TDR: 19 March (Psalm 30:5)

‘In His favour is life’ (Psalm 30:5) That is, in the favour of God in Christ. If He has favour towards us, all will be well; And He has! As a proof of His favour He gave Jesus for us, and to us; He sent the Holy Spirit to quicken, teach and sanctify us. By…

‘But Jesus did not answer her’ (Matthew 15:23) Delays are not denials. Jesus delayed to answer, but He did not deny her request. He had said, “Ask, and it shall be given you. I will do whatever you ask in my name”. Heaven and earth may pass away, but His word must stand forever. He…

‘God was manifest in the flesh’ (1 Timothy 3:16) The manifestation of God is in the person and work of Christ, and we are therefore to learn what our God is, and what we may expect Him to do for us. What Jesus was to those about Him, such is God Almighty; what Jesus did…

‘Your God reigns!’ (Isaiah 52:7) Jesus has power over all flesh. He is upon the throne of the universe. He superintends all things. His will cannot be frustrated. His designs must be accomplished. Nothing is left to chance. His hand is in every event. He rules over the world by His power. He rules in…

‘A Christian’ (1 Peter 4:16) A CHRISTIAN wears the name, possesses the nature, breathes the spirit, lives the life, and devotes them self entirely to the glory of Jesus. All Christ has is theirs, all Christ has done was for them, and all Christ has promised they may expect. Are you a Christian? Is the…

‘Lord, what is man that you care for him?’ (Psalm 144:3)   By nature we are enemies to God, in open rebellion against Him, and justly condemned by Him. We are in love with sin, slaves to lust, servants of Satan. We are blind to our best interests, deaf to the calls of God, and…

‘Set your mind on things above’ (Colossians 3:1) And what are those things which are above? Holiness – or conformity to Jesus, and entire devotedness to His service. Happiness – flowing from the manifestation of Jehovah’s glory, the presence of Jesus, and the soul’s delight in His will. Unity – saints above realize close, intimate…

‘When he appears, we shall be like him’ (1 John 3:2) Like whom? Like Jesus in His glorified humanity – as free from sin, as perfect in holiness, as completely happy. His likeness will appear in every believer. What a contrast with the present! Now, at times, we appear to ourselves rather like Satan. O…

‘Dear friends, now we are the children of God’ (1 John 3:2) What surprising grace this is. For what are we? Poor, vile, depraved, unworthy sinners; so base by nature that we do not have one redeeming quality, and even now, apart from the work of the Spirit, there is no good thing. But we…

‘Trouble is near and there is no one to help’ (Psalm 22:11) Trouble and the Christian are seldom far apart or long apart. This may sound discouraging, but Jesus and the Christian are never apart. He will never leave us and trouble is intended to prevent our leaving Him, or to bring us back if…

‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; Listen to Him!’ (Matthew 17:5) Jesus speaks to us in His word; He tells us His mind; and the Father commands us to hear Him. He speaks to us in a variety of subjects; He instructs, exhorts, warns, directs, and comforts. He always…

‘They need not depart’ (Matthew 14:16) How many things concur to lead or drive us away from Jesus! But we need not depart from Him; He has everything we can possibly want, for body, soul, for time or eternity. He gives grace and glory, and no good thing will He uphold from those who walk…

‘Ephraim my dear son’ (Jeremiah 31:20) Poor fickle, backsliding Ephraim, is called by our infinitely gracious God. Adopted by grace into the heavenly family, taught by the Spirit and united to Jesus, God views us through Him; and having predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, He views things which are…

‘Walk a life worthy of God’ (1 Thessalonians 2:12) God has called us with a holy calling, to enjoy a holy Saviour, to believe a holy gospel, to possess a holy nature, and to walk in a holy way. All the provisions of free grace, all the promises of infinite love, and all the precepts…

‘Do not fear, for I am with you’ (Isaiah 41:10) The Lord’s people are all prone to fear because they do not realise their relationship to God, their interest in the promises of God, and that they are always in the presence of God. How graciously our God forbids our slavish fears, and encourages confidence…

Jesus said: ‘Do not fear, only believe’ (Mark 5:36) That means, take God at His word. Give Him credit for meaning what He says, for being faithful to His own word; and then what will become of your fears? God speaks to you in language which you can understand. He promises all you can possibly…

‘Let us have grace’ (Hebrews 12:28) Each day we need grace to sustain us in troubles; to subdue our corruptions; to sanctify our tempers; to preserve us in temptation; to quicken our lethargic affections; to enlarge our experience; to render us useful to others; to enable us to endure to the end; and to meet…