Month: January 2024

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

And [Pilate] set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. Matthew 27:37
Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us…He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:14 NKJV

Two writings were put on the cross when Jesus was crucified. Pilate put the first. God put the second, which listed all of our sins and indebtedness—the real reason Christ was there. God nailed it to the cross of Christ as a powerful testimony to the full and finished work of His Son in paying for them all. Christ’s crucifixion wiped out our condemnation. Praise God! —K. J. W.

My sin, not in part, but the whole;
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul! —Horatio Spafford

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

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:17-18

In his classic hymn, Amazing Grace, John Newton wrote that God’s grace taught him to fear the wrath of God. Yet the same grace taught him that through faith in Christ his sins would be permanently removed. In Christ he found peace. One must first known they are lost before they can be found. It is God’s grace that reveals our sinful condition as well as the remedy. Has Christ found you? —George Ferrier

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed!  —John Newton

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

He whom You love is sick. John 11:3 NKJV

Three times Jesus’s love for Lazarus is affirmed. Twice, the word phile?, “brotherly love” is used (vv. 3, 36) and once, agapa? is used, God’s “unconditional, sacrificial love” (v. 5). How would such perfect love respond to Lazarus’ sickness? He stayed two more days where He was and allowed His friend to die. Why? The text provides at least two reasons: That His Father would be glorified (v. 4) and His disciples edified (v. 15). Christian, you may be seriously doubting the Lord’s love for you today. Don’t despair. He is working to accomplish these realities in your life—to glorify your Father and to grow your faith. Rest in His perfect love today.  —Brian Cretney

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee. —G. Matheson

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

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

We might think David was in very pleasant circumstances when he wrote these words. But the subtitle of this Psalm tells us otherwise. This was one of the lowest points of David’s life. His circumstances were beyond human help. Yet  during it all he boldly proclaims by faith his continual praise of the Lord. David knew the character of God and therefore he knew God could be trusted. He did not read God through the circumstances, he read the circumstances through God. Psalm 34 is an antidote to discouragement, fear, and doubt. —Brian Gunning

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.  —William Cowper

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

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

This profound statement focuses us upon the supreme nature of God who alone is able to create what is, out of what is not. Evolution fails to answer even basic questions about life, while the Bible gives full responses. It deals with the origin of matter, the origin of life and the origin of humans as religious beings. Humankind started by knowing God. We have been going the other way ever since. It is a desperate attempt to avoid God, especially in the light of the coming day of accountability. Let us look forward to that day without fear, by knowing Jesus in our hearts by faith. —Paul Young

Jesus is Lord! Creation’s voice proclaims it,
For by His power each tree and flower was planned and made.
Jesus is Lord! The universe declares it;
Sun, moon and stars in heaven cry: Jesus is Lord! —David J. Mansell

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

Asa heard these words…and put away the abominable idols out of all the land. 2 Chronicles 15:8
But the high places were not taken away. 2 Chronicles 15:17
…in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but [went] to the physicians. 2 Chronicles 16:12

In public Asa appeared to put God first but quietly kept the high places of idol worship. When he was personally afflicted with a disease his true heart was revealed. He did not fully trust the Lord! Oh that both in public and in private my life may transparently and genuinely be committed to Him. May there be no “buts” as I live for the Lord. —David Croudace

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.  —Edward Mote 

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

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) John 11:2

The parentheses in our text illuminate to us that this was the character-defining experience in the life of Mary. The event referenced separated her from all other Marys. It reached a much higher level even than the mountain top experience of her “[sitting] at Jesus’ feet and [hearing] his word” (Luke 10:39). Her action, though criticized by some, was an act of worship—an act of devotion and occupation with the character of her Master. She humbly anointed
His feet. What a lesson in what God values most in our lives! —L. Cain

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.  —William R. Featherston

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

He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6

The empty tomb cannot help but bring to mind our Lord’s shame as He carried the burden of our sins from Calvary to where no man had been laid. But He is risen! He is no longer there! Having blotted out the ordinances against us, He broke death’s embrace, releasing the grave’s grip and lifted us above the joyless, hopeless darkness of the perishing. Our destiny was forever changed! If we then be risen with Christ, ought not our walk reflect His leading in
paths of righteousness for His name’s sake? —David J. Reed

He leadeth me! O blessed thought,
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me. —J. H. Gilmore

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

Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this. Revelation 4:1 NKJV

Happy anticipation is the sparkling foretaste of hope. That’s why many of us spend hours lost in travel plans or preparing for a family reunion or special celebration. The joy our soul experiences when looking forward to earthly events mirrors our blessed, eternal hope. No wonder God invites us to come up and take a peek at the scene that is waiting for us! He is on the throne amidst dazzling colour and regal attendants. It is alive with pure music and light.
We’re almost there! Surely, He is coming soon! —Caroline Webb

Clothed in rainbows of living colour,
Flashes of lighting, rolls of thunder;
Blessing and honour, strength and glory, and power;
Be to You the only one who’s King. —Jennie Lee Riddle

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

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:19 NKJV

Do we expend every effort to do all that we can to encourage fellowship and maintain harmony among our fellow believers? Or do we seek to push our own point of view and perhaps criticize the leadership of our local church? Are we willing to be more like the Lord Jesus, who we are told “pleased not himself” (Rom. 15:3)?  May we, instead, look for opportunities to build each other up in our most holy faith and to “look out…for the interests of others” (Phil.
2:4). —Pete Smith

Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim;
O make me daily, through Thy grace,
More meet to bear Thy Name. —Johann Casper Lavater