Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 8; Zechariah 4; Revelation 13

A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.  Malachi 3:16

Through all of history, there has always been an emphasis upon gathering in the Lord’s name. Thus how we should prize our ability to gather today in the name of the Lord Jesus! This is not to exhibit any exclusive spirit, but rather with a view to acknowledging His supreme worthiness. May we ever put far from us that we have come to a place. We are gathering to a Person! Our Lord’s presence is what makes our gatherings so precious!  —Mark Fenn

O Lord, where’ver Thy people meet,
There they behold Thy mercy seat:
Where’ver they seek Thee, Thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.
—William Cowper

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 7; Zechariah 2-3; Revelation 12

And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?  Matthew 15:33

This statement, when examined in the context of Matthew’s gospel is incredible. It wasn’t long before this incident that the Lord had satisfied a greater company of people with even less provisions and yet the disciples wondered how the current problem could be resolved. Sadly, we are not better. We see the Lord work in our lives in a remarkable way one day and then lose faith in His ability the next. O me, O ye of little faith! —Brian Russell

Prove Him! He is God eternal, an unchanging Friend,
With a love that never knoweth bound or end.
—Author Unknown

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 6; Zechariah 1; Revelation 11

Jesus…said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.  Luke 10:41

Occasionally there are days when everything wants to go wrong. Vance Havner commented on such times as, “being vexed by the mosquitoes of petty care.” Small irritations spring up unawares to gnaw at us. If allowed to fester they create bigger issues. It is interesting that some are able to endure a big trial better than small annoyances. Havner also said, “It may take more grace at the breakfast table than at the Lord’s table on Sunday morning.” When a peevish spirit threatens, may we be quick to turn Godward. He provides grace for the moment. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3). —E. Dyck

Oh God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal home. —I. Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 5; Haggai 2; Revelation 10

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?  Isaiah 40:28

Weariness, be it of body, mind or spirit, is common to us all. When it has us in its grip, we do well to reflect upon the boundless resources which our heavenly Father puts at our disposal. The key to renewed strength is to “wait upon the Lord” (v. 31).  —George Hall

Faint not, Christian! Though the road,
Leading to thy blest abode,
Darksome be, and dangerous too,
Christ, thy Guide will bring thee through.
—J. H. Evans

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 4; Haggai 1; Revelation 9

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  Matthew 25:4

All ten virgins had lamps but the real test of their profession occurred when the Bridegroom came. The foolish were not prepared. They had no oil and it was too late to buy more. The marriage door was shut. There was no second chance! Are you ready for the heavenly Bridegroom’s coming? Are you truly saved? Is the Holy Spirit abiding within? “Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).  —E. MacLelland

May my lamp be ever burning, filled with holy oil divine,
Daily trimmed of all pollution, so that it will brightly shine.
—E. M.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 3; Daniel 12; Revelation 8

Wisdom is better than jewels…I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me…My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.  Proverbs 8:11, 17, 19 (ESV)

God’s treasures are better than jewels, better than pure gold and choice silver. Sadly there are many people today adorned with jewelry and not with wisdom. Wisdom is not in anything you can put around your neck or on your wrist or fingers. It only is found with the Lord. His Word is full of His wisdom, and God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, is Wisdom. In Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). Love the Lord and His Word, and let His wisdom adorn your life.  —Carl Knott

Oh, yes, my friend, there’s something more, something more than gold:
To know your sins are all forgiv’n, is something more than gold.
—James Martin Gray

 

DAILY?READINGS: Nehemiah 1-2; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7

If thou…the Lord shall.  Isaiah 58:9, 11

Not all of God’s promises are unconditional. We have responsibilities! A reading of these few verses will reveal that if we will lay aside our own selfishness and pride and serve God faithfully, He will bless us abundantly. As we crave the presence of God, casting away the yoke of earthly vanities, and invest our souls in the lives of others in need, the blessings of God will be abundantly bestowed. —Sam Thorpe

Moment by moment I’m kept in His love,
Moment by moment, I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
—Daniel W. Whittle

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 10; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.  Isaiah 26:8

What a lovely claim. Is it true of us? Is the desire of our soul to His name and to a remembrance of Him? If it is, then today is a singular day for us. With joy we will gather to His name and claim the promise of His presence (Matt. 18:20). Together we will remember Him and His death at Calvary. What a blessed privilege to gather and partake of the emblems. May the desire of our soul be to His name and remembrance. —Harold G. Smith

Thy broken body, gracious Lord.
Is shadowed in this broken bread:
The wine which in this cup is poured,
Points to the blood which Thou has shed. —S. Tregelles

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 9; Daniel 10; Revelation 5

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Ephesians 4:30
[We] ourselves…groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.   Romans 8:23

To purchase and then set free are the two ideas that define redemption. God’s beloved Son became flesh and entered Satan’s domain to deliver us from judgment and eternal death. He took the deserved punishment and has set us free from the law of sin and death. He paid the price with His precious blood, “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:19). We now, indwelt by His Spirit, await the completion of that purchase, the redemption of our bodies and our transformation into His likeness. —Drew Craig

Thrice blessed day, when Jesus comes to take His ransomed children home;
Ye saints of God, arise and sing, Hosannas to your Saviour King. —J. Burtis White

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 8; Daniel 9; Revelation 4

How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance (weight), and your burden, and your strife?  Deuteronomy 1:12

Moses was overwhelmed with the burden of leading Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land. We, too, are often overwhelmed with the burdens of daily life whether they be family, workplace, or the local assembly. Thankfully we are not called upon to bear that burden alone. There are godly men and women around us to help “bear one another’s burdens” and a plurality of leadership in the local assembly for that same purpose. And most importantly, we always have the Saviour! Cast your cares on Him today.   —Wm. H. Gustafson

I must tell Jesus all of my trials, I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly helpeth me, He ever loves and cares for His own.
—Elisha A. Hoffmann