Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 15-16; Job 18-19; Matt. 8:28 to 9:17

Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote
Him with the palms of their hands. Matthew 26:67

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would not hide His face from
shame and spitting, but would set it as a flint towards Jerusalem to
suffer death. The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in Matthew
26, where the Saviour’s face was anointed by a forgiven woman,
kissed by a traitor, washed by His own tears, and spat upon and buffeted
by cruel guards. The Bible concludes by foretelling of a future
day when all the redeemed will be face to face with the Lord Jesus
and will worship Him forever. Keep longing for that day!
—Warren Henderson

And shall we see Thy face, and hear Thy heavenly voice?
Well known to us in present grace; well may our hearts rejoice. —J. Darby

 DAILY READINGS: Gen. 13-14; Job 16-17; Matt. 8:1-27

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.
Matthew 17:5
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken Me? Matthew 27:46

At the end of thirty hidden years, the Father was well pleased with
His beloved Son. During His public ministry, again the Father was
well pleased with Him. But at Calvary the only begotten Son is forsaken.
The Beloved bore this for you and me! Let us worship. —J. C.

The Father gives His only Son; the Lord of Glory dies,
For us, the guilty and undone, a spotless sacrifice! —R. C. Chapman

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 11:27 to 12:20; Job 15; Matt. 7:7-29

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Jesus alone can save us because He alone does not need to be
saved. Listen to His challenge: “Which of you convinceth me of sin?”
(Jn. 8:46). Listen to the replies. His enemies said, “Never man spake
like this man” (Jn. 7:46). His judge said, “I find in Him no fault at all”
(Jn. 18:38). His executioner said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mt.
27:54). His friends, who knew Him best, said, “He did no sin” (1 Pet.
2:22). Jesus is the only one qualified to be our Saviour, for He alone
was a flawless sacrifice. Is He your Saviour? —Jason Bechtel

Able to save a poor sinner lost, willing to save at a fearful cost;
Able to save: come, trust in His pow’r; willing to save this very hour. —R.V.

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 10 to 11:26; Job 13-14; Matt. 6:19 to 7:6

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The great and wise preacher, having surveyed and found to be
vanity, all that pertains to time; reaches the conclusion that the
whole valid duty of man lies in respect for God, and in the keeping
of His commandments. Why? Because God will subject every
human work—good or ill—to His divine judgment. Are you prepared
to see all of your works and attitudes judged by your eternal
and unchanging God? —Doug Kazen

Though evil waxes worse, and many hearts grow cold,
Help us to cleave unto Thy name, Thy faithful Word to hold. —Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 8:20 to 9:29; Job 11-12; Matt. 6:1-18

Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God. Luke 2:28a

Simeon took the baby Jesus into his arms and exulted with joy and
wonder. Life now was full for him. He was ready to die. John Bunyan
wrote, “Oh, it is a goodly thing to be on your knees with Christ in our
arms, before God.” If one has Christ in his arms he is ready to live
and ready to die. —Donald L. Norbie

Lord Jesus, I love Thee; I know Thou art mine;
My Rock and my Fortress, my Surety divine.
My gracious Redeemer, my song shall be now.
Tis Thou who art worthy, Lord Jesus, tis Thou.
—Wm. R. Featherstone

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 7:11 to 8:19; Job 9-10; Matt. 5:21-48

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Ps. 5:1

How is my daily prayer life? This psalm is a pattern. Prayer takes
thought and is never hurried. Prayer is hallowed. Remember you are
in communion with the Highest. Mornings are best for placing the
unknowns of the coming day into His hands (vs. 3). As to place and
length, we can know His presence anywhere and He is not looking
for long speeches, just sincerity in what we do say (vs. 7). Come with
expectation and steadfastness and His Spirit will bear you up. Be
Thou my guide and companion all the way O Lord. —Les Rainey

O how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life seems dark and dreary,
Don’t forget to pray. —Mary A. Kidder

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 6 to 7:10; Job 8; Matt. 5:1-20

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Eph. 4:14

In Alnick Castle gardens, in Northumberland, is a large stone
shaped like a fish. It bears the inscription “Only dead fish swim with
the stream”. How easy it is today to be tossed about by opinions and
dragged into ways which are not God honouring. We need to stand
our ground for God; swim against the stream; show ourselves alive
unto Him and willing to fight the good fight. —Brian Powlesland

Firmly stand for right with a motive pure,
With a true heart bold and a faith e’er strong;
Tis the Rock alone giveth triumph sure,
O’er the world’s array of wrong. —Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 4-5; Job 6-7; Matt. 4

And all His acquaintance, and the women that followed Him from
Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. Luke 23:49

A department store near us recently held its “Grand Opening”.
Thronging crowds waited 10 to 12 hours to be first inside. Through
His substitutionary death on Calvary, Jesus opened wide the gates of
heaven, yet so many have no interest and stand afar off. God loves us
and is not willing that anyone should perish. He offers salvation
freely to anyone who will receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Will
you accept His offer today? —Jerry Proctor

Salvation, salvation vast, full and free:
Thro’ the precious blood of the Son of God,
Who was slain on Calvary. —Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 3; Job 4-5; Matt. 3

His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Isaiah 59:16b
My own fury, it upheld Me. Isaiah 63:5b

God looked forward to the day when man would be saved
through Christ. Two things sustained and upheld Him. His view of
the perfect righteousness of Christ fulfilling His own righteousness
and secondly that the awful penalty for sin would be fully paid in His
own Son. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and
peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10). His provision and love
are beyond measure! —Don MacMullen

My need and Thy desires, are all in Christ complete;
Thou hast the justice truth requires, and I Thy mercy sweet.
—J. B. Monsell

DAILY READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2

And He (Jesus) said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto
Thee; take away this cup from Me, nevertheless not what I will, but
what Thou wilt. Mark 14:36
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

The cross was the bitter cup that lay before Jesus when He asked
that it be removed. But only according to the will of His “Abba,
Father.” But this was not the Father’s will, and thus we can cry Abba,
Father too. Our Saviour accepted His Father’s will and went on to the
cross. Great blessing came from it. In that same assurance, no matter
what we may face in 2010, we can go on as well. —Tom Steere

Abba, Father, we who know Thee, gather ’round the throne of grace:
Here we see Thy love and glory, shining in the Saviour’s face!—G. Frazer