Month: February 2019

Exodus 9:1-35; Psalm 40:1-41:13; Acts 4:1-31

The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1

It has been suggested that the most important word in this entire Psalm is “my”. You can know the Lord is a Shepherd, or even the Shepherd, but the one thing that really matters is to be able to say “the Lord is my Shepherd”. You may know the psalm, but can you truly say, “I know the Shepherd”? —W. Ross Rainey

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack since I am His,
And He is mine forever. —Henry W. Baker

Exodus 8:1-32; Psalms 38:1-39:13; Acts 3:1-26

She communed with him all that was in her heart. 2 Chron. 9:1
My heart is [overflowing with] a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1

The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed when she communed with the king. The Psalmist overflowed when he spoke all that was in his heart concerning his king. What lovely truths. Speaking to Him and of Him are equally appropriate. The beloved says, “While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof” (Songs 1:12). How does our heart respond when facing the King at His table this morning? —K. C. Ung

Thou glorious Bridegroom of our hearts, Thy present smile a heav’n imparts!
Oh lift the veil, if veil there be, let every saint Thy beauties see! —C. H. Spurgeon

Exodus 6:14-7:25; Psalm 37:1-40; Acts 2:22-47

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1, NKJV

St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful landmarks in London, England. There are many memorial plaques there, but amazingly not one for its architect, Sir Christopher Wren. But his tomb is there. It is located under the floor, directly under the main dome. Inscribed in Latin inlaid in the floor and placed there by his son, are the words, “If you would see his monument, look around!”. If you want to know about the Creator of the universe, look around! —Raymond Jones

Heav’n above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine. —G. Robinson

Exodus 5:1-6:13; Psalms 35:1-36:12; Acts 2:1-21

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women…and begin at my sanctuary. Ezekiel 9:6

It would be unrighteous of God to judge the world and allow sin in His own house (see Ezek. 8). We read in 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God”. Paul warns us to not be highminded but to fear, for the point of no return is near when the faithless, worldly and carnal that swell the ranks of the church will not be spared, but cut off (Rom. 11:20-22). We should walk in godly fear and humble obedience. The Lord can and will judge His house. —Carl Knott

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. —Russell Kelso Carter

Exodus 4:1-31; Psalm 34:1-22; Acts 1:1-26

Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. John 21:15

It is significant that the Lord did not definitively identify the “these” in this verse, thus leaving us to discover the things in our lives that compete for our affections towards the Lord. Love for Christ will mean that we will be completely surrendered to Him. It means we will want to be where He is as often as possible. He has promised to be in the midst, whenever the church gathers. Is it possible that we love some things more than the Lord and His presence? Let’s hear afresh the question the Lord put to Peter “Lovest thou me more than these?”. —W. H. Burnett

More love to Thee O Christ, More love to Thee,
This be the prayer I make, On bended knee. —E. P. Prentiss

Exodus 2:23-3:22; Psalms 32:1-33:22; Matthew 28:1-20

He that feared the word of the Lord…made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses…And he that regarded not the word …left his servants and his cattle in the field. Exodus 9:20-21

Thunder, lightning and hail. The largest and most devastating storm which had ever struck Egypt was about to destroy the land. But God sent a warning to the people so they could escape. Some listened, obeyed and prepared for what was about to come. Others ignored God’s Word and perished. Today He warns us of eternal judgement but in love has given us a way to escape—the Lord Jesus Christ. Prepare for eternity by trusting Christ as your Saviour. —David Croudace

Choose now, right now! For your own soul is at stake!
‘Tis life or death; and the choice you make is made for eternity. —Harriet Fithian

Exodus 1:1-2:22; Psalm 31:1-24; Matthew 27:45-66

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 2 Kings 6:22

Elisha counselled for mercy towards the Syrians. Such compassion flowed out of humane assumptions regarding the treatment of prisoners of war—a rare sentiment in ancient warfare! Christ received no mercy from human hands, yet He extends mercy to sinners who receive Him. He commands that the recipients of His mercy, show mercy to others (Luke 6:36). —Keith Keyser

Mercy and truth unite,
O ‘tis a wondrous sight— All sights above!
Jesus the curse sustains! Guilt’s bitter cup He drains!
Nothing for us remains, nothing but love. —Thomas Kelly

Genesis 50:1-26; Psalm 30:1-12; Matthew 27:27-44

And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Joshua 10:42

Joshua made a big mistake in entering into an alliance with the Gibeonites, and suffered for it. When the Gibeonites were then attacked by an alliance of kings, Joshua had to fight for Gibeon. However the end result was that he avoided individual battles with each of the kings, and instead defeated them all at the same time. God is merciful—He can even use our mistakes for eventual blessing (Rom. 8:28). —Brian Russell

The God of Abraham praise,
Who reigns enthroned on high;
Ancient of everlasting days,
And God of love. —Thomas Oliver

Genesis 49:1-33; Psalms 28:1-29:11; Matthew 27:1-26

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

What exaltation ascended to the Lord when Israel was delivered from Pharoah (Ex. 15:1)! What praise came from Mary at the prospect of a coming Son (Luke 1:46)! What a song was sung by Paul and Silas when bound in chains, they suffered for the Gospel (Acts 16:25)! No matter the circumstances are we a praising people, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord (Col. 3:16)? —Jim Paul

Still praising Thee that should be my mission.
As fleeting years so quickly come and go
Still praising Thee be this my high ambition.
Then further cause for praising I shall know. —J. Danson Smith

Genesis 47:28-48:22; Psalms 26:1-27:14; Matthew 26:57-75

In the beginning God. Genesis 1:1

Towards the end of his life the renowned atheist, Professor Anthony Flew wrote: “I have followed the argument where it has led me. And it has led me to accept the existence of a self-existent, immutable, immaterial, omnipotent and omniscient Being” (from his book, “There is A God”). He is clearly describing the God of the Bible and calls his conclusion, the result of “a pilgrimage of reason”. Logic dictates the reality of God and that truth gives us significance as people and ultimate meaning. We are so thankful for the fact that God is and that He has revealed Himself in the person of His Son. —Paul Young

God who made the earth, the air, the sky, the sea,
Who gave the light its birth, careth for me. —Sarah B. Rhodes