Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 6; Zechariah 1; Revelation 11

All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come
upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth
himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the
locks of the hair of his head grow. Numbers 6:5

The Nazarite was to be different in the sight of men. So too godly
Christians are to be different in the eyes of the world. We are ambassadors
of Christ. We are children of God. We are joint-heirs with Christ,
the possessors of unsearchable riches. Our kingdom is not of this
world. Our reserved inheritance is in heaven. We are not just different—
we are vastly different. Worldliness is absent and immodesty is
not present. What you do see is Christ! May it be so. —R. E. Surgenor

Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus, long ere time its race began;
To His name eternal praises, O what wonders love hath done! —John Kent

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 5; Haggai 2; Revelation 10

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art
my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Ps. 40:17

“A penny for your thoughts,” is a fitting expression for one who is
poor and needy. And what thoughts his penny affords, to find the
Lord is thinking about him! What kind of thoughts? Isaiah says they
are “higher than ours” (Isaiah 55:9), while the psalmist says that they
are “very deep” (Ps. 92:5), “precious and innumerable as the sand”
(Ps. 139:17-18). Surely we might ask, “What is man that Thou art
mindful of him?” Yet daily He proves that He is. —Rex Trogdon

Oh, the peace forever flowing,
From God’s thoughts of His own Son!
Oh, the peace of simply knowing,
On the cross that all was done! —A. P. Cecil

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 4; Haggai 1; Revelation 9

My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to
stand before Him, to serve Him, and that ye should minister unto
Him, and burn incense. 2 Chronicles 29:11

Ahaz had reigned 16 years in Jerusalem, and he did not honour the
Lord. Then Hezekiah came to the throne, with a desire to please the
Lord. The temple had to be cleansed. The priests had to be sanctified.
The sacrifices had to be resumed. It was a lot of work! But God is particular.
The road to recovery is not an easy one. There are no shortcuts
for God. Negligence will not do. If you would be revived, you
need to begin the cleansing process today. —Doug Kazen

My Master, lead me to Thy door; pierce this now willing ear once more:
Thy bonds are freedom; let me stay with Thee to toil, endure, obey. —Anon.

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 3; Daniel 12; Revelation 8

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13

The context of this well-loved verse is actually a paragraph on the
subject of contentment. Paul is writing from a prison cell and says he
has learned how to be content, no matter what his circumstances.
What is the secret to contentment? It is not about having all our plans
in order, assurance of our next paycheque, etc. It is facing and accepting
life’s hard times and good times through Christ’s strength. Our
circumstances are immaterial. He is all in all. We need Him for every
detail of life. —Dennis Easton

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. —Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

DAILY READINGS: Nehemiah 1-2; Daniel 11:21-45; Revelation 7

Much people…came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might
see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief
priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and
believed on Jesus. John 12:9-11

From the grave to the supper table, Jesus had raised Lazarus from
the dead. Many came to see him and believed on Jesus as a result.
Lazarus was a living witness. Has this same Jesus given eternal life to
you? Are you a witness to his life-giving power? Do others believe
after seeing your new life? Oh that we would consistently show others
what Christ can do for those who once were dead. —Ken Gross

Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do.
Seeking the lost He died to redeem, bringing the weary to find rest in Him.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 10; Daniel 11:1-20; Revelation 6

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding
profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so
called. 1 Timothy 6:20

If a friend entrusts to my care a valuable item of his property, my
duty is to guard it most carefully until the day comes when he
requests its return. In Biblical terms, I have become a “steward”, and
I am obligated to act always in the best interests of the owner (see 1
Cor. 4:2). In the spiritual realm, God “makes a deposit” of varying
kinds, with each of his children. There is a pointed, personal challenge
in today’s text. Am I “guarding the deposit” diligently, and putting
it to good use, for his glory? —G. Hall

All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief through life, O Lord, for Thee! —S. D. Phelps

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 9; Daniel 10; Revelation 5

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace
be with you. Amen. Colossians 4:18

In many parts of the world today, those who are faithfully following
in the footsteps of their Lord are persecuted and delivered to
prison. Some are made martyrs and their family members taken
away. Others flee from their oppressors in fear, their properties razed
to the ground and their possessions seized. Your footprints may not
be theirs, but let us remember their bonds and pray for them today.
—K. C. Ung

Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas? —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 8; Daniel 9; Revelation 4

He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD
is gracious and full of compassion. Psalms 111:4

The Lord is gracious. Grace is a divine attribute and if you want a
definition, don’t look in a dictionary, look at the Man of Calvary. His
person is where grace shines in its fullness. “Heaven’s best died for
earth’s worst.” Grace is unmerited, free, and abounding love. By it
we are justified, sanctified and glorified. Grace saved us from the
penalty of sin and reconciles us to God. All the divine attributes are
equal, but grace draws our fervent attention, because it introduces us
to the Man of Calvary. —Milton Haack

Grace! ’tis a charming sound, harmonious to the ear;
Heaven with the echo shall re-sound, and all the earth shall hear.
—P. Dodderidge

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 7; Daniel 8; Revelation 3:7-22

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest;
and how can we know the way? John 14:5

Thomas, asked a vital question concerning our eternal destiny.
There are two ways into eternity, the narrow way that leads unto life,
and the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7). It is heaven or
hell for eternity. A most solemn thought. Be not deceived for “There
is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death” (Prov. 16:25). Reformation, religion, good works, and
sincerity are some of the ways that seem right, but are false. There is
only one way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:6). —R. E. Surgenor

Yes Jesus is the Truth, the Way, that leads you into rest.
Believe in Him without delay, and you are fully blest. —John H. Stockton