"What has happened to all your joy? " [Galatians 4:15(RAV)]
2023-11-04
“What has happened to all your joy? “. One way to judge your walk with the Lord is how much joy in the Lord you have. This is not superficial but a deep joy that derives its source from the peace He gives.
It is joy that is there in the midst of sorrow. Turbulence, persecution and trouble cannot deprive you of it.
Some of the Galatian believers lost their joy because they embraced erroneous teaching. They listened to those who taught them to observe ceremonies and ordinances for their salvation. And Paul felt he had wasted his efforts on them.
All that is done in unbelief is sin and sin deprives the believer of his joy. The devil would turn the believer’s freedom into bondage again and keeping the law instead of keeping the faith. Keep close to the Lord and you will keep the joy of the Lord as your strength.

"Deborah, Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel" [Genesis 35:8]
2023-11-05
“Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel”. This is the first of two Deborahs in the Bible, the second being a prophetess and judge in Israel. We are only told of the first when she died though she must have made a deep impression upon the life of Rebekah and the household of Isaac. Probably the nurse who accompanied Rebekah when she left home in Mesopotamia to be Isaac’s wife and live in Canaan, she had a long and faithful service. That she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak indicates the esteem in which she was held. It may be that this single reference to Deborah by name is there to remind us that we all can serve the Lord by our work for those He has placed over us.
“Bethel” means “the house of God” and that is where we find our eternal resting place.

"they went out, and preached that men should repent" [Mark 6:12]
2023-11-06
“they went out, and preached that men should repent”. “Repent” was the first point in Jesus’ preaching and He told His disciples to make theirs the same. It is an essential that can easily get omitted. Men must turn from their way to God’s way if they would find the Lord.
Repentance is stimulated by conviction. No need to argue the case, when a man is convicted he must repent if he would be saved. The disciples were not told to preach repentance to some, but to all men. Good people are not good enough or Jesus would not have needed to come and save us.
Trying hard to reform and to believe and do good things is not the first step. The first is to repent, the second to believe the gospel. Be careful that the message you convey does not avoid the first step.

"the exceeding riches of his grace" [Ephesians 2:7]
2023-11-07
“the exceeding riches of his grace”. These riches will never be exhausted. Grace is both unmerited and freely given. God’s riches exceed our expectation and then are more wonderful than we could ever have imagined. They reached their highest point when Jesus gave Himself for the redemption of those who would believe.
The riches of His grace in salvation are as fresh and as free today as when they were forged in Christ’s obedience to His Father’s will. Come to Christ today for salvation and it is as real as if you received the assurance of the dying thief that repented. Go out and tell in obedience to His call or take up your cross and follow Him and it could be as though you were in the days of the Acts of the Apostles. The riches of His grace exceed and excel.

"we were like those who dreamed" [Psalm 126:1(NIV)]
2023-11-08
“we were like those who dreamed”. This sentiment can be the experience of all who trust the Lord.
The Lord frees the captive, sets the solitary in families, turns sadness to joy and makes the lame to leap and dance.
All such achievements are ‘daydreams’ until the Lord graciously makes them a reality.
Once there seemed no end to the tunnel: darkness enveloped the way continually. One problem followed another: There was no refuge to be found and no respite was to be felt. Then the Lord brought back the captives. He filled mouths with laughter and tongues proclaimed songs of joy. The whole outlook changed, even bystanders remarked on what the Lord was doing. The living Lord Jesus makes the wildest dream of blessing a present reality.

"What thing is this? " [Mark 1:27]
2023-11-09
“What thing is this? “. When Jesus stood to speak in the synagogue in Capernaum and rebuked the evil spirit in a man and healed him, the people wondered what had hit them!
They asked what new doctrine He preached, for the authority with which He spoke and acted was unprecedented. This was no mere prophet. Soon Jesus’ authority was to be ratified by His passion and death and the new life in Christ be proclaimed far and wide. Men today are still asking “What thing is this?” when the message reaches them for the first time. It is the newest thing you will ever know; will never be out-dated or replaced and as His Second Advent draws near and new testimonies reach our ears, it is better than ever.

