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"One thing is needful" [Luke 10:42]
2025-03-29
“One thing is needful”. A clean home? I’ve worked unceasingly since dawn this morning.
A meal worthy of the occasion? I’ve done nothing but plan and prepare ever since I knew you were coming.
A bit of help from someone? Well that would be appreciated, but I’ve let you know what I think about my lazy sister, Mary.
More care on my part? Why, you yourself said, Lord, that I’m careful and take trouble about many things.
Martha made an excellent servant and we can learn from her. But Jesus wanted her heart’s devotion and that could only be given in adoration at His feet.

"Her children arise and call her blessed" [Proverbs 31:28(NIV)]
2025-03-30
“Her children arise and call her blessed”. We must be grateful for this epilogue in the Book of Proverbs that gives us the characteristics of a godly wife. It is worth reading in full. Here are some important points:
Skilful with her hands, she gets up while yet dark to prepare the day’s food.
She has a business head and knows the price of things and is careful not to trade at a loss.
She is on call at night when needed.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
She embroiders coverings and is clothed in fine linen.
She is clothed with strength and dignity.
She can laugh, can speak with wisdom and her instruction is invaluable.
No wonder the writer says she is worth far more than rubies and her children arise and call her blessed.

"floodgates of heaven" [Malachi 3:10 (NIV)]
2025-03-31
p>“floodgates of heaven”. See God’s abundance, so different from the Israelites. They had become tight-fisted, concerned that they should have enough for themselves rather than giving to the Lord. As a result, even what they had was destroyed and their hearts were now far from God. Putting ourselves first pushes God away and will always leave us short.
But God loves to give and He doesn’t change. The God who wants to throw open the floodgates of heaven is the same heavenly Father who lavishes His love on His children. Our reluctance to put God first at times can deny us the blessings.
God loves a cheerful giver because God himself delights in giving. As we give ourselves afresh to the Lord today, give cheerfully, give generously and give everything. You’ll not go short; He’ll make sure of that.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" [Philippians 4:13(RAV)]
2025-04-01
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Many today will have formidable obstacles to overcome, problems to solve and awkward situations to face. The key to success is walking through the day with the Lord – seeking His face, listening for His voice and obeying His word. Then it is that His power can flow through you, His presence go ahead of you and His peace be yours.
The strength Christ affords enables the followers of Jesus to triumph over self within and opposition from without. As the branch draws its strength from the trunk of the tree, so the believer obtains all that is needed in the Christian conflict from Christ.
Life will not be easy but Jesus promises to be with you and provide strength for everything you need.

"God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean" [Acts 10:28(RSV)]
2025-04-02
“God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean”. Tradition had led Peter to believe that some were common or unclean. He was the product of his upbringing. Like us all, he had ideas ingrained which would have hindered if not prevented the growth and spread of the gospel.
It took a vision, repeated three times, to shake Peter out of his false spiritual pride. Once he overcame his prejudice and went with the messengers to Cornelius’ home he was amazed at the way the Holy Spirit worked among them.
Like many of us, Peter was ready to receive the Word of the Lord, but only to do certain things.
Thank God he was sensitive and sensible enough to recognise that God was teaching him something new. We may also be amazed if we obey all he tells us.

"as they went, they were cleansed" [Luke 17:14]
2025-04-03
“as they went, they were cleansed”. The ten lepers called out to Jesus for mercy. He answered them and told them what they must do. It did not demand reason but obedience. Lepers went to the priest when they were healed for him to verify this. And these lepers recognised that in Jesus’ command to go to the priest there was the promise of cleansing.
All this would have meant nothing had they not turned around and started out in obedience. In many cases in the Christian pathway this is the same. It is as we move out in faith whether for salvation, healing, guidance, victory or whatever, that God gives us what He promises.
Learn from the ten lepers – make obedience to the Lord the priority in your life today.

