Month: November 2008

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 14-15; Ezekiel 36:16-38; John 14:15-31

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day. Deuteronomy 11:26, 27a

The way to blessing in the believer’s life is not a mystery—it is obedience to God. To emphasize obedience is not legalism. Our Lord said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). Many today put the emphasis on feeling good, on personal experience and comfort. They arrange their lives and their churches to suit themselves, but this is not the way to blessing. Obedience is. —Carl Knott

We want to live pure, we want to live clean, we want to do our best,
Sweetly submitting to authority, leaving to God the rest;
Walking in the light, keeping our attitude right, on the narrow way,
For if we believe the Word we receive, we always will obey.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chron. 12-13; Ezekiel 35-36:15; John 13:31-14:14

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  Gen. 1:1

The origin of the Bible commences with the marvel and miracle of God creating the world. The first chapter sets forth three beginnings—first matter, then life, and finally personality (Gen. 1:1, 21, 27). How wise of God in Creation to show us a photograph of natural man. “The earth was without form, void and in darkness.” So it is with you and me when we were without Christ—no fulfilled purpose, no life, no light. How true of the unregenerate! Are you a new creation? Whether performing a physical creation or spiritual, how majestic is our Great Creator! —Les Rainey

Firstfruits of Thy new creation, faithful, holy may we be,
Joyful in Thy full salvation, more and more conformed to Thee.   —Charles Wesley

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 10-11; Ezekiel 34; John 13:1-30

Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  Matthew 19:26

Do we really believe this? All things are indeed possible with God, yet for many of us, when dealing with our challenges, we don’t show it by our actions. We plan as if everything depended on us, rather than Him, and then pray as if to sanction rather than solicit His support. Look to Him, dear brother or sister. Believe His promises. Trust His Word. Ask for His help and you will learn that with God all things are possible.  —Mark Kolchin

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armour, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there. —George Duffield

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 8-9; Ezekiel 33; John 12:20-50

While he yet spake, there came [some]…which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?  Mark 5:35

Jarius was at his wits end. His little girl was at the point of death and so he came to Jesus for help, begging earnestly. Sadly, there were certain people who spoke cruelly to him, “Your daughter is dead: don’t bother the Master.” The situation seemed hopeless. But why not bother the Master? To whom else could he turn? The Saviour reacted to the dashed hopes of the poor father by speaking calmly, “Damsel, I say to you arise” (v. 41). In your sorrow and despair, Jesus does care. Remember, you are never “bothering” the Lord! Cast your burden upon Him. —James Comte

Bring your burdens and sorrow, lay them down at Jesus feet,
Cast your cares on Him, your enemies He’ll defeat. —Rita King

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 7; Ezekiel 32; John 11:55 to 12:19

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Luke 1:4

Luke the physician gives us Christ’s progress report. He is laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. He is in the temple in Simeon’s arms, and at twelve, sitting with the doctors answering their questions. At thirty He is in the wilderness rebuking the devil, then in the synagogue with the Book in His hand. At 33, He is in the upper room, then the garden, then before Pilate and Herod, and then nailed to the tree. Resurrection! Then He is on the seashore, then at Bethany, and then in heaven. Today, He is in my heart and I will worship Him! —Robert E. Surgenor

O Lord, when we the path retrace, which Thou on earth hast trod,
To man Thy wondrous love and grace, Thy faithfulness to God. —J. Deck

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chron. 6:12-42; Ezekiel 30:20-31:18; John 11:28-54

The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  Revelation 22:17

From the beginning to the end of God’s message to man, the invitation echoes—Come. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit join in calling the sinner to come. The Bride also sends the invitation “to whosoever will.” The entire Godhead urges the banished sinner to return to the Lord, before it is too late. The invitation will be withdrawn, one day soon. Come now. —Doug Kazen

Come to the Saviour now, He gently calleth thee;
In true repentance bow, before Him bend the knee,
He waiteth to bestow salvation, peace and love,
True joy on earth below, a home in heaven above. —John W. Wigner

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chron. 5 to 6:11; Ezekiel 29 to 30:19; John 11:1-27

Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.  Ephesians 4:32

Let us never forget God’s lovingkindness towards us, in that He has provided for us a righteous means of forgiveness, through Christ’s atoning death. Equally, we must remember that God’s intervention on our behalf has established both a pattern and a standard, to regulate our behaviour. How do I react when my brother hurts me, or sins against me? Surely my attitude must be coloured by this—God has forgiven me. —G. Hall

O give us hearts to love like Thee!
Like Thee, 0 Lord, to grieve,
Far more for others’ sins, than all,
The wrongs that we receive. —James Denny

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 3-4; Ezekiel 28; John 10:19-42

Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?      Num. 32:6b

One of the issues that is characteristic of our society is that people do not want to get involved in anything that requires real commitment. This mindset is affecting the church. See, for example, the growth of the “mega church movement” where most of the ministry is performed by staff members, so little is required of those who attend. The excuses for not being willing to make a commitment are many: too busy, too costly, not interested, etc. The believer is to awake out of complacency knowing that their salvation is nearer than when they believed. Redeem the time, for the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). “Work for the night is coming!" —William H. Gustafson

Rise, my soul! behold ’tis Jesus, Jesus fills Thy wond’ring eyes;
See Him now in glory seated, where thy sins no more can rise. —J. D. Smith

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 1-2; Ezekiel 27; John 10:1-18

There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  Revelation 21:4b

Today I read an article where a person stated that their health was their only wealth. What a tragedy! Tomorrow that health could be gone. And yet, for the Christian, who may be suffering the painful effects of ill health today, there is a wonderful future to look forward to. One day we will have new bodies created in His likeness, and there will be no more suffering or pain. Perhaps today. —J. Fleming

Pain has gone and heaven’s begun—life today not lost but won.
Free from the aches that bound you so, and with the One you loved below.
It will not be long ere we meet again, upon that shore, beyond earth’s pain;
The tears that fall, He’ll wipe away, there in that land of endless day. —J. F.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 29; Ezekiel 26; John 9:18-41

He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.  Luke 22:19

In Canada and the U.K., poppies are worn at this time of year to keep alive the “remembrance” of those who gave their lives in times of war to maintain our freedom. Oh, but 2000 years ago the Man of Sorrows gave His life to purchase our freedom. Tortured, humiliated, and crucified, His death was the greatest sacrifice ever. So that we would never forget the price that was paid at Calvary’s cross, the Lord commanded us to remember His body sacrificed, His blood shed and by doing so we fulfill His dying request. —Jerry Proctor

Lord we would ne’er forget Thy love, who hast redeemed us by Thy blood.
We would, until we meet above, in all our ways remember Thee. —E. Miller