"But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? " [II Chronicles 6:18(RAV)]
2023-11-10
“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? “. Solomon wondered how God, who made the Universe and all that is in it, could dwell in the temple He had built. Many do think that God set things in motion and then left His laws to work themselves out. (Though it is interesting to note that many, if not all, of these people will call to God when in deep trouble). We would still be wondering today but for the glorious fact of the Incarnation when God in Christ became man and lived among us.
We know that God can dwell with men, for since Jesus returned to heaven having purchased our salvation and sent the Holy Spirit, God dwells in the hearts of those who call upon Him in true repentance and faith. The kingdom of God is within the hearts of Jesus’ disciples.

"who comforts us in all our tribulation" [II Corinthians 1:4(RAV)]
2023-11-11
“who comforts us in all our tribulation”. There is no trouble that will befall you but God is ready to comfort you and get you through it. No burden need crush you, no sorrow paralyse you and no persecution make you give up if it is the God of all comfort who is with you.
Jesus promised to be with His disciples to the end of the age: this is through the ministration of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus described as “The Comforter”. He lifts you when you’re down: He encourages you when disheartened and leads you to safety when in danger. It is not a case of whether God can help you but whether you will put yourself in His hands. This is what trust is.
It is faith in God that brings comfort to the troubled soul.

"And the Lord was with Joseph" [Genesis 39:2]
2023-11-12
“And the Lord was with Joseph”. We are not told when Joseph was aware of this. It is unlikely he felt this when his brothers set upon him and put him in a pit, then sold him to the Midianite merchants, Ishmeelites, for twenty pieces of silver and he then was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah in Egypt.
In fact, it was others, his master in particular, who noted that whatever he did prospered. No doubt Joseph realised that God was preserving his life as he later told his brethren when they came down to Egypt during his premiership.
The Lord with Joseph did not mean he was exempt from sorrow, disappointment, intrigue and injustice. It did mean that he recognised God was there and it is the same today with those who are the children of God.

"a woman in the crowd called out" [Luke 11:27(NIV)]
2023-11-13
“a woman in the crowd called out”. This Teacher was so wonderful that this woman called out “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” No doubt many could say “Amen” to that.
Everybody learned from this woman’s interjection. We are told very little about the years when Mary nursed and mothered Jesus, but realise she must have made many sacrifices as would any loving mother.
Jesus took the opportunity to tell us of those who are more blessed – those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
What use Mary bringing up her son in His tender years, if no-one believes the message He preached?
See what a great job Mary the mother of Jesus did, and many other servants of the Lord, but be sure to hear the voice of Jesus speaking to you and obey Him!

"Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt" [Genesis 42:1]
2023-11-14
“Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt”. Just as Jacob did not know why famine struck the land of Canaan, but later found it in God’s purpose, so there is a purpose in every difficulty and dryness that besets us.
God has His hand upon every turn in life’s way for each one of His children. The Lord knows what is hidden to us. Jacob thought Joseph was dead when in fact he was premier of Egypt.
Jacob did not want to go down to Egypt but when he saw there was corn there he turned to it to assuage his pangs of hunger. God may lead you in a path you would not choose to go, but if He is leading you, there is nothing to fear and blessing at the end of the way. Realise that God sometimes directs through circumstances and once you are certain it is the Lord, go for it!

"he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God" [Acts 9:20]
2023-11-15
“he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God”. Saul, later called Paul, had a complete turn around when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Before he preached negatively – that he thought it right to do many things against Christ and His followers. Now he preached positively – that Christ is the Son of God.
That Jesus is the Son of God is the very kernel of truth and the starting point from which other truths develop. It denotes the Incarnation in the virgin birth: it validates all the claims Jesus made in His teaching. It explains the miracles when He stilled the storm, walked on the water and when demons fled before Him. It provides assurance of salvation, the power of the Holy Spirit to live a godly life and the hope of the resurrection. This and everything else because Jesus is the Son of God.

