Month: February 2016

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19:10-25; Psalm 59; Acts 10:34-48

…my word…shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

It is the Holy Spirit who brings men under conviction of sin and brings them to Christ. To do this He uses His sword—the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). But God has given to us the responsibility of getting that Word out, so that the Spirit can do His work. It will take time and energy and we may need to give up some of our own pursuits to do this but if we do our part God will do His and bring it to fruition. It was a discarded tract, picked up from a gutter in Malawi, that God used to start a new work for Himself there. —David Croudace

When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. —Knowles Shaw

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19:1-9; Psalm 58; Acts 10:24-33

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Psalm 22:1

We can never take in what the Lord Jesus endured at the cross. Our finite minds and our dulled senses can at best only dimly grasp the sheer depths of the gulf spanned when the Holy Saviour was made sin for us. What utter grace it was that took Him there! Let us then bow our hearts in fond remembrance, as we do what He has asked of us on this first day of the week. —Mark Fenn

Thy grace, O Lord, that measured once the deep
Of Calvary’s woe, to seek and save Thy sheep,
Has touched our hearts and made them long for Thee,
Thyself our treasure and our all to be.
—Charles Andrew Coates

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

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

While tempting the Lord to sin, the devil misquoted Psalm 91:11-12 (see Matt. 4:6). Satan added “at any time”, and left out “to keep thee in all thy ways”. Two observations: First, the devil is never more dangerous than when he misuses God’s Word—he does so to deceive. Second, the Lord quoted Scripture to deflect the enemy’s assault (Matt. 4:4-10). If we follow His example, we too will evade the lion’s attack and trample the serpent under our feet (Ps. 91:13). —W. A. H.

There is a safe and secret place,
Beneath the wings divine,
Reserved for all the heirs of grace;
O be that refuge mine! —Henry F. Lyte

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

I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Psalm 119:32

Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast… 1 Chronicles 4:10

Physically speaking an enlarged heart is a serious condition—even life threatening. In dramatic contrast, however, a spiritually enlarged heart is something we should seek after. If God “broadens” our love for Him and His dear people, as well as the lost, then we can ask Him to “broaden” our sphere of influence for His honour and glory.
—Wm. H. Gustafson

Give me a sight, O Saviour, of Thy wondrous love to me,
Of the love that bro’t Thee down to earth, to die on Calvary.
—A. M. Kelly

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men. 2 Timothy 2:24

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7

What a touching picture Paul paints here of his behaviour towards the Thessalonians; that of gentleness, as a nursing mother taking care of her children. Paul also reminds Timothy, that “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men.” Often, our old nature reacts negatively towards others rather than with gentleness. May the Lord help us to display the “gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1). —E. V.

You have given me the shield of your salvation,
Your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
—Psalm 18:35 (ESV)

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 15; Psalm 51; Acts 8:5-40

…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

The clock tower at a hotel in Edinburgh always shows the time 3 minutes fast. This is claimed to help those rushing to catch a train at nearby Waverley train station. What a relief for some who just make it to catch their train. There are many instances in life where people procrastinate and leave things until too late. Is there something you need to do for the Lord? Don’t delay, do it now! If you are not saved and know you need to be—attend to it now! —Brian Powlesland

While the voice of Jesus calls you be in time! If in sin you longer wait,
You may find no open gate, and your cry be just too late. Be in time!
—Charles Harrison Mason

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49-50; Acts 7:30 to 8:4

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go…I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3

Our Lord Jesus made this promise to His own and He never breaks His word! Now we are waiting for the fulfilment of that promise. However, in the meantime, He has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell us and He expects us to be occupied in His service. He asks us to watch and wait and pray. As we labour for Him we look ahead to the moment when He will “present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle” (Eph. 5:27). And at last we will be with Him and all the redeemed for eternity! —Drew Craig

Let all that look for hasten, the coming joyful day,
By earnest consecration, to walk the narrow way. —J. McGranahan

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 13 to 14:4; Psalms 47-48; Acts 7:1-29

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 1 Samuel 7:12

Over the years, two words have featured in my life—Ebenezer and Jehovah-Jireh—the latter meaning, “the Lord will provide”. We should start every day with thanksgiving for past blessings and look in faith to a God that will provide for the future. It is when we call to mind the past that we realize what the Lord can do for the future. Take heart—He will go before you today. —Brian Russell

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
—T. O. Chisolme

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 12:21-51; Psalm 45-46; Acts 6

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye shew the Lord’s death till he come. 1 Corinthians 11:26

For the believer in Christ there is no activity on earth so compelling as on the first day of every week remembering their beloved Lord. The bread and wine which are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus remind us of that supreme sacrifice He made for us at the place called Calvary. It also is a reminder that in fulfilling His request it is only until He comes! What a blessed hope! May you this day, wherever possible, honour the Lord by doing what He has asked you to do! —Jim Paul

According to Thy gracious Word, in meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord, I will remember Thee.
—James Montgomery

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 11 to 12:20; Psalm 44; Acts 5:12-42

…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Isaiah 66:2

The God, who sits on the throne of heaven, finds His delight in individuals who are known by the description found in today’s verse. They are “poor”, humble in mind and actions (Matt. 5:3-5). They are “contrite”, not trusting in their own human strength (Isa. 57:15). They tremble at His Word. They live their lives in reverential respect for God’s Word and seek to obey it (Ezra 9:4-6). May our prayer be that the Lord would make us this type of person. —Sam Thorpe, Jr.

With broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry:
Thy pardoning grace is rich and free,
O God, be merciful to me. —C. Elven