Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 34; Hosea 6:4 to 7:16; Luke 19:1-28

 

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.  1 Samuel 12:23

Samuel, now an old man, was resolved to continue his life-long practice of praying for his people. To fail in this matter would have been a serious “sin of omission”! Do we need to be reminded that “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”? (Jam. 4:17) The Lord evaluates both what we do and what we do not do. —George Hall

Deeds of merit, as we thought them;
He will show us were but sin;
Little acts we had forgotten,
He will tell us were for Him.
—A. M. Monteath

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 33; Hosea 4 to 6:3; Luke 18:15-43

 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  2 Corinthians 11:3

If Satan cannot come in like a lion, he tries to enter like a serpent. His aim is deception and his goal is destruction. What do we do against such an adversary? James counsels us to: submit to God, resist the devil; and draw near to God (Jam. 4:6-8). Peter exhorts us to be sober and vigilant (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul warns, don’t be deceived by the deceiver (2 Cor. 11:3), who uses the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13). May the Lord keep us from his destructive deceit today. —Rex Trogdon

Sin will take you farther than you want to go;
Keep you longer than you want to stay,
Cost you more than you want to pay.
—Author Unknown

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 32:15-52; Hosea 2 to 3 ; Luke 17:20 to 18:14

 

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the books were opened…And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works.  Revelation 20:12-13

Foolish man casts judgment on God and His Son, but here is His final judgment on them. All previous judgments (His “strange work”, Isa. 28:21) were meted out to avert this final one. But continued disregard for divine mercy and grace will eventually yield these sad and horrible consequences. No one is exempt as both small and great stand before God to hear of the “things written in the books”. Dear reader, don’t ever think that you will escape this fate. Heed the sure word of Scripture and turn to Him today! —Mark Kolchin

Jesus invites you here, angels are lingering near, 
Prayers rise from hearts so dear, Oh wanderer, come!
—Philip P. Bliss

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 31:14 to 32:14; Hosea 1; Luke 17:1-19

 

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  John 15:7

Fruitfulness is a result of abiding in the Vine. As an abiding branch, be alert to what opportunities for fruit bearing our Father God, the husbandman, brings your way. Then ask! Ask for fruit. Ask that God’s will and work will be accomplished through you. You were chosen to “Go and bring forth fruit…that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). Therefore, abide and ask. —D. Pickup

Thus tho’ worn, and tried, and tempted, glorious calling, saint, is thine;
Let the Lord but find thee emptied, living branch in Christ the Vine!
Vessels of the world’s despising, vessels weak, and poor, and base;
Bearing wealth God’s heart is prizing, glory from Christ’s blessed face.
—Frances Bevan

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 30 to 31:13; Amos 9; Luke 16

 

…Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.  1 Samuel 4:3

Israel wanted to use the ark of the covenant as a sort of “lucky charm”, thinking that if it was present, then the battle would go well. Many Christians use the Scriptures in a similar way. They may carry a Bible or take a verse out of context and feel that it will give them some sort of protection or blessing. The Bible is God’s inspired Word and must be used correctly. Read it in its context; meditate on it; believe it; claim all the promises which apply to you; memorize it. And finally, let the Holy Spirit change your life by obeying it. —David Croudace

Thanks for Thy Word of precept and promise,
Lamp to our feet and light to our way.
—Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 29; Amos 7-8; Luke 15:11-32

 

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself…  Luke 23:35
And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned. Luke 23:48

At first they were mere spectators of another execution: watching on, indifferent, unaffected by the cruel torture. However over the next six hours they heard and witnessed things that touched them and possibly convicted them, like no other “sight” had ever done. What effect has the Christ of Calvary had on your soul? We would do well to linger long and often at the cross! —Pete Smith

Come, sinners behold what Jesus has done, behold how he suffered for thee:
They crucified Him, God’s innocent Son, forsaken, He died on the tree.
—Author Unknown

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 28:38-68; Amos 5-6; Luke 14:25 to 15:10

 

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory…  John 17:24

Our Lord told the Father that He desired for us to be with Him someday in Heaven. He even gave a reason—that we should behold His glory. He, of course, knew what would have to be done to make us fit for Heaven. We would have to be as righteous as He, our Saviour, is. He also knew that only He could do what was be necessary to bring about that transformation. He, who knew no sin, would have to be made sin for us. Oh, what love! —Ken Gross

They nailed my Lord upon the tree;
And left Him dying there;
Through love He suffered there for me; 
‘Twas love beyond compare.
—C. Austin Miles

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 28:1-37; Amos 3-4; Luke 14:1-24

 

The king of Egypt died…the children of Israel sighed…and they cried.  Exodus 2:23
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord. Exodus 15:1

There really is no song to sing until the burden of sin is removed. The unsaved world tries to make music but often it has a rather despondent tone. Not so the believer: “He hath put a new song in my mouth” (Ps. 40:3). We may not be the greatest singers, but we do have the privilege of lifting our voices in song to the One who plucked us from the miry clay and forgave our sin! —William Gustafson

I have a song I love to sing, since I have been redeemed,
Of my Redeemer, Saviour, King, since I have been redeemed. 
—E. O. Excell

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 26:16 to 27:26; Amos 1-2; Luke 13:22-35

 

And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place. 1 Kings 13:8

The man of God prophesied to Jeroboam against the pagan altar at Bethel. The enraged king removed his hand from the altar to command his arrest but God shriveled his hand and cast down the altar. Seeing he could not prevail against God’s man, Jeroboam asked him to petition the Lord to heal his hand. He did and Jeroboam’s hand was healed. The king then offered refreshments and a reward to the man of God, which he rejected. When the enemy cannot prevail by a direct assault beware of his luxuries and flattery. —W. A. H.

But lips that with deceit abound, shall not maintain their triumph long;
The God of vengeance will confound the flattering and blaspheming tongue.
—­Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 25 to 26:15; Jonah 3-4; Luke 13:1-21

 

In every thing give thanks…  1 Thessalonians 5:18
This know also, that in the last days…men shall be…unthankful. 2 Timothy 3:1-2

It is sometimes difficult to witness in daily life and show ourselves to be different from the world. A very simple, but evident action, is to give thanks for everything. Do you start every meal with thanks to God? Even in a crowded restaurant with your family? Do you thank God for daily strength, for clothing, homes, money and transport? Let us make sure that we give God the thanks He deserves for giving us the daily blessings we often take for granted! —Dan Coulson

All good gifts around us, are sent from heaven above:
Then thank the Lord, Oh, thank the Lord, for all His love!
—M. Claudius