Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 28:15-43; Psalms 74-75; Acts 16:16-40

 

Put on the whole armour of God… Praying always. Eph. 6:11, 18

Men ought always to pray and not faint. Luke 18:1

 

General “Stonewall” Jackson once said, “I do not open a letter or seal one; I do not begin a class session or end one without first praying.” When someone asked, “What if you forget?”, his reply was “Forget? That would be like forgetting to breathe.” When we have the whole armour of God we are well equipped soldiers. But if the best equipped soldier fails to breathe he will faint and become useless. Do you want to be an effective soldier? Don’t forget to pray. —Ken Gross

 

Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?
When you met with great temptation, did you think to pray?
When sore trials came upon you, did you think to pray? —M. A. Kidder

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 27:20 to 28:14; Psalm 73; Acts 15:36 to 16:15

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

 

Because the Lord is essentially and unchangeably good, we can count upon His goodness towards us, even in our “day of trouble.” Our difficult times often demonstrate how strong and caring He is! In His “strong hold” we are both sheltered and secure. Ultimately, our trust in Him will be fully vindicated. —George Hall

How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend!
His love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end. —Joseph Hart

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 26:31 to 27:19; Psalm 72; Acts 15:22-35

 

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord and He shall save thee. Proverbs 20:22

 

Waiting and being patient is difficult at the best of times, but is especially so when thoughts of recompense and revenge are concerned. When Christians suffer wrong it is known to the Lord, and we must leave the outcome to Him. This is exactly what the Lord did at the height of His ignomy and shame (1 Peter 2:23).—Brian Russell

There’s a man in the glory whose life is for me,
He overcame Satan and can defend me.
In life He is reigning; how kingly is He!
His Life in the glory, my life must be. —A. Anderson

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 26:1-30; Psalms 70-71; Acts 15:1-21

 

He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them… and while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50-51

 

Bethlehem; Bethabara; Bethsaida; Bethesda; Bethphage; Bethany. These are the places in the New Testament whose names begin with “Beth,” meaning “The house of,” and they seem to chart the course of our Lord’s life and ministry from Bethlehem where He came in, to Bethany where He went out. At Bethabara He was baptised; at Bethsaida He called a few fishermen to be His companions; at Bethesda, He healed a helpless man; at Bethphage they would have made Him King, but He traveled on to Bethany to return to glory. —Jim Flanigan

Thus, Lord, we love to trace Thy course, to mark where Thou hast trod,
And follow Thee with loving eye, up to the throne of God. —M. Wylie

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 25; Psalm 69; Acts 14

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

 

God’s Word is important to us. It reveals the mind of our heavenly Father in all areas of our life. The Scriptures are profitable to us “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” Let us remember to appreciate His Word, to appropriate its teachings and to apply what we have learned so that we may “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” —Bob Cretney

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty:
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.—P. P. Bliss

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 24; Psalm 68; Acts 13:26-52

O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Psalm 104:24

 

This verse is engraved on a plaque in the information centre at the Grand Canyon. This 300 mile long steep sided canyon, carved out by the Colorado River, draws millions of visitors each year who stand in awe at the spectacle. This is just one example of the power of God in creation. Have we stood in awe at God’s greatest work as seen in the death of Christ at Calvary? —Brian Powlesland

Father Almighty, wonderful Lord,
Wondrous Creator, be ever adored:
Wonders of nature sing praise to you;
Wonder of wonders, I may praise too.—A poem, also on the plaque.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come. 1 Corinthians 11:26

 

Many will remember the Lord today in His own appointed way. We rejoice that what we do today is not permanent but temporary. Once more and yet once less, we remember Him in this way. We know not, it could be the last time we gather in such a manner. One day there will be no more need of the emblems as the One of whom they speak we shall see face to face and be with for all eternity. Surely we can unite and say today, the best is yet to come! —John M. Clegg

For the words that tell of home; pointing us beyond the tomb,
“Do ye this, until I come!” We give Thee thanks, O Lord. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66-67; Acts 13:1-25

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

 

We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

 

Believers around the planet are keenly anticipating the promised rapture, when living and dead Christians will be summoned to the skies. It will happen when least expected, in the “twinkling of an eye,” the smallest conceivable period of time, but it will happen. For every believer in Christ, that event will signal a change for eternity, “for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53). Praise God, it will happen in the “twinkling of an eye.” —Arnot P. McIntee

 

O child of God, thy lot may be, oft mixed with trial, grief and pain;
Look up, he’ll surely come for thee: He says, “I’ll quickly, come again.” —T. D. W. Muir

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

 

Though one may enjoy traveling the world wide, invariably the wanderer concludes there is no place on earth like home. The anticipation grows stronger as the journey nears the end. Is it not exceedingly more so for the Bride of Christ? As she comes to the end of life’s road—she rejoices that she will soon be in her eternal dwelling place and with Him for evermore. —E. MacLelland

Home, where the Bridegroom takes the purchase of His love;
Home, where the Father waits to welcome her above;
Praise God, I’m going Home. —Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:18-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

 

For by Him were all things created… And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (are held together). Col. 1:16-17

 

Our God is the Maker and Maintainer of the universe—the Organiser and Controller. The galaxies in their appointed places; the planets in their orbits; the oceans in their mighty valleys; the rivers rushing to the seas; the mountains arching to the sky, are all a testimony to Him! As for us, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He is not taken by surprise as the events of history unfold nor at the advances of science and learning. He is there behind it all in His sovereign majesty and to us, His own, we are secure in His keeping. —Drew Craig

Great God of wonders! All Thy ways display Thine attributes divine;
But the bright glories of Thy grace, above Thine other wonders shine.—Samuel Davies