"the daughters of Zelophehad" [Numbers 27:1]
2025-04-04
“the daughters of Zelophehad”. Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, had five daughters and no sons. As the law of Moses stood at that time there was no provision for daughters benefiting from their father’s will. Their brothers were expected to look after them. So these five ladies found themselves disinherited on the death of their father.
They faced a new situation in a wise way. New situations do arise and they need new directives or legislation. They brought their case to Moses and Moses took the matter to the Lord.
As a result, a law was introduced allowing inheritance to pass to daughters if there were no sons.
Note the amicable way these ladies approached the matter. Let the daughters of Zelophehad be a reminder that matters can be resolved without rancour or dispute.

"bread here in the wilderness" [Mark 8:4]
2025-04-05
“bread here in the wilderness”. This world is in many ways a wilderness. And when something good begins to grow in the wild terrain of life it is often cut down before it reaches what we call maturity.
But Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life’ and a true appreciation of the barrenness of this world makes His words all the more wonderful.
Furthermore, Jesus had compassion on the multitude, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, and still does, today.
The Lord satisfies the hungry soul – not with an occasional meal but with a satisfying fulness found nowhere else.
Many may placate and allay the pangs of deep desire but only Christ can satisfy with the bread of heaven.

"The heart of the righteous weighs its answers" [Proverbs 15:28(NIV)]
2025-04-06
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers”. Why? Because a hasty answer can cause much mischief.
Words spoken cannot be retracted. We say we withdraw a statement made but we can’t: in fact, we contradict it and the listener must decide which he will believe – the original statement or its contradiction.
Answers need weighing because questions can be set as traps – well camouflaged, even to an experienced listener. A right answer can settle the matter, the wrong answer cause an explosion.
Then it is the heart of the righteous that dictates what answer to make. Head knowledge can be impressive, it is rarely assuring. Righteousness affects the heart.
Let the answers you give today be characterised by integrity.

"I will follow you wherever you go" [Matthew 8:19(RAV)]
2025-04-07
“I will follow you wherever you go”. To the scribe who spoke these words, Jesus answered by telling him that foxes have holes and birds their nests, but He and His followers had nowhere (of their own) to lay their head. Perhaps the scribe was unaware of the hardship and thought that becoming a follower of Jesus would ensure his advancement and success.
Jesus calls us to follow Him and that following must be the expression of love for Him. We are not told whether the scribe did this. Having no certain lodging place is actually of little consequence compared with being with Jesus. No problem is insurmountable when the Son of God is your companion. Get the right motive – follow Him because you love Him and tell Him so.

"whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" [Revelation 22:17]
2025-04-08
“whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely”. We recognise the Bible as the written Word of God conveying to man the great rescue operation that the Lord put in hand to counter the Fall. It is an exercise that is seen to engage the Almighty in the affairs of men throughout the whole of history. It involved the sending of His Son Jesus and exacted a price no less than the sacrifice of His life upon the Cross of Calvary. That God should suffer and die is beyond our understanding yet gloriously true.
The benefits of the great salvation thus purchased lift man to a far higher plane than Adam ever knew. It is now an eternal redemption. Not least in its wonder is that here at the end of the Bible whoever will is invited to take this ‘water of life’ freely. They must be fools or blind who decline to do so.

"of this he has given assurance to all men" [ Acts 17:31(RSV)]
2025-04-09
“of this he has given assurance to all men”. “Of this” – of the fact that God has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He
has appointed. The Day of Judgment that is needed to put wrongs right and the crooked straight.
“He has given” – God Himself. The Day of Judgment is under-written by God. It is central to the purpose and fulfillment
of His creation.
“Assurance” – the assurance is the resurrection of Jesus. The Christian gospel has not disappeared because
Jesus is alive. He is leading, blessing and empowering His People.
“to all men” – God wills that none should perish. Look and live: believe and be saved. Be among those who know whom
they have believed, no matter what faces you today.

"Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites" [Hosea 3:1(NIV)]
2025-04-10
“Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites”. Gomer had a history of unfaithfulness, even when Hosea first married her. An adulterous wife is not good for your reputation, especially when you are a prophet of the Lord. But the Lord is not so concerned about reputations. Jesus made that clear in His ministry.
God’s call on Hosea is the same for the Church today. We are to have this sort of love; for each other as well as for the world. Accepting people irrespective of reputations, is a huge challenge, but then that’s just what Christ has done with each of us. As the Lord loves us, so we must reach out in love to others. Love and forgiveness go hand in hand and if we are not willing to share what we have received, then we’ll be the poorer for it.

"he cried with a loud voice" [John 11:43]
2025-04-11
“he cried with a loud voice”. Nothing muted about the cry that woke Lazarus from the sleep of death. No mistaking the command of the One Who said ‘I am the resurrection and the life’ as He stood in the family cemetery.
A loud voice is needed to awaken those who are felled by the enemy death. Jesus’ shout in the graveyard that day was but a precursor of the occasion when all who are in the graves shall hear His voice.
Not many days later He was to experience death Himself. And then three days later rise again from the dead.
The loud call he uttered a week or so earlier raised but one of His followers, yet it was enough to show the mighty power that was to be released at the resurrection. In that day there will be no mistaking the voice of the mighty Son of God.

"I find no fault in him" [John 19:6]
2025-04-12
“I find no fault in him”. There was no fault in Him! The Apostle Peter says the same when describing Jesus as holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. Yet while being faultless made Jesus unworthy to die, He needed to be faultless and without sin if His life was to atone for the sin of the world. He was the just giving His life for the unjust that He might bring them to God.
We can but marvel at what God did at Calvary. Jesus was the only One whose death could atone for sin.
He was perfect and could know nothing else. What Pilate did not realise was that the One in whom he could find no fault was about to have the sin of the world laid upon Him. He had before him the perfect sacrifice that God the Father was to accept.

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory" [Psalm 115:1(RSV)]
2025-04-13
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory”. There is always the temptation to take a little of the glory that should be the Lord’s. We can easily feel we have had a part in securing the blessing and benefit experienced. It may be because the temptation is ever present that the Psalmist repeated the request, ‘Not to us’. All we have is of the Lord. Every breath we take is given by Him. And if with the strength that is given to us we do something of value, the design was His in the first place. Any successful venture only happens because the Lord invites us to share with Him in it. We are co-workers together with Christ only at His instigation.
Let us therefore join with the Psalmist and take great care to give Him all the glory.

"ashamed of me" [Mark 8:38]
2025-04-14
“ashamed of me”. ‘Who would be ashamed of Christ?’ we might ask – ashamed of One who went about doing good; whose words and teaching have been the foundation of the great.
Be religious if you will, or a church-goer or philanthropist and you will be commended. It is no threat to the hearer. But talk about Jesus and the reason for His coming to our world: talk the Gospel and immediately you throw out a challenge. Mentioning Jesus’ Name is an affront to the stronghold of Satan. It is a direct attack.
But if you love the Lord, how can you do otherwise? Yet the disciples of Jesus are often reticent to announce their allegiance to Him. Take your stand with the Apostle Paul who said, ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ’.

"stand … still, and see the salvation of the Lord" [II Chronicles 20:17]
2025-04-15
“stand … still, and see the salvation of the Lord”. There are times when everything is done for you, when the matter is completely out of your hands: you just stand still and see it all happen.
Those who have never stopped and stood still are likely to have missed the great experience of seeing the Lord work.
You cannot see the salvation of the Lord your God in a true relief if you are forever looking at other things! It is a great salvation; the Lord has provided marvellously for His people. Jehoshaphat learned that he did not have to fight this battle. His experience is a picture of our salvation. To say it is worth stopping to behold is an understatement.