"pray for those who persecute you" [Matthew 5:44(NIV)]
2023-11-16
“pray for those who persecute you”. This should not be merely that they may cease the opposition, our prayer should be that persecutors will turn into proclaimers – telling what God has done for them and how they have been changed after meeting with the Lord. It is very likely that many were praying in Damascus for Saul of Tarsus whom they heard was coming to imprison them.
God works in answer to prayer: He tells us that we often do not receive because we do not ask. We do not know who prayed for Saul but can be assured that there were those who did – not just for themselves but for their persecutors.
Here their prayers were answered! Saul did a right about turn after his Damascus Road experience. He immediately began to preach the One whom he persecuted as the “Son of God”. It’s worth praying for the persecutors.

"God our Saviour" [I Timothy 2:3]
2023-11-17
“God our Saviour”. The most wonderful revelation about God is that He became our Saviour. God is far greater than we can picture or imagine, yet the Bible says that He is not far from any one of us. To save us He needed to stoop right down to where we were. Love was the motivating force that made Him do this – “God loved the world so much” the Bible says.
After His atoning death, Jesus descended into hell and preached to the spirits in prison that none need perish but all may be saved if they will believe. Better than realising He is God our Saviour is to be able to say, “God who saved me”.
He did not save Himself, but died for us that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

"To whom then will you liken God? " [Isaiah 40:18(RAV)]
2023-11-18
“To whom then will you liken God? “. Any who would do justice to the answer should read the ensuing verses written by the prophet Isaiah in this chapter.
They are a salient reminder to those who consider God to be as a man, and a disinterested one at that.
God will not be manipulated and cannot be hoodwinked. He sees through your elaborate façade even when you believe your own imaginations. Furthermore, He cannot be ignored – or if you do so it is at your peril.
He is a gracious and loving heavenly Father seeking not the death of any sinner. His love is best expressed in the gift of His Son.
He pours strength into all who will recognise their need and turn to Him for help and salvation.

"Hear him! " [Matthew 17:5(RAV)]
2023-11-19
“Hear him! “. God Who gave His only Son to save the world is anxious that men and women in all generations should hear and give heed to what He says.
The words of Jesus uttered on the hills of Palestine have been carefully preserved in the four Gospels and their message carried out by His followers everywhere. Have they reached you?
Jesus’ words were spoken in a way that the common man could understand. Do you appreciate what Jesus meant?
His words were with power – a factor that even His enemies confessed distinguished Him from all others. None of that power has been lost. Have you experienced it in your life? You no doubt know He said something, but did you hear what He said?

"they heard the voice of the Lord God" [Genesis 3:8]
2023-11-20
“they heard the voice of the Lord God”. God called Adam and Eve before He came down to walk with them in the Garden of Eden. And even when they had disobeyed they heard his voice calling.
He still calls today. Though God is hidden to our eye, His voice may still be heard. That voice reaches the heart of man in a variety of ways – conscience, calamity, great upheaval, fear, loss and so on. Sometimes hearing only follows much listening. At others it comes clearly and unexpectedly.
While still in Eden, man could not ignore that voice any more than he could hide from God’s presence.
Today man can ignore it and many do. But it is a suicidal path with destruction its end. Happiest are those who hear, acknowledge and await further instructions.

"But we see Jesus" [Hebrews 2:9]
2023-11-21
“But we see Jesus”. Many things in life we cannot see and many things we can see we cannot understand. The reason why things are as they are baffles the mind of man. As the Apostle Paul wrote, ‘We see through a glass darkly’.
If left like this, it would present a forlorn picture. But there is One Who changes things completely. It is Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Sight of Him can bring hope to the hopeless, joy to the sorrowing and even life to the dead.
Seeing Jesus and following Him is knowing where you’re going. He is Shepherd, Saviour, Lord and Master in one. He reveals the heart of God to the mind of man. Peace, joy and comfort follow when it’s Jesus you see.

