Numbers 19:1-21:3; Luke 5:33-6:11; Proverbs 8:1-11 The wilderness years were not easy. The pathway from Egypt (the land of oppression) to Canaan (the land of promise) was not an easy pathway. For Jesus, the pathway between Bethlehem and Calvary was not easy. Jesus’ suffering did not begin at Calvary. There was suffering from the very beginning …
Continue reading When we’re suffering, let’s remember Jesus: in love for us, He suffered for us.
Romans 9:1-33 We read about 'Jews' and 'Gentiles'. We learn about salvation. The Jews are not saved because of their nationality. It is 'not because of works'. The Gentiles are not excluded because of their nationality. It is 'because of His call'. Salvation comes from God's grace, not from our good works. It is received …
Warning against "the danger of going outside the sphere of faith into the area of observation", G. C. Berkouwer disputes the legitimacy of interpreting the ways of Providence on the basis of facts" (The Providence of God, pp. 164-165). He aims to guard against the possibility that "everyone according to his own prejudice and subjective …
What kind of influence do we have on other people? Do we do a lot of good? Do we do a lot of harm? These, Lord, are questions that we need to ask ourselves. They are questions that You are asking us. They are questions that demand an honest answer. They are questions that call …
Revelation 18:1-19:10 - We read of the fall of Babylon (18:2,10,16-17,19,21). We live in a time of sinful rebellion against God. This will be followed by the time of God’s holy judgment. What is God saying to His own people at this time? - ‘Come out of her, My people, so that you will not …
Continue reading We look away from ourselves. We look to the Lord, and we say, “Hallelujah!!
2 Corinthians 8:8-9:15 How are we to be ‘cheerful’ in giving ourselves to the Lord (9:7)? How are we to be confident that ‘God is able to provide us with every blessing in abundance’(9:8)? Before we ever think of giving ourselves to God, we must look at all He has given to us. We look …
Continue reading How are we to be ‘cheerful’ in giving ourselves to the Lord?
1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 93:1-5 Our “boasting is not good” (1 Corinthians 5:6). It is better for us to boast in the Lord - “Praise be to You, O Lord .... Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power ... Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious …
Continue reading No boasting in ourselves – only boasting in the Lord!
You call us, Lord, to be changed by You – changed by Your love, changed by Your power. Being changed by You is very different from being changed by the world. How are we being changed? Are we being “conformed to the world” or “transformed by the Lord”? Help us, Lord, to be wary of …
Jesus speaks to "the cities where most of his mighty works had been done" (Matthew 11:20). He gives them absolutely no encouragement to bask in their past glories. He presents them with the challenge of the present. He calls on them to makle an immediate response to God. In no uncertain terms, he challenges them …
Continue reading In times of prosperity, in times of adversity
2 Chronicles 33:21-35:19; 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:16; Psalm 104:1-18 Covenant – This is vitally important in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (2 Chronicles 34:29-32; 2 Corinthians 3:6). There is the Word of God (2 Chronicles 34:30) and the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:6). There is the human response (2 Chronicles 34:31-32) and renewal by the …
Continue reading The power of the Spirit – poured into our hearts
Revelation 19:11-21:8 - Our Saviour is ‘Faithful and True’. He is ‘the Word of God’. He is our ‘Lord’ and ‘King’ (19:11,13,16). We are invited to ‘come’ to Him. The invitation - ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God’ - is a call to come to Christ (19:17). We come to Christ so …
"What is truth?" (John 18:38). This question can be asked in a cynical way, suggesting that searching for truth is pointless, because there is no truth. The sceptics may say to us, "If it's true for you, that's okay by me - but it's not true for me." It can also be asked as part …
Ezra 10:1-44; Revelation 14:14-15:8; Psalm 146:1-10 God's people are to belong to Him alone. Influences which are foreign to the Gospel of Christ, alien to the Word of God, are to be excluded from our lives so that we might be, more truly and more fully, the people of God. This is the message of …
Romans 10:1-21 To 'Jew and Gentile', God says, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (12-13). The Jews had praised the Lord Jesus: 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!'. Before long, they were shouting, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!' (John …
Continue reading Pray that faith will come, as the Word of Christ is heard.
1 Chronicles 22:2-23:32; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Psalm 91:9-16 The Temple was to be “built for the Name of the Lord”, “to praise the Lord” (1 Chronicles 22:19; 23:5). In the context of such worship - “thanking and praising the Lord” (1 Chronicles 23:30), the Word of God would be spoken “not in words taught by …
"I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people" (Psalm 116:13-14). Before we read of our "vows", we read of "the cup of salvation." This is important. The cup of salvation comes first. Before we ever …
I am my beloved's, and he is mine (Song of Solomon 6:3). How are we to respond to these precious and treasured words of joyful testimony? May we let them speak to our hearts. May they bring joy to our hearts. May the song of joyful praise arise in our hearts. https://youtu.be/gsPB6zgd184 https://youtu.be/oJuRdcEIsxM https://youtu.be/rDeiy9-t2GE
Great is Thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23). When things start to go wrong for us, we start to wonder, "What's going to happen next?" When it seems like everything's going from bad to worse, we need to be reminded of God's faithfulness. However hard our pathway through life may be, may each of us receive blessing …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (22): Great is Thy faithfulness.
