Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 22; Isaiah 15-16; 2 Thessalonians 1

And took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.  Colossians 2:14b
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:13a

We are often thankful for the bountiful provisions God brings into our lives. Are we just as thankful for the things he takes out of our lives? He has taken away the penalty of our sin, oh glorious thought. He will also take away the stones and obstacles in our path that would trip us. He will remove the snares that would bring us into bondage. Yes, thank Him for the blessings, but don’t forget to thank Him for the many things He has taken away. —Sam Thorpe

Walk in the light! So shalt thou know,
That fellowship of love,
His Spirit only can bestow,
Who reigns in light above.
—Bernard Barton

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 20-21; Isaiah 14; 1 Thessalonians 5

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.  Numbers 20:12

Moses was denied the privilege of leading Israel into their inheritance because of disobedience, unbelief and a failure to give God the glory. Yet three times in Deuteronomy we read that he blamed the children of Israel for his denied entrance into Canaan (Deut. 1:37; 3:26; 4:21). How sobering to see that the meekest of men would not fully admit his sin, but like Adam before him, placed the blame on others. May God help us to confess our own sins and not blame others for our transgressions. —D. Pickup

Lord, melt these icy hearts of stone, make us Your counsel seek,
And sacrifice to You alone, with humble hearts and meek.
—Richard W. Adams

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 18-19; Isaiah 13; 1 Thessalonians 4

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Genesis 28:15

How glorious are these promises to the pariah who would later become a patriarch. Like Jacob, we too perhaps had an inauspicious start in the life of faith—on the run from some foolish personal choices, all the time trying to work a deal with the Almighty. But despite similar selfish inclinations, the Lord gave clear assurances to Jacob of His unchanging promises and unwavering presence. He would see him through his journey of faith. It was his heritage and it is ours. Let’s claim it today. —Mark Kolchin

My knowledge of my life is small, the eye of faith is dim;
But ’tis enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with Him. —R. Baxter

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 16-17; Isaiah 11-12; 1 Thess. 2:13 to 3:13

Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort.  Ezra 4:8

When Rehum sent this letter and accused the Jews, Artaxerxes ordered the Jews to stop rebuilding Jerusalem. In order to accomplish his underhanded scheme, Rehum had gathered a coalition of people who lied about the situation. Although it took time, eventually God intervened and the work was completed. Generally speaking, the guilty will gather others to accuse, while the innocent will leave the matter with the Lord to judge (1 Pet. 2:19-21). William MacDonald said, “To be silent under insult and wrong is a very noble imitation of our Lord.” Perhaps you have been falsely accused. Trust in the Lord. In due time He will vindicate. —W. A. H.

Then melt my heart, O Saviour, bend me, yea, break me down,
Until I own Thee Conqueror, and Lord and Sovereign crown. —A. Kelly

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 14-15; Isaiah 10:5-34; 1 Thess. 1 to 2:12

I sought him, but I found him not. Song of Solomon 3:1

Mary and Joseph sought Jesus and found Him in the temple. They thought He was lost, but He was right where they left Him (Luke 2:46). If our companionship with Him is broken, it is not He who has moved, but us. We can’t lose our salvation but we can lose our fellowship with Him. Unconfessed sin, inattention to our Bible, failure to pray, and neglecting to gather with God’s people—all break fellowship. The journey back to where we have left Him begins with confession and continues with a renewed focus on the Scriptures, prayer and Christian fellowship. Later the bride said, “I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go” (Song 3:4). This can be our blessed reality too. —Milton Haack

Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God, in every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim, Thy being and Thy ways. —Horatius Bonar

 

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 13; Isaiah 9:8 to 10:4; Luke 24:36-53

He measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and she went into the city.  Ruth 3:15
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.  Psalm 68:19

In days of turmoil and stress it is encouraging to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “All these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). The prerequisite is seeking God first. As David so simply states in today’s second verse, the daily blessing of salvation is enough to cause  thanksgiving from us, yet He loads us with so much more. —Wm. H. Gustafson

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His pow’r has no boundaries known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. —Annie J. Flint

 

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

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:… Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone. Isaiah. 6:3, 5

When confronted with the blazing holiness of God, Isaiah concluded that he was undone. When we view ourselves in honesty, we must rapidly come to the same conclusion. Paul’s assessment regarding himself was that he was the “chief of sinners”. But writing to the Ephesians, he states that because of Calvary we have graciously been made to be partakers of the Beloved. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6). It took a mighty work at Calvary, but guilty sinners are made acceptable to a thrice holy God. Let us remember His person and work today. —Ken Gross

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed by His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.
—Fanny Crosby

 

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

The place…  John 18:2; 19:13, 17, 41; Matthew 28:6

“The place” is a phrase that appears more than a few times in our Bible, but none so striking as these five place markers where we should pause, ponder, and worship. Gethsemane: A place of sorrow where Jesus prayed and wept (John 18:2). Gabbatha: A place of scorn where He was condemned (John 19:13). Golgotha: A place of shame where Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross (John 19:17). A Garden: A place of silence, waiting three days (John 19:41). Glory: “Come see the place where the Lord lay” (Matt. 28:6). A place that confirmed full salvation by our risen Saviour! —Rex Trogdon

To Calv’ry, Lord, in spirit now, our grateful souls repair,
To dwell upon Thy dying love, and taste its sweetness there.
—Edward Denny

 

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

They set the ark of God upon a new cart. 2 Samuel 6:3

When David decided to transport the ark back to Jerusalem, he put it on a new cart. He specially chose Uzzah and Ahio to drive the cart. Later, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady it. God struck him dead! David had good intentions. He put the ark on a new cart. Uzzah had good intentions. He steadied the ark to prevent it from falling. But both broke God’s holy law. The ark was to be carried by its staves on the shoulders of the Levites (1 Chron. 15:2, 15) and no one was to touch it. Both had good intentions, but they were doing the right things in the wrong way. Good intentions are not enough. God’s way must be obeyed.  —K. C. Ung

Master, speak! And make me ready, when Thy voice is truly heard,
With obedience glad and steady, still to follow every word.
—Frances Ridley Havergal

 

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

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. Esther 3:5

Haman was an ambitious and proud man. Mordecai’s unwillingness to give him the due he felt he deserved made him hate Mordecai. How often the seeds of disunity and even anger are sown when someone does not get the acknowledgement they feel they deserve. How disappointing and sad. The praise of men ought not to be our goal. We ought to simply serve the Lord and one day He will reward us. Haman reminds us of Satan’s work. Let’s beware of him.    —G. Frear

Behold, how pleasant and how good,
That we, one Lord confessing,
Together dwell in brotherhood,
Our unity expressing.
—G. C. Stebbins