Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 13; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Cor. 12:14 to 13:14

 

 

The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity. Isaiah 57:15

The place, which is called Calvary. Luke 23:33

 

Eternity and Calvary are two profound subjects. Together they are central to the theme of every Gospel message. The idea of Calvary arose in eternity, in the heart of God. Mankind will be divided into two classes in eternity because of Calvary. What you do with the Man of Calvary now determines where you will spend eternity. For the believer, eternity will be spent with the Man of Calvary. For those who reject the love of Calvary a lost eternity awaits. —Milton Haack

I am redeemed, O praise the Lord;
My soul from bondage free,
Has found at last a resting place,
In Him who died for me. —Fanny J. Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 11-12; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Cor. 12:1-13

 

Then Ruth… said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes that thou shouldest take knowledge of me seeing I am a stranger? Ruth 2:10

 

Recently, a young girl chose these verses for her baptism as a testimony to her unsaved family. It has been suggested that Ruth here poses one of two unanswerable questions in the Bible. Let us follow Ruth’s example and bow in worship at the feet of the One who took knowledge of us when we were strangers and showed us His amazing grace. —M. MacMullen

The love of God! O power divine! Tis wonderful to see;
The miracle of grace performed within the heart of me.
I believe in miracles I’ve seen a soul set free,
Miraculous the change in one redeemed by Calvary. —C. Buck

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 9:15 to 10:27; Isaiah 50 to 51:8; 2 Cor. 11

 

 

For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand; He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:7

But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

 

Admittedly the experiences of the wilderness aren’t necessarily the most pleasant at times. Yet the sovereign Lord has permitted them for our learning. If we realize that He knows all about our daily trek, and that these experiences are simply part of the refining process, it surely will make a difference in our daily outlook on life. —William Gustafson

Following Jesus, ever day by day,
Nothing can harm me when He leads the way. —L. Weaver

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 8 to 9:14; Isaiah 49; 2 Cor. 10

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

 

There are times when we don’t know why God allows certain events in our life. After thirteen years I received the joyous news from my doctor that I was expecting. The very next morning the unexpected happened and I lost the baby. Overwhelmed with grief, I was comforted with the fact that the Lord was in control. When faced with seemingly unbearable circumstances, let us remember, “My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15). —J. Garner

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end.—Louisa M. R. Stead

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 6-7; Isaiah 48; 2 Corinthians 9

 

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? James 2:7

 

The worthy name is “Christ.” The word “called” here is sometimes translated “surname.” That means it was used as a title. Of the early Church it is said, “They were [surnamed] Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). We too should identify ourselves by His name. There were no believers known then by special names—just Christians. I have been saved for fifty-eighty years and have done much door to door visitation. I have always identified myself as a Christian only. One that belongs to Christ. How precious! —Harold G. Smith

There is a name I love to hear, I love to speak its worth,
It sounds like music in mine ear, the sweetest name on earth.—Frederick Whitfield

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 4-5; Isaiah 47; 2 Corinthians 8

 

 

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5

Time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11

 

A discouraged Solomon observed that all people are victims of time and chance. Not so, says Agur; those who put their trust in God and His word are shielded from happenstance. Our goings are of the Lord. What comfort and peace we have as children of God, knowing that our every step is planned and shielded by our heavenly Father.—D. Pickup

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine,
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ‘tis Thy hand that leadeth me! —Joseph H. Gilmore

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 3; Isaiah 46; 2 Corinthians 6:11 to 7:16

 

 

And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight. Luke 24:31

 

Luke’s Gospel commences with two people (Joseph and Mary) travelling from Jerusalem thinking that the Lord was with them, and He was not. The Gospel concludes with two people travelling from Jerusalem, not knowing that the Lord was with them, and He was! It is easy to lose the joy of His presence when we are complacent about our faith. Conversely in times of sorrow we can think He is far from us. The answer to both situations is to spend time with our Bible and thus we can fellowship with our Lord and have Him reveal more of Himself to us. —Robert E. Surgenor

More about Jesus would I know, more of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fulness see, more of His love who died for me.—Eliza E. Hewitt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 2; Isaiah 44:24 to 45:25; 2 Cor. 5:11 to 6:10

 

 

And he cast down the pieces of silver… and went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:5

And they bought with them the potter’s field. Matthew 27:7

 

What a tragic ending Judas had. For three years the Lord had sought to mould his life, like a potter moulds clay. Finally the clay was too hard and had to be rejected. Judas committed suicide and was buried in the place set aside for strangers. Will you respond to the claims of Christ upon your life before your heart becomes hardened by sin? If you continue to reject the Saviour you will end up on the “rubbish heap of eternity.” Friend, don’t become another wasted life—a stranger to God. —David Croudace

 

I’ve wasted many precious years, now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears, Lord I’m coming home. —W. J. Kirkpatrick

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 1; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7 to 5:10

 

 

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Lamentations 1:12

 

This verse draws our thoughts to the sorrow of our blessed Lord on the cross. What anguish was His there in the darkness! Will we ever comprehend it—God turning His face away from Him? Why? “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). —Sid Halsband

Jesus, my Saviour, died, nailed to the tree,
Cruelly crucified, stricken for me!
Darkness there shut Him in! God judged Him for my sin!
Jesus my soul to win, died there for me! —F. Allaben

 

DAILY?READINGS: Ruth 3-4; Isaiah 43 to 44:5; 2 Corinthians 3 to 4:6

 

 

We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him… And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself. 1 John. 3:2, 3a

 

Christ’s return is certain. It is a reality in which we can have complete confidence. That confidence is two-fold. He shall appear and we shall be like him. Since Our Lord is holy, when He comes, we will be made as pure as He is. Being confident this will happen should move us to action. John reminds us that those who long for His return will purify themselves in preparation for the event. Will we demonstrate our belief in His return by purifying ourselves? —Ken Gross

And is it so, I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory—thought beyond all thought!
In glory to His own blessed likeness brought! —J. N. Darby