Monday, January 21, 2019

Genesis 27:1-46; Job 34-35:16; Matthew 14:13-36

I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 1 Kings 17:6

David tells us “I shall not want”. In the midst of a drought, Elijah “went and did according unto the word of the Lord” (1 Kgs. 17:5). Both had faith to believe in God’s goodness. So it should be with us; everything we need in our lives, God will give to us. If we would only believe, we shall receive. This is the promise of God! —Ken Gunnell

O wonderful, wonderful Word, My treasure, my hope, and my stay;
Each promise recorded delights my soul, And brightens each step of my way. —Fanny Crosby

Lord’s Day, January 20, 2019

Genesis 26:1-35; Job 32:1-33:33; Matthew 13:44-14:12

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Isaiah 42:1a

In the Old Testament, Israel offered many innocent, unwilling lambs as sacrifices for their sins. God took no delight in them because they could only cover sin. But at Calvary, God’s chosen Lamb willingly went and offered Himself. God delighted in His Son’s perfection, taking pleasure in the sweet aroma of His devotional sacrifice. He joyfully accepted His Son’s once and for all sin offering that completely removes our sins and even their remembrance. —George Ferrier

Not all the blood of beasts, on Jewish altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace, or wash away its stain.
But Christ, the heavenly Lamb, takes all our sins away;
A sacrifice of nobler name, and richer blood than they. —Isaac Watts

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Genesis 25:34; Job 31:1-40; Matthew 13:24-43

For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. Psalm 25:11

To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5 When the American President pardons someone, he is not saying they are innocent. He is simply, often without reason or explanation, setting them free. But while they may now be free, they are no less guilty. There is absolutely nothing the President can do about that. God’s pardons are vastly different. God takes men and women with too many sins to list and wipes their slate clean. He sees them as righteous as His spotless Son. —Ken Gross

That Man of Calvary has won my heart from me,
And died to set me free, blessed Man of Calvary. —M. P. Ferguson

Friday, January 18, 2019

Genesis 24:1-67; Job 29:1-30:31; Matthew 13:1-23

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time. Jonah 3:1

The first two chapters of Jonah give factual details as to how God turned him back to Ninevah. The last two chapters enlighten us as to how God changed Jonah’s inner attitude. What we discover is that God wants us to do His will, not by force, but with a willing heart. In essence, His desire is for us to be like Him, not just to obey Him. To turn Jonah toward Nineveh, God sent the storm and the great fish. To turn him from his anger and hardheartedness, God sent the plant and the worm. What is He using to turn you? Are you listening? —Shane Johnson

I want to do Thy will O Lord, take me, break me, hold me and make me,
I want to do Thy will O Lord; I want to do Thy will O Lord! —D. Reeves

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Genesis 23:1-20; Job 27:1-28:28; Matthew 12:22-50

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. Psalm 121:5

The words “keep or keeper” occur three times in this short Psalm as does the word “preserve”. The terms are basically synonymous: “hedge about, guard, protect”. C. H. Spurgeon states, “God is the bodyguard of His saints” and “God is as near as your shadow”. Psalm 91:11 gives this encouragement: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways”. What stability, assurance, and security the believer enjoys in a world daily rocked by turmoil and confusion! —Wm. H. Gustafson

Under the shadow of Thy throne,
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure. —Isaac Watts

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Genesis 22:1-24; Job 25:1-26:14; Matthew 12:1-21

Repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1:15

One of the first words that Jesus used when setting out on His public ministry was “repent”. The very essence of the Gospel is the idea of repentance. It means to turn around. To leave sin and to be devoted in faith to the Lord Jesus. It was John Bunyan who wrote, “Godly repentance does not only affect the soul with the loathsome nature of sin that is past, but fills the heart with godly hatred of sins that may yet come”. Repentance means we loathe sin and do our utmost to not indulge it in any form. Righteousness should be the hallmark of the Christian. —Paul Young

Repent before the Judge draws nigh;
Or else when He comes down,
Thou wilt in vain for earthquakes cry,
To hide thee from His frown. —John Newton

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Genesis 20:1-21:34; Job 23:1-24:25; Matthew 11:2-30

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4, NKJV

Even David, a man of great courage, who killed a lion, a bear, and the giant, Goliath, had times when he was afraid. He learned that trust in God was the answer and also the solution to his fear. We, too, can learn this lesson. When we are afraid, trust in the Lord. Then, before any fear arises, put a steadfast trust in the Lord, so that we will not even begin to fear. Trust in the One who said, “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isa. 41:10, NKJV). Remember, He will never leave you nor forsake you. —Rex Trogdon

Fear knocked;
Faith answered;
No one was there. —Anonymous

Monday, January 14, 2019

Genesis 19:1-38; Job 22:1-30; Matthew 10:24-11:1

And Jesus said, Make the men sit down…So the men sat down… And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down. John 6:10-11

The people who sat down and ate that day were filled and satisfied. They sought the Lord afterwards so that they might be fed again. Likewise we who follow the Lord and desire to be spiritually fed by Him must “sit down”: we must be serious and attentive to receive. Spiritual nutrition and satisfaction won’t come to those who are impatient or haphazard in their encounters with Jesus, just catching a “bite” of Scripture while on the run. —D. Pickup

Long as my life shall last, Teach me Thy way!
Wher-e’er my lot be cast, Teach me Thy way! —B. Mansell Ramsey

Lord`s Day, January 13, 2019

Genesis 18:1-33; Job 21:1-34; Matthew 10:1-23

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46

The stark contrast between these two statements of Scripture raises a question. Why would God forsake the Son in whom He had previously declared all His pleasure? Psalm 22:3 provides the answer; “But thou art holy”. God’s holiness required Him to forsake the Son in whom He delighted, punishing Him for your sin and mine. May our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and praise as we remember Him, and the price He paid to secure our salvation. —E. V.

Lord Jesus, we remember the travail of Thy soul,
When thro’ Thy love’s deep pity, the waves did o’er Thee roll. — J. G. Deck

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Genesis 17:1-27; Job 20:1-29; Matthew 9:18-38

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. Acts 17:26

Humanity has been divided by boundaries, ethnicities, political allegiances and languages. Some hide behind these differences saying, the gospel works in your kindred, but not ours. The Bible makes sense in your dialect, but not ours. Your party believes, but not ours. These arguments are insults to God’s wisdom, love and righteousness. God is determined to disprove these excuses by redeeming people out of every nation, tribe, people and tongue (Rev. 5:9). God so loved the world. —J. A. Bjorlie

With harps and with viols there stands a great throng,
In the presence of Jesus and sings this new song;
Unto Him who has loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto Him be the glory forever. Amen. —A. T. Pierson