Thursday, January 31, 2019

Genesis 38:1-30; Psalms 15:1-16:11; Matthew 21:33-22:14

In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:3

The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Galatians 3:8 From the beginning, God’s heart has longed for all to know Him. The Gospel is to be preached to every person. We call this the Great Commission. So how great is the Great Commission to me? Is God’s vision my vision? It needs to be. Is God’s mission my mission? It can be. It must be. —J. A. Bjorlie

Shall we, whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high,
Shall we to men benighted the lamp of life deny? Salvation!
Oh, salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth’s remotest station has learned Messiah’s name. —R. Heber

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Genesis 37:1-36; Psalms 11:1-14:7; Matthew 21:1-32

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

We live in a pluralistic world, where to be dogmatic about anything is frowned upon. We are told that we must be tolerant of each point of view. Unfortunately for such a world, the Scriptures make it abundantly clear that there is no other means of being saved from the eternal consequences of our sin than through the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning death at Calvary. The Lord Jesus Himself said “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, nkjv). Dogmatic? Yes! Salvation depends on accepting this blessed truth. —W. H. Burnett

Man of Sorrows! What a name, for the Son of God who came,
Ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! —P. P. Bliss

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Genesis 36:1-43; Psalms 9:1-10:18; Matthew 20:17-34

Take heed unto thyself, and to the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Timothy 4:16

Here is a charge to guard the integrity of our personal lives while we earnestly contend for the doctrines of the faith. Every Christian knows the importance of studying the Scriptures (1 Tim. 2:15). But knowledge of the Word does not guarantee our spiritual success, neither does our parentage, privilege or past achievement. Heart attachment to Christ and abiding in Him is the only way by which our spiritual well-being is assured, saving us (and others) from a lot of anguish. If these words needed to be spoken to Timothy, how much more for us? —Mark Kolchin

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.—C. McAfee

Monday, January 28, 2019

Genesis 35:1-29; Psalms 7:1-8:9; Matthew 19:16-20:16

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Psalm 107:43

The Psalm records the repeated self-made troubles of people, who exhaust themselves and eventually cry out to the Lord. We may personally find it hard to have compassion on those who are their own worst enemies. Yet this Psalm teaches us that our God’s loving-kindness is not cut off from anyone when they repent and turn to Him. That’s a divine level of wisdom we could certainly use more of. —Rick Morse

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto us each day what He deems best. —Lina S. Berg

Lord’s Day, January 27, 2019

Genesis 33:18-34:31; Psalms 4:1-6:10; Matthew 19:1-15

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:45

In our worship gatherings we often speak of the scourging, buffeting, spitting and railing our Lord endured. But there was no forgiveness and salvation in all this suffering. It was in those three dark hours when the sword of Jehovah awoke and smote the Shepherd. It was then that He was wounded for our transgressions and smitten of God. It was there that it pleased Jehovah to bruise Him. It was there that He was made sin for us. We can never enter into this awful “tasting of death” for us. —Harold G. Smith

Alas and did my Saviour bleed? And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head, for such a worm as I? —I. Watts

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Genesis 32:1-33:17; Psalms 1:1-3:8; Matthew 18:15-35

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The little boy looked up with a tear-stained face. “I was trying to draw something for Grandma, but I can’t do it! I just made a mess”. Without a word, his artistic teenaged sister picked up his paper and began to add her own strokes. When she showed her brother the final picture, he was amazed. She had taken his “mess” and made it into something beautiful! What a lovely picture of what the Lord does for us. He takes all things, even our messes and makes them work together for our good and His glory! —Lynn Shatford

All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But He made something beautiful of my life. —B. Gaither

Friday, January 25, 2019

Genesis 31:1-55; Job 42:17; Matthew 17:14-18:14

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Job 1:7

What pride and arrogance Satan displayed before his Creator. The Scriptures have much to say about pride. “Pride, and arrogancy…do I hate” (Prov. 8:13). “Pride goeth before destruction” (Prov. 16:18). “Those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Dan. 4:37). Jeremiah tells us not to glory in our knowledge, power or wealth, but to glory in our knowledge of God’s love, justice and righteousness. That is surely the safe path for us. —Mary Robins

Not I but Christ, be honoured, loved, exalted:
Not I but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard:
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action: 
Not I but Christ, in every thought and word. —Mrs. A. A. Widdington

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Genesis 30:1-43; Job 40:1-41:34; Matthew 16:13-17:13

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

What did David mean by the words “for his name’s sake”? In answer to this question it has been explained that, “If the second clause points out where He leads, this last clause points out why He leads us there”. He leads us so that He, not we, may be exalted. Have you bowed your knees before the Lord and confessed with your tongue that blessed name? —W. Ross Rainey

Jesus is the name that charms us;
He for conflict fits and arms us;
Nothing moves and nothing harms us,
While we trust in Him. —Thomas Kelly

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Genesis 29:1-35; Job 38:1-39:30; Matthew 15:29-16:12

For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Ecclesiastes 5:2

What a contrast in this verse! The Lord God, the Holy One, enthroned above in all His perfection. While here on earth are perishing sinners, totally unfit to join Him. Thank God for the One who bridges the gap! “For there is…one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Thank God it is possible to be with Him in heaven! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isa. 57:15). Will you be in heaven forever? —Pete Smith

Once Heaven seemed a far-off place,
Till Jesus saved me by His grace. —Charles J. Butler

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Genesis 28:1-22; Job 36:1- 37:24; Matthew 15:1-28

Father, I have sinned… Luke 15:21
Go, and sin no more… John 8:11
If I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Luke 19:8
Forgive…that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

God’s forgiveness brings responsibilities for us. First, we must acknowledge our sin and turn from it. If we have wronged someone we need to put it right. Finally, we must in turn be prepared to show forgiveness to others. —Janet Fleming

Forgiven—Free from the debt I could not pay He paid the price I owed that day,
Then let that same forgiveness flow That others too His love might know. —Janet Fleming