BAM

"Why this waste? " [Matthew 26:8(NIV)]
2024-09-08
“Why this waste? “. The disciples confused hoarding with saving, and using with wasting, when they made this unkind remark about the woman who poured her flask of costly fragrant oil upon their Master.
What use is the most treasured and valuable possession stored away? Its only real use is that when the opportunity arises someone may benefit from it.
This is just what this woman did. She saved what she had until she could give it to Jesus. How many of us are doing the same?
What you have should be given to the Lord at the first opportunity, not the last. That applies to the cup of cold water in His Name, as well as the investment of the pound He has given you.

"too wonderful" [Psalm 139:6]
2024-09-09
“too wonderful”. The Psalmist cannot find words that adequately describe the Lord and what He has done for him. First, he tries to describe how the Lord knows all about him. Then he shows us how impossible it is to flee from the Lord – He is in the uttermost parts of sea and earth, in the deepest corners of hell and darkness.
He shows how this great God extends His loving care and all these make him resolve he will praise the Lord.
And how much more should we praise the Lord! Called to repent and believe the gospel to receive the assurance of salvation; holding the precious promise of Jesus that He is with us always. Too wonderful, but enough to fill our hearts with thanks and praise!

"I am better off dead than alive" [Jonah 4:3(GNB)]
2024-09-10
“I am better off dead than alive”. Have you ever heard such nonsense? – and from a prophet of the Lord, too! Yet Jonah has not been the last to adopt this attitude.
He, like many others since, did not get his own way in the path God had chosen for him and so became unhappy and adopted this peevish attitude. He would have been better off acknowledging God’s goodness in sparing the inhabitants of Nineveh when they repented and turned to the Lord.
Notwithstanding, besides being given a second chance to go and preach to Nineveh, the story of Jonah’s three days in the belly of the great fish became a prophetic sign of the three days Jesus was to be in the grave.

"now they have no excuse for their sin" [John 15:22(NIV)]
2024-09-11
“now they have no excuse for their sin”. Modern translations use the word ‘excuse’ for cloak or covering. Jesus is teaching that His coming swept away any excuse man felt he was able to make for his sin.
There is no excuse for the sinner continuing that way because Jesus’ blood cleanses from all sin.
There is no excuse to continue in sin because Jesus is able to prevent you from falling.
None can say he or she is too weak when Christ promises to fill with His strength. None can claim ignorance of the way when Jesus has gone before.
If there is then no place we can hide from the all seeing eye of the Lord Jesus, the obvious thing to do is to surrender to His claims and make Jesus Lord indeed.

"and increasing in the knowledge of God" [Colossians 1:10]
2024-09-12
“and increasing in the knowledge of God”. The Christian life is a progression and ever moving forward. Not least in this advance is an increase in the knowledge of God.
The knowledge of God is the greatest of sciences. Those seeking after God are ever discovering new areas: their path is strewn with blessing at each turn of life’s road. God is concerned with the finest details of a man’s life. To realise this is but the beginning of untold reward – that the God of all the earth is concerned about ‘me’!
To know that God loves me is like an announcement marking the beginning of a quest which will continue right into eternity.
Increasing in the knowledge of God may begin now: it will be full of blessing, and its blessing will never end.

"they came to Elim" [Exodus 15:27]
2024-09-13
“they came to Elim”. The place called Elim to which the children of Israel came shortly after they left Egypt in what was to be 40 years’ wandering in the desert speaks of
1. refreshment and never ending supply – there were twelve springs of water
2. peace and safety – seventy palm trees provided cool shelter beneath a hot sun.
3. a place where one may rest and lie down in safety – they camped there.
Thank God there are still ‘Elims’ in the Christian’s migration through the deserts of this world. They are to be met with soon after the journey begins – as often as they are needed, in fact – strategically placed there by the Lord Who has gone ahead. Be sure you avail yourself of them.