Numbers 21:1-35 In verses 5-9, there is an illustration of God's salvation (John 3:14-15). There is sin and death (Romans 5-6; 3:23, 6:23). Christ prays for our forgiveness (7; Luke 23:34). Lifted up on the Cross, He dies that we might have eternal life. In love, He appeals to us, 'Look to me and be …
"I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2). We look to the mountains. What do we see? We see more than mountains. We see something of God, our Creator - in the mountains. When, in looking up …
Continue reading Looking up to the mountains, looking up to the Lord …
Esther 1:1-2:18 - This is a very human story. It is the story of a man - Ahasuerus - and two women - Vashti and Esther. It is the ending of one love and the beginning of a new love (1:19; 2:17). It is also a very important part of the Divine Story. God is …
Continue reading What part will you play in bringing God’s blessing to others?
"My eyes and My heart will always be there (in the place where God's people gather together to worship Him)" (2 Chronicles 7:16). Before the worshippers gather, the Lord is there. He's waiting for us. He's calling us to come to Him. Before our ears hear the words, "Let us worship God", the Lord is …
Continue reading Before the worshippers gather, the Lord is there.
2 Kings 23:4-30 - In 18:5, we read about Hezekiah; ‘There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him’. Here, we read about something rather different - ‘Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him’(25). This seems confusing: Which was the better king …
1 Chronicles 24:1-26:19; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23; Psalm 92:1-15 Every believer has a part in the work of God. This comes through in the lists of names in 1 Chronicles 24-26. This is also taught in 1 Corinthians 3:6 which goes on to emphasize that the real work is not done by men but by the …
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). The Word of God is preached to us by his faithful servants. They study the Word of the Lord. They pray that …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (21): Amazing grace
Kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents - what are we to say about them? Some say, "This one's good - and that one's not so good." Others say, "No! It's the other way round." No -one seems to be agree about what makes a good king, a good queen, a good prime minister, a …
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness, you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago (Isaiah 25:1). See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (20): To God be the glory!
"Amidst his ministry to the nations, this spiritual giant has time for a penetrating word for his scribe. Often the larger affairs of national prophecy can conceal petty ambitions in lesser men. Baruch wanted to be something - and instantly the discerning prophet pierced his heart with these searching and challenging words, "Should you then …
Continue reading Do We Seek Great Things For Ourselves – Or For God?
Haggai 1:1-2:23; 2 John 1-13; Proverbs 29:19-27 God calls His people - "Be strong" (Haggai 2:4). This call comes to the "governor", "the high priest" and "all you people of the land" (Haggai 2:2). We need spiritual strength in government, in the Church and throughout the land. This strength is needed if we are to build upon …
James 1:1-27 Lord, there seems to be nothing but hard times. What are we to do? We turn to You. We ask You, “Lord, what are You teaching us?” You’re teaching us to trust You. You’re teaching us to be changed by You. Even when everything seems so hard, help us to pray, “Your will …
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me (Ecclesiastes 2:17). To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:26). Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (18): Fill your hearts with joy and gladness.
From the Lord comes the wise answer of the tongue (Proverbs 16:1). A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). We're not always wise. We're not always cheerful. How can we become more wise? How can we become more cheerful? Wisdom and cheerfulness come to us from the Lord. There's a close connection between wisdom and cheerfulness. …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (17): All that thrills my soul is Jesus.
The work of God is to be carried out by many people, working together as a team - God’s team. The importance of teamwork must be recognized if God’s work is to be moved forward in God’s way. Reading over the many names and numbers in 1 Chronicles 23-27, we are reminded of Paul’s words …
Deuteronomy 17:14-18:22 Even the king is subject to God's 'law'. His supreme responsibility is this: Pay careful attention to God's Word (17:18-20). Politically, he may be in an elevated position - a 'king over' others (17:14-15). Spiritually, he must not allow 'his heart' to be 'lifted up above his brethren' (17:20). There must be humble …
Continue reading Jesus is more than a preacher of God’s Word. He is God’s Word.
Revelation 3:1-22 - There are some doors which the Lord must open - ‘I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut’ (8). There is a door which we must open - ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come in...’ (20). …
Numbers 7:1-47 Why do we bring our offerings to the Lord? - ‘that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting’(5). We give ourselves to the Lord - ‘Love so amazing, so divine, Shall have my soul, my life, my all’- and we ask Him to put our gift to …
David called God’s people to worship. They were ‘to raise sounds of joy’, praising the Lord with ‘loud music’. David did not leave it to others. He gave the lead. Along with all the others, he was there, ‘dancing and making merry’. He was a true spiritual leader. He ‘blessed the people in the Name …
"He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). One ministry was about to end. Another ministry was about to begin. The second ministry would be greater than the first ministry. - The first ministry was the ministry of John the Baptist. - The second ministry was the ministry of Jesus the Saviour. What a …
Continue reading A Christ-Centred Life And A Christ-Centred Ministry
We thank You, Lord, that we do not fight against Satan in our own strength. You fight for us (Joshua 10:42). Victory is never our own achievement. It is always Your gift: "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
God’s love, God’s power, God’s glory: We see all of this in Jesus Christ, crucified for us, risen for us and coming for us. “The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). His love is stronger than death. Through His powerful love, He is leading us on to eternal glory.
