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DAILY READINGS: Gen. 38; Psalms 15-16; Matt. 21:33 to 22:14

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus…and they stripped
Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a
crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right
hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked Him, saying,
Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and took the
reed, and smote Him on the head. Matthew 27:27-30

The despised representative of the Roman government was presented
a crown of gold when he first entered Jerusalem! But the King
of Kings was mocked with a crown of thorns; a sceptre made of a
flimsy reed, and spittle for anointing oil! Meditating on this should
cause me to crown Him King of all I have and am. —D. Croudace

King of my life I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow, lead me to Calvary. —J. E. Hussey

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 37; Psalms 11-14; Matt. 21:1-32

I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9

The door to the chicken coop was open. But as I turned to walk
home, I couldn’t help but notice two chickens that were flapping
their wings and flying at the walls and roof of the building, attempting
to get out. All that effort for nothing. The door was open. It made
me think of those people who are working so hard in the hope that
they may reach heaven, when the door is wide open. Jesus died on
the cross and His blood can cleanse us from sin. Why not enter
through the Door and trust Jesus today? —J. Fleming

Christ is the door that leads to life, to purpose and to heaven,
So come and trust in Him today, and you will be forgiven. —J. Fleming

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 36; Psalms 9-10; Matt. 20:17-34

But Peter said unto Him, Although all shall be offended, yet will
not I. Mark 14:29
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of
whom ye speak. Mark 14:71

It has been pointed out that Peter made four errors which we often
make. He boasted too much. He prayed too little (14:32-42). He acted
too hastily (14:46-49). He thought too late (14:70-72). When he heard
the cock crow, he realized where his impulsive life had led him. By
God’s grace may we seek to avoid Peter’s mistakes. —W. Ross Rainey

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts I pray.
See if there be, some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free. —J. Edwin Orr

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 35; Psalms 7-8; Matt. 19:16 to 20:16

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God. Hebrews 11:10
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27

These were men of faith, who knew that “without faith it is impossible
to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). Abraham saw an invisible city.
Moses saw the invisible God. Life was not easy for these men, and life
is not always easy for us. Lift up your eyes to the eternal city and
daily covet the communion of Him who is invisible. —Jim Comte

While through this changing world below
I would not choose my path to go;
‘Tis the Father’s hand that leadeth me,
Then O how safe His child must be. —Ida L. Cornett

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 33:18 to 34:31; Psalms 4-6; Matt. 19:1-15

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah:
but the LORD had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked
her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up
her womb. 1 Samuel 1:5-6

Hannah’s infertility elicited two responses from her intimates.
Attempting to assuage her agony, Elkanah gave her “a worthy portion”.
On the contrary, Peninah tormented her at every turn. During
Paul’s imprisonment, some tried to add to his pain while others
helped (Phil. 1:16, 17). In life’s trials, some rejoice at our calamities,
but if we are truly saints, we should “bear one another’s burdens and
so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). —Keith Keyser

Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God. —J. Olearius

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 32 to 33:17; Psalms 1-3; Matt. 18:15-35

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch
in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:1-2

Ed Lawrence, a prominent Canadian horticulturist, gave five principles
for pruning plants: anything that is dead, damaged, diseased,
dangerous, or not desirable must be removed. The result is a healthier,
stronger, more beautiful and more fruitful plant. What a comfort
to know that, as the Master Gardener tends to us, He only removes
what He knows is for our good. He is growing us into what He
desires us to be, conformed to the image of His Son. —L. Shatford

I am the Vine; My Father is the Gardener. Each branch that yields good
fruit, He trims and cleans, so that it will still more produce each day.—S.P.

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 31; Job 42; Matt. 17:14 to 18:14

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet;
and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Luke 4:27

Our Lord referenced this story during his earthly ministry. It all
started with the faith and testimony of a little captive girl who bore
witness to Naaman’s wife whom she served. Read the whole account
in chapter five of 2 Kings. We are never too young nor too old to tell
of the saving power of our mighty God. —E. MacLelland

Oh! The wonder of the Gospel,
Today it’s just the same,
To all who come in simple faith,
Oh, praise His Holy Name! —Unknown

 DAILY READINGS: Gen. 30; Job 40-41; Matt. 16:13 to 17:13

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be
had in reverence of all them that are about Him. Psalms 89:7

Sadly today there seems to be a lack of reverence for the Lord in
many local churches. Appealing to the listener’s emotions appears to
be the primary objective when God’s people gather. The psalmist
reminds us that we are to demonstrate reverence, respect mingled
with awe, adoration and affection to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Let this be our focus when we gather unto His name. —Bob Cretney

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity. —R. Heber

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 29; Job 38-39; Matt. 15:29 to 16:12

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying,
If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. John 7:37
For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand? Revelation 6:17

We’ve all had “great days", during our lifetime. It was so when
Jesus was present at the Feast of the Tabernacles as recorded here. For
many, it was a great day as they accepted the Water of Life, a picture
of His eternal salvation. For those refusing Him then, and today, a
day of wrath is coming. If you haven’t accepted Him, do so, today.
Do not face, “the great day of His wrath”. — Arnot McIntee

I am resolved to go to the Saviour, leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One, He has the words of life.
—P. Hartsough

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 28; Job 36-37; Matt. 15:1-28

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my
neighbour? Luke 10:29

Although asked for the wrong reason, this was a good question.
What is the answer? Anyone in need, who by the providence of God,
crosses your path and you are in a position to help. The need may be
spiritual, physical or material. Distance is not a factor and the person
may be a stranger or an enemy. Show him compassion because he is
your neighbour. Perhaps through it you will gain a brother or turn a
sinner from darkness to the light. —Milton Haack

They will not heed; they need to be sought,
They will not come; they need to be brought,
They will not know; they need to be taught.—Unknown