Let Others Serve Him
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

TEXT: NUMBERS 4:1-20

"Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden" (Numbers 4:18,19).

Thought for the day:  "In God’s presence is the fulness of joy"

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Faithfulness in Little Things

TEXT: NUMBERS 4:21-28

"This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens" (Numbers 4:24).

Thought for the day: "The faithful in service are celebrated"

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Responsible Christians

TEXT: NUMBERS 4:29-41

"From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation" (Numbers 4:30).

Thought for the day: "You are saved to serve"

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Vacancy in His Vineyard

TEXT: NUMBERS 4:42-49

"According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the Lord commanded Moses" (Numbers 4:49).

Thought for the day:  "Do what He says, not what you think"

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Make Your Restitutions

TEXT: NUMBERS 5:1-10

"Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed" (Numbers 5:7).

Thought for the day:  "When you restore, you get restored"

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You and Your Spouse

TEXT: NUMBERS 5:11-31

"This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled" (Numbers 5:29).

Thought for the day:  "Flee uncleanness!"

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Forward Ever
Tuesday, August 17, 2010

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:13-16

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).

Thought for the day:  "Backward never!"

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Contentment

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:10-14

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11).

Thought for the day:  "Godliness with contentment is great gain"

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Provisions for Givers

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:15-19

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Thought for the day:  "Blessing shared is blessing multiplied"

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Saintly Salutation

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:20-23

"Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you" (Philippians 4:21).

Thought for the day:  "Greeting can be the key to a locked heart"

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Open Door for the Faithful

TEXT: REVELATION 3:7-13

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Revelation 3:.

Thought for the day:  "Is the Lord pleased with you?"

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Self-Deception

TEXT: REVELATION 3:14-22

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and unclothed" (Revelation 3:17).

Thought for the day:  "He that hath ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying"

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Adore Him

TEXT: REVELATION 4:1-11

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

Thought for the day:  "Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness!"

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Triumph of the Lion of Judah
Friday, August 27, 2010

TEXT: REVELATION 5:1-7

"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof" (Revelation 5:5).

A missionary returned home one day to find a big python inside. Frightened, he retreated to take his pistol and carefully aimed and fired a single shot into the snake's head. The shot crushed its head though it reeled violently for a couple of minutes before there was calm.

Christ also crushed the head of the serpent, the devil at Calvary. This victory is for every believer. Rather than sulk, weep or get discouraged, we can praise the Lamb in any situation or circumstance that challenges our faith. John the beloved was in a dilemma as to who is qualified to open the book containing divine revelations for the church. He wanted it opened but no creature in heaven or earth was found qualified to do it. It was so distressing that the apostle wept profusely.

Just then, one of the elders pointed John’s attention to the Conqueror of the universe, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who overcame all on our behalf on the Cross. He has bruised the head of Satan, the devil, and has proclaimed: "it is finished". By faithfully completing the work of atonement at Calvary, the Father found Him to be worthy to open the book.

As the rod of Moses which became a serpent ate up the rods of all the magicians of Egypt, so also the Lion of the tribe of Judah has swallowed up in victory, the disabled “lion”, Lucifer, and all his cohorts. Come to Him today and share in this glorious victory. There are manifold benefits awaiting all who put their trust in Him.

Thought for the day:  "It is finished! The battle is over!"

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Worship the Lamb and King

TEXT: REVELATION 5:8-14

"Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

Thought for the day: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain"

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Revelation of God's Judgment

TEXT: REVELATION 6:1-8

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see" (Revelation 6:1).

Thought for the day:  "Your loved ones may perish if you keep silent"

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The Faithful Martyrs

TEXT: REVELATION 6:9-11

"And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" (Revelation 6:11).

Some saints will go through avoidable suffering during the great tribulation period without rescue as many martyrs of church history had done. But their suffering for keeping the faith they had earlier compromised or refused to believe will be unparalleled.

Our text shows an altar which is supposed to be for sacrifice of animals in the temple to atone for sin. But instead of the animals’ blood at the foot of the altar, John sees the souls of martyrs who have died for preaching God’s word. These are those that will be slain during the tribulation period. Some of them had missed the rapture because of compromise. Some will believe immediately after the church has been raptured. But the holy ones will not be around to meet the antichrist here after the church is taken up. Even now, in the face of persecution, rejection and death, we need to stand firm and endure to the end. Only those who endure to the end shall be saved.

