Month: June 2024

Joshua 1; Hosea 8 to 9; Luke 19:29-48

When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning…the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Ezekiel 3:18

We see here two things God takes very seriously. One is the actions of the wicked man. He will die in his iniquity if no one gives him warning. The other is the grave consequence for the one who
fails to warn the wicked man of his impending doom. If he fails to warn, God says He will require the wicked man’s blood at the failed messenger’s hand. Ask God to lead you to that person who
needs His serious warning. —Ken Gross

Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save. —Fanny Crosby

Deuteronomy 34; Hosea 6:4 to 7:16; Luke 19:1-28

I will arise and go to my father. Luke 15:18

The telephone rang and a voice which I recognised said, “Brian, God will never forgive me”. There may be someone reading this who feels the same—having actually abandoned Christian life and
committed gross sin. The fact you feel like this may well indicate a prompting of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in every believer. The father forgave the prodigal and our heavenly Father will forgive
you. Do not wait, repent and return. —Brian Russell

Let me at the throne of mercy,
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
—Fanny Crosby

Deuteronomy 33; Hosea 4 to 6:3; Luke 18:15-43

God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

I once heard a story of a boy who was given a dime for church, and a dime to buy candy. The boy dropped one dime in the sewer and remarked, “Too bad about God’s dime”, and went to buy
candy. Another boy had no money to give, so he climbed into the offering plate and gave himself! Which boy are we? Is giving to the Lord’s work a priority, or do we always come first? God loves a
cheerful giver, a committed giver and a regular giver as well! —Deborah Manera

He who loves Jesus consecrates to Him all that he has,
and feels it a delight that he may lay anything
at the feet of Him who laid down His life for us.
—Charles Spurgeon

Deuteronomy 32:15-52; Hosea 2 to 3 ; Luke 17:20 to 18:14

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Psalm 119:67
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:71
I know, O Lord…that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Psalm 119:75

George Goodman wrote “Affliction is testing at the hand of God, our faithful Father in heaven. To affliction we bow in submission”. We see in our first verse that God uses affliction for our correction. Then in the second, we see that through affliction He gives us counsel. In the third, we see the kindness of God in affliction. We have His faithful consolation. —Pete Smith

Faint not, nor fear; His arm is near.
He changeth not and thou art dear. —John Monsell

Deuteronomy 31:14 to 32:14; Hosea 1; Luke 17:1-19

I rejoiced greatly that I found [your] children walking in truth. 2 John 4

Someone has written, “A happy family is but an earlier heaven”. A family united around the Lord Jesus is such a blessing. To pray together, to be united in purpose and desire, to encourage, comfort and be glad for one another is an ideal which can be realized in the life of a family. Wonderfully, it should also be found in the life of the wider family of the local church. When love for Christ permeates to one another, then we are walking in truth and being obedient children to our heavenly Father. Let us make this our aim for His glory and the spiritual welfare of others. —Paul Young

Children of Jerusalem, sang the praise of Jesus’ name;
Children, too, of modern days, join to sing the Saviour’s praise.
—John Henley

Deuteronomy 30 to 31:13; Amos 9; Luke 16

And he (Zacchaeus) made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Luke 19:6

When someone responds to the invitation of the Lord it is indeed a happy occasion. Zacchaeus was obedient to the Lord and received Him joyfully. His life would never be the same again. Today the Lord invites you to trust Him and accept Him as your Saviour. If you do, it will be a happy day and the best decision you ever make. —John M Clegg

O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
—Philip Doddridge

Deuteronomy 29; Amos 7 to 8; Luke 15:11-32

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Proverbs 20:11
There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? John 6:9

Here was a young man who was willing to give his all to the Master. He was faithful with what he had and the Lord turned his offering into enough food to feed the multitudes! Let us also be faithful to use what He has given to us for His glory, and He will multiply these gifts to the blessing of many others. —Elizabeth C. Bishop

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender, humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now.
—J. W. Van de Venter

Deuteronomy 28:38-68; Amos 5 to 6; Luke 14:25 to 15:10

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Psalm 37:5

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). The Psalmist reminds us that God’s way is perfect (18:30) and that He makes my way perfect (18:32). If a “perfect” way is available to us, why would we choose any other? “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isa. 30:21). Even if trials or heartaches lie in the pathway, “He knows the way that I take” (Job 23:10). —Wm. H. Gustafson

Saviour, lead me lest I stray,
Gently lead me all the way;
I am safe when by Thy side,
I would in Thy love abide.
—Frank M. Davis

Deuteronomy 28:1-37; Amos 3 to 4; Luke 14:1-24

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Ephesians 3:17

While the Lord Jesus lives in the heart of every believer, Paul’s prayer is that He may “dwell” there meaning “settle down and feel at home”. A visitor may be offered a chair and a cup of tea, but when a loved one comes I would say, “Please make yourself at home”, so giving him access to all in the house. I’ve been asking myself, “Is the Lord feeling at home in my heart? Or have I only given Him a small corner of my life?” —David Croudace

What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou who didst die for me.
Shall I give less of what I possess, or shall I give all to Thee?
What shall I give Thee, Master? Thou hast given all for me;
Not just a part or half of my heart, I will give all to Thee.
—Homer W. Grimes

Deuteronomy 26:16 to 27:26; Amos 1 to 2; Luke 13:22-35

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5:20

James concludes his epistle with this encouragement to every soul winner or soul restorer. One sinner is said here to be guilty of a multitude of sins. Yet we know that the precious blood of Christ has more than enough merit to cover all of the sin, of the entire human race, for all time. We preach the Gospel of Christ with complete confidence, knowing that whoever hears it can be saved, and that whoever believes it will be saved. —Rick Morse

Jesus hath found me,
Happy my case;
I now am a sinner,
Saved by grace! —James M. Gray