Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 8-9; Habakkuk 1; Romans 14:19 to 15:13

 

 

Redeemed… by the precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:15-16

 

The redeeming blood was poured out; but the Redeemer lives. The Redeemer died, but the virtue of His shed blood lives eternally. Through it He put away sin and now it is vanquished. His sacrificial blood will eternally be remembered. According to His gracious command, it is our privilege to gather today and drink the wine, thus remembering that blood and the Saviour who gave it. —Doug Kazen

O precious blood, O glorious death,
By which the sinner lives;
When stung by sin this blood we view;
And all our joy revives. —Augustus M. Toplady

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 7; Nahum 2-3; Romans 14:1-18

 

And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John 20:7

 

In Hebrew tradition, a servant knew when the master of the house had finished his meal because he would crumple up his napkin and lay it down on the table. If the master left his table and laid down a neatly folded napkin, it meant – “I’ll be back.” What a wonderful statement was made in the tomb of our Lord who left a neatly folded napkin where His head had been. Had those who looked into the tomb thought about what they had seen, perhaps the truth would have dawned on them that He’ll be back! —Brian Powlesland

 

Christ hath risen! Hallelujah! Friends of Jesus, dry your tears;
Through the veil of gloom and darkness, Lo, the Son of God appears!—F. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 6; Nahum 1; Romans 13

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

 

God has not given us a spirit or disposition of fear or cowardice that we should despair and let the flame of our devotion to Christ burn low in times of danger. Rather, God has given to us His “power” which is more than adequate for every need; His “love” which leads to noble deeds and does not shrink from sacrifice on behalf of others; and a “sound mind,” that is, a sane, well-balanced, disciplined mind that guides our power and applies intelligently the expression of our love. It is human to fear, but better to be like Isaiah of old who said, “I will trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). —W. Ross Rainey

Who trusts in God, a strong abode, in Heav’n and earth possesses;
Who looks in love to Christ above, no fear his heart oppresses.—Joachim Magdeburg

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 4-5; Micah 7; Romans 12

 

 

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15

 

Like a race set before us, Peter sounds three calls. First be set apart by sanctifying the Lord God in our hearts. We are to be separated unto Him and set apart from the world. He makes the difference. Second, be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for your hope in Christ. Would to God that more would ask! Finally, our answers should be from the heart. Tell of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. It is Christ in us, the hope of glory! Join the race today. —Rex Trogdon

May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus, as I onward go. —K. B. Wilkinson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 3; Micah 6; Romans 11:13-36

 

He was there in the wilderness… with the wild beasts. Jesus of Nazareth… I know Thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Mark 1:13, 24

 

It has well been said that the beasts left upon Him no mark of tooth or claw. When He went back to heaven the only marks upon Him were put there by men. Wild beasts and demons recognised what men did not, that the lowly Jesus of Nazareth was the Lord of creation, the Holy One of God. —Jim Flanigan

To Him whom men despise and slight,
To Him be glory given;
The crown is His, and His by right,
The highest place in heaven. —Thomas Kelly

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 2; Micah 4:9 to 5:15; Romans 11:1-12

 

Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? John 21:16

 

Searching words these! Under pressure, Peter had denied that He knew the Lord. Afterward He had wept bitterly and felt himself a failure. He had been a bold, confident leader of the disciples. But he had fallen short. Now the Lord probes his heart. Peter, you failed but deep in your heart, do you love Me? Maybe you have gone through a similar experience of failing the Lord. But at heart do you love the Lord and want to live for Him? If so, then with Peter, you can be assured of forgiveness and future usefulness to God. Learn from your failure and then go on for God. —Donald L. Norbie

O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow,
May richer, fuller be. —George Matheson

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 1; Micah 3 to 4:8; Romans 9:30 to 10:21

 

The just shall live by faith. Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38

 

Climbing hundreds of steps on his hands and knees, the place still stands in Rome where Martin Luther did penance for his sins—or so he thought. Some time later, by the grace of God, the truth of God was revealed to his anxious soul, “The just shall live by faith!” Working will not save you, weeping will not save you, praying will not save you. It is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. —E. MacLelland

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead. —Lidie H. Edmunds

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 30-31; Micah 1-2; Romans 9:1-29

 

He bowed His head, and gave up the spirit. John 19:30

 

Perfect submission to the Father’s will meant making Himself of no reputation; being made in the likeness of men; despised and rejected of men; stricken, smitten of God and afflicted; and then at the end He bowed His head in death, even the death of the cross. It was for the Father’s will, but His submission brought virtue to us too! Where would we be if He had not bowed His head that day! —E. N.

O Head once filled with bruises, oppressed with pain and scorn,
O’erwhelmed with sore abuses, mocked with a crown of thorn!
O Head to death once wounded, in shame upon the tree,
In glory now surrounded, with brightest majesty!
Grant us to lean unshaken, upon Thy faithfulness;
Until to glory taken, we see Thee face to face. —Paul Gerhardt

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 28-29; Isaiah 66; Romans 8:18-39

 

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12:15

 

The Lord’s Supper is not the time or place for personal introspection. The preparation for the Passover feast required getting rid of leaven in the house for a week before the actual Passover. Leaven symbolizes sin and we need to prepare our hearts by dealing with our failures during the week prior to our remembrance feast. The examination comes first and then, “so let him eat.” —David M. McCulloch

Nothing between my soul and the Saviour,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favour,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between. —Charles A. Tindley

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 26-27; Isaiah 65; Romans 8:1-17

 

And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 1 Samuel 4:10

 

What led to the worst loss of life in the history of Israel? God’s people engaged an enemy that feared God more than they did! The Jews believed that the Ark of the Covenant would save them from defeat (1 Sam. 4:3), instead of trusting the One who gave them the Ark. Religiosity always replaces the Lord with broken cisterns and empty wells. There are no “good luck charms” for believers. We are at war with a fierce enemy. With the Lord we can do all things (Phil. 4:13), and without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). —Warren A. Henderson

 

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! —J. Neander