Month: February 2012

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalms 59; Acts 10:34-48

There were added unto them… souls. Acts 2:41b

 

Our Lord saves souls, not statistics. Each Christian in the Body of Christ is a precious and unique individual—some more unique than others! That He has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29), while maintaining our individuality is a marvelous work that only God can do. It is also a work of His grace that individuals can serve together in unity, if they purpose to do His will. One body with many members. If God’s people would labour together, the world has not seen the work that could be done! —Rick Morse

Dear Saviour! When before Thy bar,
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee. —Aaron R. Wolfe

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58; Acts 10:24-33

 

And the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. Jonah 3:1

 

Jonah had been disobedient. He had refused to carry out God’s commission to preach the message of impending doom to the Ninevites. How did God react to Jonah’s disobedience? He could have ended his service permanently in the violence of the storm or in the belly of the great fish. But our God is a pardoning God, and we read “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” God was prepared to salvage Jonah from his disobedience and to give him a second chance in His service. We see this again in the apostle Peter who failed miserably and yet the Lord recommissioned him to lead the great Gospel surge beginning at Pentecost. He is a God of grace. —W. H. Burnett

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free? —Samuel Davies

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

 

God created man as a special creature, for His own glory. But all have sinned. In fact, all humans possess a sin nature and thus deprive God of His glory. For this cause God judges sin and sinners. To restore to God His glory, man must be spiritually born again and come forth with a new re-created nature in Christ. After such re-creation, the saved sinner is expected to walk in newness of life, glorifying God. May God help us to walk as we should. —Doug Kazen

The Lord will perfect that which doth concern me,
Expecting me to show Him on my part;
A trust intelligent and full of interest,
In all these purposes of His great heart. —W. A. Iverson

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

 

Such mighty works are wrought by His hands. Mark 6:2

He could there do no mighty work. Mark 6:5

 

Many people knew what the Lord could do (vs. 2) but only a few sick folk were healed that day (vs. 5). Instead of believing what they knew to be true and being blessed, they chose their own reasoning, and were impoverished. We, as believers, know what He has done with His hands—especially when they were nailed to a cross on our behalf! Psalm 111:7 says, “The works of His hands are verity and judgment.” In truth and judgment, He brought salvation and consequently God has made Him to have dominion over the works of His hands (Psalm 8:6). Let us thank Him today for His mighty work. —E. N.

Before Thy throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands. —Charles Wesley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3

 

Thankfulness should be characteristic of the Christian life. Those who have been redeemed and forgiven by the Lord’s precious blood ought to exhibit gratitude towards God and their fellow man. Furthermore, we ought to thank the Lord for our fellow saints. Paul especially appreciated their fellowship in the Gospel, which they expressed through their gifts, prayers, and preaching. Speaking about the believers to our Father before the throne of grace will increase our interest in and care for each other in everyday life. —Keith Keyser

Where all the saints of every clime shall meet,
And each with all, shall all the ransomed greet,
But oh, the height of bliss, our Lord, shall be,
To owe it all, and share it all, with Thee. —James G. Deck

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 15; Psalm 51; Acts 8:5-40

 

Take up the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes. Song of Solomon 2:15

 

Little Emma watched her mother wash grapes. Suddenly she asked if she might taste an unwashed grape “to see if it’s poisonous.” One taste might not have made Emma sick but when we consider a nibble at sin, one little taste may lead to another until it becomes habitual. It is by the attractiveness of sin we are tempted and drawn away by our lust. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15). —E. M. Dyck

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each vic’try will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through. —Horatio R. Palmer

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49-50; Acts 7:30 to 8:4

 

Tomorrow shall be as this day and much more abundant. Isaiah 56:12

 

This expresses the optimistic expectation of the worldling as he looks ahead, yet, invariably, he is disappointed. Tomorrow indeed has the possibility of being better than today but then, again, it may be much worse. Neither they nor we can know what tomorrow will bring. Each must wait in doubt and perhaps apprehension to see what transpires. As believers, however, we are confident that all our tomorrows are in God’s hands and so we wait in confident expectation that all will be well. And in the end we know it will be. —Roy Hill

Once in the gloomy grave He lay, but, by his rising power,
He bore the gates of death away: Hail! Mighty Conqueror. —C. M.

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 13 to 14:4; Psalms 47-48; Acts 7:1-29

The LORD did not set his love upon you… because ye were more in number than any people… But because the LORD loved you. Deuteronomy 7:7-8

 

God loved Israel simply because He loved them! As believers we can apply these words to ourselves. There was and still is nothing good in me which could ever cause God to show me mercy, but He loved me just because He loved me. He loved me in spite of my sin and rebellion! He loved me enough to give His own dear Son to die for me! As we meditate on such amazing love, our only response should be the words of 1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.” —David Croudace

 

The love that Jesus had for me, to suffer on the cruel tree,
That I a ransomed soul might be, is more than tongue can tell. —J. E. Hall

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 12:21-51; Psalm 45-46; Acts 6

 

The God of my mercy shall prevent me. Psalm 59:10

 

In his excellent little book, Choice Gems from the Psalms, Alex Ross writes, “There is a lovely rendering of this verse which reads, ‘My God with His loving kindness shall meet me at every corner of the way.’ I think it is beautiful and comforting to think that God is ever before us guiding and guarding.” Perhaps today someone is standing at the corner of sorrow or facing a difficult challenge or stressful trial. We can be assured He knows what lies around that corner and will give you the strength and wisdom that you need to cope with it. —Pete Smith

Awake my soul in joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise:
He justly claims a song from thee,
His loving kindness, O how free! —Samuel Medley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 11 to 12:20; Psalm 44; Acts 5:12-42

 

I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25

 

Anyone can make claims. I could walk the streets saying, “I am God!” People would call for the police to take me away. Jesus made such outrageous claims. He said He was God. His enemies claimed He was guilty of blasphemy and was crazy. But He backed up His claims with amazing miracles. He claimed to be the resurrection and the life (John 11). He then stood outside the tomb of a man who had been dead for four days and cried, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43). And the man walked out of the tomb. That is convincing proof of His claims, written by an eye witness. So what do you believe? —Donald L. Norbie

My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed.
I trust the ever-living One; His wounds for me shall plead. —L. Edmunds