Friday, November 7, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chron. 22-23; Ezekiel 20:45-21:32; John 7:31-8:11

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.  Ps. 81:16

A godly brother was counseling a group of young, committed Christians who were planning to serve the Lord in missions. He said to them, “Don’t forget to be as firm as a rock in your position and as sweet as honey from the rock in your disposition.” That is always good counsel, “Speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). —Milton Haack
 
O my brother, do you know the Saviour,
Who is wondrous, kind and true?
He’s the Rock of your salvation!
There’s honey in the Rock for you. —F. A.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 21; Ezekiel 20:1-44; John 7:12-30

I will build my church. Matthew 16:18

The Lord is building, and we His servants, are the tools He uses to build His Church. We use our eyes to look with compassion on a broken world and our ears to hear its cries. We reach out hands to the helpless and needy. Our feet are His to bring others the Gospel message. Our tongues become His when we teach truths from God’s Book. All our faculties, used in daily living, paint a portrait of Christ for others to observe. How well are you and I building today?   —E. Dyck

Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee,
That each departing day henceforth may see,
Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,
Some wand’rer sought and won, something for Thee. —S. D. Phelps

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 19-20; Ezekiel 18-19; John 6:41 to 7:11

Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.        Acts 1:8

The book of Acts has no definite completion or “amen”! It opens with the statement, “Of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach”. and that process is still continuing in a multiplying way until the completion of God’s prophetic program. The Apostle John tells us that in that day those who cry, “Salvation unto our God” shall come out of “every nation and peoples and tongues” (Rev. 7:9). What a triumph for the Crucified! Are we doing our part?             —Drew Craig

Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto him be the glory for ever, Amen. —Philip Bliss

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 17-18; Ezekiel 17; John 6:22-40

I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. Romans 1:11

When one is invited as a guest to a home, it is common to take a “hostess gift,” perhaps a box of chocolates, or a loaf of homemade bread. Next time try adding a hostess gift of spiritual value: a thought gleaned from Scripture, a recent answer to prayer, an example of the the Lord’s protection, a word of praise to God. Physical gifts are temporary. Bring a gift that will last.   —David J. Logan

Yes every one that loves Thy name, our willing hearts embrace;
Our source of life and hope the same, all debtors to Thy grace.—M. P.

Monday, November 3, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 16; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21

Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  John 15:14

We enjoy the fact that Jesus is a friend of ours. But He would remind us that we did not choose Him, indeed He says that He chose us, that we might be with Him and share fellowship together. Many aspire to be friends of the rich and famous but we have the privilege of being friends of the Almighty. Friends share information and advise each other of their activities. So, too, the Lord reveals to His chosen ones through prayer and meditation His intentions and actions. What a blessing to know that you, like Abraham of old, are His special friend and that the Lord appreciates your friendship and loyalty!  —Roy Hill

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! —Joseph M. Scriven

Lord’s Day, November 2, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 15; Ezekiel 16:1-34; John 5:24-47

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.     1 Timothy 1:15

He left the splendour and glory of heaven and came to a place marked by wickedness and sin. Why? It was not to judge but to save sinners like each one of us. We were the reason for and the cause of His pain and suffering. Aren't you glad He came?       —John M. Clegg

He did not come to judge the world.
He did not come to blame.
He did not only come to seek,
It was to save He came.—Anon.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 13-14; Ezekiel 14-15; John 5:1-23

They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.  Hosea 7:3
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.  John 8:12

The book of Hosea speaks of the repeated sinfulness of Israel. We too, disobey God over and over. It seems sometimes like we are constantly in darkness. But the Lord Jesus has come and bright light has blazed out in the darkness and the blackness has fled. Receive Him as Saviour and the darkness in your soul will be changed to light  through His forgiveness. —M. Robins

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin, the light of the world is Jesus.
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in; the Light of the world is Jesus!—P. B.

Friday, October 31, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 12; Ezekiel 13; John 4:31-54

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it. Malachi 3:16a

Malachi’s day was characterized by departure from the worship of God. Hearts were generally cold, and many of the prevailing religious exercises were a sham, with no genuine reverence or love for the Almighty. Nevertheless, a remnant of godly individuals spoke with one another about Him, resulting in this literal statement: “The Lord paid attention and heard them.” Do you want God’s ear? Speak about Him to someone today. —Keith Keyser

Exalt His name; with joy proclaim,
God loved the world, and through His Son forgave us;
Oh! what are we, that, Lord, we see
Thy wondrous love, in Christ who died to save us! —Christian Gellert

Thursday, October 30, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 10-11; Ezekiel 12; John 4:1-30

Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16

This surely was the pinnacle of Peter’s experience with the Lord. Some thought of the Lord as John the Baptist raised from the dead, others thought He was Elijah, and some, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But when the Lord challenged the disciples with the words, “But who do ye say that I am?", it was Peter who gave the Lord His proper title. How important it is that we have proper thoughts about Christ and His person. We live in a world where the Lord Jesus constantly has His character called into question. Let us be bold in our assertion that He is the “Son of the living God.” —W. H. Burnett

Thou Son of God, eternal Word, who heaven and earth’s foundation laid,
Upholding by Thy mighty power, the universe Thy hand hath made.—I. F.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 8-9; Ezekiel 11; John 3:22-36

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  2 Corinthians 4:17

Someone today might be experiencing a serious illness. Perhaps  there are some dear believers who have been the victims of tragic circumstances. Others may be feeling the enormous pain of a family member taken in death. Maybe you feel your world has fallen apart. Yet through it all God is working for you! The weight of sorrow you bear now, will be for you then, an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Take comfort and courage. His way is always best.  —Jim Paul

God knows the way; He holds the key.
He guides us with unerring hand;
Sometime with tearless eyes we’ll see,
Yes, there, up there, we’ll understand. —Maxwell Cornelius