Month: April 2012

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 16; Psalm 119:113-144; Mark 6:1-29

 

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?… I should not be the servant (bond slave) of Christ. Galatians 1:10

 

It is a great honour to be called the servant of Christ. It is not the activity of an elite class, but a lifestyle of those in love with Him. It is the privilege of all those purchased by His blood to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. Such service has been described as the glorious freedom of slavery! It is not constituted by need but by consecrated desire. Nothing is more empty than activity without spiritual insight. Thank God He has given us purpose. May we fulfill His plans for us. —Drew Craig

It pays to serve Jesus whate’er may betide,
It pays to serve true, what e’er you may do;
Tis riches of mercy in Him to abide,
It pays to serve Jesus each day. —Frank C. Nuston

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 15; Psalm 119:73-112; Mark 5:21-43

 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

 

The headline read “Mom’s final act saves baby.” The heroic mother was pushing her baby’s stroller across an intersection when a car made an illegal turn. She pushed the buggy out of the way, but could not avoid the vehicle and was killed. The greatest act of love was at Calvary where the Lord Jesus died in your place and mine, paying the price of our sins. The apostle Paul said, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for Me” (Galatians. 2:20). —Arnot P. McIntee

Jesus has saved me—wonderful Saviour!
Jesus has saved me—I cannot tell how;
But this I do know, He came, my ransom,
Dying on Calvary. with thorns on His brow. —J. W. MacGill

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 14:33-57; Psalm 119:41-72; Mark 5:1-20

But now once in the end of the world, hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:26b

 

A boy once asked me, “Does Jesus die each Easter?” How wonderful to be able to tell him that when the Lord Jesus cried, “It is finished,” (John 19:30) the work of salvation was complete. No further sacrifice for sin was needed. No lambs, no bulls, no goats were required again, for that one supreme sacrifice was completely sufficient for all time, for all the sin of the world. May we rejoice today in the fullness of His atoning death and glorious resurrection. —J. Fleming

“It is finished,” sin is conquered
Hear the Saviour’s call,
Christ has died to bear sin’s judgement,
Suffering, once for all. —J. Fleming

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 14:1-32; Psalm 119:1-40; Mark 4:21-41

 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18

 

Can we rejoice when earthly treasures are gone? Habakkuk assures us we can, based on two truths. First, God is sovereign! He is in control of all my circumstances. Second, God is good! He only brings into my life that which will ultimately result in my blessing. Is my cupboard empty? Is my strength gone? Are my resources exhausted? Lift up your eyes and say “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD!” —Sid Halsband

Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand,
But He guides us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die.—Charles Albert Tindley

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 13:24-59; Psalm 118; Mark 4:1-20

 

He is not here: for He is risen. Matthew 28:6

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Romans 4:25

 

“He is not here: for He is risen.”

Because He lives I can face tomorrow; because He lives all fear is gone. And life is worth the living, just because He lives. —G. and W. Gaither

The power of these words has changed the lives of millions giving them new life, new hope and a new purpose. They have changed the course of history bringing joy to those who have trusted in Christ. Perhaps your world is crashing around you and you wonder what relevance Easter and the resurrection of Christ has for you? Everything! Because of His resurrection He is able to justify unworthy sinners, and give us hope. —Jim Comte

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 12 to 13:23; Psalms 116-117; Mark 3:13-35

 

The LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people. Deuteronomy 7:6

 

Israel was holy, chosen and special. God had set His love upon them though they were few in number and weak. He did this simply because He loved them. It was this action that sanctified them and made them different from all others. Later in this chapter we read that they were also beloved, blessed, fruitful and victorious. Let us be reassured that we too, though as nothing in men’s eyes, enjoy even better blessings because we are the elect of God. —Roy Hill

A monument of grace, a sinner saved by blood,
The streams of love I trace up to the fountain, God,
And in His sovereign counsels see,
Eternal thoughts of love to me. —John Kent

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 11; Psalms 113-115; Mark 2:23 to 3:12

 

Who has despised the day of small things? Zechariah 4:10

 

Zerubbabel had built the temple foundation and yet some looked down on his work as insignificant. Do you ever feel that the work God has given you to do is insignificant; that if left undone it would make no difference? What is a building without a foundation? What small job has God given you that others will build on for God’s glory? God notices every “small thing” done for Him and He will surely bless you. Trust Him. —L. Tempest

Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing I pray,
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.—Harper G. Smyth

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 10; Psalms 111-112; Mark 2:1-22

Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

 

The simplest command in the Bible to the sinner is, “Come.” The simplest command to the Christian is “Go.” In the early years of Christianity the emphasis was not on buildings or programs. The believer’s lives underscored the “go” in the Gospel and the good news spread like a wondrous fire. May God’s people again be filled with Gospel zeal and “go!” —Harold G. Smith

 

Christians, go and tell of Jesus, how He died to save our souls;
How from sin He has freed us, suff’ring agonies untold.—Edward Hammond

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 9; Psalms 109-110; Mark 1:21-45

 

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

 

While visiting Alcatraz Penitentiary, I noticed a quotation on a wall. It said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” Countless millions of people today are heading along a path which leads to eternal judgement. Perhaps you are one of them. Repent of your sin [a change of heart] and be converted [a change of direction] by believing that Christ died for you. —Brian Powlesland

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. —Helen H. Lemmel

 

DAILY?READINGS: Leviticus 8; Psalm 108; Mark 1:1-20

 

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping. John 20:10, 11

 

Two disciples saw the empty tomb and remaining grave clothes but they went home. For Mary, the emotions were far more intense. Her longings brought tears of despair. She, too, looked into the tomb and God rewarded her deep love with the presence of angels. They inquired of her distress, but God prevented them from revealing the great news. Instead she turned and saw the One she so desired to see, not knowing it was the Lord. In tenderness Jesus revealed Himself by calling her name. What joy! She experienced the reward of diligently seeking fellowship with her Saviour. —Ken Gross

Taken up with Thee, Lord Jesus, I would be;
Finding joy and satisfaction all in Thee. —C. A. Wellesley