Category: Uncategorised

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

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.    Galatians 1:3-4

 

Our Lord’s death and resurrection attained a total victory over sin. He put away sin (Heb. 9:26). Christ’s victory at Calvary should be enjoyed by every Christian daily. Let the power of His salvation be demonstrated in your daily life, helping you to overcome temptation, and to demonstrate His person and power with you daily. May His victory and the joy of it give you triumph over sin today.        —Doug Kazen

 

Oh keep us in the narrow way,
That ne’er from Thee our footsteps stray;
Sustain our weakness, calm our fear,
And to Thy presence keep us near. —R. Morshead

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

 

In Him we have redemption … according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us.    Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV)

 

Extravagance. Usually extravagance is thought of in a negative light—a lavish lifestyle or wasting money. However, extravagance can be a good thing. In fact, if we would seek to be like Christ it should be a part of our conduct. Consider the accounts of Jesus: 180 gallons of wine for a  wedding reception (John 2:1-11); twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish (Mark 6:30-44); a miraculous catch of fish (John 21:11). Think still further of how the Lord has lavished His grace upon us, even though He knows all our sins and guilt. What extravagant grace He has bestowed upon us!     —W. Ross Rainey

 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
—Robert Robinson

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

 

And Jehu … went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?
2 Chronicles 19:2

 

Having narrowly escaped from the battlefield with his life, Jehoshaphat returned to his house, delivered by the Lord from a foolish alliance with wicked King Ahab. Jehoshaphat learned quickly the bitter consequences of joining together with those who hate the Lord. What will it take for us to learn this lesson as well? For this good king, it was worry, doubt, fear and tears as he cried out in his distress. Our own experience and a wise word from others should be enough to keep us from making the same mistake. Are we listening?    —Mark Kolchin

 

Called from the world and its idols to flee,
Called from the bondage of sin to be free. —L. N. Morris

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

 

Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.    Gen. 47:9
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.    Psalm 16:6

 

Here are two different responses to life—one saw the negative, the other the blessings. As I look back over life I am so thankful to the Lord. I thank God for the beauty of His creation, for every flower that blooms. I thank God for His provision, for friends and family. Most of all I thank Him for sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty of my sin and that by His grace I heard the good news and trusted Jesus. I am also excited that one day soon I will share heaven with Him. If life is hard today, try counting your blessings. It works!    —J. Fleming

 

O have I loved Him as I should, for all His blessings free?
Praise God who giveth naught but good, for He is good to me! —C. Breck

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

 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!     Luke 2:14
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.    Luke 19:38

 

When Jesus was born the heavenly host offered peace to earth. At His triumphal entry the multitudes answered with, “Peace in heaven.” But, God’s offer of peace was obviously rejected when man crucified the Prince of peace. So, what would God do? “He made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:20). It is the cross of Christ through which peace is made between heaven and earth.    —Rex Trogdon

 

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. —E. H. Bickersteth

 

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

 

Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel.
Proverbs 1:24-25a

 

This is a serious warning indeed! The wisdom of God calls out to every person to take heed, listen and act now! What could be more plain than this warning? Those who respond to it are wise; those who don’t have considered neither the grace of the offer nor the consequences of their refusal. God has done all in His power to save people from their sins. The responsibility is now yours.    —G. Frear

Accept now God’s offer of mercy;
To Jesus, oh hasten today;
For He will receive him that cometh,
And never will turn him away. —S. M. Sayford

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

 

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.    Mark 3:6

 

A man was healed and the response of the Pharisees was to plot the death of the Healer. The Pharisees were a heartless group but sometimes my attitude may be too similar to theirs. In order to avoid such an attitude we need to trust God’s truth in every circumstance and not impose our own wisdom. We need to reach out to all peoples as the Saviour did—never creating false barriers between any. And we need to avoid allowing ritualism to take control of our lives. Christianity is Christ and we need to live in that reality, not bound by forms or activities that may be historical but are not Biblical.    —I. I. M.

 

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine. —J. E. Orr

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

 

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.    1 John 2:28

 

A knock was heard at the door of a humble home.  Someone had come to fulfill a dying request of the young boy who lived there. The boy was elated!  But his poor father was so ashamed!  Dressed in dirty old work clothes, unshaven and not presentable to meet Mr. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America.    —E. MacLelland

 

Oh, may I be walking so close to His side,
As He would desire His heavenly bride,
Awaiting the call, “Come, oh, come thou away,
My fair one, with me.” It may be today! —E. MacLelland

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 7; Daniel 8; Revelation 3:7-22

 

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.    Hebrews 6:17-18

 

The word immutable or “changeless” describes the eternal “sameness” of our God—yesterday, today and forever. In contrast to everything else, God and His Word remain absolutely constant. We experience change in our human pilgrimage, but not the Lord Jesus. His immutable promise has been given for a “strong consolation,” to us who have fled to him for refuge.    —S. B.

 

No mood of feeling, form of thought, is constant for a day;
But Thou, O Lord, Thou changest not, the same Thou art alway.
—John Campbell Shairp

DAILY?READINGS: Ezra 6; Daniel 7; Revelation 2:18 to 3:6

 

So David prepared abundantly before his death.     1 Chronicles 22:5

 

It was in David’s heart to build the temple for a place for his God to dwell. God acknowledged this but did not allow him to see the edifice built, and wonder at its glory. David did not become embittered or envious, but instead did everything he could to prepare the way for Solomon, his son. May we be prepared to support and encourage those to whom God has given public gift and responsibility, even if they are much younger than us.     —Brian Russell

 

Press on, press on, this one thing do;
Forget the things behind!
Press onward to the Christ before,
Press onward with this mind.
—D. M.