Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 35:9 to 36:13; Proverbs 31; Luke 5:17-39

 

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. Genesis 42:8
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph.    Genesis 45:3

 

The first time Joseph came to his brothers they did not recognize him. The second time, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and they were troubled at his presence. Jesus, like Joseph, “came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). But He is coming back again and will reveal Himself to His people and restore them to Himself. We will know Him then! What a wonderful God we serve whose ways are past finding out.    —Rex Trogdon

 

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all. —E. Perronet

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 34 to 35:8; Proverbs 30; Luke 5:1-16

 

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.    John 4:14    God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.     John 4:24
And he said, Lord I believe. And he worshipped him.    John 9:38

The Lord’s example with the woman in John 4 and the blind man in John 8 teaches us that worship should follow evangelism. A true understanding and practice of reverential worship will help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.    —Bob Cretney

Worthy of homage and of praise; worthy by all to be adored:
Exhaustless theme of heavenly lays! Thou, Thou art worthy, Jesus, Lord.
—F. T. Wigram

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 33; Proverbs 29; Luke 4:16-44

 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.     Hebrews 13:5
I am the Lord; I change not.    Malachi 3:6

Change and decay is everywhere. Men’s hearts fail them for fear. The economic chaos and instability that characterizes the world’s financial markets have their roots in human uncertainty. The only place one can look to learn where this world is going is to the Word of God. But, on those pages the Christian also finds his peace, his rest, his assurance; in an unchanging God.    —Doug Kazen

 

Dear Name! The rock on which we build;
Our shield and hiding-place;
Our never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace. —J. Newton

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 32; Proverbs 28; Luke 4:1-15

 

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.    Luke 2:11
Christ, the Saviour of the world.    John 4:42
The Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour.    Titus 1:4

 

For the Passover, God commanded that every man take “a lamb” for their house. They were to ensure that “the lamb” was sufficient. But God finished by calling it “your lamb” (Ex. 12:3-5). The Lord Jesus is our Passover lamb sacrificed for us. Our appropriation of Him rests not merely in the fact that He is a Saviour or the Saviour, but in that He is our Saviour. He is the One who died for me!    —Tom Steere

 

Then that closing scene of anguish;
All God’s waves and billows roll,
Over Him there left to languish,
On the cross to save my soul. —J. J. Hopkins

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 30-31; Proverbs 26:13 to 27:27; Luke 3

 

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.    Psalm 8:1

 

How remarkable! There is a link between ourselves, puny creatures of this earthly dust, and the glorious Lord of heaven! This link is the name of the Lord. His name is wonderful. It thrills our soul but it also  carries a practical element with it. As we live day by day, does our level of reverence for His name demonstrate that He is your Lord and mine?    —Mark Fenn

How excellent in all the earth,
Lord, our Lord, is thy name!
Who hast thy glory far advanc’d
above the starry frame.
—Scottish Psalter

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 29; Proverbs 25 to 26:12; Luke 2:22-52

 

Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.    Philippians 4:14

 

When was the last time you gave a fellow believer a word of praise? We can be guilty of waiting till the day we bury them before we proclaim their merits and worth. A number of years ago two believers shared letters back and forth. Referring to a mutual friend, one wrote “The hearty warm approval of a friend is more than wealth and more than money, if you think some praise is due him, now’s the time to slip it to him. For he cannot read his tombstone when he is dead.” Why not encourage a brother or sister with a word of appreciation. Don’t take them for granted. Say well done!    —Brian Powlesland

 

Father, make us loving, gentle, thoughtful, kind;
Fill us with Thy Spirit, make us of Thy mind. —F. Kirkland

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 28; Proverbs 24; Luke 2:1-21

 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!    Psalm 133:1

 

The Lord hates those who divide His people (Prov. 6:19). He made one body, composed of Jews and Gentiles. They are pacified through His blood and united by His Spirit (Eph. 2:15). Ephesians 4:2-3 instructs us how to behave towards fellow-believers: “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We do not create Christian unity, but we must maintain it in love. Keep this is mind as you interact with other saints.    —Keith Keyser

 

Thus may we abide in union, with each other and the Lord,
And possess, in sweet communion, joys which earth can ne’er afford.
—J. Newton

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 26:52 to 27:23; Prov. 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

 

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field.      Exodus 1:14

 

This verse seems hard. Suffering is difficult. But there is something deeper here. God is at work. Suppose a people would soon become pioneers and create a new nation. What essential skills would they need? The abililty to put a roof over their head? Food on their table? Construction. Agriculture. Although we do not question the harshness of what the Israelites were suffering, their experiences were working together for good, because God had a purpose for them. How comforting to know amidst our trials that God has a purpose for us and He is creating in us the ability to fulfill it.    —S. McEachern

 

Bless me in every task, O Lord, begun, continued, done for Thee;
Fulfill Thy perfect work in me; and Thine abounding grace afford.
—William T. Matson

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 25 to 26:51; Prov. 22:17 to 23:11; Luke 1:26-56

 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee: Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.    Isaiah 26:3-4

 

If we are not enjoying the promised “perfect peace,” it may be that we are more occupied with our faith, rather than with the God in whom our faith is anchored. As we remain firmly focused on the Lord, our enjoyment of His peace grows stronger. He is the only source of unending strength. Therefore “Trust ye in the Lord for ever!”   
—George Hall

 

Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest:
Finding as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
—Frances R. Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 23:27-24:25; Prov. 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

 

In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.    Ephesians 1:7

 

The gospel is an on going business. It is an abiding fact from the past; our sins are gone. Calvary secured that. It continues to work in our lives on a daily basis as under the control of the indwelling Spirit, we seek to live in accordance with His righteous guidance. And it opens up a bright future when with glorified bodies we experience our Redeemer’s mighty power as He raises us to meet him forever.        —Drew Craig

And soon the happy day shall come,
When we shall reach our destined home and see him face to face; 
Then with our Saviour, Master, Friend,
The glad eternity we’ll spend, and celebrate His grace. —L. Mason