Month: January 2012

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 3; Job 4-5; Matt. 3

As thy days, so shall thy strength be. Deuteronomy 33:25

Each morning, God promises new strength for the day. This is not physical strength, but divine grace to face the challenges that are ahead. For the youth, physical strength increases as he grows older. For the elderly, strength decreases. But God’s strength does not fluctuate with age. To both the youthful and the elderly (Isa. 40:29-31), the Lord promises, “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isa. 40:31). Yes, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength” (Isa. 40:29). Such is the sufficient grace of God to meet every person’s need, including yours, this day. —K. C. Ung

God of our strength from day to day, direct our thoughts; guide our way;
O may our hearts united be, in sweet communion, Lord, with Thee. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 2:4-25; Job 2:11 to 3:26; Matt. 2

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Proverbs 25:18

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This common saying is sadly untrue. What is said can be deeply painful. How we should watch our words—whether in speech or in writing, because slander and libel, especially among believers, can sever family and church relationships, and crush an individual’s spirit. When the Lord cried, “Reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness,” this applied to what was said to Him, as well as His physical suffering. —Brian Russell

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there. —C. Scriven

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 1:1 to 2:3; Job 1:1 to 2:10; Matt. 1

So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did [a wonderful thing]… when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. Judges 13:19-20

It was a simple gift. Yet in light of God’s transcendence and incomprehensibility, how could a young goat and a bit of flour mean anything? But it was from the heart and the astonishing happened—as the fire blazed, the angel entered the flame and ascended with the offering. As we offer heart-felt worship, the Spirit of God enters the flame, takes our feeble offerings and enriches them with the person of Christ. The feeble becomes infinite and a sweet savour to God.—S. McEachern

To all of our prayers and praises, Christ adds His sweet perfume,
And love the censer raises, its odours to consume. —M. Bowley