Month: November 2008

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 30; Ezekiel 46; John 21

Jesus answered [Pilate]…to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.  John 18:37
Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.  John 19:6b

The truth to which the Lord Jesus was bearing witness was the “the just for the unjust.” It was the Old Testament principle that an innocent sacrifice would be a substitute for the guilty sinner. Christ, as the Lamb of God, not only testified to this truth, but was its epitome. How different was Pilate. In the greatest injustice ever, he condemned Christ even as he proclaimed Him innocent. —Tom Steere

O Lamb of God, still keep me near to Thy wounded side;
’Tis only there in safety and peace I can abide. —James G. Deck

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 29; Ezekiel 45; John 20:19-31

As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  Romans 5:19

The cliff top garden on the Island of Capri afforded a good panoramic view. I noticed the sign at the gate. “It is forbidden to eat any fruit in this garden”. Just then a couple passed by me eating an apple! Was this a repeat of the first sin in the Garden of Eden? Has nothing changed? No, people are still disobedient. How good to know that through the obedience of One [the Lord Jesus] many—you included—can be made righteous. Have you responded and put your faith in Him? —Brian Powlesland

Brethren in Jesus, let us be faithful, faithful to Him who is guiding our ways;
True in allegiance and loving obedience; till in his glory, hosannas we raise.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 27-28; Ezekiel 44; John 20:1-18

Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?  Judges 13:12

Manoah asked this question after being made aware that he and his barren wife were going to have a son, a future deliverer of Israel. The Lord responded, “Of all that I said unto the woman, let her beware,” then He reviewed again the behavioural limitations of the Nazarite vow. The Lord did not provide Manoah and his wife a “how to” manual on child rearing, but rather affirmed their upright conduct that should be lived out before their son. May each parent’s life be an example of the way their children should go (Prov. 22:6).
 —W. A. Henderson

My soul He doth restore again; and me to walk doth make,
Within the paths of righteousness, even for His own name’s sake. —W. Rous

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 26; Ezekiel 43; John 19:17-42

What thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God.  1 Thess. 3:9

Thanksgiving in reverse is giving thanks. Thanks are usually given freely. We would never say that thanks could be bought or sold. Yet, it is possible to owe someone thanks and be indebted if we haven’t paid thanks. Our verse asks, what thanks can we render (or repay) to God. How very much we owe Him for His goodness to us! Why not pay today and give Him thanks? We owe it and He deserves it.  —Rex Trogdon

O Lord, from my heart I do thank Thee, for all Thou hast borne in my room,
Thine agony, dying, unsolaced, alone in the darkness of doom,
That I, in the glory of heaven, forever and ever might be,
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, blessed Saviour, to Thee! —E. C. H.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 25; Ezekiel 42; John 18:28 to 19:16

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.  Psalm 142:1

Generally speaking, caves are not pleasant places. In a figurative sense, multitudes of people live in caves today—caves of worry, discouragement, depression, doubts and loneliness. David was literally in a cave, hiding from Saul when he cried to the Lord. When in trouble, no matter what the circumstance may be, the very best thing we can do is seek God’s face and spread our need before Him. Today, fellow believer, are you in some kind of trouble? If so, take it to the Lord in prayer (Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 4:14-16). —W. Ross Rainey

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer! —Joseph Scriven

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 23-24; Ezekiel 41; John 18:1-27

He…saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: and the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. Isaiah 44:16-17

Isaiah satirically points out the absurdity of idolatry. In his parable, the would-be worshiper cuts down a tree and uses part of it to build a nice, cozy fire. What does he do with the leftover wood? He fashions a god, of course! How foolish it is to put material things in the place reserved for the living God.  —Keith Keyser

Let all who name Christ’s holy Name give God all praise and glory;
Let all who own His power proclaim aloud the wondrous story!
Cast each false idol from its throne, for Christ is Lord, and Christ alone:
To God all praise and glory.                                       —Johann Schutz

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 21-22; Ezekiel 40; John 17

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping…He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. John 11:33
Jesus wept. John 11:35

The Lord Jesus knew that in moments He would transform that scene of sorrow into joy, when He raised Lazarus from the dead. But this did not cause Him to be insensitive to the sorrows of others in the interim. He groaned, was troubled and wept. It cannot be long now, until the Lord returns and removes us from this vale of tears. However, this does not interfere with His loving concern for us in the meantime. Thank God for a sympathetic High Priest at God’s right hand who will succour us until we are safely home. —W. H. Burnett

Touched with a sympathy within, He knows our feeble frame,
He knows what sore temptations are, for He endured the same. —I. Watts

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 20; Ezekiel 39; John 16:16-33

The son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Luke 15:21
Father…I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.  John 17:1, 4

In these verses we have two sons, both returning home! Looking back over the years that had passed, they each spoke to their father. The prodigal had squandered his allotted portion in selfish indulgence and had dragged his father’s honour in the gutter. But the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son, was wholly different. Though in possession of all things, He never squandered anything on self. The honour of the Father was His deepest passion, His sole delight. —J. Strahan

That path, with moral glories bright, resplendent in Thy holy sight,
Showed nought to mar Thy heart’s delight, in Thy Beloved Son.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 18-19; Ezekiel 38; John 15:17 to 16:15

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Come with me to Golgotha (the place of a skull). By faith look at the spotless Son of God dying for you. Alone on that cross He bore our sins that we might be forgiven. In thick darkness He was forsaken of God that we might never be alone—suffered thirst that we might drink the Water of Life. Hear His victorious cry: “Tetelestai!”— “It is finished.” He paid the price with His precious blood that we might have a free and eternal salvation! —E. MacLelland

He could have called ten thousand angels,
To destroy the world and set Him free,
But He died alone for you and me. —Ray Overholt

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 16-17; Ezekiel 37; John 15:1-16

I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  Hebrews 8:12

I was once invited to a meeting with a brother. He began with a tirade of accusations of how I had offended him for years. I sat dumbfounded and hurt wondering what to say. When he finished, I assured him that I was unaware that I had offended him and said that I was deeply sorry and asked him to forgive me. These were his words, “I will forgive you, but I won’t forget”! It is good to know that when God forgives, He also chooses never to remember our offenses again. —Sid Halsband

My soul at rest in Jesus lives, accepts the peace His pardon gives;
Receives the grace His death secured, and pleads the anguish He endured.  —G. W. H. Hinsdale