Category: Uncategorised

Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Ecclesiastes 5:1-6:12; Luke 7:30-50

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, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! Matthew 27:29

The Jews cried out at our Lord’s crucifixion that if He was a King, then He should have a crown. The crown that day was made from cruel thorns, a product of the cursed earth. These were cruelly pressed down onto that holy brow. Praise God that in the midst of it all, He is the Victor and not the victim. Today He is crowned with glory and honour and worthy of it all. Let us worship Him together. —John M. Clegg

The head that once was crowned with thorns,
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns,
The mighty Victor’s brow. —Thomas Kelly

Deuteronomy 3:1-29; Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16; Luke 7:1-29

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations. Psalm 45:17

How amazing, that in spite of time’s passing and His critics attempts to erase it, the name of Jesus remains fully relevant today. Many breathe that name in prayer and speak it in tones of thanks and blessing. Sadly in other instances, His name is used as a curse. We know that whoever uses His name this way will give an answer for it. Today if you are in this category, repent and trust Him as your Saviour before it’s too late. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among [humanity], whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). —Jim Paul

Come to the Saviour now, He gently calls to you;
In true repentance bow, let Him your heart renew.
Christ came that you may know salvation, peace, and love,
True joy on earth below, a home in heaven above. —John M. Wigner

Deuteronomy 2:1-37; Ecclesiastes 2:12-3:15; Luke 6:20-49

He went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth and taught them. Matthew 5:1-2
And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. John 8:2

Do we long to be taught by Him, to know more of His lovely person and glories? To learn of His ways and will for our lives and service? The “mountain” suggests a place, far above this godless world, while “early in the morning” is an ideal time to get maximum benefit from being in His presence. Have you come to Him today?  —Pete Smith

Speak Lord in the stillness, while I wait on Thee;
Hush my heart to listen in expectancy. —E. May Grimes

Deuteronomy 1:1-46; Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:11; Luke 6:1-19

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. John 6:41

The Lord Jesus is both the bread of life and the bread from heaven: indicating that He is spiritual life’s source and ongoing sustenance. Believers need to prayerfully feed on His word, thus gaining inner vitality and communion with God. As Peter says: “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:1-2). Replace this world’s mental junk food with Christ our spiritual bread. —Keith R. Keyser

Here perfect bliss can ne’er be found,
The honey’s mix’d with gall;
Midst changing scenes and dying friends,
Be Thou my all in all. —Benjamin Beddome

Numbers 35:9-36:13; Proverbs 31:1-31; Luke 5:17-39

For all the city…doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.  Ruth 3:11

This was said by Boaz to Ruth. How I thank God for the example of kindness and encouragement shown to me and my wife and family by virtuous sisters in Christ. Some of them who were single we call “unclaimed treasures”. God acknowledges them and never be surprised if one day some will be given charge of cities as a reward in the Millenium. These sisters’ love and service make some of us brothers ashamed that we do so little for the Master.
—Brian Russell

Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds,
Is like to that above. —John Fawcett

Numbers 34:1-35:8; Proverbs 30:1-33; Luke 5:1-16

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14

In this verse, Paul argues the need for believers to preach the Gospel to the lost in a series of three “hows”. Are we burdened for lost souls like Paul was? If we were without Christ, how far would you want a believer to go to reach you? What a privilege to share what the Lord has done for us and what He can do for others!  —Luke Urban

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the Mighty to save.  —Fanny Crosby

Numbers 33:1-56; Proverbs 29:1-27; Luke 4:16-44

It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4

Elijah was a great man of God who virtually single-handedly faced the forces of idol worship in Israel. Yet he reached a very low point, what we would probably call today a breakdown. He was so distraught that he wanted to die. In the midst of his anguish, he was reassured by God who gave him rest and food. He was given a divine purpose, to anoint kings and a prophet successor. He was reminded that he was not alone, as 7,000 in Israel had not bowed the knee to Baal. When we are desperate, let us come to the Lord and seek out the same things: physical necessities, a renewal of God’s purpose for our lives and Christian fellowship. —Paul Young

O troubled heart, be thou not afraid,
In the Lord thy God, let thy hope be stayed. —Fanny Crosby

Numbers 32:1-42; Proverbs 28:1-28; Luke 4:1-15

Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him. Isaiah 42:1 NKJV

“Behold! My Servant”, introduces us to a beautiful portrait of the Lord Jesus. He is described in detail as the compassionate Servant and as such, a “bruised reed” He would not break, nor would He snuff out the dimly “burning flax” (v. 3). We see this compassion illustrated in the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8). She was a “dimly burning flax”, whom He tenderly forgave. We too are bruised by sin and the hurts of life and He has
forgiven and redeemed us. On this Lord’s day it is our holy privilege to remember, worship and adore our  compassionate Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. —Jim Comte

Saviour, we remember Thee! Thy deep woe and agony,
All Thy suffering on the tree: Saviour, we adore Thee! —S. T. Francis

Numbers 30:1-31:54; Proverbs 26:13-27:27; Luke 3:1-38

I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV

This wasn’t a call for political engagement. Paul’s admonition was an urgent call for activism in prayer. Despite the “real” persecution the Christians were suffering, Paul didn’t so much as even hint at endorsing displays of contempt towards Nero’s government. Rather than resorting to common ways to protest evil, he urged the uncommon. Show the love of Christ to all and pray for all regardless of their politics, policies or practices—ultimately for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel. —Peter Ramsay

Here ’mid earth’s sin and sorrow and care;
O give me power, power in prayer. —A. S. Reitz

Numbers 29:1-40; Proverbs 25:1-26:12; Luke 2:22-52

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Romans 1:15

Paul had previously been a Pharisee who separated himself from the Gentiles. Now he was ready (willing, eager) to preach the Gospel in the capital of Gentile power. Burdened to preach Christ (Acts 9:15), he was willing to give up his own rights and desires for Christ’s sake (1 Cor. 9:19-22). We are not all gifted evangelists but every believer should have a burden to share the Gospel to those the Lord brings to us, and in the places He sends us.  —George Ferrier

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be. —Mary Brown