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27 January 2021 Genesis 44; 45 Psalms 49 Romans 1; 2 "DO YOU PRESUME UPON THE RICHES OF HIS KINDNESS" Today we started reading Romans; this is the most comprehensive of all Paul’s letters. Its wording is very urgent and impassioned. In the way many express themselves today, he is saying, ‘wake up to yourself.’ Obviously some at Rome were doing the very things they condemned others for doing reminding us how we read a few days ago of the blunt denunciation by Jesus of the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. Paul makes the point, “Do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience.” [Romans 2:4] This is the very thing that is happening in many Christian circles with their emphasis upon grace – that it is always abounding. This creates an attitude that slipping and sliding on “the narrow path” is unavoidable so don’t let it worry you – God is loving and kind. Paul asks, don’t you know “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” [Romans 2:4]. He tells those who presume upon God’s endless kindness that you “are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgement will be revealed.” [Romans 2:5] In coming days we will be reading some wonderful Psalms showing how David reacted to his weaknesses, a great source of meditation for all of us. We do not know how close we are to that final time of God’s wrath – but the whole world is in dire trouble in various ways; it is searching for solutions and only finding ‘stop gap’ ones. Paul proceeds to comment on the “Gentiles who do not have the law” [Romans 2:14] but who “show that the work of the law is written on their hearts” [Romans 2:15] which means they have an active conscience. Although they have not grown up under the law their hearts are in a good and healthy spiritual state – may ours be the same – then we will be blessed by God on “ the day of wrath …for God shows no partiality.” [Romans 2:5,11] ------- - DC

Blind Spots The human eye is a wonderful thing. Blind people think a lot more about eyes and sight than those with normal vision because it is common to take for granted the many blessings we enjoy and only think about the things we want and do not have. Although most of us are blessed with vision of some degree, yet we all possess what is commonly called blind spots. These are two areas located on the right and left side. An eye doctor can draw the exact size and shape of our blind spot by use of a curved black flannel board and a little pointer with a white dot on it. We can see above and below, in front and behind, but within these blind spots we cannot see a thing. Now most natural things have a spiritual counterpart and this is true of our blind spots. A blind person cannot see at all. A normal person can see clearly in most areas but is also completely blind in two specific areas. We all know extremely intelligent people who have a wonderful knowledge of mathematics or physics, who can explain the workings of intricate machinery, who are diligent in business and skillful in some sport but who know nothing, absolutely nothing about the Bible and what’s more, they don’t want to. Religion is their blind spot. When we turn our hearts to God, we do not lose our blind spot, we just become blind to different things. If we can only learn to become blind to the evil that is around us instead of focusing our eyes upon it, how wise we shall be. The lust of the eye is one of the three causes of sin and if we can only learn to have eyes for the things of the Lord and not look upon evil, we shall avoid many of the pitfalls that make others fall. Unfortunately our blind spots are not limited to evil things. Our blind spots are usually those faults which we possess and others can see so clearly and we can’t see them at all. We all have them, and if only we can learn to see them, then they won’t be blind spots any more. In the natural we can change the position of our blind spot by turning our head or backing away to get a different slant on things. If only we will train our spiritual vision to compensate for these weaknesses we can avoid stumbling. Peter and Paul are outstanding examples of faithful followers of Christ who at one time had a serious blind spot. Peter’s trouble was he acted first and thought later. One minute he refuses to let Christ wash his feet and the next he wants him to wash also his hands and his head. One minute he pulls out his sword to defend Christ and the next he denies that he even knows him. Paul, on the other hand, was so wrapped up in what he thought was right that he wouldn’t listen to reason. When confronted with the wisdom of Stephen he became violent and consented to Stephen’s death. Both of these men were rescued from their blind spots by the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus will also rescue us from ours if we will but turn to him for help. Jesus prayed especially for Peter that his faith fail not, and Peter was able to strengthen his brethren as well. In the case of Paul, Christ personally appeared to him to convert him and it is interesting to notice that Paul was struck blind for a time. It seemed to take natural blindness to make Paul see spiritual things. We all have blind spots. Let us get busy pulling the beam out of our own eye so that we may see clearly. Jesus plainly teaches us that it is the beam in our eye that causes us trouble, not the mote in our brother’s eye. The trouble is we can see his fault and we can’t see our own. Let us busy ourselves looking for the beams in our eyes so that we can remove the blind spots that cause us to stumble.