"your Father knows what you need before you ask him" [Matthew 6:8(NIV)]
2024-09-14
rehearse the matter before Him when you come in prayer. Neither does it mean that our heavenly Father will give us what we need without having to ask Him. In fact the New Testament clearly states that we do not receive because we do not ask.
It does mean that there is something more important than an accurate description or our providing full details.
The prerequisite for intercessory prayer is that there shall be nothing between the petitioner and his heavenly Father and that he shall ask in faith.
Once these conditions are fulfilled prayer can become communion and true fellowship is established between heavenly Father and His child.[/sayit]

"in him we live, and move, and have our being" [Acts 17:28]
2024-09-15
“in him we live, and move, and have our being”. Our every breath is given by Him!
Many would like to pursue a course through life independent of Him. Yet by saying they do not believe He exists in no way do they remove the truth of their dependence upon Him.
The knowledge that He is there can never be far beneath the surface of their conscience. We see this as they cry out to Him when in extreme danger and blame Him when things go wrong for them.
That they are far from Him is all the more reason why they should seek Him.
The God who upholds all things also loves us and expressed that love in the sending of His Son to atone for our sin. He is near us to bless us: let us reach out and touch Him today.

"in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion" [Psalm 27:5]
2024-09-16
“in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion”. In the world of sport, “pavilion” is associated with the field of play. Life can be likened to a field of play and can be very tough for the players. The more rough the game, the more the player appreciates the pavilion to which he can retire for rest and respite.
Followers of Jesus should know there is a pavilion to which they may retire. It is not a place to stay, for they must soon go out onto the field of life again, but it is a very real and safe place that the Lord provides for the time of trouble.
And every believer in the Lord Jesus should know the access route to this place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God and make use of the refreshment found there.

"when Jesus saw great multitudes" [Matthew 8:18]
2024-09-17
“when Jesus saw great multitudes”. Many measure success according to the size of the multitude. But the motive behind the assembling of the great multitude on this occasion is important.
In the previous verse we read that Jesus had healed all who came to Him. When He saw the crowd increasing in number He gave instruction to depart to the other side of the lake. The multitude gathered for what they could get. As so easily happens, it was healing and not Jesus they wanted.
Come with the multitude – many do. Yet realise you must meet with Jesus personally and individually. It is as an individual you confess your sin and cry for forgiveness: as an individual you receive His gift of salvation and His blessing in your life.

"As the offering began, singing to the Lord began" [II Chronicles 29:27(NIV)]
2024-09-18
“As the offering began, singing to the Lord began”. These words describe the time when Hezekiah restored the temple and its offices that had fallen into disrepair during the reign of Ahaz. There was a personal sanctifying of the Levites and a thorough cleansing of the temple building and the offerings ordained by God began again.
This commenced with the burnt offering and included the sin offering and when this happened singing was again heard in the temple courts. When we lose our song, the reason is usually associated with spiritual decline and our neglect of the reading and practice of God’s Word.
When struck silent for whatever cause, return to the Lord, offer yourself afresh to Him and let the joy of salvation issue forth as a song of praise.

"you, O Lord my God, brought me back from the depths alive" [Jonah 2:6(GNB)]
2024-09-19
“you, O Lord my God, brought me back from the depths alive”. Jonah’s experience is a sign of Jesus’ resurrection from the grave – back from the depths to newness of life. It is also a picture of salvation – man has sunk to the depths of despair for his sin and rebellion but God loved the world so much that he gave His Son to bring back to Himself those who would believe.
Many had an experience in their Christian life when they wondered where their disobedience had led them and then from the depths of despair at their failure the Lord restored them. Note that Jonah bears testimony to God’s goodness. It was the Lord who saved him. The Lord has done great things for us and though not so dramatic as Jonah’s, we all have cause to thank Him today.

