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DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 3; Jeremiah 36; Hebrews 8

Moreover the law entered, that the off ence might abound. But
where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5:20

The apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners. He said he was
a blasphemer and a persecutor, but he was more. As a young man
he stood with the clothes of murderers at his feet and watched as
Stephen was stoned to death. How could he ever be forgiven? How
could this guilty man go free? The story of God’s grace has this reality,
however unbelievable, at its heart. In Christ we see the innocent
take the place of the guilty and bear the punishment. He, the just for
the unjust, brings this chief of sinners to God. He can bring you too
if you will come ot Him. —Drew Craig

Grace fi rst inscribed my name, in God’s eternal book;
Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, who all my sorrows took.—A. Toplady

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 2; Jeremiah 35; Hebrews 7

He said unto them, What manner of communications are these
that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? Luke 24:17

This chapter begins with disciples who are depressed and disappointed,
but moves swift ly to scenes where they are worshipping
Him, fi lled with joy. It moves from broken hearts to burning hearts,
from closed minds to opened understandings, from closed heavens,
to heavens that open to receive the Lord into glory. It begins with
these disciples leaving Jerusalem, and all that it spoke of, and ends
with them being “continually in the temple, praising and blessing
God”. This can also be your experience, if you will keep company
with Him, and listen to His word. —W. H. Burnett

When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way,
When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way. —B. Mansell Ramsey

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 1; Jeremiah 34; Hebrews 5:11 to 6:20

O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto Thee? or
to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the
sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Ps. 89:8-9
He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be
still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

It was the end of a busy day and when the opportunity came, our
Saviour slept. This would show He is truly a perfect man. Though
a perfect man He is also very God. He could awake and rebuke the
wind and the sea. They obeyed His voice. Aft er all, He had created
them. Well might the disciples exclaim, “What manner of man is
this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” —John M. Clegg

From every stormy wind that blows, from every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a safe retreat; ‘tis found beneath the mercy seat. —H. Stowell

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 22; Jeremiah 33; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:10

Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

In a world of trouble, it is easy to forget that Christians have a continual
source of strength and wisdom in prayer. When assailed by
trials, they can enter God’s presence instantly, being assured of His
love and omnipotence. Calling on Him with our cares should become
like second nature to us, knowing that He will answer according
to His will for our greater good. Let Him carry the weight, dear
burdened saint. He is suffi cient for this work. —K. R. Keyser

Why should we ever weak or heartless be,
Why are we ever overborne with care,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy, and strength, and courage are with Thee? —R. C. Trench

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 21; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give
Pharaoh an answer of peace. Genesis 41:16

The dreams referred to here, were the third set that Joseph experienced.
The fi rst concerned his brothers, his immediate family arena;
the second (the butler and baker) moved beyond family to the immediate
world; these last ones had even wider implications—the national
and international world. In addition to the dream’s expanding
sphere, Joseph’s approach to explaining them grew with each. There
was more Joseph and less God in the fi rst group, but more God and
less Joseph in the third. God was moulding his man through divine
messages! As we grow, are we diminishing too? —Craig Funston

Learning to lean, learning to lean, I’m learning to lean on Jesus;
Finding more power than I’ve ever dreamed, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.
—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 20; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Matt hew 11:30

A yoke, to be eff ective, must be worn correctly, positioned properly,
and secured. The Lord knows exactly how much we are able to bear
and places His yoke upon us perfectly. What binds it to us though
is our love for Him. So if His yoke feels uncomfortable and cumbersome,
we need to check that our love for Him is strong. The yoke is
simply doing what it was designed to do. It is helping us bear spiritual
responsibilities and making us useful for His glory. Let Jesus
fasten His yoke on your heart today. Then wear it in measure to the
grace He so freely gives anew each morning. —Jerry Proctor

His yoke is easy; His burden is light. I’ve found it so; I’ve found it so.
He leadeth me by day and by night, where living waters fl ow. —R. Hudson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 19; Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 2

I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,
and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of
God sent forth into all the earth. Revelation 5:6

John is caught up to heaven, to a scene of celestial worship. His att ention
is directed to where the Lamb stands, still bearing the cruel scars
of death. Then all heaven bursts into worship to the Lamb that was
slain for man’s redemption. The Lamb was the centre of att ention.
Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of Me.” The centre of focus is a
table with a loaf and cup, emblems of His body and blood. May the
Lamb receive all the glory of our worship today. —Donald Norbie

Amidst us our Belovèd stands, and bids us view His piercèd hands;
Points to the wounded feet and side, blest emblems of the Crucifi ed.—C. S.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 18; Jeremiah 30; Hebrews 1

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever
drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.
John 4:13b-14a

At noon, a weary sinner met the Saviour at Sychar’s well. She came
for physical refreshment but learned of her greater need of the soulsatisfying
salvation Jesus had for her. Are you trying to fi ll the empty
water pot of your life with the pleasures of sin? They have never
satisfi ed and never will. When she met Jesus she left her water pot.
Her spiritual needs had been met, and she went to tell others of the
One who could truly satisfy. Will you accept, by faith, a drink of the
water of life from the Lord Jesus this moment? —Arnot McIntee

O, thou God of compassion I pray, let me ever abide in Thy love,
Let me drink of the fount day by day, till, I join Thee in mansions of light.—H. R. T.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 17; Jeremiah 29; Philemon

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous: nevertheless aft erward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb. 12:11

One night we discovered three tiny pearls lying in the fl esh of an
oyster. Pearls are formed when a piece of grit gets into an oyster and
in response, the oyster coats it with a crystalline substance. Something
beautiful comes from suff ering. So it is in our lives. The most
beautiful and enduring character qualities are oft en the product of
much suff ering. The Father knows every detail of your circumstance
and has a purpose to transform your grief into the “peaceable fruit
of righteousness”. —J. Fleming

As scented leaves upon a tree, when crushed smell fragrantly,
So may the hurts I bear today, in future bless another’s way. —J. Fleming

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kgs. 15:33-16:34; Jer. 27-28; Col. 4:2-18

O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known me…Thou understandest
my thought afar off …and art acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3

In the near 2,000 years since the completion of Scripture, nothing
new has been revealed concerning man’s nature. New systems of
religion abound, and humanistic philosophies continue to surface,
allowing man even greater diversity in expressing his ignorance in
eloquent, scientifi c terminology. Yet history continues to confi rm, to
those who honestly assess it, that God’s evaluation of the fallen nature
of man is unerringly accurate. Yet even though He knows what
we are like, He longs to save us. —Rick Morse

Behold the glories of the Lamb amidst His Father’s throne.
Prepare new honors for His Name, And songs before unknown.—I. Watts.