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DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 7:12 to 8:20; Eccl. 9:11 to 10:20; Luke 8:40-56

 

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

 

Isaiah recalled his meeting with the Lord, as he thought of the death of King Uzziah, in 740 BC. In that year he had seen a leprous King, and the King of Kings. He saw the mortal and the immortal. He saw the passing and the permanent. Those sights changed the direction and purpose of his life (vs 9). I hope you have had such a life-changing experience when you accepted the Lord Jesus. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). What has changed for God’s glory since the day of your conversion? —Arnot P. McIntee

Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.—Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 6 to 7:11; Eccl. 8 to 9:10; Luke 8:22-39

 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

 

We were talking to a neighbour recently when he made the comment that he was going to be here forever and ever. He and others may wish it so, but that will not make it a reality. The truth is far from it. If there is one thing that is certain, it is that every day we live is a day nearer to when we will leave this earth and pass into eternity. Are you ready to meet God, if that day is today? —J. Fleming

I am walking home to heaven,
Jesus is the only way,
Through His cross I found forgiveness
And I’ll see His face one day. —J. Fleming

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 5; Ecclesiastes 7; Luke 8:1-21

 

And they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! Matthew 27:29

 

How callously men mocked our Lord’s Kingship! They gave Him a crown, but of thorns; they gave Him a scarlet robe; they gave Him a sceptre, just a reed in His right hand; they gave Him homage, bowing the knee in mock obeisance; they gave Him a title, King of the Jews, not knowing that He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Today His people exalt Him, who is enthroned in the heavens. —Jim Flanigan

The head that once was crowned with thorns,
Is crowned with glory now.
A royal diadem adorns,
The mighty Victor’s brow. —Thomas Kelly

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 4; Ecclesiastes 5-6; Luke 7:30-50

 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

 

The eagle is admired for its awesome power and the grace with which it soars to tremendous heights. Turbulent winds only cause him to fly higher and faster. This great bird has even been known to carry on its strong wings another eagle to safety. Would you dear Christian desire this free liberty and strength? Then “wait upon the Lord.”—E. MacLelland

Too oft a-weary and discouraged,
We pour a sad complaint;
Believing in a living Saviour;
Why should we ever faint? —G. M. J.

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 3; Eccl. 3:16 to 4:16; Luke 7:1-29

 

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14

 

Three times in this Psalm, David responds from his heart. In the face of war he declares, “My heart shall not fear” (vs. 3). In prayer, he answers, “My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek'” (vs.8). He comes through it all and says, “I would have lost heart unless I had believed” (vs. 13). May our prayer be: “Oh God, give us a fearless heart. Oh God, give us a seeking heart. Oh God, give us a faithful heart.” Then, wait for the Lord’s answer. “He shall strengthen thine heart.” —Rex Trogdon

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly it’s part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest. —Lina Sandell Berg

 

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 2; Eccl. 2:12 to 3:15; Luke 6:20-49

…shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Job 2:10

 

Do you at times feel that life has been unfair to you? Tragedy strikes in your life: the loss of a job, the loss of your health, the death of a loved one. You may feel that God is not treating you fairly and you wallow in self pity. We need to be realistic. We live in a fallen world where there is sin, sickness, sorrow and death. This is the lot of fallen man. But as a Christian you know you are forgiven; you know God is with you and for you. And you know that in heaven God will wipe away all tears from your eyes. So be brave and endure trials, knowing God is with you. —Donald L. Norbie

 

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer. —Joseph Scriven

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 1; Eccl. 1 to 2:11; Luke 6:1-19

 

For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

 

We constantly read about the Lord’s compassion. He had compassion on the multitudes because they were as sheep having no shepherd. He had compassion on the possessed and diseased and healed them. But the compassion of the Saviour continues even as He sits in heaven. We read that as our great High Priest He can be “touched.” What a comfort to know that the Lord feels with us, and for us, and that He fully understands what we are going through, and “He is able to succour them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:18). —W. H. Burnett

 

Touched with a sympathy within, He knows our feeble frame,
He knows what sore temptations are, for He endured the same. —I. Watts

 

 

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

Yea the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Psalm 84:3

 

In speaking of the altars, the psalmist is referring to the total confines of the temple. The sparrow (a small bird) and the swallow (a restless bird) knew where their protection was—the house of God. Here they were protected from harm and danger. It was there they raised their young. Christians that raise their children in association with God’s house are wise, for there they will find protection from sinful influences. —Robert E. Surgenor

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There, by His love o’ershadowed, sweetly my soul shall rest. —Fanny J. Crosby

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

 

In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills is His also. Psalm 95:4

 

In October 2010, people rejoiced at the triumph of the human spirit as 33 Chilean miners were all safely rescued from the deep places of the earth. The human spirit there was greatly influenced by the miners’ faith in God and earnest prayers by family and friends. A Christian friend of one of the miners sponsored the t-shirts the men wore as they surfaced. On the front it said “Thank you, Lord.” On the back were the words of the above verse. Our media avoids any recognition of faith in God. Yet God’s goodness will receive testimony. How good to see Him acknowledged and honoured. —Brian Powlesland

High in the heav’ns, eternal God, Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud, that darkens Thy designs.—Isaac Watts

 

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

 

I will praise the name of God with a song; and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy. Revelation 5:9

 

From ages past until events yet to come, one of the best ways to praise and magnify God is in song. In David’s case, it was one man praising God by singing. In this Revelation scene, it is the hosts of the redeemed praising the Lamb for redeeming them “to God, by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9). Today, many believers will gather in smaller numbers to sing his praises. When the assembly of God’s people gather to sing and praise the Lamb, will you be in their number? Don’t pass up the opportunity. —Ken Gross

I will sing of my Redeemer, and His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me free. —P. Bliss