Daily Readings – Articles – Devotions
Antidote – Hosea 4:1 – 6:3 (Week 8
We are still reflecting on Hosea 4:1 – 6:3. The first section of Hosea is the first 3 chapters and is the visual and experiential picture of God and His relationship with Israel. He pictured it through the experience of Hosea and his wife, Gomer. In the second section of the book, God is bringing His case against Israel.
We looked into the core of the problem – there was no knowledge of God left in the land. The people had ignored the Word of God so long … they had gone their own way so long … they had More >
The Feast (Matthew 26
Jesus is in Jerusalem. He knows why. His band of disciples don’t quite get it yet. How could they? They think they are in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. They are … but … they do not realize that they are accompanying the Passover lamb to the altar for the sacrifice.
- there is the ridding of the house of any and all leaven
- there is the preparation of the unleavened bread
- the lamb had to be taken to the temple where its blood would be offered as sacrifice
- the meat of the lamb brought back to the house for the meal
- a bowl of salt water (or More >
Maximum Effort
In Matthew 25:23, Jesus says, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”
The servant who received the two talents received the same commendation as the servant who received the five talents. The master was not concerned at how creative the servants’ marketing tactics were to double or triple his investment; he was focused on their effort. After he saw the effort they put in with the little that was given to them, he felt comfortable with giving More >
Thought for the morning of Sat May 25, 2013
Frequently we pray that God would not forsake us in the hour of trial and temptation, but we too much forget that we have need to use this prayer at all times. There is no moment of our life, however holy, in which we can do without his constant upholding. Whether in light or in darkness, in communion or in temptation, we alike need the prayer, “Forsake me not, O Lord.” “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” A little child, while learning to walk, always needs the nurse’s aid. The ship left by the pilot drifts at More >
Thought for the morning of Tue November 1, 2011
Is there a Church in this house? Are parents, children, friends, servants, all members of it? or are some still unconverted? Let us pause here and let the question go round-Am I a member of the Church in this house? How would father’s heart leap for joy, and mother’s eyes fill with holy tears if from the eldest to the youngest all were saved! Let us pray for this great mercy until the Lord shall grant it to us. Probably it had been the dearest object of Philemon’s desires to have all his household saved; but it was not at More >
Thought for the morning of Mon October 31, 2011
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man More >
Thought for the morning of Fri May 24, 2013
In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance-as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and few-far removed from that humble, More >
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is one of the most beloved Christmas hymns of all time. The lyrics were written by Charles Wesley in 1739 while the music was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. Let’s look at a few stanzas of this beautiful carol:
Hark! The herald angels sing, ”Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
“God and sinners reconciled” through Christ. This is the true meaning of Christmas and the true meaning of Christianity. Jesus Christ was sent “through the tender mercy of our God to give light to those who sit More >
Catching Life
In Matthew 8:22, Jesus responds to the disciple, ”Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
Many people think Jesus is lacking compassion for a dying man when He tells the disciple to let the dead bury their dead. However, Jesus is asking a question in the form of a statement, “Why do we continue to follow after death rather than follow after life?” The only thing death brings is more death. However, Jesus Christ ends that continuous cycle of death. Death has met its match. The problem that many of us face is that we are addicted to death! We More >
Thought for the morning of Sun October 30, 2011
Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth’s gratitude rises when the sun of heaven’s love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God’s mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely More >
