Category: Uncategorised

Exodus 30:11-38; Psalm 78:32-72; Acts 18:1-23

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but [refuse], that I may win Christ, and be found in Him. Philippians 3:8-9

When we read the phrase, “I have suffered the loss of all things” we may pity Paul. But before we do that, we need to consider how he valued these things. He saw them as refuse, particularly in relation to what he was gaining by letting them go. In releasing “all things,” he gained Christ and was found in Him. In the end, his decision was rational and easy. What will we decide?—Ken Gross

Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him!
Who can tell how much we owe Him?
Gladly let us render to Him,
All we are and have. —Thomas Kelly

Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. Jude 19, NKJV

The church faces false brethren who sow discord and separation—an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 6:19). These deceivers act this way because they lack the Spirit, whose indwelling is required for true believers (Rom. 8:9). Such fleshly ones are incapable of knowing His things (1 Cor. 2:12-16). The church functions on spiritual principles. Its simple organization enables saints to fellowship with the Lord without human intermediaries. It is designed to make them dependent on Him and to bring the triune God all the glory. Gatherings for prayer, praise, worship, teaching, and fellowship all require the Spirit’s work in us. —Keith Keyser

The Comforter is come, the earnest has been given;
He leads me onward to the home reserved for me in heaven.—H. Bennett

Judges 10:6-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John 5:44

Are you like me? Sometimes, before I roll over and go to sleep I do one final check and see how many “likes” I got on my latest “selfie” post. Guilty. So many people go through life with a self seeking desire to be noticed and admired by man. It is a natural desire to want to be liked! But is it healthy? The world is shallow, mostly interested in appearances, not reality. The admonition for believers in this “social media” age is to seek the honour that comes from God only. —Sid Halsband

Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim;
O make me daily, through Thy grace,
More meet to bear Thy name. —J. C. Lavater

Joshua 11:1-12:24; Isaiah 8:5-9:7; Luke 24:13-35

Ye see me no more. John 16:10

No more! Those words filled the disciples’ heart with sorrow as the Lord announced His departure (v. 6). But consider what He was leaving to accomplish. He paid the full price for our redemption so “there is no more offering for sin” (Heb. 10:18). His victory was seen when He rose to “dieth no more” (Rom. 6:9). The sinner who is cleansed can claim God’s promise: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17). Then, when this life is over, the child of God goes to the Land of no more curse (Rev. 22:3). And there, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death” (21:4). What a blessing to know more of God’s grand purposes this side of the cross! —Brian Cretney

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

Joshua 1:1-18; Hosea 8:1-9:17; Luke 19:29-48

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching. Titus 1:3

Our information age has opened many channels of communication, which can be useful but not always beneficial. Preaching is not only for the listeners, but is equally essential for the preachers. Those called to this ministry must become life-long Bible students and then practice the life-long discipline of learning to communicate divine truth to their audience. Preaching is serious work, and good preachers must soon learn to remove any trace of laziness. —Rick Morse

Open Thou mine eyes, Lord, that I may behold,
In Thy Word, rich treasures, better far than gold. —Alfred P. Gibbs

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 31:14-32:14; Hosea 1:1-11; Luke 17:1-19

A…woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years. Mark 5:25
The damsel…was of the age of twelve years (old). Mark 5:42

Jairus, ruler of the synagogue, had the joy of a little girl added to his family, while a woman, forty miles away, just lost her joy from a terrible sickness. But the sovereign, all-knowing, compassionate God, twelve years later caused their lives to cross the path of the Lord Jesus. The touch of the weak in faith and the touch of the Mighty in death brought forth glory to God. He planned it all. —Sam Thorpe Jr.

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know whate’er befall me, 
Jesus doeth all things well. —Mary R. Lowry

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 5:1-6:14; Malachi 1:1-2:9; Rev. 20:7-21:8

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Psalm 68:5

The God of heaven and earth has His careful watch over the fatherless and the widows; the orphans and the elderly; the needy and often neglected of this world. James reminds us that this is the nature of true religion: “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (Jas. 1:27). Our God has a heart full of compassion for those in need. Do we? —Sam Thorpe Jr.

Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop and never a moan;
Never a danger, but there on the throne,
Moment by moment, He thinks of His own. —D. W. Whittle

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 30; Job 40-41; Matt. 16:13 to 17:13

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house. Mk 2:15

Jesus spent a lot of time in homes. There He received hospitality and was able to teach the people in a reasonably private setting. In Mark 2 we read of Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, who invited Jesus into his home for dinner and to meet his invited guests. It could be described as a Thanksgiving Dinner, for Matthew had just responded to the Lord’s call to follow Him. It was also a Farewell Dinner as Levi left an old way of life focused on money, for a new life focused on ministry. It can also be seen as an Invitation Dinner, as Levi introduced people to the Saviour. Today our homes can be used similarly, for the Gospel and to bring blessing to others. —Paul Young

Will Jesus deign with me to dine?
Lord, I, with all I have am Thine!
                                 —John Newton