"Take up the cross--and follow Me.”
(Mark 10:21)
You have not the liberty of making of your own cross; although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making. Neither are you permitted to choose your own cross; although self-will would gladly be lord and master. Your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love--and you are cheerfully to accept it.
You are to take up the cross as your chosen portion, and not to stand caviling at it. Jesus bids you to submit your shoulder to His easy yoke.
You are to take up the cross as your chosen portion, and not to stand caviling at it. Jesus bids you to submit your shoulder to His easy yoke.
Remember that the cross will soon be followed by the crown. The thought of the coming weight of glory--will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. May the Lord help you to bow your heart in submission to His divine will—that you may go forth to this day's cross with the holy and submissive spirit which befits a
follower of the Crucified One.
(Charles Spurgeon)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
(2 Corinthians 4:17)
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March 19
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up
together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
(Ephesians 2:4-6)
Those who were born on February 29 [2016] are special people— they celebrate only one-fourth as many birthdays as the rest of us. But the Bible tells us of something else that makes someone special—spiritual rebirth.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
(1 Peter 2:9)
The Scriptures also teach that as believers we enjoy many special privileges. We are heavenly people-our citizenship is in the heavenlies with Christ. Even now we are seated positionally with Him in glory. In Christ we have access to His storehouse of riches; we are the possessors of all heavenly blessings. We have been given a heaven-born nature that responds to spiritual nourishment-the Living and Written Word.
While we seek to be worthy representatives for God in this life, our affections are already centred on things above. This occupation with heavenly values enables us to rise above the mundane circumstances and storms that often cross our earthly paths, providing what we need to live a life of daily victory.
And while we await the day of our final victory, we live in the enjoyment of our future inheritance
In a sense, then, we are “in heavenly love abiding” already.
In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?
Wherever He may guide me, no fear shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing shall I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh, His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.
Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o’er me, where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free;
My Saviour is my treasure, and He will walk with me.
(Anna Laetitia Waring)
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March 20
The Rest of Communion
"And [Joseph] fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.” (Genesis 45:14-15)
But when like Job in his day, and the brethren of Joseph in their day,
we have learned the evil of our own hearts
—the utter corruption of the flesh
— with what relief we turn from self to Christ, and how he delights
to set us free by making Himself known in all the grace of His heart.
We may well be appalled as we discover the evil of our hearts.
But as Christ reveals to us His heart and tells us that He loves us,
though knowing all the evil of our hearts
— as He draws us to Himself and discloses to us the desire of
His heart to have us in His company,
as He gives us to behold His glory and to hear His voice
— then the torments of fear are ended by perfect love
— the love that casteth out fear
— and no more the soul turns in upon itself to grieve over the evil within,
the future is no longer dark with dismal forebodings,
but in the consciousness of His love we can hold sweet communion with Him,
after the manner of Joseph’s brethren who
“talked with him.”
(Joseph - Hamilton Smith)
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March 21
“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:
He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in
His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
(Isaiah 40:11)
“Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you:
I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry,
and will deliver you.”
(Isaiah 46:4)
He leads us on through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows and o’er-clouded days;
We know His will is done,
And still He leads us on.
(~~~~)
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March 22
“Let us pass over unto the other side . . . they took Him even as He was in the ship . . . the waves beat into the ship . . . He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him Master, carest Thou not that we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm . . . why are ye so fearful?” (Mark 4:35-40)
No Worries
A comfortable plane ride was about to get bumpy. The voice of the captain interrupted in-flight beverage service and asked passengers to make sure their seat-belts were fastened. Soon the plane began to roll and pitch like a ship on a wind-whipped ocean.
While the rest of the passengers were doing their best to deal with the turbulence, a little girl sat through it all reading her book. After the plane landed, she was asked why she had been able to be so calm. She responded, “My daddy is the pilot and he’s taking me home.”
Though Jesus' disciples were seasoned fishermen, they were terrified the day a storm threatened to swamp their boat. They were following Jesus’ instructions. Why was this happening? (Mark 4:35-38). He was with them but He was asleep at the stern of the craft.
They learned that day that it is not true that when we do as our Lord says there will be no storms in our lives. Yet because He was with them, they also learned that storms don’t stop us from getting to where our Lord wants us to go (5:1).
Whether the storm we encounter today is the result of a tragic accident, a loss of employment, or some other trial, we can be confident that all is not lost. Our Pilot can handle the storm. He will get us home.
(Selected)
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March 23
“. . .let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .”
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
There may be a thousand and one things to vex me if self is of importance;
They will not vex me at all if self is not there to be vexed. . . .
What rubs we get when not walking with God,
and thinking only of self!
There is no such deliverance as that of having
no importance in one’s own eyes.
(Footprints for Pilgrims - J.N.D.)
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March 24
“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus,
and told Him all things, both what they had done,
and what they had taught."
