Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 26:1-30; Psalms 70-71; Acts 15:1-21

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. John 1:12

If any reader is in doubt about how to enter God’s family, today’s text is most helpful. It off ers us a double explanation by showing us that “receiving” Christ is the equivalent of “believing on His name.” Some are perplexed about believing. If so, I urge you to receive Him, just as you would accept a gift from a good friend. He loves you, has died for you, and now He invites you to take Him as your Saviour and Lord. Will you receive Him now? —George Hall

Whoever receiveth the crucified One.
Whoever believeth in God’s only Son,
A free and a perfect salvation shall have:
For He is abundantly able to save. —Elisha A Hoff man

 

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 25; Psalm 69; Acts 14

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Matthew 6:9
Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15

Through Christ, God is our Father. The adopted child takes the family name and inherits all the privileges and responsibilities of a son or daughter. The privileges are immense—we are redeemed, reconciled, justifi ed and one day glorified. The responsibilities are awesome and can be summed up in this, “walking worthy of the vocation by which we are called” (Eph. 4:1). —Drew Craig

To serve the present age, my calling to fulfil,
O may it all my powers engage, to do my Master’s will. —Charles Wesley

 

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 24; Psalm 68; Acts 13:26-52

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:2

In our world of tension and turmoil, we need to fi nd still waters, a place of quietness where our souls are refreshed. We know our Lord often retreated to the desert or the Mount of Olives to fi nd solitude. If our Lord felt the necessity of it, surely every believer too, needs a place where noise is shut out and we hear only one voice, where we experience the tranquility of being alone with God. In such stillness we become energized for the steps ahead. Discover it today and resort there oft en. —Edna Dyck

Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me, how the billows cease to roll!
—Manie P. Ferguson

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66-67; Acts 13:1-25

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. Acts 1:14

The phrase “with one accord” occurs 11 times in the book of Acts. It is suggested that the word has a musical connotation. Any great musical production requires not only vigour and passion, but complete unity and harmony among the players, or chaos would result. So there was complete unity and harmony in this prayer meeting and the results followed—3,000 souls saved. May the Lord enable us to be with one accord in our local church prayer life. —Milton Haack

Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ our Saviour, did you seek for loving favour,
As a shield today? —M. A. Kidder

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 22 to 23:9; Psalms 64-65; Acts 12

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they were off ended at Him. Mark 6:3

In his fi rst sentence, Mark declares our Lord to be the Son of God. Yet during His earthly sojourn, many failed to understand and appreciate who the Lord was. The world today would still see Christ as, at best, a historical figure. May we lay hold upon the fact that the One who died to save us is indeed the Son of God. —John M. Clegg

What led the Son of God, to leave His throne on high,
To shed His precious blood, to suff er and to die?
Twas love, unbounded love for us, led Him to die and suff er thus.—D. A. T.

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 21; Psalms 62-63; Acts 11:19-30

I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:13

The Lord has seen fi t to call certain ones to higher service before ourselves. Even now, they are gazing at the King in His beauty. We wouldn’t wish them back, would we? And soon, we shall be joining them. Glory, glory, glory! —Mark Fenn

They are all gone into the world of light!
And I alone sit lingering here;
Their very memory is fair and bright,
And my sad thoughts doth clear. —Henry Vaughan

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 20:18-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the fi rst year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: Exodus 12:5

Without exception, God demanded that the sacrifi ces of the Old Testament be “without blemish”. These sacrifi ces spoke of Christ at Calvary, and even in type, God would not allow any shadow to fall upon the impeccable character of His Son. Paul, the man of intellect, tells us, “He knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21); Peter, the man of action, tells us, “He did no sin” (1 Pet. 2:22); and John, the man of aff ection, who lay upon the Saviour’s bosom, tells us “In Him was no sin” (1 Jn. 3:5). We glory in the holy character of the Lord Jesus, apart from which He could never have been our sacrifi ce. —W. H. Burnett

But spotless, innocent and pure, the great Redeemer stood,
No stain of sin did e’er defile, the holy Lamb of God. —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58; Acts 10:24-33

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5

What effort these four expended to bring their friend to the Lord! First they tried the door, then they took off the roof, dug a hole through the ceiling and, fi nally, lowered the lame man down into the crowd—all for a man who had no ability to reciprocate their kindness. What are we willing to do for our lost friends and family to bring them to Christ? Is there some practical kindness we can show someone today that would lead them to the love of the Lord?—L. Shatford

Give as ‘twas given to you in your need, love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed, unto your mission be true. —G. S. Schuler

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you. Mark 16:7

The disciples had to return to Galilee where they first were commissioned. Likewise Peter had to return to Galilee where he first confessed Jesus as the Christ of God. If you have gone astray from the Lord, you need to return to that point where you first met Him to be restored. If you have lost your passion for Him, you need to return to that first love. To the church at Ephesus, the Lord said, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place.” (Rev. 2:5) —K. C. Ung

Th’eleven, when they hear, with speed, to Galilee forthwith proceed,
That there once more they may behold, the Lord’s dear face, as He foretold.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him. John 3:2

It was writt en of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and many others that God was with them. The outward result was usually miraculous. It is not surprising then, that Nicodemus saw the wonders of Christ’s life and concluded that “God was with him”. Yet with our Saviour it was something more—He was God. Now He is with me too and even more, He dwells within me. May we live in such a way that others may see Him in our lives. —Tom Steere

As rays of light from yonder sun, the fl ow’rs of earth set free,
So life and light and love come forth, from Christ living in me. —D. Whittle