"I have suffered many things this day in a dream" .[Matthew 27:19]
2025-04-16
“I have suffered many things this day in a dream”. Was Pilate’s wife a devout and spiritual lady, because she had such disturbing dreams? Her name was probably Claudia and tradition made her a proselyte to Judaism. She may have been the Claudia mentioned by Paul in his Second Letter to Timothy.
She stands out in the Gospel’s narrative as one dissident voice against the injustice of the mock trial and sentencing to death of Jesus. She urgently conveyed her fears to Pilate.
She joins the small band of women who knew great anguish of spirit when our Saviour was apprehended and tried. She is like a candle of piety in the darkest hour of history. Her tender heart responded to a dream about the momentous events taking place. Thank God for women like her.

"being in an agony he prayed more earnestly" [Luke 22:44]
2025-04-17
“being in an agony he prayed more earnestly”. Jesus sets an example we should follow. More difficulty calls for more prayer. When things are running smoothly, prayer becomes smooth and easy – a sort of good habit that calls for little energy.
It is when faced with mounting problems, with difficulties that will not resolve and paths that will not clear that an earnestness comes into praying. When Jesus saw the awfulness of the atoning death He was to endure He prayed earnestly.
Praying earnestly under these circumstances is the alternative to not praying at all. Be sure you cling on to God in faith and that you increase the intensity of your prayer when agony of soul is upon you.

"And the people stood beholding" [Luke 23:35]
2025-04-18
“And the people stood beholding”. The execution of Jesus was in public. God ordained it so. All and sundry gathered to witness the awful scene – soldiers, religious leaders, commoners and men of rank and even the two malefactors whom He predeceased by a few hours.
Jesus was atoning for the sins of the whole world and it was right that the people should stand beholding.
Where were those who acclaimed His triumphal entry only a week beforehand? Some at least must have been there. Was it they felt they could do nothing?
They could emulate the Centurion. He said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God’. Your reaction when you stand beholding Jesus on the Cross is of more far-reaching consequence than you can ever imagine.

"they kept watch over him there" [Matthew 27:36(NIV)]
2025-04-19
“they kept watch over him there”. We are not told why the soldiers felt it necessary to watch Jesus as he died on the cross. They had done their job, shared the spoils just as they had done many times before. But they specifically sat down so as to watch Jesus as he died. Perhaps too much was going on for them to just walk away. Whatever the reason, what they witnessed as they watched caused them to acknowledge, just a few hours later, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Seeing Jesus as a miracle-worker or incredible teacher is not sufficient. He can only become our Saviour and Lord when we thank Him for dying on the cross of Calvary for our sin. It’s not a pretty sight but it’s a glorious victory that brings forgiveness and freedom.

"rolled back the stone and sat on it" [Matthew 28:2(NIV)]
2025-04-20
“rolled back the stone and sat on it”. This is a wonderful moment in the gospel narrative. The rolling back of the stone was not to let Christ out, He had already gone, but to let the women and disciples in. Then having done the job the angel sat on the stone. Just as Christ had sat by a well waiting the woman coming to draw water, so we see here the angel sitting on the stone, waiting to welcome the women into the tomb to see for themselves.
The stone had shut people out. It had covered things up. It had been sealed by earthly authority. Now that power had been broken. The truth of the resurrection was revealed for all to see and the invitation to enter in to a living relationship was given to all. It’s an invitation that still stands and you and I can share it with others tod [AP]

"spices which they had prepared" [Luke 24:1 (RAV)]
2025-04-21
“spices which they had prepared”. God rewards diligence in preparation as much as success in putting to good use. The spices that the women prepared to anoint the body of Jesus illustrate this.
Nobody says they wasted their time, though it is most likely the spices were never used for anointing Jesus. Rather we see that it was the diligent preparation of spices that were never used that afforded them the privilege of being the first to discover the empty tomb.
God will never disregard time spent in preparation, though the prepared material may not be used as intended. Jesus will honour your love for Him however it is expressed.