(Mark 6:30)
Surely we could not do better than follow the example of the apostles in this respect.
How much we should learn if we did so, and how gently He would remind us of
many a failure to present the truth, or if we presented it correctly, how
much we have failed to preach it in the power of the Spirit.
But we have to do with One who loves us,
and this gives us confidence in
telling Him everything.
It is even so in human relationships, for when we are assured
of one another’s love we do not hesitate to tell everything.
Much more should it be so when we speak to the Lord.
(Edward Dennett)
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March 25
“My soul thirsteth for God.”
(Psalm 42:2)
We have got a measureless income to live upon—the grace of God.
We must remember that the presence of God is always open to us,
and that in that presence is fulness of joy. . . .
We never get on, never make headway in divine blessing
unless we start from the presence of God.
There, as the result of divine light shining in,
you learn as you never can learn elsewhere,
the truth about yourself.
The first thing we learn as Christians is
that there is no room for self there—
for self in any form.
(E.P. Corrin)
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March 26
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
(1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.”
(Philippians 2:8)
The Cross and the Tomb
“He died,” saith the Cross; “my very name
Was a hated thing and a word of shame;
But since Christ hung on my arms outspread,
With nails in His hands and thorns on His head,
They do but measure—set high, flung wide—
The measureless love of the Crucified.”
“He rose,” saith the Tomb; “I was dark and drear,
And the sound of my name wove a spell of fear;
But the Lord of Life in my depths hath lain
To break Death’s power and rend his chain;
And a light streams forth from my open door,
For the Lord is risen; He dies no more.”
(Annie Johnson Flint)
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March 27
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree [cross] that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
(1 Peter 2:24)
Death and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o’er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.
"First-fruits” of the resurrection,
He is risen from the tomb;
Now we stand in new creation,
Free, because beyond our doom.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
“Buried”in His grave we lay,
One with Him in resurrection,
Now “in Him” in heaven’s bright day.
(Mrs. J.A. Trench)
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March 28
“And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly:
and His sweat was as it were great drops of
blood falling down to the ground.”
(Luke 22:44)
Insight into the enormity of a task can be gained by noting
the effort put into it by a capable person.
If a powerful man with big muscles lifts a large
object but only with the greatest of effort,
we know its weight is significant.
If the Son of God, who created stars with His fingers,
was moved to such anguish by the awful prospect of Calvary,
oh how great was His task there.
(David Logan)
"None of the ransomed ever knew,
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through,
E’er He found His sheep that was lost."
(Elizabeth C. Clephane)
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March 29
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Everyone appreciates a fresh start.
When we’ve messed up, or even when someone else messes us up, its important that we get up and start afresh.
The enemy of our souls would whisper lies and blame into our ear;
he specializes in condemnations.
When we’ve fallen, he loves nothing better than to keep us down and discouraged.
If you are saved (redeemed) please note this wonderful truth:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 8:1)
“There are no stains on tomorrow’s page.”
A new day offers us us a fresh start.
The key is to keep our focus on Christ, to follow Him, to trust and obey Him.
When Jesus rose from the grave the disciples were filled with joy and hope.
“BUT we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all
this today is the third day since these things were done.”
BUT
“He sat at meat with them . . . and their eyes were opened, and they knew Jesus . . .
And they arose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered together . . .
saying the Lord is risen . . . as they thus spake Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them . . ."
(Luke 24:21-35)
The resurrection was for them a fresh start.
And Christ’s resurrection became that which inspired them to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6)
as they spread abroad the news of this risen Saviour, and the gospel of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.
(Adapted from Lifelines)
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March 30
“Stand back . . .” (Genesis 19:9)
“. . . hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14)
Abraham believed God, and said to sight, “Stand back!”
and to the laws of nature, “Hold your peace!”
and to a misgiving heart,”Silence, thou lying tempter!”
He believed God.
“When nothing whereon to lean remains, When strongholds crumble to dust;
When nothing is sure but that God still reigns, that is just the time to trust.
’Tis better to walk by faith than sight, in this path of yours and mine;
And the pitch-black night, when there’s no outer light is the time for faith to shine.”
(Joseph Parker)
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March 31
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number,
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves:
but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
(2 Corinthians 10:12)
There are not two faces alike, not
two leaves in the forest alike,
not two blades of grass alike.
Why then should anyone aim at another’s
line of work, or affect to possess another’s gift?
Let each one be satisfied to be just what his Master has made him.
(Food for the Desert)
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April 1
“How excellent [precious] is Thy lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.”
(Psalm 36:7)
People think it humility to doubt God’s grace.
It is no such thing.
It is thinking your own thoughts when God has spoken . . .
True lowliness is to accept God’s thought.
We have no business to think when God has spoken;
our business is to believe.
(J.N. Darby)
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