Month: January 2016

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 38; Psalms 15-16; Matt. 21:33 to 22:14

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Matthew 27:45

Three hours of darkness. How amazing that the sun went down at noon (Amos 8:9). Man had done their worst to the Lord Jesus; now it was God dealing with Him. It was in the darkness that He was made sin for us. It was during those hours that the sword awoke and smote the Shepherd. It was then that He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. He was smitten of God and afflicted. O the depth of the mercy and compassion of our God that He would so deal with His own beloved Son. Let us worship Him in spirit and in truth. —Harold G. Smith

King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be.
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, lead me to Calvary. —Kirkpatrick

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 37; Psalms 11-14; Matt. 21:1-32

Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea. Exodus 15:4

Talk about poetic justice. Pharaoh had commanded that every son born to the Israelites should be cast into the river to drown (Ex. 1:22). So God spared a Hebrew baby by Pharaoh’s own daughter who named him, Moses, “one who draws out”, because she drew him out of the water (Ex. 2:10). He became the deliverer that God used to draw out His people from bondage. He was standing there that day when God judged Pharaoh by casting his host into the sea. One day we’ll see more than poetic justice. God will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ. —Rex Trogdon

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
—William Cowper

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 36; Psalms 9-10; Matt. 20:17-34

But let patience have her perfect work… James 1:4

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Jas. 5:7

The book of James begins and ends with the theme of patience. Faith waits for that which it cannot see; it exhibits the patience of hope. And while faith waits, it works. Faith works with a humble heart, a helping hand, a tempered tongue and a persistent prayer. “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (Jas. 5:8).
—D. Pickup

I wonder, have I cared enough for others,
Or have I let them die alone?
I might have helped a wand’rer to the Saviour,
The seed of precious life I might have sown.
—Edwin Young

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 35; Psalms 7-8; Matt. 19:16 to 20:16

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Revelation 5:9

We may feel out of harmony with the world, and well we should. Because if we’ve been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God, our plane of harmony is now with a heavenly choir which ascribes all honour and praise to the Redeemer. The path down here may be rough, but remember your heavenly calling and the celestial harmony we soon shall join. —Mark Fenn

Hark! Ten thousand voices crying “Lamb of God” with one accord;
Thousand, thousand saints replying, wake at once the echoing chord.
—John Nelson Darby

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 33:18 to 34:31; Psalms 4-6; Matt. 19:1-15

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

There are many proclaiming all kinds of religions and creeds. But none can compare to the preaching of Christ crucified. We join with the apostle when he declared that he gloried in nothing else than the cross. It reveals the sinful nature of the human heart and demonstrates the love and grace of God in procuring eternal salvation for those who believe. Are you among those who have put their faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross? —Drew Craig

Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling,
Naked come to Thee for dress; helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly, wash me Saviour or I die.
—A. M. Toplady

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 32 to 33:17; Psalms 1-3; Matt. 18:15-35

…they have not set God before them. Psalm 54:3

As we look on amazed at the deterioration of society on every side, it is good to remember what is at the root of things. A man without God is God-less. This certainly clarifies why people do what they do today. They have neither a Christian worldview nor a Christian conscience. David laments the intentions of similar godless men trying to harm him. “They have not set God before them”. Our society is becoming more godless every day. As we suffer undeserved harassment from the same types David faced, may we respond with the same insight as he did.
—N. C. Funston

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand. —Edward Mote

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 31; Job 42; Matt. 17:14 to 18:14

For who hath despised the day of small things? Zechariah 4:10

We often hear the cliché, “The bigger the better”, yet God delights in using “small things” to accomplish His purposes. He used Gideon’s three hundred men to defeat the Midianites; David, a shepherd boy to defeat Goliath; five barley loaves and two small fish to feed a multitude; and He brought forth our Redeemer out of one of the smallest towns in Judah! Never discount what you have to offer as being too small. God can use it for His glory. —E. V.

Give of your best to the Master,
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service,
Consecrate every part. —Howard B. Grose

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 30; Job 40-41; Matt. 16:13 to 17:13

…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord… Psalm 27:4

David’s heart-longing was to be in the presence of the Lord and “to behold the beauty of the Lord”. As we come together to worship, especially at the Lord’s Supper, what is the focus of our attention? Do we muse and meditate upon the beautiful character and person of our Saviour? His words were full of grace and truth. His life was fragrant with love for all. His loving hands healed the sick. His loving lips spoke words of forgiveness to the broken sinner. His agonizing death for sinners proclaimed the amazing love of God. He is a beautiful Saviour! Behold the beauty of the Lord! —Donald L. Norbie

Beautiful Saviour, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I love Thee, truly I serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
—Written by German Jesuits

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 29; Job 38-39; Matt. 15:29 to 16:12

And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. Number 6:18

Have you ever smelled burning hair? It is not pleasant. That which would be naturally repugnant to the nostrils of man had found acceptance and appreciation by the Lord. The world looks with disdain and disgust at the believer that wants to lead a life separated to God. Yet to God it is a sweet smelling savour. The Nazarite offered his hair as a sacrifice—that hair was the token of his separation to the Lord. —Sid Halsband

Take my life, and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days, let them flow with ceaseless praise.
—Frances Ridley Havergal