Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 17; Jeremiah 51:1-24; 1 Timothy 1

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed my
lambs. John 21:15

This thrice repeated question seared into Peter’s consciousness.
But the Lord had earlier given to His disciples and to us a simple test
of love for Him. “If a man love Me, he will keep My words” (John
14:23). It is remiss to profess love for Christ unless we are obedient to
the Word of God. If we love Him we will obey Him. —Doug Kazen

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my heart, my life, my all. —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 15:32 to 16:20; Jer. 50:21-46; Titus 2:9 to 3:15

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isaiah 35:3

It was a tiny chick that had gotten away from its mother. It
appeared dead apart from one eye which was slightly open. I held it
in my hands and watched again. It opened its beak. As I went about
my tasks I held that chick in my pocket. One hour later it stood and
the next day I couldn’t pick it from the rest. How many brothers and
sisters might be still following the Lord if a fellow Christian had
shown them warmth and encouragement? —J. Fleming

Comfort, comfort ye My people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load.
—Johannes G. Olearius

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 14:23 to 15:31; Jer. 50:1-20; Titus 1 to 2:8

For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son
to have life in Himself; John 5:26
As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father. John 10:15a
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the
Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
John 14:31

“Like Father, like Son” is an axiom established before time. Jesus is
so intimate with His Father that He, too, has life in Himself. He
knows everything about His Father even as His Father knows Him
and whatever the Father commanded, so the Son did. As the Father
loved His only begotten Son, so the Son loves us! —Tom Steere

E’en now from saints, in concord sweet, celestial strains of worship swell;
For O, ‘tis meet glad songs should greet, Thy heart of love, Immanuel.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 13 to 14:22; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 13:7-25

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his
compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy
faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

How thankful we should be for the freshness and beauty of each
new day! Even more impressive than the features of the planet on
which we live are the Father’s daily supply of “compassions”, freshly
provided for the needs of the unfolding day. Let us guard against
unnecessarily carrying yesterday’s anxieties into the new morning!
—G. Hall

Why should my heart then be distressed, by dread of future ill?
Or why should unbelieving fear my trembling spirit fill?
—H. A. Caesar Malan

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 11-12; Jeremiah 48; Hebrews 12:18 to 13:6

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
Gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

This is the “great Commission” given by the Lord to the disciples
and to all believers. The word “preach” has two meanings: “to
announce” and “to make known”. In the first instance some may be
called upon to publicly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. In the
second case, some may be led to witness individually to a lost soul,
whom the Lord has directed our way. Let us be ready for every
opportunity to preach the Gospel and thus fulfill our Lord’s request.
—Bob Cretney

His Gospel to the lost proclaim, good news for all in Jesus' name;
Let light upon the darkness break, that sinners from their death may wake.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 10; Jeremiah 45-47; Hebrews 12:1-17

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given
to the poor? John 12:5
What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they
covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15b

Judas was the treasurer of our Lord’s disciples and self appointed
estimator of the monetary value of things. Of the ointment that Mary
used to anoint our Lord’s feet he said, “It’s worth 300 day’s wages.”
A few days later, he would put a value on the life of Christ and agree
on 30 pieces of silver. This was equivalent to about 120 day’s wages.
What a sad commentary on his judgment! What is your estimate of
the One who gave Himself for you? —Ken Gross

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I’d rather have Him than have riches untold. —George Beverly Shea

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 9; Jeremiah 44; Hebrews 11:17-40

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never
satisfied. Proverbs 27:20

The Fraser River in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is named after
Simon Fraser who in 1808 said that the 200 million gallons of water
that flowed every minute through a narrow gorge in its path, reminded
him of the thousands every day entering the gates of hell. He
called the gorge “Hell’s Gate”. On passing by this gorge on a train, I
took comfort to observe that a few miles down stream was a little village
called “Hope”. The Gospel message brings hope for all. The
gates of hell can be avoided by trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour.
—Brian Powlesland

Thou, Lord, hast borne for me, more than my tongue can tell;
Of bitterest agony, to rescue me from hell. —F. R. Havergal

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 8; Jeremiah 42:7 to 43:13; Hebrews 11:1-16

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6b

The Lord has been all of these to us and more. Before salvation, He
was a Wonderful Counselor, meeting our need with the words of
eternal life. And He counsels us still. As the mighty God, He broke
through our hard hearts with the hammer of His Word and now
powerfully works on our behalf. As the everlasting Father, He begat
us with His word and has promised that He will remain with us forever.
As the Prince of Peace, He made it possible for us to have peace
with God and the peace of God. Oh, what a Saviour! —Mark Kolchin

The Counsellor of sinners, mighty to deliver,
The Prince of Peace, whole love’s increase,
Shall reign in Man forever. —C. Wesley

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 6:24 to 7:20; Jer. 41 to 42:6; Heb. 10:19-39

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought
away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited
on Naaman’s wife. 2 Kings 5:2

Having been taken from her home, this little maid might have
hated Naaman and wished him ill, but instead she showed concern
for her master and hoped that he might be healed. There wasn’t
much she could do, but she did what she could by witnessing to her
master’s wife. As a result her witness was both effective and blessed.
What about you and me? Have we done what we can for our Lord,
where He has placed us? Remember, little is much when God is in it.
—W. Ross Rainey

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous pow’r;
Flowing through us, Thou cans’t use us, ev’ry day and ev’ry hour.—M.E.M.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Jeremiah 39-40; Hebrews 10:1-18

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain
of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men
of Babylon. Daniel 2:14

Daniel, together with the so called wise men of Babylon, was
under a death sentence, but he did not panic or despair. He acted
with wisdom and counsel. As Christians we should be careful in the
heat of the moment not to respond hastily, in a way which could
exacerbate our problems. Take time to think things through and seek
help from the Lord before responding. He will not let you down.
—Brian Russell

Through waves and clouds and storms, His power will clear the way;
Wait thou His time; the darkest night, shall end in brightest day.
—Paul Gerhardt