Month: February 2012

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 10; Psalms 42-43; Acts 4:32 to 5:11

He is precious. 1 Peter 2:7

 

Peter gives us an excellent example of the sanctifying and life changing grace of God. On one occasion Peter denied his Lord with an oath and said, “I do not know the man.” (Mt. 26:72) But now the Spirit has transformed him and he writes, “He is precious.” To those who believe, O how precious He is! He is “God’s unspeakable gift” and eternity will not be enough time to display all His beauties. Time spent at his feet now, basking in the sunshine of His love will convince us with Peter that, “He is precious.” Let us worship Him today!—Milton Haack

Precious to my heart is Jesus, as I walk with Him each day;
Sweet companionship He gives me, all along the gladsome way. —H. G. Jackson

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 9; Psalm 40-41; Acts 4:1-31

Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10

 

The work of redemption is done. “It is finished!” Our Lord Jesus is risen from the dead; and we who believe are now waiting for Him. May our daily service for Him, our labours in the Gospel, our prayerful studies in His Word and our love for the body of Christ always be in the light of His fondly awaited return. —Mark Fenn

‘Tis thence—now Christ is gone on high,
Redemption’s work complete—
The Spirit brings His glory nigh,
To those who for Him wait. —J. N. Darby

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 8; Psalms 38-39; Acts 3

And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD. Deuteronomy 6:18

 

We live in a world that tries to make wrong things seem right and right things seem wrong. In my classroom at school I hung a banner which said, “What is popular is not always right; what is right is not always popular.” It might not be the easiest thing to do, but we must do what is pleasing to the Lord. God says to each one of us, “Those who honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30). —Bob Cretney

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the path-way of blessing for me. —C. Harold Lowden

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 6:14 to 7:25; Psalm 37; Acts 2:22-47

And sitting down they watched Him there. Matthew 27:36

 

In 1961 a famous painting by Henri Matisse was put on display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was not until 46 days had passed and 116,000 people had seen it that somebody noticed it was displayed upside down! Sometimes we can be guilty of not looking carefully enough. Zachaeus wanted to get a closer and more considered view of the famed one from Nazareth when he climbed into that tree. So should we read and meditate on the Scriptures and thus take a closer look at the Lord Jesus and discover more of the glory of His person and work. —Brian Powlesland

 

Look unto the cross and see thy sin laid upon God’s beloved Son;
He shed His blood thy soul to win; He paid the debt—the work is done.—Thomas B. Gilbert

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 5 to 6:13; Psalms 35-36; Acts 2:1-21

Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. 1 Peter 5:2c

 

This is the second of three pairs of qualifications that marks every genuine shepherd. He shouldn’t succumb to outward pressure, but should have an inward desire to serve. Nor should he be eager for earnings, but eager for serving. And he shouldn’t lord it over God’s people, he should lead them forward. The term “ready mind” actually is the precise wording for “ruleth with diligence” (Romans 12:8). When a local flock is led by men who are not like the thief, the hireling, and the wolf, they are in good hands! This “ready-minded” shepherd is forward in spirit—literally, one who is “standing before.” May we all be ready to lead by being ready to serve. —Norman Craig Funston

 

Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace, to let you be my servant too. —R. Gillard

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 4; Psalm 34; Acts 1

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. 1 John 3:16

 

Valentine’s Day! Cards given. Poetry attempted. Roses proffered. Chocolate conveyed. Reservations made. Wallets emptied. Expectations unattained. All in an attempt to put form and substance to that concept called love. Love is powerful. It is attractive. Everyone longs for it. Yet for all the attention it is given, defining love is difficult. But when our definitions fail, God points us to the personification of love—Christ laid down His life for us. On a day devoted to love, take a moment and by faith perceive again that scene at Calvary. Refresh yourself with a view of love in its purest distillation. —S. McEachern

To Calvary, Lord, in Spirit now our grateful souls repair;
To dwell upon Thy dying love, and taste its sweetness there. —E. Denny

For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him. 1 Samuel 1:27

 

Hannah rejoiced in answered prayer. God had given her a child. Have you also prayed this prayer and been blessed with a child? Don’t stop praying now. Continue in prayer daily for the one that God has entrusted into your care, and seek His wisdom and guidance. Things may not always go the way you have hoped, but never forget that God is in control. Keep praying. —L. Tempest

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

DAILY?READINGS: Ex. 1 to 2:22; Psalm 31; Matt. 27:45-66

He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3

 

O what cruelties men inflicted upon God‘s Son. They bound Him with cords; they crowned Him with thorns; they lashed Him with a scourge; they beat Him with a rod; they mocked Him with a scarlet robe; they burdened Him with a cross; they pierced Him with nails; and finally, when He had expired, they wounded Him with a spear. It was all for you and me. —Jim Flanigan

Bearing shame and scoffing rude;
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour! —Philip P. Bliss

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 50; Psalm 30; Matt. 27:27-44

Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ephesians 3:20

 

We often cannot help our own thoughts when we pray, but we should try to abandon them if we can. We are praying to a God that does not think like we do. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, 9). I often pray for something yet in my mind I think it is impossible. I should think about the God I am praying to, who can do “above all that I can ask or think.” All things are possible with Him. —Harold G. Smith

I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray. —Albert Reitz

 

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 49; Psalms 28-29; Matt. 27:1-26

That ye may remember, and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God. Numbers 15:40

 

This brief verse declares what God desires from His people. First, we are to remember that He is good and does good (Ps. 119:68). Second, we are to be dissatisfied with doing anything less than all that He commands. Obedience demonstrates love (John 14:15). We are not to call Jesus “Lord” if we don’t do what He says (Luke 6:46). Third, we are to be holy, for He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Children of God should be Christ-like in character. Note the order of these instructions: remembrance stirs affection, love enables obedience, and the exchange of our will for His results in deepening holiness. —Warren A. Henderson

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word. —William Longstaff