"if he lose one" [Luke 15:4]
2023-11-22
“if he lose one”. The loss was only temporary: all the shepherd’s energy and resources were concentrated upon finding the lost lamb.
In another Gospel Jesus prayed to His Father that none of those given to Him had been lost. So we see that the ‘search and find’ operations mounted for those that strayed had been successful. This has ever remained the same.
When it appears that a true child of God has begun to stray, or has lost its way, the rescue machinery of heaven focuses upon that individual.
It is when your feet begin to slip that you feel the grip of the Lord tighten and when you collapse that you feel His arms beneath you.
‘If he lose one’ sets heaven’s breakdown service in operation.

"Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen" [Psalm 89:52]
2023-11-23
“Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen”. This is the exultant conclusion to a psalm of praise. It is a long psalm and covers much ground and concludes as though the Psalmist is saying that we should go on praising Him for ever. So we should!
The praising heart has a contented life, one that recognises God’s hand is in control and that all things are working to fulfil His eternal purpose. Blessing the Lord is adding your contribution, small though it may seem, to the great volume of praise that ascends to heaven. It ensures you breathe the atmosphere of heaven and are in tune with its melody.
The double “Amen” suggests that we cannot emphasise this enough. It is asking all who hear to join in. Not one “Amen” but a never-ending cycle of blessing the Lord.

"she stood in the doorway" [II Kings 4:15(RAV)]
2023-11-24
“she stood in the doorway”. Did this Shunammite woman fill the doorway, waiting to receive what she needed? Was she like Jacob who wrestled with the angel and at daybreak when the angel wanted to depart, would not let him go until he blessed him.
She was a dominant character having got her husband to build on a room for the prophet Elisha but she had great sorrow of heart because she was childless. When Elisha called her to ask what he could do for her she stood in the doorway. Neither in nor out, she wanted to know what God’s promise was for her.
Today there are some standing in the doorway, waiting to hear what God would say to them. If you know such, don’t wait for someone else to tell them. You speak out.

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven" [John 6:51]
2023-11-25
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven”. The words of Jesus are more than food for thought, they are food for the hungry souls of men. In His parables we see the Creator taking objects from His creation to explain the truths of the Kingdom.
Gaze at the miracles of Jesus and be convinced that this is the Son of God living and moving among His People. But until and unless you receive the Lord Himself you have not tasted of the Living Bread. It is when the soul of a man or woman feeds upon the Saviour – not merely what he said or did – that heaven itself enters the soul.
To experience His cleansing, regenerating and commissioning power makes for the cry ‘Evermore feed our souls with this Bread!’

"don't show favouritism" [James 2:1(RAV)]
2023-11-26
“don’t show favouritism”. A word of warning and encouragement. Favouritism comes in all shapes and guises. How easily we show it and receive it without noticing, but how quick we are to notice when others are involved or we are excluded. Favouritism shown to Joseph resulted in envy and jealousy amongst his brothers. Favouritism sought by James and John seriously upset the rest of the disciples. Favouritism will always have negative consequences which is why James warns us against it. It is the way of the world and not of God’s people. It is of the old nature and must be checked. The encouragement is to be impartial. Jesus encouraged us to deliberately show kindness to those who have no influence or high position and so cannot repay us. A blessing is promised.

"a well-to-do woman" [II Kings 4:8(NIV)]
2023-11-27
“a well-to-do woman”. Elisha was a frequent and welcome guest, so much so that this lady had a room specially made for him as his own, whenever he came by. Her hospitality and generosity is an example to us all. Yet there is much more to this lady. As her story unfolds we see a determination and a faith that set her apart. This lady did not stand on ceremony. One pictures her rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in. She was a woman of action and resolve who didn’t seek favours because of her wealth. Her humility and honesty are refreshing and she stands as a beacon in the Old Testament. Whatever you have, give it back to the Lord. Be generous, be humble and the Lord will bless you and make you a blessing to others.

