Month: May 2016

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 10:12-11:32; Song of Sol. 1-2:7; Luke 9:18-36

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:14

In gospel work, the Saviour said the labourers are few (Matt. 9:37). But when it comes to ministry, there seems to be an ample supply of labourers, all with varying ideas of how to conduct the work of the Lord. Though it is true that there are diversities in the body (1 Cor. 12:4-6), we are exhorted to build with a proper motive and a proper method. Let’s ponder the work we are engaged in to make sure it is according to His word and worthy of His reward. — Mark Kolchin

If at the dawn of the early morning, He shall call us one by one,

When to the Lord we restore our talents, will He answer thee, well done? — Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 9 to 10:11; Eccl. 11-12; Luke 9:1-17

And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty… 1 Kings 10:13

The queen of Sheba came to test Solomon with hard questions. Solomon not only answered all her questions and gave her all that she desired; he also gave her of his royal bounty. What kingly generosity! If Solomon reminds us of the Lord Jesus, one “greater than Solomon” (Matt. 12:42), then the queen of Sheba must remind us of ourselves. We, too, are amazed at the royal generosity of our Saviour King, the One who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). —Rex Trogdon

Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.
—John Newton

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 7:12 to 8:20; Eccl. 9:11 to 10:20; Luke 8:40-56

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Jeremiah 2:32

What a sad observation God makes here of the children of Israel. After He had done so much for them! Yet, are we any better? Have we forgotten to spend time with our God and Father for days without number? How it should humble our hearts to think of how much He has given to demonstrate His love for us (1 John 4:9). Surely our hearts should respond to that great love by ”remembering Him”. —E. V.

Lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.
—J. Hussey

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 6 to 7:11; Eccl. 8 to 9:10; Luke 8:22-39

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee. John 17:3

Making spiritual progress and enjoying our salvation is directly linked to our knowledge of Christ. It is not just knowing facts about Him but knowing Him. Paul’s desire to know Christ and have His power evident in his life was connected with suffering. If we really want to know Christ we should not fear personal difficulties and suffering. The end result will be worth all the tears. —Sid Halsband

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.
—William Cowper

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 5; Ecclesiastes 7; Luke 8:1-21

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

The victory is already ours. Through faith, the cross of Christ has already procured for us the triumph over the world, the flesh and the devil. It would be meaningless to turn back. Our Conqueror is on the throne and always hears and intercedes for those who bear the whole armour of God. The laurels of heaven beckon. —Mark Fenn

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender;
Thine is the battle; Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendour,
Victors, we rest, with Thee, through endless days.
—Edith Gilling Cherry

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 4; Ecclesiastes 5-6; Luke 7:30-50

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matthew 12:34

The Pharisees’ mouths revealed their hearts and Jesus called them poisonous snakes. If I find that I am often criticizing, slandering and back-biting, I will not overcome this so-called “fault” by trying to control my mouth. Rather I must realize that it is sin and comes from my heart. It can only be cleaned up by the Lord—through repentance and confession. Then, if I spend much time meditating on His Word, out of the abundance of my heart will come words of blessing and encouragement. —David Croudace

Out of my heart, out of my heart, shine out of my heart Lord Jesus;
Shine out today, shine out always, shine out of my heart Lord Jesus.
—Harry D. Clarke

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 3; Eccl. 3:16 to 4:16; Luke 7:1-29

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments. Psalm 119:35

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go…Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule. Psalm 32:8-9

Someone has noted the mule typically won’t go (hence being as stubborn as a mule) and the horse won’t stop (a runaway horse). Neither extreme is appropriate for the believer. There are necessary times to “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Ex. 14:13) followed by His instruction to “go forward” (Ex. 14:15). True spiritual discernment enables us to know the proper balance between these two positions. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go;
Anywhere He leads me in this world below.
—Jessie Pounds

DAILY?READINGS: Deuteronomy 2; Eccl. 2:12 to 3:15; Luke 6:20-49

…the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb… Revelation 5:11-12

In 2009, a flock of geese flew into the engines of an airplane. Amazingly, the captain managed to land the plane on the Hudson River. Not one life was lost! Buckingham Palace, the White House and hundreds of ordinary citizens expressed their admiration and thanks to the captain for saving the lives of the 155 passengers. Beloved, imagine what it will be like when all the redeemed, from every time and place, join together in one accord to thank the Captain of our salvation for delivering us safely Home! —Lynn Shatford

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory! —Hewitt

DAILY?READINGS: Deut. 1; Eccl. 1 to 2:11; Luke 6:1-19

…what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. Matthew 26:13 (NKJV)

Mary slipped in while Jesus was sitting at Simon’s table and poured a flask of very costly perfume upon His head. Amidst grumbling by Judas and others that this was a waste of money, Jesus commended her and predicted that her love for Him, expressed in this way, would be known throughout the world. When we leave this life, what will people remember about us? As mourners stand by your graveside will they remember your love for the Lord? —Donald L. Norbie

Jesus, the very tho’t of Thee,
With sweetness fills my breast,
But better far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest. —Bernard of Clairvaux

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 35:9 to 36:13; Proverbs 31; Luke 5:17-39

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

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin… Isaiah 53:10

The “He” in these verses is none other than Jesus our Lord. Cruel sorrows were heaped upon Him. Physical torture, but also the emotional anguish of rejection and desertion. But greater still was the sorrow of being made sin for us. All of this He suffered to provide life for all who acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour. —Drew Craig

He died, He lives, He reigns, He pleads.
There’s love in all His words and deeds;
That’s all a guilty sinner needs;
For evermore in Jesus. —J. Procter