Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 10-11; Ezekiel 12; John 4:1-30

 

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil; But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.    Proverbs 5:3-4

 

Solomon knew all the answers, but didn’t follow his own advice! How often people lay down the law for others, but bend the same rules for themselves and their families! God’s laws apply equally to all. We must acknowledge the wrong we are allowing in our own lives and admit our faults. What he warned for others was Solomon’s own downfall—weakness for foreign women. A solemn warning. —G. Frear

 

Therefore do we pray Thee, Lord:
Help Thy servants whom, redeeming
By Thy precious blood out-poured,
Thou hast saved from Satan’s scheming. —I Franz

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 8-9; Ezekiel 11; John 3:22-36

 

Rather train yourself for godliness.    1 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

 

This word “train” is translated from a word which refers to vigorous exercise without encumbrance. We are to train ourselves vigorously in godliness. This chapter then goes on to define the various areas of our training—godly speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. To attain them we must wholly immerse ourselves in the practice of them—without encumbrance. Can it be done? Yes. Through Him. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3 ESV). Will we plunge into a concentrated exercise of godliness today?     —L. DeVries

 

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all. —I. Watts

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 7; Ezekiel 10; John 2:23 to 3:21

 

And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and I will be with thee.    Genesis 31:3

 

Jacob was a man who appeared to sincerely want God’s will for his next major move in life. Responding to God’s direction he made ready to depart. Yet despite God’s clear-cut will for this move, Jacob slipped away without choosing the noble path of proper closure with Laban. One of the many lessons we learn from Jacob’s experience here is that while we should always seek God’s face for major moves, we must not forget the courtesy of communicating our plans to those with whom we serve. Misunderstanding can arise so easily. It is best to be open with all.    —Norman Craig Funston

 

All the way my Saviour leads me, cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 6; Ezekiel 8-9; John 2:1-22

 

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain.    Revelation 5:6

 

Each Lord’s Day we see a symbolic, visible testimony of the Lord’s death portrayed in the bread and wine. For the saints in heaven the symbol is gone for the Lord Himself forever bears testimony. They have the joy of gazing on the One who was slain for them. It is a delight for us to remember the Lord as He has asked. Yet how we look forward to that day when we will see the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.    —George Ferrier

 

The cross reveals Thy love below; but better soon our hearts shall know,
When we behold Thy face above, the fulness of our Father’s love.
—M. J. Walker

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 4:24 to 5:26; Ezekiel 7; John 1:19-51

 

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and put his house hold in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.    2 Samuel 17:23

 

What a sad end! Ahithophel had counseled Absalom to both humiliate and murder his father David. Yet the Lord intervened on behalf of His anointed, and David’s life was spared. Instead of achieving his desire upon the king, Ahithophel ironically suffered a humiliating death at his own hands. This renowned wise man had conspired against God, which is as unwise today as it was then.
—Rick Morse

 

Though painful at present, ’twill cease before long;
And then, oh, how pleasant the conqueror’s song!
—J. Newton

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 3 to 4:23; Ezekiel 5-6; John 1:1-18

 

How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed. Or how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied?    Numbers 23:8

 

From the high places of Baal, the pagan prophet Balaam could see the Israelite encampment. Though Balak had sacrificed on seven altars, Balaam could not curse Balak’s enemy. Instead, God, through Balaam’s mouth, pronounced a blessing upon His people—he could not curse what God had determined to bless. Paul reminds us that our flesh is biased in judging the value of ministry; consequently, he did not even judge the value of his own (1 Cor. 4:3). Let us be careful also not to curse, what God is doing through the service of others. Only He can judge the worth of what we do.    —W. A. H.

 

When we stand with Christ in glory, looking o’er life’s finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know. Not till then—how much I owe.
—Robert M. McCheyne

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 2; Ezekiel 3:16 to 4:17; 2 Timothy 4

 

That ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19

 

God wants us to have a bigger picture of the Christian life. For most, we are consumed with the mundane things of everyday life: the job, the bills, the children, the schedule. These things can limit us from the larger view of what God wants to accomplish in us. We have a blessed hope, a sure salvation, a faithful Saviour, the enduring Word, an eternal home, a secure inheritance, and a powerful God. Remember these things as you start your day!    —Mark Kolchin

 

His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
—Edward Mote

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 1; Ezekiel 2 to 3:15; 2 Timothy 3

 

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 (seen) Him that seeth me?    Genesis 16:13

 

Hagar was a lonely rejected slave girl, who fled from Sarah. But she was not forgotten by the Angel of the Lord. This was an appearance of the Lord Jesus to her. He spoke to her and came to help her. Hagar’s experience introduces us to a divine title of God, the “El-Roi” or “Thou God seest me.” What a revelation! In her deepest need and at the darkest time of her life, this poor, lonely girl is given a vision of the all-seeing and all-knowing God. He is the same God who sees, knows and cares for us in our dark hours.     —Jim Comte

 

Jesus calls us over the tumult of our life’s wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow Me!”
—Cecil F. Alexander

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 25; Ezekiel 1; 2 Timothy 2

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.    Romans 1:21

 

Alas! Read the last fourteen verses of this chapter and you will see that man has become today exactly what God said 2,000 years ago he would become. Millions in our so-called Christian society, know of God, but in their lives and hearts they do not glorify Him as God. What is your position? God-conscious? Or God-honouring through true worship and obedience to His Word?    —Doug Kazen

 

May the mind of Christ my Saviour,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling,
All I do and say. —K. B. Wilkinson

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 24; Lamentations 4-5; 2 Timothy 1

 

Lord, teach us to pray.    Luke 11:1

 

Seven times in Luke’s Gospel do we find the Lord Jesus in prayer, and in what a variety of circumstances. This is indeed the Gospel of the dependent Man. He prays at His baptism in the Jordan (3:21); in the wilderness, withdrawn from the multitude (5:16); all night before naming His apostles (6:12); at Caesarea Philippi as confirmed by Matthew (9:18); on the Holy Mount of His transfiguration (9:28); in a certain place with His disciples (11:1); in Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (22:41) Well might we too say, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
—Jim Flanigan

 

O Thou by whom we come to God! The Life, the Truth, the Way;
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod: Lord! Teach us to pray.
—J. Montgomery