Month: February 2025

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

Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat… 1 Corinthians 6:7b, 8 NKJV
Leaving us an example…when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. 1 Peter 2:21, 23

We live in a world where rights are demanded, courtrooms are busy and injustice is everywhere. But citizens of Christ’s heavenly kingdom must rise above and live with a higher ethos than this world. Never was One as unjustly treated as our Lord. Never did One suffer as wrongfully as He did. Legions of angels would have delivered Him, yet He suffered willingly. —Kevin Shantz

Unsullied meekness, truth, and love, through all Thy conduct shine;
O may my whole deportment prove, a copy, Lord, of Thine!—B. Beddome

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

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11 NKJV

Jesus Christ, He who did no sin, took upon Himself all the sin of the world, dealt with it and was done with it once and for all! He was, in effect, “dead to sin.” Paul, in his letter to the believers in Rome, tells us to ”Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin.” But Jesus Christ is God! How can we humans who daily battle sin, reckon ourselves to be ”dead” to it? Christ identified us with Him on Calvary, created all things new, and removed us from the “old Adam” into Himself, the new Adam. Now, “alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” we too can have victory over sin!—Ray Jones

Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender last farewell,
A Guide, a Comforter bequeathed, with us to dwell.  —Harriet Auber

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

In all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Every day, every child of God should spend time alone with God, reading His Word and speaking to Him in prayer. All of the Scriptures reveal Christ to us. The Old Testament is full of pictures of Christ in the offerings and feasts, in the tabernacle and temple, and in the offices of prophet, priest, and king. The New Testament brings before us the Saviour’s life and His wonderful words and works. Always look for Christ, wherever you read. May you catch a glimpse or, even better, a fuller and more satisfying view of Him today. —Clark Logan

Make the Book live to me,
O Lord, show me Thyself within Thy Word,
Show me myself and show me my Saviour,
And make the Book live to me.—R. Hudson Pope

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

A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. Jeremiah 17:12

One can sense the awe, power, and majesty that is in view in this verse—God’s eternal throne and the One who sits upon it. But note the lovely link with earth. It is “the place of our sanctuary.” We are privileged, even encouraged, to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). This place of authority and honour is our place of refuge and solace. Let us draw near today! —Pete Smith

Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer. —J. Newton

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

This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep …neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:9-10

There is a time to weep and sorrow over sin and failure, but there is, too, a time for rejoicing that God has opened our eyes to see what we had not recognized previously. He shows us our sin so that we might agree with Him about it, turn from it, and allow Him to replace it with His own good character. Has the Holy Spirit revealed some shortcomings in your life? Give thanks, confess it, and go on joyfully in His power. —Eunice Free

We will not change, what we cannot see,
So reveal, O Lord, my blind spots to me.  —E. Free

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

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 NKJV

The man or woman of God is marked by what they flee from, and what they follow after. We are to flee from contention and covetousness. These issues are “these things” Paul addresses in verses 3 to 10. We should pursue virtues that are contrary to what the world values. These have to do with godly character and Christ-likeness. They affect how we relate to others and result in putting others first, allowing us to lay hold of eternal life.  —Gary McBride

O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer.
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus Thy perfect likeness to bear.—T. Chisholm

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

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for His friends. John 15:13

The love of Jonathan for David was great and the love of Ruth for Naomi was genuine. However, such love pales into insignificance when compared to the love of the Lord for each one of us. The love of our Lord cannot be contained or calculated. The greatest evidence of that love was Calvary. We humbly praise and thank Him today for that love displayed to each one of us. —John M. Clegg

The love that Jesus had for me,
To suffer on that cruel tree,
That I a ransomed soul might be,
Is more than tongue can tell.  —Jane E. Hall

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

You must be be born again…even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…He must increase. John 3:7, 14, 30 NKJV

With John 3:16 on the horizon, the Son of Man establishes the sinner’s great necessity—you must be born again. This human impossibility can only be made possible through the Saviour’s great work—the Son of Man must be lifted up. John, having witnessed to the Saviour and having experienced that indwelling life through Him (1 John 1:2-3),
draws our thoughts to the saint’s great necessity—He must increase, I must decrease. A Christ pre-eminent will is the key to this challenge and will lead us to worship (John 4:24), work (John 9:4), and walk (John 12:26). —David J. Reed

Must I go, and empty-handed, and thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him, lay no trophy at His feet? —Charles Luther