Month: October 2016

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

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. Psalm 106:24-25

Instead of enjoying the blessings of God, Israel despised His goodness and disregarded His word. Privately they complained, thinking perhaps they were out of range of others. But the One who hears our cry when we are in distress is also the One who hears our voice of discontent. Remember, when we complain, the problem may be with us and not with others or our circumstances. Choose today to glorify the Lord with your words, both publicly—and in private.
—Mark Kolchin

Whate’er my fears or foes suggest, Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;
My heart shall feel Thy love, and raise my cheerful voice to songs of praise.
—Issac Watts

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

What think ye of Christ? Matthew 22:42

Every Sunday we have an opportunity to answer that question in the Lord’s Supper. What a shame to waste it by not coming prepared. In song, through Scripture reading and in worshipful prayer, tell the Lord what you think of Him! Part of preparation is spending time every day in personal devotion to the Lord. Another key is not to allow any activity on Saturday to tire us, take our minds off Christ and dull our worship on Sunday. The more we think of Christ, the less we think of ourselves. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30). So it is with each of us. —Carl Knott

Was e’er a gift like the Saviour given? No, not one! No, not one!
Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him? No, not one! No, not one!
—Johnson Oatman Jr.

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

Love…thinks no evil. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Another translation of this verse expresses the sentiment “Love… keeps no record of wrongs” (NIV). When hurt unjustly, we naturally suffer and keep a mental record of the person or persons who have hurt us. Maybe the hurt can never be forgotten but in praying for the offender the Lord will give you a concern for them, rather than hate. Bitterness and revenge should not be in the believer’s vocabulary. —Brian Russell

Forgive them O My Father,
They know not what they do.
The Saviour spoke in anguish,
As sharp iron nails went through.
—C. C. Alexander

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

And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Exodus 24:16

We have a “Hurry up and don’t make me wait” culture. Everything is getting faster and people are increasingly impatient. This is not God’s way. Believers should tarry before God and expectantly wait for Him to speak. Moses waited seven days before the Lord called to him. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Ps. 27:14). There is no shortcut to a fruitful relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. —A. Baal

Death and hell cannot appal me; safe in Christ whate’er befall me;
Calmly wait till He shall call me: peace, peace is mine!
—J. Denham Smith

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

Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Micah 7:20

Early in life Jacob tried to obtain right things by wrong means. He was a deceiver and was systematically disciplined by God. Abraham was an oft-assailed pilgrim who believed the Almighty and awaited the fulfillment of His covenant (Heb. 11:8-10). Centuries later through Micah, the Lord assures Jacob’s descendants that He will not deceive them, but will act in truth towards them. Furthermore, He reaffirms His covenantal mercy to Abraham’s descendants. He who is faithful to Israel will also keep His word to the church! —K. R. Keyser

The Lord is truth unchanging, through the storms of life,
The Almighty shows mercy to His saints amidst their strife. —K. R. K.

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

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish… John 10:11, 28

The Lord Jesus is both the “Good Shepherd”, and the “Giving Shepherd”. In His goodness and His giving, He surpasses all others. Two aspects of His giving stir our hearts. First, He gave His life for us. We think of Calvary and its sin-atoning sacrifice. Secondly, He imparts to each repenting, trusting soul the gift of “eternal life” (see Rom. 6:23). Accept it today, and be assured that you shall “never perish”. —George Hall

The King of love my Shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His, and He is mine for ever.
—Henry W. Baker

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

…Lazarus sleeps… John 11:11 (NKJV)

When Christ told His disciples “Lazarus sleeps”, He was saying that Lazarus’ body had died. In the New Testament, only believers are referred to with the metaphor of sleep, in relation to physical death. The figure has many comforting thoughts: Sleep is harmless (Ps. 23:4). Sleep is a merciful provision, affording relief from the day’s toil and sorrow. Sleep is a time of rest (Rev. 14:13). Sleep does not terminate life; a sleeping person is a living person (2 Cor. 5:8). Sleep is but for a little while; a sleeping person will soon rise again. —W. Ross Rainey

No longer must the mourners weep, Nor call departed Christians dead;
For death is hallowed into sleep, And every grave becomes a bed.
—John Mason Neale

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

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

Contentment is elusive in this materialistic age. Gratitude is infrequent, even among believers. Paul tells us that he had learned contentment in all circumstances of life. It didn’t come naturally, but in life’s journey with its many trials, he had learned contentment. Elizabeth Elliot wrote, “Thankfulness springs from accepting the gifts and conditions and circumstances God gives us.” The circumstances of our lives are often not what we wanted, but can we, like Paul, learn to rejoice no matter what our situation (Phil. 2:17-18)? —Jim Comte

How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t,
To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot and I won’t! —Fanny Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 1; Ezekiel 2 to 3:15; 2 Timothy 3

Again the next day after John stood…and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! John 1:35-36
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne…stood a Lamb as it had been slain… Revelation 5:6

John announced Jesus as the Lamb of God. It is interesting that John “stood”. The primary purpose of his ministry was done. Now he looks on Jesus as he “walked”. He had further, much further, to go! The following years would see the fulfilment of John’s words as He hung on the cross, the Lamb of Calvary! In Revelation the language changes, “…in the midst of the throne…stood a Lamb as it had been slain…“. The victory was won. He had no further to go! —Drew Craig

Dwelling in eternal sunshine, of the countenance of God,
Jesus fills all heav’n with incense, of His reconciling blood. —R. Chapman

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 25; Ezekiel 1; 2 Timothy 2

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Mary Ann Bird was born with a cleft palate and hare lip and received much abuse at school. Her teacher, Mrs. Leonard gave her class a yearly hearing test. The pupils would stand at a distance and the teacher would whisper sentences like, “The sky is blue. Do you have new shoes?” When Mary Ann took the test, her teacher whispered, “I wish you were my little girl.” All of us were born with sinful hearts, but there is One who whispers in our ears, “I want you in my family. Look at Calvary and you will be convinced.” —Milton Haack

When every ray of light had fled, O glorious day!
Raising my soul from out the dead, love found a way.
—A. Christiansen