Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 9:15 to 10:27; Isaiah 50 to 51:8; 2 Cor. 11

And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?  Genesis 16:13

Seeing Hagar discouraged and distressed, the Lord appeared to her. Acknowledging her difficult condition He provided comfort. Exhorting her, He gave direction for what she should do next. Prophesying to her, He instilled hope for the future. Beloved, God is present and knows our trials. Draw near to Him for solace, look to Him for guidance, and rest in Him who is our hope. His Word foretells our bright future. In His wisdom He may not change our current state but He wants to change our perspective.  —George Ferrier

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come;
Be Thou our guide while life shall last and our eternal home.
—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 8 to 9:14; Isaiah 49; 2 Cor. 10

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.  Hebrews 10:25
Come, and let us go up to…the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.  Micah 4:2

Micah foretells a day when the nations of the earth will gather at Jerusalem. As our verse indicates, the result will be great blessings for those who gather. As New Testament believers our desire should be to gather to His name now for times of worship and fellowship. As we do, just as in a coming day, we will be taught His ways so that we may walk in those paths on a daily basis. Little wonder then that we’re admonished not to forsake gathering together.  —Wm. H. Gustafson

Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus, losing sight of all but Thee,
Oh, what joy Thy presence gives us, calling up our hearts to Thee.
—C. A. Wellesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 6-7; Isaiah 48; 2 Corinthians 9

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.  Matt. 14:26

At first the disciples did not recognize the Lord in the storm. It was not that their vision was dimmed, but that their minds were dulled. May we not fail to recognize His presence in life’s storms. Nor may we fail to expect Him when He at last shall come again to take us out of the darknesses and distresses of this sin-sick world. Remember, He could return today!  —W. Ross Rainey

O child of God, there is for thee,
A hope that shines amid the gloom,
A gladsome hope that thou shalt see,
Thy Lord, for He will surely come.
—T. D. W. Muir

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 4-5; Isaiah 47; 2 Corinthians 8

He said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  Luke 23:42

With his dying breath, the repentant thief on the cross made this bold request of the Lord. The Lord graciously granted his request, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Our Saviour cares for our every need. We can boldly enter into His presence and make known our requests to Him, realizing He can do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20). What burden do you need to stop carrying and leave with Him today? —Bob Cretney

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. —J. Scriven

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 3; Isaiah 46; 2 Corinthians 6:11 to 7:16

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:9

Kristin Millar of Winnipeg, Canada, endured a decade-long illness that was slowly killing her heart. One night, she received a phone call to inform her that a woman, whom she had never met, had passed away. Kristin would be the recipient of the donated heart. After her recovery, Kristin was asked how this experience shaped her outlook on life. She replied: “It makes me want to live every day in honour of my donor.” As Christians, we have been given new life through the death of the Lord Jesus. Out of gratitude and love, let us desire to live every day in honour of Him!  —L. Shatford

A heart in every thought renewed and filled with love divine;
Perfect and right, and pure and good; a copy, Lord, of Thine. —C. Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 2; Isaiah 44:24 to 45:25; 2 Cor. 5:11 to 6:10

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews…who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  Esther 4:13-14

Just as Mordecai encouraged Esther to move ahead and act, so the Holy Spirit prompts us to do what is right for our growth and the blessing of others. Esther prayed and fasted before going to the king and we too must spend much time in prayer to seek the Spirit’s mind. To rush ahead is foolish. But when He clearly indicates what to do, we must act.    —G. Frear

Let heart and ear be opened wide,
Unto Thy Word and pleading;
Our minds, O Holy Spirit, guide;
By Thine own light and leading. —J. Ut­en­ho­vi­us

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 1; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7 to 5:10

Hell and destruction are never full.  Proverbs 27:20

A road sign was erected in the town of Exmouth in England in an attempt to make drivers cut their speed. The sign read “Slow—Heaven Is Full.” While the Bible says that hell is never full, no direct comment is made in this regard to heaven. At the moment there is still room for those who want to be there. However the Bible does warn that at some point the door will be closed and access to heaven will cease. Perhaps you need to slow down and think on this matter. Make certain to ensure your entry while the door remains open.  —Brian Powlesland

Choose now, just now; your soul’s at stake;
What will your answer be?
Tis life or death; and the choice you make,
Is made for eternity. —Harriet Fithian

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ruth 3-4; Isaiah 43 to 44:5; 2 Corinthians 3 to 4:6

No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  Matthew 11:27

How hopeless we would be if this verse stopped halfway through. It could easily be true. The greatness and wonder of who God is could rightly render Him an infinite mystery to us. But praise God, our verse continues and says, “And he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” As we listen to our Lord pray in John 17, He says, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (v. 3). How wonderful to know Him. Do you?  —Ken Gross

“Abba, Father,” we approach Thee in our Saviour’s precious name.
We, Thy children, here assembling, access to Thy presence claim.
—James G. Deck

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ruth 2; Isaiah 42; 2 Corinthians 2

Father, forgive them.  Luke 23:34
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.  Luke 23:46

These are the first and last words of our Saviour from the cross and they are intimately linked. “Father, forgive them” reveals the Son’s great purpose. He came to forgive and save sinners. “Father into Thy hands I commend my spirit” proclaims the Son’s purpose fulfilled. But between these two cries, communion with heaven was broken and He was judged for our sins. When His work was accomplished, communion was restored. Now our Saviour could cry with a loud voice so that all heaven, earth, and hell could hear, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Beloved, He did all this for us  —Milton Haack

Father, forgive, the Saviour said; they know not what they do;
His heart was moved when thus He prayed, for me, my friends, and you.
—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ruth 1; Isaiah 41; 2 Corinthians 1

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war…but he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.  Deuteronomy 24:5

In this very practical admonition we see God’s provision for a new wife. Adjusting to her new relationship, God directs the husband’s attention to her during this time. It becomes a type of prolonged honeymoon—a beautiful picture of God’s practical tenderness. At conversion, we became a part of the Bride of the Lamb and His tenderness to us is evident every day. Although a Jewish bride’s time of special attentiveness ended after a year, our joy in His love will continue to all eternity. What a blessed people we are. May our lives reflect our high and holy calling.  —Vernon Markle

The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace. —A. R. Cousins