Month: June 2023

Deuteronomy 25:1-26:15; Jonah 3:1-4:11; Luke 13:1-21

I will send him (Holy Spirit) unto you. John 16:7
I will build my church. Matthew 16:18
I will come again, and receive you unto myself. John 14:3

Ten days after His ascension, Christ sent the Holy Spirit. This was the commencement (birth) of His church, placing the gathered believers into the body of Christ. Since then Christ has continued to construct His church, adding as living stones all who believe in Him. Someday He will complete His church, returning to take us home. Three prophecies concerning the church: one fulfilled in the past; one being fulfilled in the present; and one still future. Christ’s promises are an iron-clad guarantee achieved by His power and desire. —George Ferrier

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. —Russell Kelso Carter

Deuteronomy 23:9-24:22; Jonah 1:1-2:10; Luke 12:41-59

Another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord. Judges 2:10 NKJV

When asked questions about historical happenings, quiz contestants often respond, “I don’t know, it was before my time”. A knowledge of the past helps you make future decisions correctly. This is why we should continually remind others, especially new converts, of what the Lord has meant to us in the past. I often reminded my children; if it were not for the Lord, my life would have been a complete disaster. He cares, He guides, He forgives. —Brian Russell

All the way my Saviour leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell;
For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.  —Fanny Crosby

Deuteronomy 22:1-23:8; Joel 3:1-21; Luke 12:22-40

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas were “locked down”; hands and feet in wooden stocks; backs bleeding, but they were rejoicing and singing praises to God. The result of their lockdown was that the Philippian jailor trusted Christ as his Saviour. Are you “locked down” by old age, illness, or by some other problem? God wants to use you right where you are, and turn your lonely suffering into blessing, to yourself and to others. —David Croudace

Mine are tears in times of sorrow, darkness not yet understood,
Through the valley I must travel, where I see no earthly good.
But mine is peace that flows from heaven, and the strength in times of need;
I know my pain will not be wasted, Christ completes His work in me.  —J. Robinson & R. Thompson

Deuteronomy 20:1-21:23; Joel 2:1-32; Luke 12:1-21

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air… 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17a NKJV

We had just begun celebrating our youngest son’s 21st birthday when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and leapt to my feet as I discovered our older daughter standing behind me. She had been in England, but secretly returned home for the celebration. What a day it will be when we meet our loved ones in the air, but greatest of all will be to see the Saviour’s face. —Janet Fleming

I’ll see the ones who went before, And we together will rejoice.
The light of God will fill that place,
While gazing on our Saviour’s face. —Janet Fleming

Deuteronomy 18:9-19:21; Joel 1:1-20; Luke 11:37-54

And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain… Revelation 21:4

Captain Sir Tom Moore rose to fame in the UK, and was knighted by the Queen, for raising over £32m to help support health workers during the coronavirus pandemic. His positive outlook on life was encapsulated in the phrase he so often voiced, “Tomorrow will be a good day”. The Christian has a bright outlook, even when our current circumstances at home, at work, at school etc, may be difficult. Amidst our challenges we see a bright future where death sorrow, crying and pain will be no more. —Brian Powlesland

There’ll be no sorrow there, in my Father’s house,
in my Father’s house, in my Father’s house.
There’ll be no sorrow there, in my Father’s house,
where there’s joy, joy all the time. —William Booth-Clibborn

Deuteronomy 17:1-18:8; Obadiah 1:1-21; Luke 11:14-36

Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7

In place of self-confidence, believers need the fear of the Lord. This is not craven terror, for His salvation shows His wisdom, power, and love. He is for us and wants our eternal good. Compared with repeated human failure and waywardness, God’s faithfulness is refreshing. We may place our full confidence in Him without worrying for our future. Having begun the work of conforming us to His Son’s incomparable image, He will complete it at the Rapture
(Phil. 1:6). Meanwhile, our Father uses the desert of this world to train us for eternal glory. —Keith R. Keyser

In the desert God will teach thee; what the God that thou hast found,
Patient, gracious, powerful, holy; all His grace shall there abound.  —J.N. Darby

Deuteronomy 16:1-22; Song of Solomon 6:10-8:14; Luke 11:1-13

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. John 19:17

Golgotha, place of a skull. To the Romans, and the milling crowds, these names meant nothing except the place of execution. They cared not for the Saviour. Their repetitive, chanting voices only grew louder in their intensity, “Away with Him. Crucify Him. We will not have this Man to reign over us.” But to you and me, this place is sacred, for it is the place of infinite love. Who of us can fathom it? It is the place of God’s holy righteousness triumphing against your sin and mine! What memories surround us today, as we remember Him? —Jim Comte

And when above, my crown is at Thy feet,
I’ll praise Thee still, for Calvary’s mercy seat.  —Edward Quine

Deuteronomy 14:22-15:23; Song of Solomon 5:2-6:9; Luke 10:25-42

O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You…Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness. Psalm 88:1, 18 NKJV

Many psalms commence with cries of distress but conclude with a chorus of praise. Not this one. It is dark at the start and still dark at the end. Christian triumphalism struggles with this reality and may deny that a Godly believer could experience this. God preserved this prayer to prove otherwise. Our formal prayers can often be so sanitized. This is an unfiltered prayer. What you tell Him in your darkness will never be revealed or exposed. He will never
betray your confidence. —Peter Ramsay

Though the sky be dark and drear; fierce and strong the gale,
Just remember He is near, and He will not fail.  —Arthur A. Luther

Deuteronomy 13:1-14:21; Song of Solomon 3:6-5:1; Luke 10:1-24

David escaped to the cave Adullam. 1 Samuel 22:1
Hear me, O Lord my God. Psalm 13:3
I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6

King Saul was jealous of David and sought to kill him. David escaped along with his friends and family, to the cave of Adullam. Feeling distressed and discontented, David offers these words in Psalm 13 in order to cope with the situation. Pray. Trust in God’s love. Rejoice in the Lord’s salvation and in God’s promises. In light of the darkened events in the world today, let us follow David’s words of comfort. —Bob Cretney

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares. —F.E. Graeff

Deuteronomy 12:1-32; Song of Solomon 2:8-3:5; Luke 9:37-62

I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Rom. 16:22

Tertius was clearly both a well educated and gifted man who actually penned the words of the Roman epistle. He wrote down what the apostle Paul dictated and no doubt helped Paul greatly. Such people seem to hide in the shadows and their work is often unheralded and unseen, but just for a moment we hear from him in this one verse of Holy Scripture. Thankfully the Lord witnessed his work and he will have received his eternal reward for all he did
in helping forward the work of the Gospel. —Paul Young

Take my life, and let it be,
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.  — Frances Ridley Havergal