Month: January 2023

Genesis 27:1-46; Job 34:1-35:16; Matthew 14:13-36

Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 NKJV

The institutes of higher learning and philosophy can occasionally intimidate a child of God. Is our singular focus on Christ naive and spiritually inferior? Are we too narrow in our scope? Are there deeper truths beyond Christ we need to explore to enrich our lives and achieve the fullness of God’s purpose? Be assured there is no deeper experience or richer treasure to be found than what you can enjoy in your study of Christ Himself. —Peter Ramsay

I’ve found the pearl of greatest price,
My heart doth sing for joy:
And sing I must, a Christ I have;
O what a Christ have I.  —John Mason

Genesis 26:1-35; Job 32:1-33:33; Matthew 13:44-14:12

Look unto me… Isaiah 45:22

What difficult circumstances do you face today? No matter what they are, look to the Lord. In distress, doubt or discouragement, He will not leave you alone. Do you have a difficult decision to make? Look to Him and He will guide you. In times of danger, when tempted by the world, the flesh or the devil, look to the One who can deliver. Is there disunity or discontentment among the people of God? Look unto Him. Friend, if you are still in your sins,
the Saviour says to you, “Look unto me, and be ye saved.”  —Pete Smith

Looking off unto Jesus
My spirit is blest;
In the world I have turmoil,
In Him I have rest.  —H.R. Palmer

Genesis 25:1-34; Job 31:1-40; Matthew 13:24-43

Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:56

The enemies of Christ dragged Stephen out of the city and executed him by hurling stones and rocks at him. It was a brutal murder of the first Christian martyr. Yet it was not without hope because Stephen saw his future Heavenly home and he gazed upon his Saviour at the right hand of God. Like Stephen, all Christians have the assurance of Heaven as their ultimate home. Heaven is not a reward but a gift, which we did not deserve and could not earn. It was freely given to us the moment we trusted Christ as our Saviour. What a wonderful blessing. —Paul Young

Heaven’s throne ascending, death’s dominion ending,
Christ the strong to save! Now in glory seated.  —Timothy Dudley-Smith

Genesis 24:1-67; Job 29:1-30:31; Matthew 13:1-23

When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:4

First He calls us His own sheep. Then He assures us that our Shepherd doesn’t just put us forth, but goes before us as we go. Since we know His voice, we follow and we know we are in the right way. Also, we know nothing will be in the way, that He has not encountered and judged safe for us. We cannot see ahead but we can trust Him. —Ken Gross

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, 
Trusting Jesus, that is all.  —Edgar P. Stites

Genesis 23:1-20; Job 27:1-28:28; Matthew 12:22-50

In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3b-4

The story is told of two goats approaching each other on a high narrow bridge suspended over a river. There was no room to pass. Would one return home or would they fight to the death? Neither! One wise goat lay down on the bridge, and the other one walked over him. This enabled both of them to get across. A yielding spirit is the pathway to success in the body of Christ. Its fruit is peace and unity. May we follow Christ’s example (Phil. 2:5). —George Ferrier

May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea.
Him exalting, self-abasing: this is victory.  —Kate B. Wilkinson

Genesis 22:1-24; Job 25:1-26:14; Matthew 12:1-21

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow at thy presence. Isaiah 64:1

All around there is moral and spiritual darkness in this world.  How we long for God to change things right now. But God is longsuffering, and in His compassion, He waits for people to admit their unworthiness. It is in the darkness that the light of God’s Word enters an anguished soul, and by grace He saves them. Those of us who have this treasure of grace ought to be “lights” in this present darkness. —Gaius C. Goff

Tell your sons who see the light
High in the heaven — their heritage to take,
“I saw the powers of darkness put to flight!
I saw the morning break!” —Owen Seaman

Genesis 20:1-21:34; Job 23:1-24:25; Matthew 11:2-30

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. Isaiah 53:10
And behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 17:5

Today, by the eye of faith, ask the Spirit of God to make these scenes vivid to you. “And when he had scourged  Jesus…” (Matt. 27:26). “They spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head” (Matt. 27:30). “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him” (Luke 23:33). How can we possibly enter into what our Lord Jesus Christ endured? Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise His Son in whom He was well pleased. What an awesome God! Worship Him! —K. J. W.

What was it blessed God, led Thee to give Thy Son,
To yield Thy well-beloved, for us by sin undone.  —Ann Taylor

Genesis 19:1-38; Job 22:1-30; Matthew 10:24-11:1

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 NKJV

The children of Israel were about to leave Sinai and go through the desert to the Promised Land. Moses was chosen by God to lead them through and he sought reassurance that God would be with him. In similar fashion, we are told that on our pilgrim journey we are to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20 NKJV). He is always with us but He knows our need for reassurance and loves to constantly remind us of this wonderful fact. —R. J. Richardson

I need Thy presence every passing hour:
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Oh, abide with me. —Henry F. Lyte

Genesis 18:1-33; Job 21:1-34; Matthew 10:1-23

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 NKJV

Certain personal characteristics, cultural distinctives, and conversation patterns often reveal one’s heritage. It should be the same for believers as citizens of heaven. In Philippians 4 we read of some of these traits. We are to stand fast, display unity and fellowship with other believers. We should rejoice in the Lord, be gentle in dealing with others, and not be anxious. Our conversation should be marked by thankfulness; our conduct like that of the Lord Jesus, and we should be content. If these features characterize us, others will recognize our citizenship is not of this world.—Gary McBride

To be like Jesus! My desire to be like Him!
All thru life’s journey, from earth to glory,
My desire to be like Him. —Author Unknown

Genesis 17:1-27; Job 20:1-29; Matthew 9:18-38

And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 1 Kings 18:1

God’s word may not come the moment we want it to, but it will come. Elijah had been waiting three years for God to speak and end a devastating famine. Finally, after many days, the answer came. Do you find yourself in a prolonged season of waiting with no answer in sight? Take heart! When God spoke, “an abundance of rain” fell, and the drought was over. He knows the place and exact moment that the answer should come. Trust Him today!  —Deborah Manera

God never hurries.
There are no deadlines against which He must work.  —A.W. Tozer