Month: January 2025

Genesis 38; Psalms 15 to 16; Matthew 21:33-22:14

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

We say these words, sing them, and hang them on our wall but how will they reveal themselves in our lives today? As we go about our duties at work, home, or school, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will help us prioritize those things that are of eternal value. Your customer is more important than the sale; your child more critical than the laundry; your classmate is worth more than straight A’s. Perhaps we should go through our to-do list and cross something off to allow space for more of His righteousness to permeate our lives today. —Caroline Webb

We seek Your kingdom first; we hunger and we thirst;
Refuse to waste our lives for, You’re our joy and prize.
—Chris Llewellyn, Gareth Gilkeson, Will Herron

Genesis 37; Psalms 11 to 14; Matthew 21:1-32

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

I normally use only a small percentage of a software’s functionality. If only I had the time to learn all its features, I could increase my productivity. Though we should not speculate about unrevealed things that belong only to God, many of us miss out on things the Lord has revealed to us because we fail to know His Word. Instead, let us search God’s Word for its treasures. He has given us His Word, so that we may appropriate its truths to live fruitful and productive lives. —George Ferrier

Holy Bible, book divine, precious treasure, thou art mine.
Mine to comfort in distress, suffering in this wilderness;
Mine to chide me when I rove; mine to show a Saviour’s love. —J. Burton

Genesis 36; Psalms 9 to 10; Matthew 20:17-34

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. John 3:14

Nearly 2 billion Chinese will be celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Snake today. The Serpent introduced sin into the world (Gen. 3:1-14), and we all became sinners because of Adam’s disobedience (Rom. 5:12). But God loved us and sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sin. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14). Even if you are born in the year of the snake, come out from his snare, trust the Saviour and be saved from your sin. —K. C. Ung

High on the cross the Saviour hung,
High in the heav’ns He reigns:
Here sinners by th’ old serpent stung,
Look, and forget their pains.—Isaac Watts

Genesis 35:1-29; Psalms 7:1-8:9; Matthew 19:16-20:16

When they were past the first and the second (guard), they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord. Acts 12:10

Peter was chained in prison and faced execution that very day, but the angel of the Lord awoke him, released him from the chains, and led him to freedom. However, the last barrier they encountered was a massive, heavily guarded iron gate. In answer to prayer, this iron gate yielded and Peter was free. Are you facing what seems to be an impossible situation? Trust Him in prayer for He can cause your “iron gate” to yield too. —David Croudace

Not to the strong is the battle,
Not to the swift is the race,
Yet to the true and the faithful
Victory is promised through grace. —Fanny Crosby

Genesis 33:18-34:31; Psalms 4:1-6:10; Matthew 19:1-15

Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. John 19:15

The chief priests said they had no other king but Caesar, thus excluding the Lord God of Israel. We then need to ask, what was the purpose of their priesthood? Who were they priests to? When they rejected the Lord Jesus, this concluded a pattern which began centuries before His incarnation at Bethlehem. When a person who wanders in darkness is unaware that they are in such a state, how great is that darkness! People all around us need the light and don’t know it. We must tell them! —Rick Morse

There are souls to rescue,
There are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!  —Charles H. Gabriel

Genesis 32:1-33:17; Psalms 1:1-3:8; Matthew 18:15-35

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 1 Corinthians 11:26
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. Psalm 104:15

How privileged we are as God’s servants to be invited to remember the Lord weekly. Not only is it a joy to the Father’s heart when we remember His Son, but it also strengthens our hearts together, makes us glad, and allows us to shine for His glory. Let us joyfully remember Him today! —Elizabeth C. Bishop

O Lord, by Thee invited, we gather in Thy name,
Each willing guest delighted, Thy presence here to claim,
The feast is Thine, O Saviour; the bread, the cup, are Thine;
Thy name the precious savour, of ointment, all divine!—Anonymous

Genesis 31:1-55; Job 42:1-17; Matthew 17:14-18:14

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

The word “shalom” in Hebrew incorporates the idea of peace, well-being, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. This perfect peace (“shalom shalom”) mentioned here, comes solely from an unwavering trust in the Prince of Shalom. When we keep our minds focused on Him, we will trust Him with our hearts. It is not an occasional coming to the Lord, but a continuous, steadfast fixation of our minds on the source of peace. —Olive Wilson

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’ —Horatio Spafford

Genesis 30:1-43; Job 40:1-41:34; Matthew 16:13-17:13

That God would open unto us a door of utterance. Colossians 4:3
That utterance may be given…to make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19
Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. Acts 4:29

These extracts from three earnest NT prayers remind us of our complete dependence on God in our Gospel endeavours. The first looks to Him for the right moment to preach; the second desires that the right message will be given, and the third seeks help for the right manner in presenting it. How much we need divine help to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). —Phil Coulson

Men die in darkness at your side without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide, the torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.  —Horatius Bonar

Genesis 29:1-35; Job 38:1-39:30; Matthew 15:29-16:12

At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas had been beaten, cast into the inner prison, and their feet secured in stocks. And yet they sang! It didn’t wake the jailor but God said, “I will wake him.” A great earthquake happened. When he awoke, he must have thought, I need what these men have. He asked, “What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:30-31). Salvation soon followed. Today, sing praises to God and see what miracle He may bring as a result. And even when our days are “normal” we still have infinite reasons to sing praises to our Saviour. —Ken Gross

Sing when the day is bright, sing thru the darkest night;
Every day, all the way, let us sing, sing, sing.  —Alfred Smith

Genesis 28:1-22; Job 36:1-37:24; Matthew 15:1-28

He who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him…shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalm 32:10-11 NKJV

In audio technology, “surround sound” is the ultimate 360° experience; sound from every angle rather than uni-dimensional. But David was enjoying something infinitely better as he trusted in the Lord. Our moments of greatest exposure and vulnerability are when we trust in ourselves. David was shouting for joy, knowing he was totally surrounded by the goodness, faithfulness, and lovingkindness of the Lord Himself. I have a reason to shout for
joy today. —P. Ramsay

He saw me ruined in the fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate,
His loving-kindness, oh, how great! —Samuel Medley