Month: May 2025

Numbers 34:1-35:8; Proverbs 30:1-33; Luke 5:1-16

And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David in the woods, and strengthened his hand in God. 1 Samuel 23:16

David was going through an exceedingly difficult time. His adversary Saul, with murderous intent, was getting closer by the day. What a faithful friend, this Jonathan! Doubtless this was a difficult journey and one certain to incur the wrath of his father, Saul. Yet he went with the purpose of encouraging him to stay strong in his faith in God. Thank God for faithful friends who come to us in our hour of need, who remind us of God’s faithfulness and love; whose acts of kindness point us to the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. May we too be such a friend to others.  —Kevin Shantz

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. —John Fawcett

Numbers 33:1-56; Proverbs 29:1-27; Luke 4:16-44

Praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ…that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Colossians 4:3-4 NKJV 

Do I pray for opportunities to share the Word of God and the unfathomable riches of Christ with others and that when I do, I will make it as clear as possible? Paul wanted to employ the right words in the right way to effectively communicate the mystery of Christ. Later he says our words should be gracious and seasoned with salt. In other words, make it just as appealing and attractive as a delicacy from the Lord should be. —Peter Ramsay

Lead me to some soul today, O teach me, Lord, just what to say;
Friends of mine are lost in sin, and cannot find their way.
Few there are who seem to care, and few there are who pray;
Melt my heart, and fill my life, give me one soul today. —W. Houghton

Numbers 32:1-42; Proverbs 28:1-28; Luke 4:1-15

They went out and preached everywhere. Mark 16:20 NKJV

The four gospels each end in a fashion that is consistent with its theme. Matthew presents Christ as King and ends with the declaration of His authority. He sends out the disciples to make disciples. Mark presents Christ as the perfect Servant and as servants, the disciples went out to preach, Christ working with them. Luke’s theme is the Son of Man and the disciples response to the ascension was to worship. John introduces the Lord Jesus as the living Word. The last two chapters end with a reference to the written Word. The disciples witnessed, worked, worshipped,
and exalted Christ. May these activities characterize us!  —Gary McBride

Christ our Lord is ris’n indeed, He is now the Church’s Head;
Loud the song of triumph raise, celebrate the Victor’s praise!—C. Wesley

Numbers 30:1-31:54; Proverbs 26:13-27:27; Luke 3:1-38

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Hebrews 10:4

The sacrifices of the Old Testament were shadows of Christ’s work, not the substance. They were pictures but not the Person! They could not take away sins. But there has been another sacrifice, anticipated from ages past, and foretold by the prophets. The result of this sacrifice is such that God has said the sins of His people will never be brought into remembrance again (Heb. 10:17-18). The Law, with its accompanying sacrifices, was powerless to save
(Rom. 8:3). Praise God for an all-powerful Saviour! —L. Cain

No blood, no altar now,
The sacrifice is o’er!
No flame, no smoke ascends on high,
The lamb is slain no more. —H. Bonar

Numbers 29:1-40; Proverbs 25:1-26:12; Luke 2:22-52

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand. Deut. 6:8 NKJV
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:16

The lament of Jerusalem in Isaiah 49 was that God had forgotten them, but it was they who had forgotten Him! God told them that a nursing mother might, possibly, forget her child, but for Him to forget His own was impossible. Hebrew men used ribbons to bind His covenant upon their hands and those phylacteries could easily fall. God’s people, however, were engraved upon His hands—upon the palms! That permanent record was ever visible as His upturned hands reached out to receive them. —Phil Coulson

My name from the palms of His hands, eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.  —Augustus Toplady

Numbers 28:1-31; Proverbs 24:1-34; Luke 2:1-21

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints…they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Psalm 34:8-10

This short passage reveals four attitudes of heart God desires from His people. He wants us to experientially perceive Him—to taste His kindness and experience that God is good. He wants us to trust Him, to release every aspect of our life to His leadership. He wants us to fear Him and give Him the respect He deserves. Finally He wants us to seek His Person day by day and build our relationship with Him. These are not too much to ask! It is our reasonable service (Rom. 12:1). —Ken Gross

When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way! —John Sammis

Numbers 26:52-27:23; Proverbs 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

And Sarai said unto Abram…I pray thee, go in unto my maid… and Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. Genesis 16:2

Are we critical of Sarah and Abraham? Ask yourself, “How is my marriage?” We may not have left our marriage physically but we may have left it in our mind. Wives, do we respect our husbands (Eph. 5:33)? Husbands do we love our wives to the extent that Christ loved us and gave Himself for us (Eph. 5:25)? The world needs to see happy, strong, biblical, marriages. —K. W.

Well a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home,
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end.
A woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is love, there is love. —Noel Paul Stookey

Numbers 25:1-26:51; Proverbs 22:17-23:11; Luke 1:26-56

Because they have sinned against the Lord. Zephaniah 1:17

Zephaniah was the grandson of God-fearing King Hezekiah, and related to good King Josiah. His message was one of doom and destruction for the nation of Judah. Yet God was not acting without cause. He had repeatedly called the nation to repentance and there had been brief times when the land was cleansed from idolatry but generally, it had trended downward spiritually and morally. So the reason for judgment was sin. Today the same God rules and judgment will come but thankfully the Christian breathes the pure air of freedom because Jesus has taken our sin
and nailed it to His cross. —Paul Young

My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross; and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, Oh my soul! —Horatio G. Stafford

Numbers 23:27-24:25; Proverbs 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee. 2 Samuel 7:3
But God said unto [David], Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war. 1 Chronicles 28:3

Caught up in the zeal of David’s heart, Nathan misguided him.  A serving heart is honourable, but assuming that God’s desires will align with ours produces ill-advised outcomes. Sadly, God’s people can become exhausted and disheartened in endeavours God never desired or called them to do. David’s submissive heart allowed God to reveal His desires to David. Prayerfully seeking the desires of God’s heart will always foster sensitivity and discernment regarding our service for Him. —David J. Reed

Ready to go, ready to stay, ready my place to fill;
Ready for service lowly or great, ready to do His will. —A. C. Palmer

Numbers 22:39-23:26; Proverbs 20:1-21:11; James 4:13-5:20

He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 NKJV
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 NKJV

As a young missionary, my passion was to see souls saved and local churches planted. Then seven months later I became ill with TB meningitis and had to return home paralyzed. “Why did You allow this to happen, Lord?” Then the Lord impressed upon me the little word “in” in the above verses. That’s when I learned a great lesson. God is far more interested in the work He does in me than the work He does through me. —Sid Halsband

All we can do is nothing worth, unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide, till God gives life to the seed.  —Arthur C Ainger