26 January 2021 "The fruit of the Spirit is love–and if you can receive it, these (the qualities listed in Galatians 5:22) are the flavours, textures, colours: different and detectable but all part of the one fruit. Remember one thing: fruit is not magic. It does not appear overnight: growth is real but slow. Protection and cultivation are vital. Setbacks there will be. Waiting and working are not always contradictory. Let us never lose heart. It is, after all, the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is God-created, not man-made." - Dennis GillettThe Genius of Discipleship

26 January 2021 Genesis 42; 43 Psalms 46; 47; 48 Matthew 28 "BEHOLD, THE WORKS OF THE LORD" So many are blind to the works of the LORD, this is in spite of the discovery of more and more detail of the marvels of nature. We are learning more and more of how these work together and depend upon one another. Yet most people are as blind as ever - and say it has all happened by pure chance! The phrase, “Behold the works of the LORD” occurs in our Psalms reading [Psalm 46] today and is applied to events that God will cause to occur to bring a climax to life on earth as we know it. It begins, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present (proven) help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way …” Those who really believe in God know where to turn when events threaten to overwhelm them. Those who turn to him every day and read his word will do so automatically. We should particularly note verses 6 to 9, “The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth …” [Psalm 46:6-9] These words will become even more meaningful hope in our hearts as chaos and uncertainty between and within nations multiply. Surely they have been written for us today – to inspire those who believe to - live with genuine faith as they see “the nations rage.” In the busy and ever more frantic lives many of us experience the final two verses tell us, “‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!’ The LORD of hosts is with us” [Psalm 46:10-11] He is with all those who see – with their minds – the power in the meaning of these words and similar words in the rest of Scripture. ------- - DC

Bible Reading “Read this Book (The Bible) for what, on reason, you can accept and take the rest on faith, and you will live and die a better man.” Abraham Lincoln We know that not only will we die a better person for having read the Bible but if we are wise enough to obey its commands after reading them we shall also rise to live forever. Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” As we begin a new year we start again to read from Genesis, Psalms and Matthew. It is a great pity that so few read the Bible every day. How can we think godly if we don’t read God’s thoughts? In the natural we sometimes feel we get to know a certain author by being thoroughly familiar with his writings. Certainly those who have made a study of Shakespeare feel they are acquainted with him and his thought processes; so it is with any other writer who has left his works behind. It may be nice to know a human author this way but it in no way compares with getting to know God through His Word. In fact, it is completely impossible to obey the first command to love the Lord with all our heart. soul and mind if we do not constantly read His Book, pray and meditate upon His goodness and mercy to us. Remember John ‘s point about hating or loving our brethren? The last part of his question is, “How can he love God whom he hath not seen?” How can we? It is impossible to love the unknown. We cannot love someone we have never seen, never heard from, never heard of. Only by becoming familiar with a person can we love them. In the natural this usually comes as a result of personal contact but it has occurred by correspondence. Many lovers first met by mail and the love grew even before they saw one another. Since we have never seen God it is only possible to love Him as a result of our familiarity with His Word. It goes without saying that if we are not faithful in our daily readings in His Book, we will not love Him. How can we expect Him to save us if we break His first and most important command? Paul asks the question “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” His answer is, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is this word of God that must fill our minds and hearts if we are to love Him, obey Him and receive from Him the crown of righteousness. To ignore the Bible readings is to ignore God. It won’t make much use what else we do if we don’t do them. That’s the trouble with the world today. Every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes. The world expresses it as “doing your own thing.” “Our own thing” will be of no value in the day of judgment. By the time you read this, one twelfth of 1970 will already be gone. If you did not read your Bible every day in January, don’t let February and the rest of the year take the same course. Making and breaking New Year’s resolutions is the butt of many jokes but not reading God’s Word is no joke whether it was a New Year’s resolution or not. If we cannot find time to read God’s book every day, just how much do we really love Him? Our actions are speaking louder than words. The Bible Companion is not the only way to read the Bible but it is a very good way. Whatever way you use to read the Bible, use it and do it every day. Do it as a family, if possible. May the words Paul addressed to Timothy apply to us as well. “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

