Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 7; Isaiah 3-4; Luke 22:31-53

When he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my
sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6

The wail of the siren alerted 200 people that a camper was lost. But
where was she, in the woods or the water? All went to their preassigned
locations and began the search. But listen to another alert!
Sinners we know are lost and on their way to a burning lake. Are we
concerned? Finally, an announcement was made, “Naomi has been
found, alert over.” Cheering sounded all over the camp. When a lost
sinner is saved, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
a sinner repenting. Do we long for that same joy? —Arnot McIntee

And my heart is fi lled with joyful singing
Since the Saviour has made me whole —Albert S. Reitz

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 5:13 to 6:27; Isaiah 2; Luke 22:1-30

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the
ship, so that it was now full. Mark 4:37
And 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

The Lord did what the disciples could not do when He rebuked the
wind and the raging water. Aft er that though, surely they bailed out
the water from the boat. In addition, the great calm that followed
would make any sail useless, so probably the disciples would have to
row. We are totally dependent on the Lord for our salvation, but there
remains work for us to do on our journey with Him to the other side.
Let us be diligent in our service for Him. —David M. McCulloch

Go, labour on; spend, and be spent—thy joy to do the Father’s will;
It is the way the Master went; should not the servant tread it still? —Bonar

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 4 to 5:12; Isaiah 1; Luke 21:5-38

Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this
man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men
of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people,
in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the
welfare of this people, but the hurt. Jeremiah 38:4

Besieged by Babylonian armies, the princes convinced Zedekiah
that Jeremiah’s preaching was discouraging the people and that he
deserved death. With the king’s consent, innocent Jeremiah was cast
into a pit where he sank in the mire. If you are proclaiming God’s
truth, expect opposition and persecution. As Paul says, it is a “token”
of a believer’s salvation (2 Thess. 1:5). —Warren Henderson

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay. —James H. Sammis

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 3; Hosea 11:12 to 14:9; Luke 20:20 to 21:4

He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:18

Though small, the word “all” is a mighty one. This verse is the climactic
statement of a number of “alls” that Paul challenged the Colossians
with. He prayed that they would have all wisdom and spiritual
understanding; walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing; strengthened
with all might; unto all patience and longsuff ering. He continues and
says that all things were created by Him and for Him and by Him all
things consist. In Him, all fullness dwells. He reconciled all things to
Himself. Is He all and all to us? —Duncan Maxwell

All that I want is in Jesus. He satisfi es, joy He supplies;
Life would be worthless without Him;All things in Jesus I fi nd.—H. D. L.

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 2; Hosea 10 to 11:11; Luke 20:1-19

Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz,
thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the
upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s fi eld. Isaiah 7:3

During this meeting, King Ahaz received the sign of the virgin birth
of the coming Messiah. The place where this occurred is interesting
as it gives a gentle picture of the work of the coming Immanuel
(7:14). Water fl owed from an upper pool down to a place of cleansing—
the fuller’s fi eld. So was our Saviour, the conduit who carried
this promised blessing from heaven, “Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) —Tom Steere

Such was Thy grace, that for our sake, Thou didst from heaven come down;
With us of fl esh and blood partake, and make our guilt Thine own. —J. G. Deck

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 1; Hosea 8-9; Luke 19:29-48

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

What is the diff erence between a sinner and a believer? The sinner
follows the mind of the fl esh. He pursues the desires of his own sinful
heart and is in a state of spiritual death. However, the believer is
one who is governed by the mind of the Holy Spirit, resulting in life
and peace. He has spiritual life and is interested in spiritual things.
He is justifi ed, thus he has peace with God. Are you a sinner? You
can become a believer today. —Robert E. Surgenor

Jesus came Himself and sought me;
Sold to death, He found and bought me;
Then my blessed freedom taught me
Peace, peace, is mine. —J. Denham Smith

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 34; Hos. 6:4 to 7:16; Luke 19:1-28

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake
in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were
there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD
will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the
LORD said. Josh. 14:12

As he said these words to Joshua, Caleb was eighty-fi ve years old. He
could say that he had wholly followed the Lord throughout his life.
Now in old age he was ready for another batt le. Following the Lord
in faith and obedience all of those years left him spiritually vital in old
age. What a man! He is an example for us today. —Donald Norbie

Make us Thy mountaineers; we would not linger on the lower slope.
Fill us afresh with hope, O God of hope,
That undefeated we may climb the hill,
As seeing Him who is invisible. Let us die climbing. —Amy Carmichael

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 33; Hos. 4 to 6:3; Luke 18:15-43

There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass
away. Luke 21:33

As the details of the book of Joshua draw to a close with the conquering
of the land basically complete, Israel is here reminded of
the faithfulness of God as stated in chapter one, “I will be with thee;
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (vs. 5). Dear saint, the Saviour is
the same today as He was yesterday. He never fails; trust Him; rest
on Him. He abideth faithful (2 Tim. 2:13). —W. H. Gustafson

God has been faithful, he will be again.His loving compassion, it knows no end.
All I have need of his hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me
—S. Groves

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 32:15-52; Hos. 2 to 3 ; Luke 17:20 to 18:14

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confi rm the feeble knees. Say
to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your
God will come…he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:3, 4

Where we live there are some macrocarpa trees. Some years ago,
one of these trees split in half. Half crashed to the ground and soon
died. The other half fell against another tree and continues to grow
to this day, supported by that tree. There are many struggling, hurting
Christians who would be greatly supported by a word of encouragement
from us. Pray that the Lord will open our eyes to the
needs of individuals who cross our path today and that He will use
us to strengthen the hands that are weak. —J. Fleming

Give me, O Lord, a heart of grace, a voice of joy, a shining face,
That I may show, where’er I turn, Thy love within my soul does burn.—J. M.

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 31:14 to 32:14; Hos. 1; Luke 17:1-19

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 32:7

We have been delivered and so the Christian’s life should be full of
songs—songs of deliverance. Heaven will be fi lled with singing (Rev.
5:9). Christianity was heralded into the world on the wings of the
angel’s praise (Lk. 2:13), and because of Calvary, multiplied millions
have been enabled to sing redemption’s song who otherwise would
have remained in the misery of their sins. The world sings many
songs, but only a believer in Christ can sing a true song of deliverance.
If you have no Saviour; you have no song. —W. Ross Rainey

I have a song that Jesus gave me, it was sent from heaven above;
There never was a sweeter melody, ‘tis a melody of love. —E. M. Roth