"the other disciples came in a little ship" [John 21:8]
2023-11-28
“the other disciples came in a little ship”. A triple denial, remorseful weeping and subsequent restoration had not altered Peter’s position as leader.
But the other disciples performed an important, albeit less spectacular role. This describes the lot of most of us. Yet dragging the net to land full of fishes was very important.
Your ship (vessel) may look small alongside some of the mighty cruisers that pass from time to time. But if it’s in dragging the net to shore in which you’re engaged, it is a mighty operation.
Don’t be anxious about getting a larger and better vessel – to usefully fill the one you’ve got is of prime importance.
A little ship sailing for God is infinitely better than a liner cruising with the Devil.

"his going forth is sure as the dawn" [Hosea 6:3(RSV)]
2023-11-29
“his going forth is sure as the dawn”. The Lord is ready for the new day before you are. He knows just what the day holds for you before dawn breaks or ever you are roused from your night’s rest. He ensures that the sun that floods the other side of the earth will soon give its light to you. You decide what you do with the day.
The prophet’s plea to Israel was that they should return to the Lord saying, “If He has torn, He will heal.”
Use the day to move forward in life. Let one day older mean one day nearer Him. The prophet’s promise to Israel is certainly God’s promise to us. He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.
What you do for the Lord in the day will not be in vain. The dawn that is sure holds a blessing that is special – prepared for you today by the Lord.

"Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you" [I Chronicles 17:2(RAV)]
2023-11-30
“Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you”. King David sat meditating in his palace. He mused upon God’s goodness to him and as he looked around the cedar panelling, he recalled the sheep-fold that had been his home in his earlier years.
Then the idea struck him to build a house for the Lord in place of the tent Tabernacle. That his spiritual advisor, Nathan the prophet was visiting him at the time enabled him to get the go-ahead from the Lord. Though this was later confined to collecting materials, it is true to say that Solomon’s Temple was David’s inspired idea.
David’s meditation was on the Lord. It is when meditation is upon Him that lasting blessing comes from the exercise.

"Hallelujah" [Revelation 19:1(NIV)]
2023-12-01
“Hallelujah”. The note of praise that is heard when we see the Lord high and exalted upon the Throne.
The word that escapes our lips as we experience the saving, cleansing, keeping power of the Lord Jesus.
It is the blessed refrain of those who ask in faith for the good gifts that a loving heavenly Father delights to give His children. We say it when someone else is blessed – when a soul is saved or a backslider restored – others say it when they see us blessed.
It is breathed under the anointing of the Holy Spirit – a word that frees the tongues of the Lord’s People.
Recognisable in every language it is ascending from hearts all over the earth. It is heaven’s password – ‘Hallelujah!’

"it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light" [Zechariah 14:7]
2023-12-02
“it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light”. This promise does not apply to the ungodly man who has followed his own desires all his days – his evenings must be very dark.
It is the man for whom evening time brings its special beauty and comfort. It describes the way a soul can gain respite and peace when the storm is passed.
Life has its thunder clouds and storms for us all. We become distressed, depressed and wounded as we struggle to gain a better position. Then we realise that the Lord is in control, that all these matters worrying us are in His hand. The pieces of the puzzle fit together. Faith takes over from fear. We become a fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy regarding Israel – at evening we find it is light.

"Christ's love compels us" [II Corinthians 5:14(NIV)]
2023-12-04
“Christ’s love compels us”. This explains why Saul of Tarsus was converted to Christ – it is the reason why men and women all down the years have been doing the same.
Paul came into contact with Christ’s love on the Damascus Road, when he discovered that the One Whom he was persecuting loved him and graciously revealed Himself to him.
When he asked the Lord what He wanted him to do, it was revealed to him that he would have to suffer in his appointment as ‘Ambassador to the Gentiles’. But he didn’t flinch or ‘chicken out’. The inspiration he received at his conversion was enough to send him anywhere.
Christ’s love compelled him to throw away lesser crowns to gain a greater. It will do the same for us.
