"(the man) who finds great delight in his commands" [Psalm 112:1(NIV)]
2025-02-18
“(the man) who finds great delight in his commands”. Many find God’s commands irksome to do if they attempt them at all. The prevailing wind in so many cases is to go and say and think as we will. Men try to show that life can be lived without bothering God or finding what He desires of them.
They seem to prosper, they “enjoy life to the full” as they would say and often live long and escape many of the traps into which others fall.
Yet those who do not heed God’s commands never have God’s blessing. It is the blessing of the Lord that makes a person really rich: God’s blessing brings joy, never sorrow, though the path of the just may be arduous and difficult. The secret about keeping the blessing is obedience to the will of the Lord at all times.

"she came behind him" [Mark 5:27(RAV)]
2025-02-19
“she came behind him”. Why did this woman come behind Jesus. Could it be because her faith was so strong that there was no need to confront Him? Her faith was in Jesus. She saw no need to explain her plight; she realised it was unnecessary and it would be humiliating anyway. Almost certainly she had seen or heard what Jesus had done for others and noted that it was His power rather than their merit that mattered.
It is enheartening to any of us that this woman came behind because many of us would never go out in front. And Jesus’ power healing this lady shows us that He meets our deepest long-standing need with no fuss or fanfare.
It is true that she was soon in front of Him, but Jesus gave her new life and power to face the future in public.

"No king is saved by the size of his army" [Psalm 33:16 (NIV)]
2025-02-20
“No king is saved by the size of his army”. At first you’d think he might be, but any king who thinks so neglects one important factor – God’s interest in the matter.
You may know the Old Testament story about the king of Syria who found he could never take the king of Israel by surprise in battle. When instigating an enquiry to find who was the spy, it came out that the Lord kept telling the prophet Elisha the plans he made in secret and Elisha passed these on to the king of Israel.
Don’t ignore the Divine factor in life. You’ll not only be successful yourself but will make many others happy in the process.

"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them" [Hebrews 13:3]
2025-02-21
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them”. A distinguishing feature of a united family is that when one suffers, all suffer with them. An affront or insult to one, is an affront or insult to all.
So it is with the body of Christ. In our day of shrinking distances and speedy communications, knowledge of what is happening spreads quicker than ever before.
Are you sharing today in the joys and sorrows, the health and suffering, the prosperity and persecution of others in the Body?
If not, I wonder whether you are really a member yourself.

"In the beginning God" [Genesis 1:1]
2025-02-22
“In the beginning God”. And anything that reckons to begin without God is sure to fail.
The Bible is the book of the Lord. It reveals the mind of God to the heart of man and is a signpost accurately directing man back to the path from which he has wandered. Our world is God’s creation. His creatures have lost the first communion they had with the Creator but faith has restored that lost estate.
Life is a stage set by God upon which the performers move as He permits, though many deny His very existence.
We can be assured that God Who was in the beginning will be there at the end. He will be all and in all.
Those who know God have seen His Son, for Jesus said those who have seen Him have seen the Father.

"God has granted you all those who sail with you" [Acts 27:24 (RAV)]
2025-02-23
“God has granted you all those who sail with you”. That is, they will not perish in this hurricane. This was part of the promise God gave to His servant Paul when He told him he would reach Rome safely.
How many times must those without thought for God receive special favour because of the Father’s care for His children who live next to them! Certainly, no harm can come to the believer until he has completed his course – no lasting harm that is. And no doubt many enjoy blessing as they walk beneath the same umbrella.
It is very good when these begin to ask questions and in time come themselves to trust the God you serve.

"he who does not believe the Son shall not see life" [John 3:36(RAV)]
2025-02-24
“he who does not believe the Son shall not see life”. Life as we know it now is not the best God has for us. The sorrow and suffering as a result of the sin and evil in the world make that very plain. And then this life is very short. Call it life if you will, but realise it is only a shadow of what God has for those who love Him. And while you say you enjoy your slice of this life, remember those whose days are spent hungry and diseased through no fault of their own.
No! Jesus came that we might have life – not this life but eternal life, away from the sin and turmoil we know here.
It is the eternal life of bliss that Jesus refers to when He says that those who do not trust in Him shall not see life.
The bottom line is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”!

"Surely the day is coming" [Malachi 4:1(NIV)]
2025-02-25
“Surely the day is coming”. It is the Day of Judgment when punishment will be meted out to the evildoer. This is God’s word and it stands in spite of any opinion to the contrary.
Unbelief either in God or in His word does not alter the truth. Unbelief only deprives a person of God’s blessing and closes one’s eyes to what is ahead.
This is among the last statements in the Old Testament and it is in contrast to the words of Peter in the New about those who say “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?”
God warns that judgment will fall on all who love evil and rebel against God.
We need events in the world and the word of God in the Scripture to turn us to the Lord before judgment falls.