The martyrs in our text are eager for God to bring justice to the earth and deal with their enemies; but they are reminded of God’s own time table. We may wish for justice immediately too, but we must be patient because God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth. As a pilgrim, hold steadfastly on to God, He will avenge you of your adversaries in due time.

It is much easier to keep the faith now than to go through the suffering of the tribulation. It is wise to receive Christ today and hold on to the faith till the end. Do not yield to the temptation to compromise or deny the faith for any reason. Be steadfast and faithful in trial, even unto death as getting to heaven is our ultimate goal.

Thought for the day: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise"

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Women Builders

TEXT: NEHEMIAH 3:8-1 3

"And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters" (Nehemiah 3:12).

Thought for the day:  "Give your best to the Master"

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Dare to Stand Out

TEXT: EZRA 4:1-6

"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God" (Ezra 4:3).

Thought for the day: "Evil communication corrupts good manners’"

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Triumph over Opposition
Thursday, September 2, 2010

TEXT: EZRA 4:7-16

"We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river" (Ezra 4:16).

Thought for the day:  "The Lord will fight for you today"

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Fret Not!

TEXT: EZRA 4:17-24

"And that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me" (Ezra 4:21).

Thought for the day:  "The enemy cannot thwart God’s purpose for your life"

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Encouragement to Build the Temple

TEXT: EZRA 5:1-5

"Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them" (Ezra 5:2).

Thought for the day:  "One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement"

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Rebuilding the Temple

TEXT: EZRA 5:6-17

"And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up" (Ezra 5:11).

Thought for the day:  "Our activities and attitudes never escape God’s attention"

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At the Appointed Time

TEXT: EZRA 6:1-12

"Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon" (Ezra 6:1).

Thought for the day:  "God never fails!"

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God’s Temple

TEXT: EZRA 6:13-15

"And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia" (Ezra 6:14).

Thought for the day:  "Don’t defile God’s temple"

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Judgment on Idolaters

TEXT: ZEPHANIAH 1:1-9

". . . I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops" (Zephaniah 1:4b-5a).

Thought for the day:  "Flee idolatry!"

For More . . .

Day of Divine Indignation
Thursday, September 9, 2010

TEXT: ZEPHANIAH 1:10-18

"The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14,15).

Thought for the day:  "The Lord will fight for you today"

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Time to Return to the Lord

TEXT: ZEPHANIAH 2:1-7

"Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger" (Zephaniah 2:3).

Thought for the day:  "God’s mercy is but for a short time"

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Divine Vengeance

TEXT: ZEPHANIAH 2:8-15

"I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border" (Zephaniah 2:.

Thought for the day:  "Let God be the Judge"

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Fear God

TEXT: ZEPHANIAH 3:1-7

"I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings" (Zephaniah 3:7).

Thought for the day:  "The fear of God is to run away from evil"

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Between His Wrath and His Mercy

TEXT: ZEPHANIAH 3:8-13

"The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid" (Zephaniah 3:13).

Thought for the day:  "God’s mercy has no limit; His grace has no measure"

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The Mystery of God’s Kingdom

TEXT: MARK 4:26-34

"And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep" . . . (Mark 4:26,27).

This parable about the kingdom of God, recorded only by Mark, reveals that spiritual growth is a continual, gradual process that is finally consummated in a harvest of spiritual maturity. The Lord Jesus Christ says that a farmer does not understand how the seed grows in the soil; but he is certain that a seed planted in a good soil, under the right condition, will grow until it reaches maturity and begins to bear fruit.

The word of God is the seed and a soft and receptive heart is a good soil upon which God’s word can be sown and nurtured to grow. When we receive God’s word in our hearts, we should nurture it until it grows and begin to bear the desired fruit. As believers, we can understand the process of spiritual growth by comparing it to the slow but certain growth of a plant.

In the parable of the mustard seed, the point is that the kingdom of God grows like an insignificant seed of mustard that develops to a giant spiritual plant. Believers must grow where God has planted them. He further used the parable to explain that although Christianity had very small beginnings, it would grow into a worldwide community of believers.

When you feel alone in your stand for Christ, realize that God is building a worldwide kingdom. He has faithful followers in every part of the world, and your faith, no matter how small, can join with that of others to accomplish great things. Similarly, preachers, without any iota of doubt, must continue to spread the gospel message. It will certainly grow because it is God that gives the increase. Ours is to faithfully sow the seed; how it grows is God’s business.

Thought for the day: "Grow where you are planted"