Month: June 2024

Joshua 13; Isaiah 9:8 to 10:4; Luke 24:36-53

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke 23:47

The sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ is explicitly stated throughout the Word of God (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). His life spanned over three decades, but no one could find fault in Him. It was crucial He be sinless because “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), and “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:20). This is how the Lord could say, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay [my life] down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18). And because His sacrifice was complete we can come and worship Him today with boldness. —Luke Urban

The Holy One who knew no sin, God made Him sin for us;
The Saviour died our souls to win, upon the shameful cross.
—H. K. Burlingham

Joshua 11 to 12; Isaiah 8:5 to 9:7; Luke 24:13-35

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:8-9 NKJV

You may be the longing soul of this verse, hungering for something that truly satisfies; thirsting for living water that will truly quench your soul. You have experienced the dryness of the world’s appeal and the barrenness of selfish-desire. Are you finished with wandering? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the living water—Jesus Christ? “He satisfies the longing soul”. —Peter Ramsay

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,
And nothing satisfying there I found;
But to the blessed cross of Christ, one day I came,
Where springs of living water did abound. —J. W. Peterson

 

Joshua 10; Isaiah 7 to 8:4; Luke 23:47 to 24:12

Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

In her Christmas message televised in 2000 throughout the Commonwealth, the Queen spoke of her strong Christian faith saying “The teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times
from Christ’s words and example”. How humbling to note that here was a monarch that gave her word as to how she would live her life, recognised that she was accountable to God and derived great comfort from God’s Word and Christ’s example. May we endeavour to emulate similar convictions in our hearts. —Brian Powlesland

When I stand before the throne, dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see Thee as Thou art, love Thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know, not till then, how much I owe.—R. McCheyne

Joshua 9; Isaiah 6; Luke 23:13-46

The people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord”. Numbers 20:3 NKJV

I have often been discontented with what God has allowed in my life. Deep down I was not happy with my Father’s decisions. I have learned many wonderful lessons as I walked those dark lonely roads, seeing clearly what I would have missed had He not chosen my path. We will not have real peace until we accept His will in our lives. —Mary Robins

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 what-e’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
—Fanny Crosby

Joshua 8; Isaiah 5; Luke 22:54 to 23:12

Set up signposts, make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back…turn back. Jeremiah 31:21 NKJV

What signposts and landmarks have we ignored, causing us to tread ways other than our Lord’s? Here are some markers we shouldn’t miss. We should appreciate God’s goodness better every day (Ps. 31:19). We should commence and continue our day with full trust in the Lord (Ps. 115:13). We should strive to be happy
people (Prov. 28:14). We should have a strong confidence in God (Prov. 14:26). The essential element in each of these verses is the fear of the Lord. May we reverence Him and be found considering well the highway we are travelling. —Doug Lewis

A special joy is in all love, for objects we revere;
Thus joy in God will always be proportioned to our fear. —F. W. Faber

Joshua 7; Isaiah 3 to 4; Luke 22:31-53

And the Lord shut him in. Genesis 7:16

When all the creatures and Noah and his family had entered the ark, God shut the door. He sealed them in. This was the most secure measure God could take to safeguard His creatures. He personally secured them! No adversary from outside could get in and no one could go out to be lost in the flood. In Christ, all Christians are safe in Him. Nothing can snatch us away from Him nor from the safety of His Father’s arms (John 10:28-30). We all are safe and secure in the arms of Jesus. Trust Him. —K. C. Ung

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest. —Fanny Crosby

Joshua 5:13 to 6:27; Isaiah 2; Luke 22:1-30

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it. Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV
These (Bereans) were more noble…in that they…searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

It is a great blessing for us that we have so many rich Bible commentaries. Yet as valued and instructive as these may be, they should never replace God’s Word. Even the most reliable and
trusted resources should be verified by the Scriptures for their accuracy. Men’s “opinions” do not always convey God’s truth. Jesus promised that when the Spirit came, He would guide us into all truth, (John 16:13). Let us trust Him to do that and diligently practice being modern day Bereans! —E.V.

Holy words of our faith, handed down to this age;
Came to us through sacrifice, O heed the faithful words of Christ. —L. DeShazo

Joshua 4 to 5:12; Isaiah 1; Luke 21:5-38

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psalm 85:10

Mercy and truth could never meet. They are diametrically opposed to each other. Truth demanded that every sin be paid for; that every payment be exacted in its entirety. Mercy longed to offer
forgiveness, to proffer a pardon. But mercy was frustrated in its purposes by the unflinching character of truth. But wait! Is there a means whereby God can be just and the justifier? (Rom. 3:26) Consider the cross. Calvary is the greatest possible display of the grace of God. But Calvary is also the greatest possible display of the justice of God. God is love (1 John 4:8). God is light (1 John 1:5). Oh, what a meeting at Calvary!! —L. Cain

Oh, safe and happy shelter! Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love, and heaven’s justice meet. —E. Clephane

Joshua 3; Hosea 11:12 to 14:9; Luke 20:20 to 21:4

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV

Effective praying requires knowing God. Why did Elijah pray for a drought? He had observed the nation’s condition and because of their disobedience to God, he (and the Lord) wanted “healing”. Elijah’s prayer was effective (had power) because He was thinking God’s thoughts. Elijah wasn’t condescending and self-righteous; he’d suffer the same drought as the people. Prayer for God to act consistent with His revealed character is powerful. Prayer is not to accomplish my will, but God’s. In the context, powerful prayer is for the benefit of fellow believers. May we pray fervently and effectively for one another’s spiritual prosperity. —David W. Oliver

Revive Thy work, O Lord! Create soul-thirst for Thee,
And hungering for the Bread of Life, O may our spirits be! —A. Midlane

Joshua 2; Hosea 10 to 11:11; Luke 20:1-19

Beloved, now are we the sons of God…but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

Who can fully appreciate the truth revealed to us in this lovely verse? To think, that one day we shall be like Him is beyond our comprehension. William Alexander tells of an incident when translating these verses. The native scribe when hearing the words, “We shall be like him”, laid down his pen and exclaimed, “No, it’s too much; let us write, ‘we shall kiss His feet’”. Is it too much that “sons” shall one day be like Him? “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Ps. 17:15). —Jim Comte

And is it so? I shall be like Thy Son!
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory—thought beyond all thought!
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought! —J. N. Darby