Category: Uncategorised

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 45; Psalms 23-24; Matt. 26:1-30

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.     Genesis 1:3
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts.    2 Corinthians 4:6

The first thing God did when He created the earth was to speak light into existence. Without light there could be no life. Life is dependent on light. So too in the regeneration of sinners, the light had to shine first. What a great day when the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shone on us! It brought life to our darkened hearts. Has He shone in your heart? Open your heart to Him today.    —Sid Halsband

At the Cross! At the Cross! Where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day. —Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 44; Psalm 22; Matt. 25:31-46

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.    Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

Our natural tendency is to trust our own experience, judgment, and the culture that surrounds us. But it is Satan who is the god of this world and guides the world’s philosophy and values. Trust in the Lord; listen to His Word and obey it. Then you will begin to make wise decisions and know His blessing. Trust the wisdom of your heavenly Father and let Him direct your life.     —Donald L. Norbie

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way,
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
—John H. Sammis

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 43; Psalms 20-21; Matt. 25:1-30

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.    Ephesians 2:8

It was April 14, 1912. Two men floated in the cold North Atlantic. They were within hailing distance and one who was wearing a life-jacket looked at his fearful friend and asked, “Are you saved, and on your way to Heaven?” The response came through chattering teeth to say, “No”. “Then take my life jacket and accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.” When the lists of the Saved and Lost appeared in New York, the willing donor was listed among the Lost—but only physically. The recipient of his life-jacket was among the Saved—but without Christ he was still spiritually lost. If you accept the Lord Jesus now, you will be eternally saved. —Arnot P. McIntee

Out of Christ without a Saviour, O can it, can it be?
Like a ship, without a rudder, on a wild and stormy sea.
—F. M. Davis

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 41:50 to 42:38; Psalm 19; Matt. 24:29-51

That they (older women) may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home… Titus 2:4-5

Prior to his death, Dr. Benjamin Spock, the humanist “guru” of child development stated, “We have raised a generation of brats.” The days of Mum staying at home to raise her children are mainly done. Sadly in many Christian homes both parents work for greater material possessions but to the detriment of their children. Motherhood is still the greatest vocation in the world. Raising children for God ought to be our highest goal!    —Jim Comte

O may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live, inspire them to obey. —Jon Mohr

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matt. 24:1-28

Thou shalt no longer be termed forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.    Isaiah 62:4

On a visit to Harrogate I observed the above verse engraved as a large circle in the paving stones of Beulah Street. What people made of it I don’t know, but what it conveys to the Christian is God’s joy in seeing a people once forsaken and desolate because of waywardness, now being a source of delight and dearly cherished by Him. How humbling—as the bride of Christ we are loved with an everlasting love. —Brian Powlesland

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
In a love which cannot cease, I am His and He is mine.
—George Wade Robinson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 40; Psalm 18:1-29; Matt. 23

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Matthew 16:15-16

The Lord’s question elicited one of the most dramatic confessions regarding His identity. He is Messiah, “the Christ”; He is God, “the Son of the living God”; and He is greater than all false human notions of the divine, “the living God”. The modern world’s pseudo-deities cannot compete with Him, any more than could Philippi’s idols. Instead of declaring His credentials, Christ gave Peter the privilege of this great confession. Believers are afforded the same honour today, as they witness to the crucified, risen, and glorified Saviour.     —K. R. Keyser

O God, we see thee in the Lamb to be our hope, our joy, our rest;
The glories that compose thy name standing engaged to make us blest.
—Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 39; Psalm 17; Matt. 22:15-46

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand.    Psalm 80:17

This verse pictures the honoured position Christ enjoys at the Father’s right hand—a place of power, privilege, and preeminence. Christ is seen at God’s right hand: after He purged our sins (Heb. 1:3); after He rose from the dead (Rom. 8:34); after He ascended and was exalted by God (Acts 2:33). It must have been comforting for the martyr Stephen to see, “the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). It behooves us to, “Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1).    —Milton Haack

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. —Isaac Watts

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 38; Psalms 15-16; Matt. 21:33 to 22:14

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.    Philemon 1:3

Paul included this phrase in numerous letters. It was sent to different churches, to different people, at different times and in different circumstances. What a sweet encouragement it must have been then and should be to us now. May its familiarity not cause us to miss its wonder. We have received more grace than we can imagine. It is our divine enablement for the circumstances of each day. And our peace is not according to the world’s peace but flows from heaven itself—sure and constant. How truly blessed we are.     —V. Gaynier

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.
—E. Bickersteth

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 37; Psalms 11-14; Matt. 21:1-32

We do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.    2 Cor. 12:19

When it came to serving the people of God, this verse records one of Paul’s foundational principles. He did everything with the goal of edifying or “building up” the saints. And so he was led to say some things but not others. He was sometimes firm but also gentle. As he preached, confronted, wrote, and cried, it was all based on the conviction that this word or that action was for their edification. The life lesson for us is the same. As we deal with God’s people, let us make certain we approach our task with the motive of building up the saints. —Norman Craig Funston

We are called to be God’s people, showing by our lives His grace,
One in heart and one in spirit, sign of hope for all the race.
Let us show how He has changed us and remade us as His own;
Let us share our life together as we shall around His throne. —T. Jackson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 36; Psalms 9-10; Matt. 20:17-34

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.     Luke 2:33

Our Saviour’s coming to earth brought different responses from a variety of people. The shepherds praised and glorified God because of Him. Simeon embraced Him and was ready to depart his life in peace. Anna, the prophetess, gave thanks for Him. Herod was troubled by Him. The wise men worshipped Him. What is your response? He came to be your Saviour. Receive Him.     —Rex Trogdon

O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the heavenly angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
—Phillips Brooks