"out of her poverty" [Mark 12:44(NIV)]
2024-09-20
“out of her poverty”. You are never so poor that you have nothing to give to the Lord. This lady proves this to be true. It can be easy to say that if only we had more we would give more to God. The reality is that we’d probably be like the rich people who put large amounts in, but kept larger amounts for themselves. How we use the little we have now will determine how much the Lord gives us responsibility for later on.
Giving to the Lord is not about what you haven’t got, but about giving what you have. Christ was quick to point out that this lady gave more than all the others, because she gave all she had. You may have nothing more than yourself, but that’s enough for Jesus. Give him yourself afresh today and let him have everything besides.

"I have placed my cause in your hands" [Jeremiah 20:12(GNB)]
2024-09-21
“I have placed my cause in your hands”. Jeremiah has been called the weeping prophet but could equally well be described as suffering and brave!
He was ridiculed and scorned so much because he spoke God’s message to the people, that at one point he said he was going to cease. But God’s message was like a fire burning within him and he could not keep quiet.
The authorities tried to trick him and trap him and even his close friends waited for his downfall. But Jeremiah had found the secret of survival and of ultimate success – placing the matter in the Lord’s hands. He knew that the Lord was on his side and that those who persecuted him would fall.
All who take their stand for the Lord and His truth today can know the same.

"David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him" [I Samuel 17:48(NIV)]
2024-09-22
“David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him”. Some possible reasons why David ran to kill the giant, Goliath:
1. He wanted to get on with what God had given him to do.
2. He knew the sooner that job was done the sooner the Lord would be glorified and the enemies put to flight.
3. The forces of evil had prevailed long enough.
4. He did not want to lose his opportunity.
5. He set an example for all to follow.
David belonged to the company who got things done. He ascertained what God wanted him to do with his life, beginning when he was a shepherd boy and a lion and a bear attacked the flock. He assumed he was put there to defend the flock and gave God the glory when he succeeded. Take a leaf out of his book.

"a reason of the hope that is within you" [I Peter 3:15]
2024-09-23
“a reason of the hope that is within you”. That hope is of eternal life and salvation through faith in Jesus and the reason for that hope you should be ready and prepared to give to any who ask you.
In so many cases we are afraid to testify to our faith when in a hostile environment. And even when we do receive that boldness that is promised through the power of the Holy Spirit it can happen that we do not grasp the opportunity.
The Christian has not followed cunningly devised fables neither is his assurance of salvation an illusion. There are earnest seekers who want to know what it is the Christian has and they will occasionally ask.
Let your light shine and you be ready to give an explanation about its brightness.

"the half of my goods I give to the poor" [Luke 19:8]
2024-09-24
“the half of my goods I give to the poor”. Zacchaeus had obviously heard about Jesus but he had not had a personal encounter. He wanted to see Jesus and did so from the branches of the tree he climbed. Now Jesus was going to his house: it was to be life-changing. Once in the home Zacchaeus promised to make a massive deposit of half his goods in the bank of heaven. There are many ways of helping the poor – not just giving them goods. Showing love and compassion, extending a listening ear and a helping hand are two more.
Yet note that Zacchaeus made this announcement to Jesus. It was his love response to Jesus. We all do well to examine our response today. It will take on many forms and in some cases it will call for a restoration of our first love.

"they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away" [II Samuel 5:21(RAV)]
2024-09-25
“they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away”. They ‘burned them’ as the AV says. Some things that are left to you are a snare and a hinderance and this is the best treatment to give them. Anything that detracts you from doing God’s will is not worth storage space. David ‘inherited’ the idols of the Philistines he had just conquered. He very wisely took them away. The most innocent things can become idols when they get between a man and the Lord. It is not so much what it is as the place it occupies.
The Lord has created a throne in the heart which He should occupy. If He is denied that rightful place, whatever else is there becomes idol.

