Lord’s Day, March 19, 2024

Exodus 36:1-38; Psalm 89:1-18; Acts 21:17-40

There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 NKJV

This fascinating parable is one that we can relate to. We were in this world, a little city, besieged by a great king, our adversary — the devil. Then He came, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, and delivered us from so great a death! (2 Cor. 8:9; 1:10). No one remembered that same poor man, but we do. —Rex Trogdon

Saviour, we remember Thee! Thy deep woe and agony,
All Thy suff’ring on the tree, Saviour, we adore Thee! —Samuel Francis

Monday, March 18, 2024

Exodus 35:1-35; Psalms 87:1-88:18; Acts 21:1-16

…and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9
God….saved Noah…a preacher of righteousness. 2 Peter 2:5

Noah spent 120 years building an ark to escape the coming flood because he believed the word of the living God. Secondly he scorned the ridicule of those who scoffed at the thought of a coming judgement and that there was only one way to avoid it—the ark. Although he saw little in the way of results—only he and seven others entered the ark—yet he never gave up. Have we given up warning the world of the coming judgement and of Christ who is the only Way to be saved from it? —David Croudace

What regret must then be mine, when I meet my Lord divine;
If I’ve wasted all the talents He doth lend;
If no soul to me can say, “I’m so glad you passed my way;
For ‘twas you who told me of the sinners Friend.” —N. A. McAulay

Lord’s Day, March 17, 2024

Exodus 34:4-35; Psalms 85:1-86:17; Acts 20:17-38

He was oppressed, and…afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

Someone has well said of Isaiah 53 that, “It looks as if it had been written beneath the cross of Golgotha”. There, as the lonely Lamb led to the slaughter, He hangs upon the tree. There are no pitying eyes upon Him. His sealed lips which had spoken so eloquently before Pilate, Herod and the jeering multitudes are quiet now. The only word He speaks are not against His tormentors but on our behalf, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). How can our lips be sealed this Lord’s Day, as we gaze upon the silent Sufferer? —Jim Comte

The Lamb of God to slaughter led, the King of Glory see!
The crown of thorns upon His head, they nail Him to the tree!—R. Chapman

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Exodus 33:1-34:3; Psalms 83:1-84:12; Acts 20:1-16

But one thing is needful. Luke 10:42

Our culture and society tells us that many things are needful to have a happy, successful and fulfilling life. But Jesus tells us that only one thing can provide what we need—Him! We don’t need a better image, more things, more relationships, more money, or more popularity. We need a relationship with the One who created us, died for us, and promises eternal life to all who will believe in Him. If I have Christ—I have all I need. If I don’t, I have nothing. What have you today? —Deborah Manera

Hallelujah!
All I have is Christ.
Hallelujah!
Jesus is my life.  —Jordan Kauflin

Friday, March 15, 2024

Exodus 32:1-35; Psalms 81:1-82:8; Acts 19:21-41

This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. Exodus 12:14
The waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan…these stones shall be for a memorial… Joshua 4:7

History yielded few memorials for Israel, but the two greatest mirror what we have in Christ—deliverance from bondage and entrance into God’s glorious rest. We are living monuments of God’s grace, and should recognize such memorials are established in us. They are preserved in us by our obedient trust and God’s trustworthiness! —David J. Reed

The Lord God of Hosts, ‘Tis in Him alone we boast.
The Lord is His memorial name,
His trustworthy wonders we proclaim. —Drawn from Hosea 12:5

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Exodus 31:1-18; Psalms 79:1-80:19; Acts 18:24-19:20

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. John 11:20

Mary is remarkable for her sitting. Luke records her deliberate choice to sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus, the better to listen to His words. By contrast, Martha missed hearing His voice because she was “distracted” by her service (Luke 10:38-42). In our text, Mary exemplifies the admonition of the psalmist, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him” (Ps. 62:5). She was like Ruth who was told to “Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall” (Ruth 3:18). How Mary’s piety should speak to us!  —L. Cain

Master, speak, Thy servant heareth, waiting for Thy gracious word.
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth, Master, let it now be heard.  —F. Havergal

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Exodus 30:11-38; Psalm 78:32-72; Acts 18:1-23

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

Some Christians are good fighters in bad battles. They are focused and feisty and often pursue points of controversy rather than seeking common ground with the same vigour. Using the imagery of an athletic contest, Paul looks at the finish line with joy knowing he has expended his energy on contending in the only “good” contest, which was fidelity to Christ and the Gospel and fulfilling the ministry given to him. Am I engaged in the good fight or in some other
lesser cause? —Peter Ramsay

Fight the good fight with all your might,
Christ is your strength and Christ your right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be,
Your joy and crown eternally. —J. Monsell

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Exodus 29:38-30:10; Psalm 78:1-31; Acts 17:16-34

God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work …being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11

It has been well said that we can never outgive God, but many of us are slow to learn and prove it. The magnitude of our giving should be marked by liberality (2 Cor. 9:6), and the manner of our giving should be “cheerful” and willing (v. 7). The motive behind our giving should be that thanksgiving will arise to God from the full hearts of those our giving has blessed (v. 11). —Phil Coulson

Thy blood, O Lord, was shed,
That I might ransomed be,
Thy life was given for me;
What have I given for Thee? —Frances R Havergal

Monday, March 11, 2024

Exodus 29:1-37; Psalms 76:1-77:20; Acts 17:1-15

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 NKJV

The Christian life is one of change. The world around us changes, our situations and circumstances change, and we change, but God never changes. No matter what place or perspective we look from, there is no variation or shifting shadows in Him. He is always the same wonderful God. The big change is coming —when we see Jesus! We will be changed to “be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). —Rex Trogdon

O God, who changes not;
Except in changing me;
I long in life by yielding more,
Like Christ my Lord to be. —Unknown

Lord’s Day, March 10, 2024

Exodus 28:15-43; Psalms 74:1-75:10; Acts 16:16-40

…and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Matthew 26:40 NKJV
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,…“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34 NKJV
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NKJV

Fulfilling the law of Christ is to bear another’s burden but when Jesus went to the cross there was no one to share the burden of our sin. The disciples slept as He agonized over His coming suffering, and in the hour of His deepest distress, He said, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” How thankful I am that He bore the burden of my sin at the cross. Have you thanked Him? —Janet Fleming

He bore that burden alone; it was not even His own
He suffered and died for me, alone at Calvary. —Janet Fleming