"walked along with them" [Luke 24:15(NIV)]
2025-04-22
“walked along with them”. In their sadness and despair, the two disciples did not recognise Jesus walking along with them. They must have been pretty downcast to have the best travelling companion and the best Bible study ever, yet not appreciate either! But Jesus stayed with them.
He walked along with them, at their pace and in the same direction. They may have been dispirited but at least they kept walking! We may not always notice when Jesus is around, but that doesn’t mean He is not there. We may not always take in what He says, but thankfully He doesn’t give up. Whatever position you are in, be reassured, Christ walks along with you. Keep walking and trust Him to see you safely through.

"torn in two from top to bottom" [Matthew 27:51(NIV)]
2025-04-23
“torn in two from top to bottom”. The veil separating the Holy Place from the Holiest place in the temple was torn, not cut. The same word is used to describe the earthquake that also happened when Christ died. The death of Jesus had a violent impact on man’s relationship with God. That which had separated ordinary man from Holy God was removed. Sin had been atoned for, not with the blood of animals, but with the blood of Christ. Not torn down, but torn in two, never again to hinder access to God. Now all can come to Him through Christ, the new and living Way. Torn literally ‘from above to below’: not by man, but by God. Our salvation is from above. Christ came from heaven to earth in order to redeem fallen man. Enjoy the reality of that living relationship with Almighty God.

"I will lift up the cup of salvation" [Psalm 116:13(NIV)]
2025-04-24
“I will lift up the cup of salvation”. The Psalmist teaches us a true lesson and shows us what we may all do. We can add nothing to the treasury of God for all is His already.
When we take the cup of salvation we accept God’s bounteous mercy with a thankful heart.
This life offers us many “cups”. There is the sparkling cup of worldly pleasure and the obsessive cup of worldly aim and achievement.
We need to put them all aside and realise that whatever our station in life, the cup of God’s salvation is offered to us.
It is not awarded on merit or offered us according to our potential. It is the chalice of God’s free grace and favour.
The cup of salvation is God’s cup of blessing to us.

"why has all this happened to us? " [Judges 6:13(NIV)]
2025-04-24
“why has all this happened to us? “. This was Gideon’s question when the angel told him that the Lord was with him. He wanted to know why he needed to thresh his wheat in the winepress because of the invading Midianites. He asked where all the wonders he heard about had gone: why had the Lord abandoned the nation of Israel?
“Why has all this happened?” is a question often heard today and it is one that is best answered from the Word of God where we find God’s purpose in the affairs of men.
We cannot expect an answer to all our questions, but when we recognise that God is at work and that His purposes are for our good and that a day is coming when the obscure things will be made plain, we have confidence that all things are working for the good of those who love Him.

"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice" [Proverbs 16:8(NIV)]
2025-04-25
“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice”. So it is not how much you have, but how you came by it. All too often this world’s assessors look at the end and ignore the means whereby it was reached. You can reach the top by treading on other people – but the pinnacle is then for ever precarious.
The Lord has regard to the means. He rewards the trier as well as the one who succeeds. Righteousness exalts a nation and is required of the individual too. Some years ago, a salesman left his job selling animal foodstuffs, because to sell any of his product he needed to make false claims about it. He was out of work for a time before taking a less remunerative position. He found that the little he had was better than the lot more that weighed on his conscience.

"the Way of Holiness" [Isaiah 35:8(NIV)]
2025-04-26
“the Way of Holiness”. In his great prophetic vision, Isaiah sees the city of Zion where the redeemed of the Lord will dwell. The main thoroughfare running towards it and through it is the Way of Holiness.
All who have repented of their sin and seek to follow the Lord should know what it is to walk on it.
It is the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin that has made this way a reality. All the road signs on the way to Zion say, “The Way of Holiness.”
God sets His servants apart. The blood of Jesus cleanses from sin and the ministry of the Holy Spirit keeps and protects the sanctified ones on their journey.
Your way in life may seem uneventful to others but to you who love the Lord, you’re stepping it out on heaven’s way.
