Monday, April 20, 2020

Leviticus 27:1-34; Psalms 142:1-143:12; Mark 11:1-26

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Matt. 8:9

Listen to the logic of the centurion. He understood the Lord’s authority because he had soldiers to whom he said: Go, Come and Do. We have one who is far greater. When He says, do this in remembrance of me, do we gather faithfully to worship? When He says, come to Me and I will give you rest, do we come, or do we keep exhausting our own resources? And finally, when He says, go into all the world and preach the Gospel, do we go? —Shane Johnson

Am I a soldier of the Cross— follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause, or blush to speak His name?—I. Watts

Lord’s Day, April 19, 2020

Leviticus 26:1-46; Psalm 140:1-141:10; Mark 10:32-52

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Revelation 1:18

God took on flesh and dwelt among men for the suffering of death. He was God’s sacrifice and substitute for us in a death that we could not die, for He was bearing our sins in His own body on the cross. But death could not keep Him and three days later He rose again, triumphant over death and the grave. Today He lives to soon return for those who are His and to raise their bodies to be with Him forevermore. Even so come Lord Jesus. —K. C. Ung

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified, freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day! —J. W. Chapman

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Leviticus 25:1-55; Psalm 139:1-24; Mark 10:1-31

That which thou hast prayed…I [the Lord] have heard…the Lord hath spoken. 2 Kings 19:20-21

Here we find a threefold surety from the Lord for every child of God who calls upon Him. We cry out in need. The Lord hears. The Lord answers. It is a divinely woven cord, not quickly broken. On one end a needy child, on the other the sovereign Father with “thoughts of peace… to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:11). The Lord’s response varies for each situation, but will always provide the best for us as He fulfills His promise—”Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass” (Isa. 14:24). —D. J. Reed

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail. —R. K. C

Friday, April 17, 2020

Leviticus 24:1-23; Psalms 137:1-138:8; Mark 9:33-50

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Corinthians 12:7

It’s great to know that God has a plan and purpose for my life. But sometimes in order for us to be equipped to fulfill that plan we may be given an irritating thorn in the flesh. Once Paul discovered the purpose of this difficulty, he stopped praying for it to be removed but rather embraced it as a friend. It’s hard to believe but even the attacks of the evil one can be used of the Lord to mold us into the vessel He wants us to be. —Sid Halsband

O let my life be given, my years for Thee be spent;
World-fetters all be riven, and joy with suffering blent. —F. Havergal

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Leviticus 23:23-44; Psalms 135:1-136:26; Mark 9:14-32

Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Jeremiah 12:1

We often find ourselves questioning why God allows something, or doesn’t act in a way we might expect. Our great comfort is that we can actually talk to Him about such fears and not be ashamed when we approach in reverence and willingness to hear His response. He loves to hear our prayers. It is often in the times of darkest fears or deepest doubts that He draws nearest to us, if we will but draw near to Him. Do any of us need to do this today? —Rick Morse

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart;
Draw me, my Saviour, so precious Thou art. —Lelia N. Morris

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Leviticus 23:1-22; Psalms 132:1-134:3; Mark 8:27-9:13

He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him…Joseph is torn to pieces.” Genesis 37:33, NKJV
When they told him…[what] Joseph had said to them…then [he] said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive.” Genesis 45:27-28, NKJV

Evidence is not proof. It narrows down the best likelihood of truth but new evidence can bring different conclusions. Have you dismissed Jesus on the basis of a biased scientific claim? Do not let pride stand in the way of re-examining the evidence. Examine the Word of God. See the fulfillment of prophecy. Examine the life of a changed sinner versus the moral decay of an “evolving” society. It is enough. Jesus lives. —Jeff Frey

Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die,
O, raise your head for Love is passing by. Come to Jesus.—Chris Rice

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Leviticus 22:1-33; Psalm 128:1-131:3; Mark 8:11-26

[Jesus] saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? John 5:6
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man. John 5:7
Afterward Jesus…said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. John 5:14

A certain man had an infirmity 38 years, evidently as a result of sin in his life. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him and asked him if he was willing to be made whole. His answer was not “yes”, but an excuse: “Sir, I have no man…to put me into the pool” (v. 7). Nevertheless, God graciously made him whole. Am I willing to forsake my sin and allow the goodness of God to lead me to repentance, or am I making excuses? —D. Pickup

Now incline me to repent; let me now my fall lament;
Deeply my revolt deplore, weep, believe, and sin no more. —C. Wesley

Monday, April 13, 2020

Leviticus 21:1-24; Psalms 124:1-127:5; Mark 7:24-8:10

[He] spake…saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king…let thy word…be like one of their’s, and speak thou good. And Micaiah said…even what my God saith, that will I speak. 2 Chronicles 18:12-13

Many today do not want to hear about sin or the blood of Christ, so to please them, some preach another Gospel. The true Gospel says “Christ died for our sins…was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). We may fill the pews in our church buildings but we will also be false prophets if our message is not “according to the scriptures.” —David Croudace

When the earth shall cease to be, and the Heavens pass away,
The unchanging Word of God we’ll see—just as it is today. —C. Naylor

Lord’s Day, April 12, 2020

Leviticus 19:1-20:27; Psalms 120:1-123:4; Mark 7:1-23

Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:5-6

Years ago a submarine, the USS S-4, sank off the coast of Massachusetts. Divers descended endeavouring to find signs of life. Listening carefully they heard Morse code being tapped, “Is there any hope?” This is the constant cry of millions, “Is there any hope?” Thank God that on this resurrection day there is hope. “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). The Saviour has conquered death and the grave and He alone offers hope. Today we have a hope, a hope beyond the grave, a hope in a living and soon coming Saviour. —Jim Comte

I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say. —Alfred H. Ackley

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Leviticus 17:1-18:30; Psalm 119:145-176; Mark 6:30-56

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. John 12:9, NKJV

No words that Lazarus spoke are recorded in the Scriptures, but he was a living testimony of God’s resurrection power. It was not his talk; it was his walk that proved he was alive (John 11:44). At the supper, Lazarus was seated at the table with the Lord. We, too, were dead, raised to walk in the newness of life, and are seated with Christ in heavenly places. May our lives draw others to see Him. —Rex Trogdon

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him. —Kate B. Wilkinson