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak" [Romans 15:1(NIV)]
2025-02-26
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak”. Becoming strong in the faith carries with it the responsibility to help weaker brethren. You don’t ask a man why he has fallen: you lift him to his feet again. And if you can catch him before he falls and prop him up till he recovers so much the better.
We do not want to see the size of your spiritual muscle, we look for its repeated use in lifting the fallen and downcast.
There will always be those who need help over life’s stiles. You have been raised up to be a blessing. And should it be that it is help you need: see to it that once on your feet you help others.
Use the day to turn someone’s feeling a failure into being a success.

"the speck … the log" [Luke 6:41(GNB)]
2025-02-27
“the speck … the log”. Jesus’ complaint addressed to His hearers was that they magnified the speck until it was larger than a log and ignored the log to the extent they considered it no more than a speck.
This practice has not died out. The speck or blemish in our brother’s character so aggravates us that we feel we must say something to him about getting rid of it. Point a finger at your brother and you point three at yourself. Setting the example is the best mode of instruction.
If we tidied our own lives it would be more likely to encourage those beholding us to do the same instead of issuing pious denouncements that make us hypocrites in the eyes of the Lord.

"They zealously affect you, but not well" [Galatians 4:17]
2025-02-28
“They zealously affect you, but not well”. Zeal should not be mistaken for truth. Many are keen to lead us astray, usually for their own ends. Some are so enslaved that they seek nothing other than gain for their master, the Devil.
You do not need to look far to find those whose keenness has beguiled many into admiring, or even adhering to, their beliefs.
It is sad that those who have the truth are so apathetic at times. We can only attribute this to a failure to appreciate the urgent need there is to disseminate truth.
Jesus went about doing good. Those who heard Him were blessed and uplifted. It was and is a grand thing to be saved. Let His followers exhibit their Master’s zeal and proclaim a truth that in turn promises further zealous activity.

"But what did you go out to see? " [Luke 7:26(RAV)]
2025-03-01
“But what did you go out to see? “. Folk will look at what interests them. The crowd on this hill were there to see or hear any new thing that was going. The inhabitants of Gadara went out to see what was done to the demoniac who lived in the tombs. The mass visitors to Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost went along to see and hear unlearned men speak the gospel fluently in their own language. An inquisitive crowd later gathered around the cripple in the Gate Beautiful who had been healed.
But Jesus asked His hearers what they saw in John the Baptist. He was a forerunner or messenger sent by God to announce the Messiah. John had no modern gimmicks, his message was simply, ‘Repent’. John had none of the usual attractions of modern-day promotion. But his message pertains if we would prepare for receiving the Lord.

"only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" [Revelation 21:27(RAV)]
2025-03-02
“only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life”. No better analogy of the Great Judgment Day than that the books will be opened. In our age of information technology it should be no surprise to realise that God keeps a record of all that has taken place. The gospel message has been proclaimed for many years and an accurate record has been kept of all who have responded. We may not know if a decision to trust Christ is real or not, but God knows.
Here at the end of the Scriptures we read of the Lamb’s book of life holding the names of those who have received Christ – the Lamb of God slain for sinners on the Cross.
The cry of the sinner “Lord save me” must undoubtedly be the sign for the angel in charge to inscribe a new name in that book of honour and glory.

"Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out" [Matthew 25:8]
2025-03-03
“Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out”. This request voiced by the foolish maidens ranks among those not granted. “Go and buy it for yourselves” was the quick reply, but regrettably it was too late.
“Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue” was another unfulfilled request that Jesus described. So was “Send him to my father’s house that he may warn my brothers”.
Make sure you have the real experience for yourself. It’s folly to expect someone will give you theirs.

"my tongue is the pen of a ready writer" [Psalm 45:1]
2025-03-04
“my tongue is the pen of a ready writer”. So is everyone’s who has tasted of the good things of the Lord. When the blessing of God is yours you ought to be able to talk freely about it.
The tongue that speaks fearlessly in the Lord’s Name has sometimes lost its owner a lot of friends who would not listen: it has seemed to set barriers even in the same household. It has attracted criticism and abuse that has often hurt. In some parts it has resulted in imprisonment and separation from one’s family.
But still the tongue of the disciple will not be silent and as a result the Gospel has spread everywhere.
After all, the Gospel is just what men and women need. Be sure the Holy Spirit oils your tongue today.

