DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 21:1-30; Ezekiel 20:1-44; John 7:12-30
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Revelation 3:15
The western world’s glorification of laziness has affected me. My work ethic in the Master’s service continues to marginalize and I continually excuse it by unwisely comparing myself with others. I often find myself wondering why I should labour fervently when so many don’t, somehow thinking it’s okay to ease off. But then I remember my Lord Jesus, who faithfully said “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). May His mind be in me. —Rick Morse
O let me see Thy footmarks, and in them plant my own; My hope to follow duly, is in Thy strength alone. —John Ernest Bode
DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 19:1-20:8/; Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; John 6:41-7:11
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight. Proverbs 8:30 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
These verses show that whether in the pre-incarnate days of the Lord Jesus, or during the days of His flesh on earth, the Son was ever and always the delight of the Father. Indeed, the fellowship between the Father and the Son was not in the least diminished when He stepped into humanity. In preincarnate days, He was “daily his delight” whilst in the days of His flesh the Father says concerning the Son: “in whom I am well pleased”. —W. H. Burnett
All His joy, His rest His pleasure, all His deep delight in Thee, Lord Thy heart alone can measure, all the Father found in Thee. —Wesley
DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 17:1-18:17; Ezekiel 17:1-24; John 6:22-40
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Unless we realize our poverty of spirit and mourn over it, we can never come to God’s place of comfort. We know that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory (or standards). Without Christ, there is no hope or comfort. But those who recognise their need and mourn over it, can find comfort and hope in Jesus Christ. He has paid the price of our sin so we can find eternal comfort in Him. —G. Frear
Those who mourn their sinful state, Will see God’s face through heaven’s gate, Those who praise Him for new birth, Will recognise His matchless worth. —G. F.
DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 16:1-43; Ezekiel 16:35-63; John 6:1-21
Save me, O God for the waters are come in unto my soul. Psalm 69:1
I’ve prayed this prayer, desperately, dozens of times. The NKJV says it this way, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.” Many times my circumstances have all but overwhelmed me. But God has always saved me, often at the last minute. When the bills were overdue and the bank account was low, I cried out and the Lord saved me. When my life was in danger and fear gripped my soul, the Lord delivered me. When I lay sick on my bed wondering if my life would ever be the same, the Lord raised me up. Pray to Him today. —Shane Johnson
Though I perish I will pray, I will pray, I will pray; Thou of life the Living Way, O, save me at the cross. —Fanny Crosby
“David MacLeod, a Professor at Emmaus Bible College and a commended teacher among American Bible Chapels, has written a fine, if very scholarly, exposition of Isaiah’s fourth Servant Song from a thoroughly conservative evangelical and pre-millennial standpoint. It has also been presented as a series of lectures given in various parts of the world to well-grounded Christians, including some missionary brethren and sisters. It includes hundreds of extensive footnotes, which present, and sometimes refute, the views of scholars of various persuasions, and discusses in great detail the meaning of the original Hebrew text, which the author quotes throughout.
MacLeod divides his exposition of the prophecy into its five stanzas of three verses each, to each of which he gives a helpful heading relating to its fulfilment in the life, sufferings, death, and resurrection glory of Jesus Christ. He is in no doubt about the Messianic nature of the prophecy, and emphasizes the vicarious nature of the Saviour’s sufferings for sin throughout the chapters covered. He points out that Isaiah anticipates the very different reactions of the nation of Israel to our Saviour, both at His first coming in humiliation and then at His future appearing in the end times.
Five long appendices complete the book, including one on the various Jewish interpretations of the chapter, another on the question of healing and the atonement, raised by verse 4 and here answered helpfully, and a third on objections to the doctrine of substitution.
This book is recommended to very serious Bible students, who will also appreciate its clear layout, literary style, and typographical production.”
DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 15:1-29; Ezekiel 16:1-34; John 5:24-47
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:15
I had noticed pretty little beetles in my vegetable garden. It wasn’t until recently that I realized that these insects are the juvenile form of a beetle that does much damage to my garden produce. Be careful what habits you cultivate in your life. Will they waste your time, stop you concentrating on more important issues or eventually lead you into sin? Get rid of them while you can. —Janet Fleming
Just a tiny little thought, my heart contained within; But sadly as I let it grow, I found it now was sin. So guard the words you listen to, the things you read or see, Or they will come to have control, of you, eventually. —Janet Fleming
DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 13:1-14:17; Ezekiel 14:1-15:8; John 5:1-23
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. Exodus 16:33
We know that this command was carried out by Aaron and the pot was eventually placed in the Ark of the Covenant. However there was no sign of it when the Ark was seen in Temple days. There may be a number of reasons for this, but from their future behaviour the children of Israel seemed to have forgotten about this miraculous provision for their wilderness journey. Let us—especially those living in the privileged west—never forget the daily temporal acts of kindness shown by our heavenly Father. —Brian Russell
God our maker doth provide, for our wants to be supplied. Come to God’s own temple come, raise the song of harvest home. —Alford
