Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 11:27 to 12:20; Job 15; Matt. 7:7-29

 

Therefore my beloved brethren be…always abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

This is the grand reality for believers. Works are an outpouring of our salvation and our love for the Lord. More specifically we are to carry on the work our Saviour started. Age may affect the kind of work we do, but not the fact that we all have a responsibility to abound in the “work of the Lord”. So dear saint of God who even today is thinking that it’s time to quit, maybe it’s just time to make a change. The energy of youth becomes the wisdom of the aged and both are essential in the work of the Lord. —Charlie Tempest

Take my love my God I pour,
At thy feet its treasure store.
—Frances Ridley Havergal

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 10 to 11:26; Job 13-14; Matt. 6:19 to 7:6

 

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. 2 Kings 8:5

“What a coincidence” it is often said! Not for a Christian! Our lives are in His hands and He has promised to work all things together for our good (Rom. 8:28). If we let Him, His program for our lives will be fulfilled—even if it involves turning the heart of kings. —Brian Russell

Deep in unfathomable mines,
Of never-failing skills;
He treasures up His bright designs; 
And works His sovereign will.
—William Cowper

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 8:20 to 9:29; Job 11-12; Matt. 6:1-18

 

Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. John 20:20

History’s most exciting day began when Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb of Jesus. To her astonishment, Caesar’s seal was broken and the huge, flat, circular stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty! At the close of the day, the disciples had securely shut the doors to the upper room. Then it happened! The risen Lord mysteriously appeared saying, “Peace be unto you” (John 20:21). That’s what they needed. Peace—spiritual, emotional and physical! If they were excited at the empty tomb, how much more will we be at the sight of His nail scarred hands. With joy we await the moment when we, too, shall see Him. —Arnot P. McIntee

O happy day of cloudless light! Eternal day without a night;
Lord, then shall we its dawning see, and spend it all in praising Thee. 
—J. G. Deck

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 7:11 to 8:19; Job 9-10; Matt. 5:21-48

 

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three. John 21:11

How interesting that the Scriptures state the exact number of fish that were in the disciples’ net. The passage says there were so many that the disciples struggled to handle the net. Surely that would have been description enough. But could it be that the Lord wanted the disciples to not simply think about the collective catch of fish, but to count each one individually because each one was important? Just like individual believers are important to Him. —Brian Powlesland

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know; 
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so! 
Oh this full and perfect peace! Oh this transport all divine! 
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
—G. W. Robinson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20

 

Lord, I will follow thee; but first… Luke 9:61

Jesus encountered a certain man who proclaimed he would follow Him wherever He went. But first he had other things to do. If we want to be a follower of the Lord we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Who is first in our lives? —Bob Cretney

Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!
—Robert Lowry

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 4-5; Job 6-7; Matt. 4

 

Consider how great things he hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

The purpose of the Lord’s Supper is not to remember our sin, but to remember Him! Samuel exhorted the people to fear the Lord and to serve Him in truth, remembering His marvelous works. We have so much more to remember and consider, for we look back to Calvary and the empty tomb. Of all the marvelous things that God has done for us, the greatest is the sacrifice of His Son. He bore our sins. He finished redemption’s work. We are washed, sanctified, justified, and now called “the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). As we gather to consider His great works, may our hearts overflow with gratitude and praise. —Carl Knott

Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. 
—R. Robinson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 3; Job 4-5; Matt. 3

 

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8

Paul’s love for the believers was anything but casual. His life was bound up with their spiritual well-being. This is a day of shallowness, rather than deep fellowship between saints. Christ’s love impels us to deeper relationships with one another, where we challenge, exhort, encourage, and comfort each other. Do we invest in each other’s lives? When was the last time you phoned or e-mailed someone from your home assembly? A timely word can make all the difference in enabling a saint to continue on for the Lord amidst life’s trials. Older ones must mentor younger ones in God’s things, if the church is to grow in spiritual strength. “Together in one accord” is the goal. —K. R. Keyser

Love the saints! Spend yourself that others may grow,
Daily fellowship with His flock; the seeds of unity will sow.
—K. R. K.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2

 

God…maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Have you ever felt your heart bursting with joy, love, praise and thanksgiving? This was one of those times in Paul’s life. He was certain that God was leading him, even though his circumstances were not comfortable. He couldn’t explain the detours of life; but he was certain God was in control. His constant desire was that the fragrance of Christ might be experienced by all with whom he came into contact. May this be true of you and me. —Jim Comte

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine,
Content, whatever lot I see, since ‘tis Thy hand that leadeth me. 
—Gilmore

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1 to 2:3; Job 1:1 to 2:10; Matt. 1

 

When ye see the ark…then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it…that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way before. Joshua 3:3-4

Unknown territory always brings a mixture of emotions. Excitement but fearfulness too. So it must have been for the Israelites. But as they faced this daunting venture, they were told to keep their eyes on the ark and when it moved, to follow. We too, are entering unfamiliar territory as we start a New Year. It is exciting but intimidating. By keeping our eyes on the Lord and following His Word, we can navigate the unknown circumstances that lie ahead. God promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go” (Ps. 32:8). —E. V.

Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, and take the cross appointed
And, firmly clinging to His Word, in suffering be undaunted. 
—J. Scheffler

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 10:11 to 11:3; Proverbs 8; Jude

 

That he would grant you…to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16

Paul warns Timothy that in the last days perilous times will come.  The Greek word for perilous is chalepo, meaning stress, pressure, fierce, dangerous, difficult. These last days are filled with “strength-sapping pressure.” Let us pray for one another that our strength will be renewed this day so that ours will not be a fragile joy, but a durable trust, a persevering confidence in the face of the worst of adversities. —Marilyn MacMullen

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
—H. Spafford