Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 8; Psalm 108; Mark 1:1-20

 

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody.    1 Peter 4:15

 

If I swim with alligators and suffer wounds, I am not suffering as a believer, I am suffering as a fool! If I slip on ice and break my leg, I am not suffering as a believer or a fool, I am suffering as a victim. Here Peter suggests four other things that should never be equated with saintly suffering: a murderer who steals peoples’ lives; a thief who steals peoples’ things; an evildoer who steals peoples’ peace; and a busybody who steals peoples’ privacy. If I am held accountable for any of these, I am suffering as a sinner. There is shame if I suffer for these; but no shame if I suffer for Christ (v. 16).    —Norman Craig Funston

 

Keep me ever close to Thee, blessèd Saviour, dear to me, With Thy cords of love so tender, bind and keep me close to Thee. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 7:11-38; Psalm 107; Acts 28:17-31

 

For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.    1 Chronicles 15:13, (NKJV)

 

The Israelites were celebrating before the Lord. They “played music before God with all their might, with singing” (1 Chron. 13:8). But when Uzza reached out to steady the ark, he was struck down for not repecting God’s holiness. There are those who think we can approach the Lord and worship Him however we choose, as long as our “hearts are right.” Right hearts are critical, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His Word outlines His expectations. We would do well to respect the Lord, learn what He desires, and do it.    —J. Lee

 

Gathered to Thy name Lord Jesus, losing sight of all but Thee;
Oh what joy Thy presence brings us; calling up our hearts to Thee.
—C. A. Wellesley

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 6:8 to 7:10; Psalm 106; Acts 28:1-16

 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in Thee.    Isaiah 26:3

 

The apostle Paul knew what it was to endure the most stressful of conditions and was well qualified to tell us how to face them. Writing to the Philippians he said “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). May we learn, not only to take our cares to Him, but also to leave them with Him.    —W. H. Burnett

 

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear!
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer. —Joseph Scriven

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 5:14 to 6:7; Psalm 105; Acts 27:27-44

 

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.    1 Corinthians 15:56-57

 

Our sins have been forgiven and the sting of death has been removed. The law that sentenced us to death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54). Now we anticipate the joyful songs of the believer as we rise to meet the Lord in the air, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory.” This is ultimate victory! As we await the day of resurrection, let us be thankful in anticipation of His coming. As we wait for Him may we be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).    —Jim Comte

 

The victory is ours! For us in might came forth the mighty One;
For us He fought the fight, the triumph won: the victory is ours!
— Horatius Bonar

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 4:27 to 5:13; Psalm 104; Acts 27:1-26

 

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.    1 Timothy 6:7

 

I have yet to see a moving trailer behind a hearse. Someone said, “There are three times in life when we have empty hands: at birth, at the time we come to Jesus, and at death.” We are here as stewards, not owners. We are pilgrims passing through. Don’t put your tent pegs down too far.    —Robert Gentile

 

Yes, the prize shall now be given,
We His open face shall see;
Love, the earnest of our heaven,
Love, our full reward shall be;
Love shall crown us kings through all eternity!
—C. Wesley

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 4:1-26; Psalm 103; Acts 26:19-32

 

For when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.    Romans 5:6

 

We have an aversion to guilty men going free! That very situation lies at the heart of the gospel of grace. The law says, “Condemn and kill him.” Grace says, “Pardon and save him.” God’s law shuts man out from His presence. Grace opens the door to a new and living way, right to the throne room of God. However, we must never forget at what cost—the giving of God’s one and only Son.    —Drew Craig

 

Pardon from an offended God! Pardon for sins of deepest die!
Pardon bestowed through Jesus blood! Pardon that brings the rebel nigh!
Who is a pardoning God like thee or who has grace so rich and free?
—John Newton

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 3; Psalm 102; Acts 26:1-18

 

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.    Ruth 2:20

When Ruth returned from gleaning in Boaz’s field, she showed Naomi what she had brought home. Upon seeing it Naomi was moved to lift up her heart in praise to God for His kindness. Do our words and actions cause thanksgiving to rise to God as others realize what He has done for us at Calvary? Do we manifest God’s blessings to us so that others are moved to praise?     —G. Frear

 

Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory. —J. Schutz

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 2; Psalms 99-101; Acts 25:13-27

 

I exhort therefore, that … supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority.    1 Timothy 2:1-2

 

I would have found it difficult to pray for Nero, even as today I find it difficult to pray for those in authority who are godless and enemies of the cross of Christ. We may feel that our prayers are ineffective on behalf of such, especially that they might place their faith in Christ. However, as J. Sidlow Baxter once said, “Men may spurn our appeal, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.” Remember, there is power in prayer to change people and things.    —W. Ross Rainey

With prayer my humble praise I bring, for mercies day by day;
Lord! Teach my heart Thy love to sing. Lord! teach me how to pray.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 1; Psalms 96-98; Acts 24:24 to 25:12

 

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue.
Numbers 15:38

 

At Kadesh-barnea the Jews doubted God’s Word and were barred from entering Canaan for forty years. They were then commanded to include a blue cord in their garments to remind them not to lust after unholy things and to obey God. Without reminders we often forget important matters. We remember the Lord and the value of His death by keeping the Lord’s Supper. Like the cord of blue, it is a precious reminder while we wait for our inheritance!    —W. A. H.

 

Wicked men, Thy law forsaking, stirred my indignation strong;
For in all my pilgrim journey, Thy commandments are my song.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 40; Psalms 94-95; Acts 24:1-23

 

What shall we say?    Romans 3:5, 4:1, 6:1, 7:7, 8:31, 9:14, 9:30

 

Methods for gathering public opinion abound. But with Christian truth, we need to beware of allowing opinion to supersede Scripture. The line-upon-line construction of Romans brings us back repeatedly to this point: our thoughts about divine things must ever be formed by Scripture, not deduced from them. The faulty human mind (1 Cor. 2:14) and the fraudulent human heart (Jer. 17:9) must always be in submission to God’s Word.    —Rick Morse

 

Look upon us blessed Lord,
Take our wandering thoughts and guide us;
We have come to hear Thy Word,
With Thy teaching now provide us.
—Tobias Clausnitzer