"Man shall not live by bread alone" [Matthew 4:4]
2025-03-05
“Man shall not live by bread alone”. These words are Jesus’ reply to the Devil’s temptation.
Firstly, they tell us quite clearly that any life that exists for physical and fleshly satisfaction alone is incomplete and inadequate. In fact, it is little more than existence if it has no spiritual dimension above the satisfying of carnal desires. Those seeking to help the underprivileged and underfed without caring for the soul should note this need.
But these words are also a glorious promise taken by our Lord from the Old Testament. It is as though the Lord is telling us that God the Father offers more than bread for the stomach. Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven and as the heavenly bread, gave life to the soul. All may feed on Him by faith. We are fools indeed if we do not partake of it.

"How can you believe? " [John 5:44 (NIV)]
2025-03-06
“How can you believe? “. By removing the obstacles to faith. A reminder of some of them may help:
Doubt – a deadly exercise dependent upon looking for the weaknesses instead of jumping on the passing opportunity.
Reason – a misguided notion that the mental process is more valid than the counsel of God.
Unwillingness – (particularly to relinquish some besetting sin) – a dead weight, which until it is removed, prevents
any advance along the path of faith.
Pride – the lie that tells you how important you are and the lie that makes out you can by-pass simple faith.
Continue to build the list and then dispose of the lot in deference to faith, without which it is impossible to please God.

"What must I do to be saved? " [Acts 16:30]
2025-03-07
“What must I do to be saved? “. First, you need to admit you are lost. The Philippian jailer’s question arising out of his unusual circumstances shows that he recognised his need.
Second, you need to know that the Lord Jesus Christ can save you and is ready to do so. His atoning death on the Cross was for your sin and satisfied demands you could never hope to meet. Often someone needs to tell this to you: in the case of the jailer it was his prisoners Paul and Silas.
Third, you need to put your trust in Christ. Ask Him to save and believe He will. He will fulfil His promise. Expect His reassurance on the matter. The way the jailer attended to the wounds inflicted on Paul and Silas and was baptised, gives us some indication of the joyful assurance of salvation he received.

"Pharoah was wroth with his servants" [Genesis 41:10]
2025-03-08
“Pharoah was wroth with his servants”. Some men’s wrath boils up quickly and disappears just as fast. It is what happens between the two that gives cause for concern. In the case of Pharoah, his exiled butler had his job back while his exiled baker went to the gallows.
To some extent we all suffer from the unpredictable wrath of man. While this is unpleasant, it does give the one whose trust is in the Lord Jesus opportunity to show his true colours by patiently suffering wrongfully.
We have a good example in the three Hebrew boys in Daniel’s day who told the king they would not change and worship his image – or in Daniel too, who proved God to be with him in the lion’s den.

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? " [Hebrews 2:3]
2025-03-09
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? “. There’ll be too many of us to punish – there won’t you know. What percentage were drowned in the Flood or
perished in the Red Sea?
God is a God of love and He’ll be merciful to us – He won’t you know. His mercy extends to all in this generation but
Jude says the Lord is coming to execute judgment upon all.
We’ll ask him to save us and He’ll let us escape – but He won’t you know. Jesus said when the door is shut it is too late.
Behold, now is the day of salvation – don’t neglect it.

"Will a man make gods for himself" [Jeremiah 16:20(RAV)]
2025-03-10
“Will a man make gods for himself”. Over and again he will! And when they are worn out he will replace them. The following is a short list of the gods man will fabricate. You may wish to add to it :
self another person pleasure
secret sin money attaining fame
anything occupying the throne of our heart.
They may all fill our mind and rule our heart, yet can do nothing of lasting value for us: rather they are our downfall.
Better to be rid of them before the Lord takes more drastic measures to bring us to our senses.

"one pearl of great price" [Matthew 13:46]
2025-03-11
“one pearl of great price”. Outstanding! Nothing like it before! Worth selling all to get possession of it – and many are ready to do this!
Such is the description that Jesus gave of admission to the kingdom of heaven. It is priceless and worth disposing of all else in order to get it.
When once you recognise its value you realise what a lot of time is spent chasing lesser stones that will slip through the fingers and be lost.
This pearl is unique. Look what it is – eternal life and bliss. Look who this pearl is – the Lord Jesus by His atoning sacrifice at Golgotha. Note to whom it is offered – it is offered to whoever will recognise its worth and claim its prize.

"From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised" [Psalm 113:3(RSV)]
2025-03-12
“From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised”. So it is! Throughout the day, as disciples of Jesus commit their work to Him, they praise Him.
Their prayer of gratitude for His faithfulness every night praises Him.
Great companies praise Him; individuals praise His Name as the Holy Spirit transports them into heavenly places.
From prison cells and parish churches, aboard ship and in the bowels of the earth as well as on the surface men will be praising His mighty Name.
All are agreed that the Lord has done great things for them. It is because the heart overflows that it flows over like this.
Be sure you are numbered among the praising people of the Lord.

