Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 3; Hosea 11:12 to 14:9; Luke 20:20 to 21:4

 

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.    Isaiah 6:1

 

Uzziah was a good king even though he faltered in his last days. It appears from this verse that Isaiah may have had his eyes too much on Uzziah instead of the Lord. It seems that only after Uzziah died that his eyes saw the right King, “For mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:5). Could we not make this mistake? We should be careful that our eyes are on the right king when we follow leaders in our lives. Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). To all who are leading God’s people, let’s be sure we are following the King, the Lord of Hosts.      —Harold G. Smith

 

Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,
Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won. —W. Cushing

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 2; Hosea 10 to 11:11; Luke 20:1-19

 

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.    Ezekiel 33:4

 

The bad news for people today is that a sword is coming; the good news is that the warning trumpet is still sounding. It is our task to pour our energies into sounding that trumpet as clearly and faithfully as we can. Perhaps by God’s enabling grace, today I would be motivated and enabled to sound out the Gospel to someone—before it’s too late.    —Rick Morse

 

Thy blood the flaming blade must slake;
Thine heart its sheath must be;
All for my sake, my peace to make;
Now sleeps that sword for me. —A. R. Cousin

DAILY?READINGS: Joshua 1; Hosea 8-9; Luke 19:29-48

 

And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.     Deuteronomy 31:8

 

Are you afraid and unsure of how you can face the future? A new college; loss of a loved one; retirement? Hold on to these two promises given to Joshua as he was about to enter the “land of giants” yet “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 13:5). First, the Lord goes before you, preparing the way to enable you to face the “giants” you so much fear. Secondly, not only that, but He will be with you to hold your hand and lead you step by step, so that you will find this new phase of your life to be “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 13:5).    —David Croudace

 

Though it seems I’m oft unnoticed, and lost in time and space,
God above is watching o’er me, though I cannot see His face. —J. Peterson

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 34; Hosea 6:4 to 7:16; Luke 19:1-28

 

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.    Hebrews 9:22; 10:18

 

When we speak of certain illnesses being in remission there is relief from the effects of the illness, with the realization that the disease may return. When it comes to our sins, remission is removal. Not only that, but there is no reminder of our sins for the sacrifice is over. The Lord declares, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17).    —Rex Trogdon

 

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! —H. G. Spafford

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 33; Hosea 4 to 6:3; Luke 18:15-43

 

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Psalm 73:16-17

 

David was perplexed by the prosperity of the wicked, and the affliction of the godly. But when he went into the sanctuary of God, he was able to view things from the eternal perspective, and this gave him comfort and assurance. Similarly, it is possible for the believer to be troubled by the trials that afflict him, whilst the worldling with no thought of God, lives a trouble free life. It is then that we must retire to the sanctuary to realize that it is not the present that matters, but what the end will be.    —W. H. Burnett

The sorrows of the daily life, the shadows o’er my path which fall,
Too oft obscure the glory’s light, until I rise above them all.
—Andrew Miller

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 32:15-52; Hosea 2 to 3 ; Luke 17:20 to 18:14

 

Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.    John 13:36

 

Despite the looming cross ahead, the Lord looked beyond to returning home (John 13:1). He committed Himself to the Father, trusting Him for His resurrection and for His return to Him (Psalm 16:10). At the same time He promised that His own would follow Him later (John 14:3). Beloved, are you facing persecution, discouragement or loneliness? Is fear, heartache, or disappointment afflicting you? Entrust yourself to Him, keep pressing on, look beyond this—you’re going home.    —George Ferrier

 

Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory, will the toils of life repay.
—E. E. Hewitt

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 31:14 to 32:14; Hosea 1; Luke 17:1-19

 

Keep the charge of the LORD thy God.    1 Kings 2:3

 

Dying men don’t waste words. They may have wasted their lives, but if all their faculties are present, they more than likely have some very succinct things to say on their deathbeds. David was a great king but a rather feeble father. However as he approached death he passed these valuable words to his son Solomon. His heart’s desire was to see him succeed in everything he did and so he admonished him to keep God’s commandments. It’s too bad he waited till this time of his life to pass along his advice. Fathers, have you learned anything from your experiences with God? Pass it along to your sons and daughters, long before it’s too late!    —Norman Craig Funston

O Jesus I have promised, to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend. —J. E. Bode

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 30 to 31:13; Amos 9; Luke 16

 

As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith.
Colossians 2:6-7a

 

Near us is a gum tree that stands over 100 feet. The spread of this tree is almost as great as its height. Due to its position on the hill it catches an incredible amount of wind. Branches have fallen from it, but it continues to stand despite the storms. What is the secret? Its roots go down deep into the soil. Dear fellow Christian are you reading God’s Word each day? Will you be able to withstand life’s storms when they come? The only way we can hope to do this is to be grounded in God’s Word and then rest in His strength.     —J. Fleming

 

When the winds of life beat stronger and all around me there’s a gale,
I can safely trust God’s promise, that He will never ever fail. —J. Fleming

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 29; Amos 7-8; Luke 15:11-32

 

As cold waters to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.
Proverbs 25:25

 

On February 25, 2010 a Christian brother put a Scripture text and a brief note in a bottle and set it adrift from the Bahamas. Approximately eighteen months and 3,700 miles later, it washed up on a beach in Spain. Before this good news to a foreign shore found its target, he was home with the Lord. What glad tidings are we sending forth through our lives? A word spoken to someone lost today may be the means of bringing them to Christ in the future. A tract prayerfully given may yield a harvest somewhere far away. Sow the truth in faith, and watch the Lord bless His Word!    —Keith Keyser

Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken, will vibrate once more. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 28:38-68; Amos 5-6; Luke 14:25 to 15:10

 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.    1 Timothy 2:3-4a

 

Who does God want to be saved? “All men!” (v. 4). How many is God willing that should perish? He is “not willing that any should perish” (1 Pet. 3:9). How many is He willing that should come to repentance? “All” (1 Pet. 3:9). For whom did Christ die? “Every man” (Heb. 2:9). These are Gospel facts that cannot be altered without condemnation. Preach the Gospel! If we preach anything else God is not glorified, but vilified.    —Carl Knott

“Whosoever heareth,” shout, shout the sound!
Spread the blessèd tidings all the world around;
Spread the joyful news wherever man is found;
“Whosoever will may come.”
—Philip P. Bliss