Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Numbers 10:11-11:3; Proverbs 8:1-36; Jude

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 1 Corinthians 15:12

It often comes as a personal shock when we discover that something we’ve believed and repeated is either off balance or even completely incorrect. Sometimes we can trace the detour back to something we’ve heard or read, but we acknowledge how difficult it is to change our own views on something we’ve held for a long time. May we ever have a teachable spirit, so that we value being correct more than being right. —Rick Morse

Break Thou the Bread of Life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves, beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word. —M. A. Lathbury

Monday, April 29, 2019

Numbers 9:1-10:10; Proverbs 6:20-7:27; Mark 16:1-20

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16, NKJV

Does the reading of God’s Word cause your heart to rejoice? Depending on the condition of your soul, God’s Word can be sweet to the taste (Ps. 119:103), or like a bitter pill of conviction (Heb. 4:12). If you’re enjoying sweet fellowship with the Lord, His Word will delight your heart. But if there is unconfessed sin in your life, God’s Word may trigger feelings of guilt and regret. How does God’s Word affect you? —E. V.

Open Thy word of truth, that I may see,
Thy message written, clear and plain for me;
Then in sweet fellowship, walking with Thee,
Thine image on my life, engraved will be. —Mary A. Lathbury

Lord’s Day, April 28, 2019

Numbers 8:1-26; Proverbs 5:1-6:19; Mark 15:24-47

She hath wrought a good work upon me. Matthew 26:10

Just before His death, a woman came to Jesus carrying a box of “very precious ointment” (Matt. 26:7), and poured it on His head. Two reproaches were offered by His disciples. They criticized her for doing it, calling it a waste and the Lord for allowing it, inferring that the poor were a more worthy recipient. Is He worthy of our acts of devotion? Do our hearts offer Him our gratitude, praise and worship? Our blessed Saviour alone is worthy! Is He not the author of our eternal salvation? He alone is worthy of receiving universal recognition and honour. Have you thanked and blessed Him today? —Vernon Markle

All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die, that He might man redeem. —William H. Clark

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Numbers 7:1-89; Proverbs 4:1-27; Mark 15:1-23

Some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. Luke 21:5-6

Jerusalem’s attraction was the temple. But note our Lord’s attitude toward it. The entire site would be swept away, and soon. Our Lord preached at the temple, in synagogues and the street. Paul preached in the open air and rented a house for Bible studies. What was their passion? It was the people who listened and the spiritual house they would become through the gospel. —J. A. Bjorlie

View the vast building, see it rise,
The work how great, the plan how wise,
Oh wondrous fabric, power unknown,
That rests it on the Living Stone. —Samuel Medley

Friday, April 26, 2019

Numbers 6:1-27; Proverbs 3:1-35; Mark 14:53-72

Do not think it strange. 1 Peter 4:12a, NKJV

Something that is strange is different, foreign, or odd. That could include languages, food, or experiences. It is “experiences” that Peter is alluding to here. He speaks of trials as if they were familiar, not different; as if they were known, not foreign; and as if they were common-place, not odd. It’s actually when we don’t “suffer as a Christian” that we should think it strange. We may expect trials if we’re living for Christ, but do we rejoice as we recognize God working in our life? If not, that would be strange. —N. C. Funston

It may be thro’ the shadows dim,
Or o’er the stormy sea,
I take the cross and follow Him,
Wherever He leadeth me. —Baylus Benjamin McKinney

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Numbers 5:1-31; Proverbs 2:1-22; Mark 14:27-52

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? 2 Kings 5:7
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:9

People expect governments to cure diseases and avert natural disasters, yet they are powerless to solve the tragedies that sin causes. Israel’s king could not cure Naaman, but the Lord healed him. Human power is limited, but God is omnipotent. Look to Him, rather than to men. —Keith Keyser

Our times are in Thy hand; we’ll always trust to Thee,
Till we have left this weary land, and all Thy glory see. —William F. Lloyd

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Numbers 4:1-49; Proverbs 1:1-33; Mark 14:1-26

I came down from heaven. John 6:42

Abraham Lincoln once had a conversation with a child which required him to stoop down to her. At the end of it he said to her, “When you grow up, you can say that Abraham Lincoln bent half– way to meet you”. There is a greater than Abraham Lincoln who stooped down all the way to bring blessing to mankind, not just as a result of His miracles but by the outcome of His death at Calvary. Sinners must stoop down in humility, confess their sin and receive Him as Saviour and Lord. —Brian Powlesland

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race. —Charles Wesley

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Numbers 3:1-51; Psalms 148:1-150:6; Mark 13:1-37

The heart of Asa was perfect (loyal) all his days. 2 Chron. 15:17
Asa…sought not to the Lord…and died. 2 Chronicles 16:12-13

King Asa started well and continued well. But he finished poorly. His life identifies pitfalls to avoid if we would have a triumphant ending to our lives. First, he compromised with holiness: He used the Lord’s resources for selfish purposes (2 Chron. 16:1-2). Second, he placed his confidence in humans rather than God (vv. 3-6). Finally, his conscience was hardened: He no longer listened to God’s Word (vv. 7-10). Scripture records his end, saying: “his disease was exceeding great”—he diseased physically and spiritually too: He became a bitter, old man (vv. 11-13). Lord, help us avoid these same mistakes so that we can finish our courses with joy. —Brian Cretney

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word. —Wm. Longstaff

Monday, April 22, 2019

Numbers 2:1-34; Psalms 146:1-147:20; Mark 12:18-44

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13

Salvation is not of works, but it works. What Christ has done for us He works in us. It starts by the Spirit (Phil 1:6), continues by God (2:13) and is completed by the Son. “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (3:20-21). It is all to the praise of the glory of His grace. —Harold G. Smith

Once far from God and dead in sin, no light my heart could see;
But in God’s Word the light I found, now Christ liveth in me. —Daniel Whittle

Lord’s Day, April 21, 2019

Numbers 1:1-54; Psalms 144:1-145:21; Mark 11:27-12:17

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6

What a glorious day! Not because it is spring and new life bursts all around us, but because of what God accomplished on this day for the whole world. The sad, bleak day of Friday had passed. The jeering voices had fallen silent. His triumphant cry, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) had echoed to silence. And in the stillness, His body rested in a tomb, until suddenly, on this Lord’s Day, “Death could not keep his prey”. This great historical event stands as a fact in spite of a skeptical world. This is God’s vindication of His only Son, His evident triumph of life over death, and the assurance of our eternal hope. Hallelujah! Christ arose! —Jim Comte

Death cannot keep his prey—Jesus my Saviour!
He tore the bars away—Jesus my Lord. —Robert Lowry