"I will pray the Father … he will give" [John 14:16(RAV)]
2025-03-13
“I will pray the Father … he will give”. Completion is only effected when you receive.
Shortly after saying this, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’. It was a symbolic and prophetic act. Jesus must have come to be attached to His disciples in a special way. He did not want them to feel bereft in any way when He left them. There was no need. If they would receive the Holy Spirit they would be guided aright, and empowered to accomplish God’s purpose as well as experience the fullness of the Lord in their lives.
It is when there is no room for Him that problems arise.
Pride is the main thing that fills our hearts to the exclusion of a Spirit-filled life.

"my kindness shall not depart from thee" [Isaiah 54:10]
2025-03-14
“my kindness shall not depart from thee”. God will not stop loving His children. If His love reached them when they were away from Him, it is inconceivable that it will desert them when they turn to Him.
God will not begin a work He is unable to finish, not disinterestedly turn away to do something else.
He may need to chastise and speak severely. The rod of correction will at times be applied: invariably it will be unpopular. In His wisdom the Lord may withhold what we in our ignorance consider essential, but it is only for our eventual good.
As did the Israelite in Isaiah’s day, so today, the believer may know that God’s kindness is shining through whatever vicissitudes of life may befall him.

"one of these little ones" [Matthew 18:6]
2025-03-15
“one of these little ones”. Jesus warns about the seriousness of harming innocent children – the deserved punishment being a millstone round the neck and thrown into the sea.
He said that a young child – presumably one who has not yet attained the years of moral responsibility – has the protection of a guardian angel. This protection He describes as angelic representation before His Father in heaven.
We live in a day when Aids, congenital diseases, famine and bloodshed mean that many become innocent victims and premature deaths in infants and young children are common.
Jesus assures us that none go unheeded and we can be sure that those who so suffer in this life will be rewarded in heaven and that those who molest will not go unpunished.

"strive lawfully" [II Timothy 2:5]
2025-03-16
“strive lawfully”. Put simply – don’t get disqualified.
When the writer was young he belonged to an athletic club and well remembers an occasion when running the last leg of a relay race. He took the baton well down in the order and to his surprise noticed that the runner in front was cutting inside the marked track. There was no way of overtaking him if he did this. He reached the finishing line first but was disqualified.
There are rules in the Christian race and not everyone who appears to be running successfully is adhering to them. That is what the Judgment Seat of Christ is all about and many “unknowns” will be recognised there. Really, you know, it will give those a chance who spend all their life playing second fiddle.

"they may forget, yet will I not forget" [Isaiah 49.15]
2025-03-17
“they may forget, yet will I not forget”. We live in a world where anything can happen. Who can tell what a day will bring forth?
The strongest may weaken and the straightest bend. Put all your eggs in the safest basket and you run the risk of losing them all in one jolt.
It is a timely reminder that God operates on a different plane altogether. Our friends may forsake us, God will never do so. Trust in man and he may let you down: trust God and you will never be confounded. Let a mother forget the child she has weaned, God will not forget any of His children.
Pause to thank God for remembering you. Praise Him for His love and concern. Rest in the assurance that He cares for you, that He has said He will not forget you.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you" [Luke 6:38]
2025-03-18
“Give, and it shall be given unto you”. These words are part of Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Plain’ – a lengthy discourse recorded for us by Luke in his Gospel. Like the Sermon on the Mount it contains injunctions that are difficult to put into practice, such as loving your enemies, turning the other cheek and giving to everybody who asks something of you.
These sayings accurately describe a spiritual turnover God would have in our lives. God will fill the hungry soul with goodness but unless there is a movement – giving out to the blessing of others and then accepting and doing the same with more – there can be no real or spiritual advance.
Keep the ‘pot boiling’: give and get replenished from God’s limitless supply.

"if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners" [Galatians 2:17]
2025-03-19
“if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners”. Justification by faith does not allow the believer to continue in sin. If it did, Christ would become the administrator of sin.
Christ paid the penalty for my sin and by believing I receive the gift of eternal life offered to me.
If I continue in sin something is wrong. A new creature in Christ Jesus means that all things are made new.
Who might find us to be sinners? The Lord knows, certainly. But would not the man with whom we rub shoulders detect it too? It’s on the parade ground of life that we put into effect the Christian drill.
Justification by faith is the theory: no longer found sinners is the practical. Am I putting what I believe into practice in my life today?
