wisdom and knowledge”? His judgments (the decisions He makes) are untraceable and His ways (the paths He chooses) are beyond our comprehension. Rest in His sovereign faithfulness. —Jim Comte

Trust in Him, ye saints forever; He is faithful, changing never;
Neither force nor guile can sever, those He loves from Him.
—Thomas Kelly

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 8; Isaiah 5; Luke 22:54 to 23:12

 

Be not righeous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?  Ecclesiastes 7:16

There is a strong tendency among Christians to allow human reasoning to replace Scriptural principles, thus making ourselves “wiser than God”. Paul said, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor. 2:4). The real challenge is that our reliance on human wisdom is difficult to detect and we often don’t even realize we are doing it. But clear divine instructions set aside in favour of the reasoning of men will always leave us cold and disappointed. “Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Col. 1:10). —Vernon Markle

Come, O my soul, the call obey, take up the burden of thy Lord!
His practice is thy living way, thy guide His pure unerring Word.
—Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 7; Isaiah 3-4; Luke 22:31-53

 

And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.  Exodus 2:4

Amid state-sponsored infanticide, Moses’ parents committed their ark-borne son to the Nile—a river that was worshiped by the Egyptians and was also used to kill the Hebrew children. They did this knowing that God would preserve him. The Lord used the waters to carry Moses into the arms of the family of Israel’s persecutor. The boy was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. Only God can use nature and the machinations of evil men to bring about His purposes. Our security similarly depends on His ongoing providential care for us. —K. R. Keyser

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will.
—Cowper

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 5:13 to 6:27; Isaiah 2; Luke 22:1-30

 

The Lord is my Shepherd…  Psalm 23:1

It has been suggested that the most important word in Psalm 23 is “my”. You can know the Lord as a Shepherd, or even the Shepherd, but what really matters is to be able to say the Lord is my Shepherd. Is this Good (John 10:11), Great (Heb. 13:20), and Chief (1 Pet. 5:4) Shepherd your shepherd? —W. Ross Rainey

The King of love my Shepherd is, 
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack since I am His, 
And He is mine forever. 
—Henry W. Baker

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 4 to 5:12; Isaiah 1; Luke 21:5-38

 

Have I committed an offence?…  2 Corinthians 11:7

What are the marks of a good man? Paul makes a few suggestions in this passage (vv. 7-11). A good man should be transparent (vv. 7-9), and genuinely affectionate (vv. 10-11). Transparency is a difficult virtue, as it means one must be vulnerable and exposed to others. It means choosing to be humble, so others may be exalted (v. 7); and impoverished, so others may be enriched (vv. 7-9). When it comes to affection, Paul lived it out. It knew no bounds, geographically (v. 10), or personally (v. 11). Wherever he was, with whomever he was, he was boundless in his affection for the Corinthians. How much stronger would our homes and churches be, if men like this were leading! —N. C. Funston

All that is good, all that is right; all that is truth, justice and light;
All that is pure, holy indeed, all that is You is all that I need.
—T. Paris

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 3; Hosea 11:12 to 14:9; Luke 20:20 to 21:4

 

But beware of men…  Matthew 10:17

Like a gate sign warning of a dog, our Lord reminds us that the world will be unkind to His ambassadors. Men are reliably evil in the issues that flow from their hearts (Mark 7:21), and rebellion against God’s rule will be the epitaph of humanity. Paul said he became all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:22) but that was not his ultimate goal. It was the means to his goal—seeing some saved. If we lose sight of that, we will find out just how treacherous this world can be! —Rick Morse

If I must have some failing, 
let me rather speak the truth with too great severity,
than once to act the hypocrite and conceal the truth. 
—Martin Luther

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 2; Hosea 10 to 11:11; Luke 20:1-19

 

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment…  Genesis 18:19

What a high commendation God gives of Abraham and what an excellent example and challenge for Christian fathers today! God is looking for fathers who will raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). How can this be done in today’s evil society? It is accomplished by immersing one’s children in the teachings of God’s Word in every area of life. It is done by being a godly example before them. May we pray for and encourage godly fathers, thanking God for them. —E. V.

Come, follow Me, the Saviour spake, deny yourselves, the world forsake,
Oh, bear the cross, whate’er betide, take My example for your guide.
—Johann Scheffler

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 1; Hosea 8-9; Luke 19:29-48

 

Art thou greater than our father Abraham…whom makest thou thyself?  John 8:53

The Jews accused our Lord of making Himself what He already was. They said He made Himself a king (John 19:12). He was already the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). They said He made Himself the Son of God (John 19:7). He was already the Son of God (John 10:36). They said He made Himself God (John 10:33). He was already God (1 Tim. 3:16). They said He made Himself equal with God (John 5:18). He was always equal, because He was the Son of God. Our Lord was not a man that made Himself God, but God who made Himself a man. Great is the mystery of godliness. —Harold G. Smith

A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful Saviour to me,
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rocks, where rivers of pleasures I see.
—Fanny Crosby