Genesis 49:28-50:26 It was a time of "very great and sorrowful lamentation" (10). Jacob had died (33). Soon, Joseph would be gone (26). God was still there. He had been there in the past (20). He would be there in the future (24-25). Times are hard. We rejoice: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never …
Continue reading Everything seems to be changing. We trust in God’s unchanging love.
James' attack on "dead faith" (G. C. Berkouwer, Faith and Justification, 137) and his protest for faith as "a truly experienced reality" (136), which dominates the whole of life, does not conflict with Paul who speaks against the works of the law but not against the works of faith.
Genesis 37:1-36 Here, we have human sin and divine grace. We see jealousy (11) and its effects: ‘where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice’(James 3:16). We see God working out His purpose: ‘you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good’(50:20). In his dreams, Joseph was …
Continue reading You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.
“If apologetics becomes a fight over a system ... it becomes something very different from the 'giving an answer' for faith that the New Testament asks for. The struggle may not be waged for the sake of a fight, but only for the sake of the truth. There must, therefore, never be lust for victory …
The disciples are sent out in the name and in the power of the Lord. As disciples of Jesus, we are to point away from ourselves to Jesus, who is far more than a prophet. As we point men and women to Him, we are to echo His words, "Come to Me... " (11:28). We …
What's life all about? What does it mean? Does life have a God-given meaning? or Do we, ourselves, give it a meaning that, we feel, it has for us? Why are we here on earth? What is the purpose of our life? Do we have a God-given answer to this question? or Must we create, …
Exodus 37:1-29 Many times over, we read the word, “gold.” We look beyond the furnishings of the place of worship to the God whom we worship. In our hearts, we say, “My God, how wonderful You are.” All that we read of here is pointing us to the great God, the God of glory, the …
"His throne will be established forever" (1 Chronicles 17:14). A king or queen can have a short reign or a long reign. Only God can have a "forever" reign. Here's something we should never forget - it's the Lord who's on the throne that really matters, the only throne that is established forever.
Judges 1:1-2:5 When things are going well, help us, Lord, to thank You. When things are going badly, help us to trust You. Judges 2:6-3:11 Sometimes, Lord, You say to us, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Sometimes, You say to us, “This is not the way. Do not walk in it.” …
1 Kings 3:1-28 - Solomon was a complicated man. We wonder what was most important to him - his alliances with the world or his allegiance to the Lord, ‘building his own house’ or ‘building the House of the Lord’ (1-3)? In verses 9-13, we learn that Solomon prized wisdom more than riches. In verse …
Continue reading Will it be love for the Lord or love for the world?
Numbers 26:12-27:11; Luke 7:36-50; Proverbs 8:12-21 Our God is the Lord of hosts – “The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730” (Numbers 26:51). He is also the God of the individual – “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace'” (Luke 7:50). He is the God of …
“So Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord. He did not obey the Word of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 10:13). Here, we read of Saul’s sin, shame and sadness. This was more than a personal thing. It had a profound effect on the whole nation. God looked at the effect Saul was having …
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life (Psalm 27:4). Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6). Beyond all the …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (16): His name is wonderful; Jesus, my Lord.
I know that my redeemer lives (Job 19:25). Here, we begin with Job, but we do not remain with Job. The words of Job direct our attention to our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Whenever we think of the living Lord, we do not begin with Jesus, living in us: "Christ lives in me" …
In Ezekiel 35, we learn that it is through His judgment as well as His salvation that we learn that the Lord is God. It is important that we remember two things - (i) God's purpose is salvation (John 3:17); (ii) His judgment comes upon us as a result of our sin (John 3:18). The …
The Lord’s work requires the generous and wholehearted support of God’s people (1 Chronicles 29:9). It needs more than human enthusiasm. We need the presence of the Lord. This is what the Lord promises to us: “The Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you before all the work on …
Continue reading The Lord’s Work Needs More Than Human Enthusiasm.
Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?... If I perish, I perish (Esther 4:14,16). We read about Esther, and we think about Jesus. "When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son" (Galatians 4:4). "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (14): There is a green hill far away.
How are we to live our life? Where do we go to get an answer to a question like this? Are we to take our question to the scientists? Will they have an answer for us? However much we may learn from science, we will not get an answer to the question: "How are we …
Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us! (Nehemiah 4:20). Where the gospel of Jesus Christ is being faithfully preached and the Word of God is being faithfully taught, that's where we are to be. That's where the blessing is to be found, where Christ is being lifted …
Continue reading Responding to God’s Word (13): Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
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But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
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Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:10
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Luke 9:23-24 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
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