Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 4:27 to 5:13; Psalm 104; Acts 27:1-26

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

Genuine faith in Christ weathers the storms of life, for it is grounded in an eternal Saviour. Our great High Priest has said, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). This faith is displayed in prison cells, cancer wards, and impoverished houses. It moves great obstacles and yet trusts not human power or wisdom. The fire only purges the dross, proving that the life our Lord offers transcends every trial and lasts eternally. Thankfully, difficult times reveal God’s glorious riches in His saints. —K. R. Keyser

O God, we come with singing, because Thy great High Priest;
Our names to Thee is bringing, nor e’er forgets the least. —M. B. Peters

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 4:1-26; Psalm 103; Acts 26:19-32

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1

Why was it a sin to number the people? David wanted to make sure that he had sufficient material resources to cater for any adverse situations. In Mark 11:22 the Lord Jesus said very simply to the doubters, “Have faith in God.” We must always be responsible believers, but our Father wants us to trust Him for any possible contingency, for He has the wherewithal to supply any need that may arise. —Brian Russell

Master Thou wilt keep us,
By Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side,
Saviour we are Thine.
—Frances Ridley Havergal

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 3; Psalm 102; Acts 26:1-18

A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

Together Shem, Ham, and Japheth stood with their father against a wicked society and built an ark. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah strengthened each other to remain faithful; Peter, John, and James were companions in intimacy to the Lord; Joab, Asahel, and Abishai were united in fierce devotion to David. A popular Bible teacher says that big battles are won by teams. The Lord says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I” (Matt. 18:20). Are you part of a threefold cord? —Marilyn MacMullen

I walk alone, and I am sore afraid;
My way is dark, my path with thorns o’erlaid.
Draw near me Lord, and take my trembling hand,
And make me brave to join Thy pilgrim band.
—Henry W. Frost

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 2; Psalms 99-101; Acts 25:13-27

I seek not yours, but you. 2 Corinthians 12:14b

The Apostle Paul had poured his life into the lives of the Corinthian Christians, first as an evangelist, then as a teacher, but most of all, as a spiritual father. Their questioning of him and his authority left him grieved. Often we can be engaged in the life of the church, or individuals within the church, or even our own family, and yet there seems so little to show for it. Like Paul, we may feel aggrieved because our service is unappreciated (vv. 11-13), our love is unreciprocated (vv. 14-18), and our expectations are unfulfilled (vv. 19-21). Don’t give up dear servant. Our part is to remember the One we are serving—and keep our spirit strong towards those we are serving. —Norman Craig Funston

O may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way. —Jon Mohr

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 1; Psalms 96-98; Acts 24:24 to 25:12

I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

None of us want to stumble. None of us want to be defeated. God’s hand is the only reliable support when we are fearful of falling or failing. It is the hand which flung the stars into space and keeps heaven and earth in orbit. His right hand is the symbol of power and skill. We are weak, but God’s upholding hand is omnipotent. Even the Devil cannot overpower us. We may fail, but we will never fall with His right hand upholding us. God is faithful to His promises, to His Son and to His own. There is no room for gloom with such security! —Milton Haack

Rejoice, ye saints! The time draws near,
When Christ will in the clouds appear,
And for His people call. —E. F. Miller

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 40; Psalms 94-95; Acts 24:1-23

How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God.    Psalm 36:7

The teacher asked a little boy, “What is the difference between kindness and loving kindness?” The little boy replied with assurance, “kindness is when my mom puts peanut butter on my bread, but loving kindness is when my mom puts peanut butter and jelly on my bread.” For the Christian, God’s loving kindness is His mercy, His grace, and all His myriad kindnesses to us. But more—all of God’s kindnesses are compounded with His marvelous love. It is infinite for finite man, unchanging and secure forever. As we remember the Lord today, consider God’s loving kindness and how excellent it is to us. —Robert Gentile

He saw me ruined by the fall, yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate, His loving kindness, oh, how great.
—Samuel Medley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 39; Psalms 92-93; Acts 23:12-35

The land of Egypt, where I heard a language that I understood not. Psalm 81:5
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob, from a people of strange language. Psalm 114:1

The children of Israel lived in Egypt for generations. It seems impossible that the language of the Egyptians was still strange to them. They surely should have learned to act and speak as the “nationals” yet obviously they kept their own tongue and anything else was still strange. Today God seeks believers who will be in this world but not of it—Christians who will remember that the people of this world are in opposition to God. We are ambassadors in a foreign country. Let’s live like it. —Ken Gross

We have a home above, from all defilement free;
A mansion which eternal love prepared our rest to be. —Henry Bennett

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 38; Psalms 90-91; Acts 22:22 to 23:11

It is the Lord. John 21:7

The disappointed disciples caught nothing in their initial fishing outing. Then they saw a man standing on the shore. He called out to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find” (John 21:6). They obeyed and caught a multitude of fish. When the disciples saw this miracle, it was John who recognised the Lord and said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Do we need miracles to recognise the Lord? Every breath of fresh air we breathe in, every step we take, every heart beat that pumps the blood through our body is a miracle. The Lord manifests Himself to us every moment. May we recognize His goodness and grace to us today and honour Him as the Lord. —K. C. Ung

’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story! ’Tis the Lord! The King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall. Crown Him! Crown Him, Lord of all!
—Ben­ja­min R. Han­by

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 37; Psalm 89:19-52; Acts 22:1-21

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge…. Proverbs 8:11-12a

What do we prize above all else? We see here that God’s Word (wisdom) is worth more than any amount of money and the goods it can buy. Can we say that we love wisdom enough to meditate on it continually? Is it sweeter than honey to us? To love God’s Word is to gain immeasurable blessing. It gives prudence and knowledge. It drives out pride and troublesome attitudes. Seek it today. —G. Frear

Fear of the Lord is wisdom; seek it and you will find.
Cry out for understanding; let it fill your mind.
Search as for hidden treasure; look for it every day.
This is the path to wisdom; follow all the way. —S. Peterson