Saturday, October 31, 2015

 

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

 

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.  Psalm 145:18

The Lord Jesus informed the Samaritan woman: “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). The Holy Spirit guides believers into a deeper understanding of truth concerning God’s goodness in Christ (John 16:13-14). Only through Spirit-led worship founded on divine truth, can the believer offer any acceptable sacrifice of praise to God. If it is not true—it cannot be worship. —W. A. H.

Sigh in us, O Holy Spirit when we know not what to say.
Then our prayer is not in vain and our faith new strength shall gain.
—Charles Gounod

Friday, October 30, 2015

 

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

 

See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Time is a precious commodity. Surely the goal of every believer is to do God’s will in God’s way and in God’s time. If that is so, then in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s promptings we will have the time needed to carry it out. No more and no less! The problems arise when all of our time is consumed with things that are not truly valuable. Of course we need to take time to live and function, but too often today, God’s people are exhausted and have little time left for the Lord. —Drew Craig

Speak now as in the old time, Thou dids’t reveal thy will; 
Let me know all my duty, let me Thy law fulfil,
Lead me to glorify Thee; help me to show Thy praise,
Gladly to do Thy bidding, honour Thee all my days.
—L. L. Pickett

For the serious Bible student

newberry_pocket_W-3286

Newberry Reference Bible, Pocket Edition

 

Features:
– Glided Gold edges
– Enhanced by Headbands
– Black Pigskin Leather
– Complete with Thomas Newberry’s marginal notes
– Divine titles distinguished and explained
– Tables of weights, measures, coins
– Chart of Greek prepositions
– Signs indicating Greek and Hebrew verb tenses, participles, prepositions, numbers, pronouns, and moods
– Old Testament quotations in capitals
– Bible study maps in colour

Thursday, October 29, 2015

 

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

 

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, this is my infirmity…  Psalm 77:9-10

The familiar groans of one’s conscience can be almost too much to bear. Crushed by repeated failures, we often wonder if we’ve over-extended our demands on God’s grace and mercy. No such thing, the psalmist cries! That’s just our own weakness talking. Do you doubt your acceptance with God? Has His patience run out? Be assured that this is the flesh talking, goaded by Satan’s accusations. As for your Lord, His ears and heart are open. —Rick Morse

I am content, for I know He is near me,
Keeping me pure by His wonderful grace,
Whispering words full of comfort to cheer me,
Lighting my soul with a glimpse of His face.
—A. Ackley

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 7; Ezekiel 10; John 2:23 to 3:21

 

…God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble…Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:5-6

Most of us know better than to do battle with someone much bigger than ourselves. Yet sometimes we can find ourselves working against God. This unfortunate situation occurs when we struggle with pride. In corrective discipline God will resist us and humble us. However, if we humble ourselves under His mighty hand, He will give us grace and exalt us in due time. —Ken Gross

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 
Thou art the potter, I am the clay. 
Mold me and make me after thy will, 
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
—George C. Stebbins

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 6; Ezekiel 8-9; John 2:1-22

 

Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn.  Genesis 27:19
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. Genesis 32:27

God is looking for honesty from his people. That’s why He could bless Jacob at this point in his life. He was finally honest about who he was. There is no way we can enjoy God’s presence and power when we are trying to live double lives, trying to pretend we’re someone we’re not. —N. C. Funston

All my tomorrows, all my past—
Jesus is Lord of all.
I’ve quit my struggles, contentment at last! 
Jesus is Lord of all.
—Bill and Gloria Gaither

The Church (Randy Amos)

The Church: A Discipleship Manual for the Body of Christ
By: R. P. Amos
Published by: Everyday Publications Inc.

Buy now.

“This book has been written ‘to encourage new and older believers alike to come to a fresh appreciation of the patterns established by the Lord for His church and how he intended and expects it to function’. In recent years very few books have been written on this most valuable subject which makes this one all the more important. The Publishers state, ‘We believe that the contents are both timely and of significant importance for the Lord’s people today’.

“Randy Amos is to be praised for his approach to his subject, and with a modern audience in mind. His use of tables, diagrams, illustrations, highlighted boxes and bullets makes this an easy book to follow and understand. Yet, although the presentation may be modern the content is firmly rooted in scriptural principle, ably demonstrated by the many references to appropriate passages. The writer clearly distinguishes between: the church as the body of Christ and in its local expression; the purpose of the assembly as primarily worship rather than witness; and the role and function of males and females within the church. He is clear on the subject of headship and how this should be evidenced in the local assembly. He is equally clear on mutual responsibility within the church and how fellowship should be maintained.


“Although I felt that more might have been said on the important work of the deacon, this book is most helpful and should be welcomed for its desire to re-emphasize the distinctive character of New Testament churches in a day when many such features are being forsaken.”

~originally published in Precious Seed Magazine, Volume 63, Issue 2 (2008)

Buy now.

Monday, October 26, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 4:24 to 5:26; Ezekiel 7; John 1:19-51

 

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged (atonement is provided).  Proverbs 16:6
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed… Lamentations 3:22

The cry of society is for justice. Yet in the spiritual realm we dare not stand before a just God and demand justice for ourselves (thankfully it was served at Calvary), but rather we plead for mercy. On more than one occasion David’s plea was: “Be merciful to me, O, God!” We do well to echo that same cry, for mercy brings the cleansing of sin and acceptance in Him. Because justice has been served His mercy is renewed to us every morning. —William Gustafson

Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.
—W. R. Newell

Lord’s Day, October 25, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 3 to 4:23; Ezekiel 5-6; John 1:1-18

 

He brought me forth also into a large place.  Psalm 18:19
My foot standeth in an even place. Psalm 26:12
Thou art my hiding place. Psalm 32:7
Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Psalm 66:12
I answered thee in the secret place. Psalm 81:7
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place. Psalm 90:1 
…the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. Luke 23:33

Calvary is a place to gaze upon the Lord of glory. Through Calvary’s work we’ve been brought to a blessed place. Let us gather today to the place He has put His Name and worship Him. —Tom Steere

My faith has found a resting place, not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead.
—E. Hewitt

Saturday, October 24, 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 2; Ezekiel 3:16 to 4:17; 2 Timothy 4

 

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.  Romans 8:3

There was a pool in Jerusalem named Bethesda where a great multitude of impotent folk waited for an angel to move the water and heal them. There was a man who sat by that pool who could never be healed, because he was lame and someone else was always first to the water. The Law of Moses is like that pool; the invalid man is like our flesh. The law is good and holy and right, but because of the weakness of our flesh, it cannot help. But praise God, Christ did for sinners what the Law could not do! —Shane Johnson

Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
—Charles Wesley