"Sing unto the Lord a new song" [Isaiah 42:10]
2024-09-26
“Sing unto the Lord a new song”. You can only do this when you have a new heart, for the song of the Lord is known only by the children of the Lord. It is the song of the forgiven sinner.
The song of praise for what the Lord has done is a refrain known only to the redeemed of the Lord. It was that heaven should be filled with choristers who had washed their garments in His blood that Jesus gave His life.
It is when the garment of praise takes the place of the spirit of heaviness that a new song arises from the heart.
The Holy Spirit blends every voice in perfect harmony: it is a peal of praise to the Lord who loves His people.
Repent and believe the gospel: receive His gift of eternal life and sing a new song unto the Lord.

"The woman said to him, 'I know the Messiah is coming' " [John 4:25(RAV)]
2024-09-27
“The woman said to him, ‘I know the Messiah is coming’ “. Until she met Jesus, the woman in Samaria lived in a ‘one day it will happen’ world. Many are like her today. She knew the Messiah was coming, but it seemed too far ahead to really affect her. And the very One to Whom she addressed these remarks was the Messiah Himself!
Are you living in the same frame of mind today? You believe that a lot of things are going to happen but not to you nor in your lifetime. Jesus is not only coming again, He is here now. His Second Coming will be for those who have met Him already. To know God’s blessing in greater measure might be only a dream; to move into a greater sphere of service seem impossible. Yet if you will reach out in faith to the Lord your dream can become a reality.

"we are not carrying on a worldly war" [II Corinthians 10:3(RSV)]
2024-09-28
“we are not carrying on a worldly war”. But we are fighting, all the same. The Christian wrestles with principalities and spiritual forces of evil that are attacking his own life and also hindering the success of his testimony affecting the lives of others.
Those who hold there is nothing to being a Christian could not be more wrong. A nominal Christian might easily merge into whatever company he finds himself. The true Christian is in the thick of the conflict between good and evil. In the battles he fights and the skirmishes he experiences, eternal issues are at stake.
So the armour he wears, though invisible, is very important. Above all he must keep his eye fixed in faith upon his Leader. It’s a spiritual warfare and heavenly records are at stake. There can be no let up.

"The spirit of Elijah is resting upon Elisha" [II Kings 2:15(NIV)]
2024-09-29
“The spirit of Elijah is resting upon Elisha”. This was how the company of the prophets described the transference of power from one to the other when Elijah was taken up into heaven.
These words tell us that God has His chosen vessels ready to fill every vacancy that occurs when a servant of the Lord is called home to glory.
In fact, all who receive the Lord as Saviour are born of the Spirit and are promised the power of the Spirit that will enable them to fill out the role or mantle that falls upon them.
It does not matter how great the standard someone may have set before you, God will give you all you need to do as much and sometimes more than those who have gone before.

"your sorrow shall be turned into joy" [John 16:20]
2024-09-30
“your sorrow shall be turned into joy”. Jesus does not promise His followers exemption from sorrow. He does promise that whatever sorrow they experience will be turned into joy.
It is a mistake to assume that if you walked closer to the Lord you would have no cause for sorrow: likewise it is wrong to think that it is God’s will to lift you out of all difficulties and stresses. The Christian is sometimes called to bear more than the average weight of sorrow.
Remember Jesus’ sorrow as he wept over Jerusalem.
If the Children of Israel were bowed down with grief before the Lord led them out of Egypt, it should come as no surprise for the child of God today to feel the same.
But you can see an end to your sorrow – it will be turned to joy.

"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers" [Philemon 4(NIV)]
2024-10-01
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers”. It is something to treasure when thoughts of a friend bring a sense of gratitude in your heart. When this happens, it is likely that this gratitude causes you to pray for God’s blessing to be upon that friend. So it was when Paul thought about Philemon – he thanked God for him.
The Christian cannot be isolated. He or she is part of the Body of Christ, the true family of the Lord. And as in any good family, we must help one another. We cannot all do everything, but between us we must get everything done.
It is as we show special kindness, go the extra mile, forgive those that wrong us, that a bond of loving gratitude is forged. Let gratitude form the foundation for a lifetime’s fellowship and friendship in the Lord.

