Month: February 2024

Genesis 47:28-48:22; Psalms 26:1-27:14; Matthew 26:57-75

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Job 17:9

As if the extremities of Job’s ordeal were not enough, he had also to endure the insensitive words of thoughtless men. Determined to maintain a righteous course before God, Job was confident that strength would be provided, but he longed to be delivered from men devoid of compassion. What wisdom is needed when seeking to comfort the suffering saint! Often, a silent embrace is more eloquent than ill-judged words, and a brief prayer, committing them
to the One who knew most what it was like to bear reproach, is the greatest help. —Phil Coulson

Thine is the heart our griefs to feel,
And Thine the love each wound to heal.  —John Newton

Genesis 46 to 47:27; Psalm 25; Matthew 26:31-56

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2

This psalm was written by David during the rebellion of his son Absalom. Although Absalom was eventually defeated and killed, David was overwhelmed at the tragic loss, and lamented his son’s
death (2 Sam. 18: 33). Feel David’s deep, heart emotions as he cries out to God, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. Samuel Rutherford wrote, “Your rock is Christ, and it is not the rock that ebbs and flows, but your sea”. No matter how overwhelming the circumstances of life, our Rock will never move! —Jim Comte

Hiding in Thee, Hiding in Thee,
Thou blest Rock of Ages,
I’m hiding in Thee. —William O. Cushing

Genesis 45; Psalms 23 to 24; Matthew 26:1-30

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

The Christian life is one of growing in faith, and in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The source of faith is the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). It supplies what we need for our spiritual sustenance (1 Pet. 2:2). That’s why it is so important to spend time with the Lord in prayer and reading the Bible daily. If we eat three times a day physically, why not enjoy a continual feast spiritually with the Lord. There’s milk, meat, and something sweet when we open God’s Word. —Rex Trogdon

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty; hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, feed us now and evermore.
Bread of heaven, feed us now and evermore. —William Williams

Genesis 44; Psalm 22; Matthew 25:31-46

Joseph, being seventeen years old. Genesis 37:2
And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Genesis 41:46

God invested 13 years in making a man out of Joseph. One writer has said, “When it comes to building character, God is never in a hurry”. God’s desire is that we might be conformed to the image of His son (Rom. 8:29). As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our life, he will help us to “grow in grace, and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Pet. 3:18). We wait on God to make us the man or woman He wants us to be. —Bob Cretney

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His Holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me. —E.E. Hewitt

Genesis 43; Psalms 20 to 21; Matthew 25:1-30

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Many things are made with “planned obsolescence”: they are disposable and only last for a short time. This world in its present form is impermanent; yet so many live as if it is of ultimate value. Thankfully, God will never dispose of those who are saved by faith in Christ. Despite our weakness and life’s varied trials, He will not fail to complete the work of conforming every believer to Christ’s glorious image (Rom. 8:18-39). Neither earthly nor spiritual powers will thwart His work in His people. —Keith R. Keyser

Each object of His love is sure to reach the heavenly goal;
For neither sin nor Satan can destroy the blood-wash’d soul.
—Albert Midlane

Genesis 41:50 to 42:38; Psalm 19; Matthew 24:29-51

Behold, I have taken out of thine hand…the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it. Isaiah 51:22

Israel had once again angered God by their wicked ways, causing Him to unleash the fury of His wrath upon them. But because He is a God who pardons iniquity and delights in mercy (Micah 7:18), He removed the cup of His fury from their hand. How reminiscent of what Jesus did for us by drinking the cup of God’s fury in our place, thus appeasing His righteous anger against sin. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we no longer need to dread God’s fury, but can bask in His mercy and love. —E. V.

Death and the curse were in our cup,
O Christ ‘twas full for Thee!
That bitter cup- love drank it up;
Left but the love for me. —A. R. Cousin

Genesis 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matthew 24:1-28

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus… John 3:1

Nicodemus had it all! He was religious—Jesus even called him “the teacher” (literal) of Israel. He had power as a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of the day. He obviously had money. To anoint the dead body of Jesus, he purchased as many spices as would have been used for a king’s burial. And talk about heritage! He was born into Abraham’s family line, the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. Yet none of these things brought Nicodemus one step closer to Heaven. Listen to the simple invitation Jesus offered him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). What are you depending on to get to Heaven? Your resumé or God’s grace? —Brian Cretney

Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase, Thou must save, and save by grace.—A. Toplady

Genesis 40; Psalm 18:1-29; Matthew 23

And he (Micah) said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? Judges 18:24

When the five Danite spies removed Micah’s idolatrous devotions, they left nothing better to replace them. A principle of physics is that nature abhors a vacuum. As we seek to win others for Christ, we must always emphasize repentance before reformation. Once a person is saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, there will be no void left behind as they forget those things which are behind, and reach forth for the prize of the much higher calling in Christ Jesus. —Rick Morse

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
—Elisha A. Hoffman

Genesis 39; Psalm 17; Matthew 22:15-46

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Paul reminds Timothy that God has given him all that he needs to face life’s fears. When we are confronted with a trial or tribulation, we start to fear. We fear man, loss, pain and sorrow. We can focus so much on the fear that we forget God has already given us the tools for victory—power, love, and a sound mind. No matter what we go through, God is with us. We don’t have to look to ourselves to fix fear. Instead we look to God who gives us His strength. —Caleb Riordan

Holy Spirit all divine,
Dwell within this heart of mine;
Cast down every idol throne,
Reign supreme, and reign alone. —Andrew Reed