Month: January 2025

Genesis 15:1-16:16; Job 18:1-19:29; Matthew 8:28-9:17

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3 

Prayer is vitally important in the Christian life and is the greatest use to which we can put our minds and tongues. Yet James is quick to remind us that the great failure in prayer is to ask for the wrong things and to ask with the wrong motives. Selfishness, personal glory, and pride undermine genuine prayer and requests will go unanswered.
In prayer, our desire must be to seek the will of God and the glory of Christ. Our prayers are not for self-exaltation but for Christ to be honoured and glorified and that the blessings of salvation will flow to others. —Paul Young

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray! —James Montgomery

Genesis 13:1-14:24; Job 16:1-17:16; Matthew 8:1-27

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength…But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Isaiah 40: 29, 31 NKJV

Our strength is renewed as we wait on the Lord. The word “renew” has the basic meaning “to change.” It also means “to put on afresh.” The “weak” (v. 29) and “faint” (v. 31) are the same Hebrew word which means “failure through loss of inherent strength.” The “weary” in verse 31 is a different word. It has the idea of “exhaustion because of the hardness of life.” If we are worn out for either reason God will give us strength as we wait on Him. —K. W.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things,
So wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth! —J. Neander

Genesis 11:27-12:20; Job 15:1-35; Matthew 7:7-29

She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. 2  Chronicles 9:9 NKJV

In the parallel account given of her visit, 1 Kings 10 says the Queen of Sheba gave more than anyone else ever gave. She brought tribute fit for a great king. Solomon in royal generosity gave the Queen whatever she requested and in the end, what he gave to her was much more than she had brought. What an illustration of our dealings with God. No matter what we may give materially or in worship; we can never outgive the Lord. “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory” (Phil. 4:19). —Gary McBride

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.  —A. J. Flint

Genesis 10:1-11:26; Job 13:1-14:22; Matthew 6:19-7:6

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.  John 3:13 NKJV

Some people think there are many ways to heaven. However, the Bible, God’s Word, tells us that Jesus is the only way. He is the only One to have come down from heaven and having fulfilled His purpose, to ascend there again. He promised that those who believe in Him will have eternal life. His supreme sacrifice on the cross was accepted by God as payment for our sins. Jesus died so that we might live. Will you trust Him today? —D. Cetola

Come every soul by sin oppressed, there’s mercy with the Lord;
And He will surely give you rest, by trusting in His word.
Only trust Him…only trust Him now. —J. H. Stockton

Genesis 8:20-9:29; Job 11:1-12:25; Matthew 6:1-18

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. 1 John 3:14

Practical Christianity must be motivated by love. Nothing else will suffice. Love is at the centre of our faith: the love of God in giving His Son for us; the love of our Lord in dying for us; the love of the Spirit implanted in us, and the love of believers for the Lord and each other. True holy love for one another endures through deep waters of rejection and discouragement. Faith motivated by love for Christ means we do not give up as we seek to bless and help our brothers and sisters. —Gaius C. Goff

Christian pity moves our heart,
Through the love of Christ;
Others’ woes pierce like a dart
When there’s love to Christ.—William Reid

Genesis 7:11-8:19; Job 9:1-10:22; Matthew 5:21-48

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him… John 9:35

Have you been cast out? By the world, by those you cherished as dear friends, or even by family? In those lonely and heart-breaking hours, there is One who draws near. He senses your need and comes alongside you immediately, even before you call on Him. He comes ready to reveal Himself on a deeper level than you have ever known Him before. In your sorrow, don’t turn away. Allow Him to heal your soul and draw you into intimate worship. —Eunice Free

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee—
Thou wilt find a solace there. —Joseph Scriven

Genesis 6:1-7:10; Job 8:1-22; Matthew 5:1-20

And also say, Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us…and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me. Gen. 32:20
By which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

Jacob wondered if Esau would accept him or if he would have to fight for his life. To pave the way, he sent his brother a gift before he met him face to face. God loves us so much that He gave us the gift of salvation through His beloved Son. We don’t have to wonder if we are accepted. If we are in Christ, it is a fact! We are accepted, blessed, forgiven, redeemed, and sealed and we have an inheritance in heaven. What a wonderful God! —Annette Baal

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken.
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
And I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again. —Billy James Foote

Genesis 4:1-5:32; Job 6:1-7:21; Matthew 4:1-25

All ate the same spiritual food. 1 Corinthians 10:3 NKJV

Israel’s wilderness generation was privileged to partake of supernatural sustenance through the manna. Sadly, they grew dissatisfied with God’s provision, loathing “this worthless bread” (Num. 21:5). Ironically, their first-century descendants used the manna to exalt Moses, and demanded that Jesus miraculously give them physical food. In their desire for a free lunch, they set aside “the living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51). Christ is far greater than Moses: those who ate the manna lived physically for a short time (Ps. 90:10-12). Because He is “the Bread of life,” those who receive Christ shall live forever. —Keith Keyser

We taste Thee, O Thou living bread, and long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the fountain-head, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
—Bernard of Clairvaux

Genesis 3:1-24; Job 4:1-5:27; Matthew 3:1-17

They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28
The beloved of the Lord…shall dwell between his shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12
Underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who will lead us safely home. We cannot be lost because His almighty hand has secured us forever, and there is no power greater than His. He also shelters and supports us. Even though we may stumble or stray, He will never abandon us. He will lift us up and draw us back to Himself. He died to save us and now He ever lives to keep us. —Clark Logan

I will never, never leave thee, I will never thee forsake;
I will guide, and save, and keep thee,
For My name and mercy’s sake. —Author Unknown

Genesis 2:4-25; Job 2:11-3:26; Matthew 2:1-23

Herod the king…killed James…he proceeded further to take Peter also. Acts 12:1-3
He…declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Acts 12:17

Sometimes, there are no answers. Here are two men, two arrests, two intended executions, but radically different outcomes. One family mourned. The other rejoiced. Couldn’t God have sent another angel to rescue James? Of course. Such is the divine enigma of God’s dealings. Sometimes He intervenes in our circumstances to protect us and our loves ones. Sometimes He permits evil. In the midst of such trials, all we can do is trust in the wisdom and goodness of our God. —Kevin Shantz

Simply trusting every day; trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all. —E. P. Stites