"many women were there" [Matthew 27:55]
2024-10-02
“many women were there”. Women played an important part in the Gospel narrative. The place of women in society may have changed but the outstanding fact drawn from our text today is that many women were there when there were few, if any, of the twelve disciples. And it may well have been that these devoted women disciples were the only women there – except perhaps servant girls like the one that accused Peter.
These women were not just by-standers, idle and inquisitive: they were followers of Jesus who recognised their calling to minister to the needs of Jesus and His disciples. They were sympathizing, supporting, praying and weeping. That is why the Gospel writer mentions them. Not there to make the number up! Their kind is needed in the church today.

"Sing your song of praise" [Jeremiah 31:7(GNB)]
2024-10-03
“Sing your song of praise”. The Jew in the Old Testament and the Christian in the New have a song of praise on their lips. This song uplifts and magnifies the Lord our God. If the Lord loved us enough to die to save us we can be sure that love will extend to keeping us – this is cause for our continual praise. Giving our life to Him is the greatest thing we could do: letting Him lead and guide is the recipe for true happiness – it is worth singing out your praise to the Lord. People all around you or in the darkness of fear and superstition need to hear your song of praise and joy.
Jesus said, when they criticised the crowds for praising Him, that if they were silent the very stones would cry out!
Let it be that whatever else folk pick up from you today it will be your song of joy and praise to the Lord.

"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord" [Psalm 77:2]
2024-10-04
“In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord”. One of the good things about trouble is that it makes a man turn to the Lord. Often the deeper the trouble the more likely we will turn to find Him. As long as a man thinks there is some chance he can get himself out of the mess he’s in, the more likely he is not to trust wholly upon God.
The Lord is only really known to those who seek Him. In Him these find true comfort and condolence.
Is it any surprise that He does not always immediately remedy the situation when delay on His part results in our prolonged discourse and communion with Him? If your day of trouble has introduced you to One who is both helper and solace in One Person, you’ll not be quick to complain at the calamity that befell you.

"the Lord had blessed him in every way" [Genesis 24:1(NIV)]
2024-10-05
“the Lord had blessed him in every way”. All who tread in the footsteps of faithful Abraham should have this testimony. God blesses us more than we can tell, for so many of His benefits go unnoticed, and are certainly more than we deserve. We need to recognise more of God’s blessings and to thank Him for them.
The way may get harder and the path steeper. New difficulties and obstacles may lie ahead that will call for faith and determination based on our past experience. Abraham’s need at this time was to trust God to provide the wife of His choosing for his son Isaac. The story of Abraham’s servant going forth and finding Rebekah should be an encouragement to all who step out in faith, for it was a continuation of the past blessing Abraham recognised.

"rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" [Acts 14:17]
2024-10-06
“rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”. Rain from heaven falls upon our earth as a blessing from God. Those who have least appreciate this most. Yet God’s blessings are not confined to physical pleasure. Jesus is the bread of life, those who come to Him do not hunger for anything more. He is the water of life, those who drink of Him do not thirst for other things.
Paul and Barnabas, speaking to those at Lystra who heard the gospel for the first time, spoke of God’s temporal blessing to turn away attention from themselves and turn them to the Lord.
Hearts filled with food and gladness need to be lifted up in praise to the Lord. Certainly, times of drought and sorrow fall upon us but let this never be because we failed to count and give thanks for our blessings!

"The man ... had no idea who it was" [John 5:13(NIV)]
2024-10-07
“The man … had no idea who it was”. We find it surprising that the man healed after 38 years suffering had no idea who had healed him. Yet the Lord is working in so many lives and they do not know it!
More of us need to set about finding what God is doing in our case. Too many go through life floating with the tide, albeit an evangelical one, and with no idea what God has done and is doing with them. It was when the man found out who it was that had healed him that the full purpose of the whole miracle became clear.
When you know the Lord is doing something, your family, friends and those who know you will know it, too.
Only when the man found who it was that healed did it have an impact for lasting good. Not merely an idea, but knowing Jesus as Saviour and Lord is what is needed.