25 January 2021 "Our God is able to save us if we have set our hearts to know His will, to seek an understanding of His word. This must be our one most anxious concern. We can live only by His word, the true bread from heaven. "If any lack wisdom let him ask of God and it shall be given him." Let us plead the promise of His grace and believe that it will be sufficient to keep us from falling. Let us come boldly to the throne of grace. Not boldness because of feeling that we deserve His kindness, for we are not worthy of the least of His mercies; but boldness in the sense of having faith and confidence in His love and mercy." - Ron StylesGod’s Discipline (1961)

25 January 2021 Genesis 41 Psalms 45 Matthew 27 "HIS BLOOD BE ON US" If anyone dies an unnatural death, there is always an effort to find whether anyone is to blame. As we read the trial of Jesus Christ we see the determination of his enemies to have him put to death. “They all said, ‘let him be crucified’” to which Pilate responded, “Why, what evil has he done?” [Matthew 27:22,23] They never answered his question, because there was no answer they could give! By combining the different Gospel records we see the weakness of Pilate. He gave up trying to administer justice and “took water and washed his hands before the crowds, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ And all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.’” [Matthew 27:24,25] At that point they were willing to take all the blame for rejecting Jesus! Now we move the scene of events forward a few months; Jesus had risen from the dead and for 40 days appeared to and consorts with those who believe in him, on one occasion to “more than 500 brothers at one time” [1 Corinthians 15:6] These believers, especially the immediate disciples, become a powerful influence in Jerusalem with their bold preaching – further empowered by the Holy Spirit the 12 had been given after his ascension. The Jewish leaders and their supporters are powerless – they forget what they had told Pilate about Christ’s blood being upon them and their children and they arrest the disciples and “set them before the council” saying, “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” [Acts 5:28] But the decision was made, the deed was done, Jerusalem is doomed – remember how Jesus wept over it. Today we are surrounded by people who are determined to believe there is no God, or who, recognising the need for some spiritual influence in their lives, do little more than preach the second commandment that ‘you should love your neighbour as yourself.’ For them Jesus will have died in vain, his blood is upon them. Is it clear to God what you believe? It is vital we live in a way that shows we believe that Jesus died for us that we might have eternal life. This world is doomed, like Jerusalem was doomed, we cannot avoid making a decision as to where we stand; no decision means we stand with those who said, “His blood be upon us.” ------- - DC

Be Ye Kind to One Another “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster and do it with no thought of reward. Your life will never be the same again.” This thought is a quote from Og Mandino. I learned the truth of this saying in a painful way. The afternoon of the day my father was to die, I took him to the doctor. He was in good spirits. We had to do a lot of waiting. Waiting to see the doctor. Waiting in the lab for some tests to be made. Back to the doctor for more waiting. Minor surgery was scheduled for a few weeks later and I drove him home. He was tired but none the worse for wear, we thought. He ate his supper, watched a little TV and retired at a reasonable hour. He never woke up. I had brought some work along to occupy the time while we waited for doctors, lab technicians and the like. I had no idea that he would be dead before morning. Had I known that, I would have spent those precious last hours in conversation with him. The point of the quotation is that we should be treating everyone we meet as if they would be dead before midnight. If we did this, just think how much more thoughtful we would be. We would listen intently to what they had to say; we would be conscious of their feelings; we would muster all the kindness and understanding that we possessed. How do we show our love for our Heavenly Father? By being kind to some of His children. The Psalmist tells us that the cattle on a thousand hills are His, so what can we give to the Creator of heaven and earth? We can give cups of cold water in His name to His children. This is the lesson our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. We all know this academically, but that is not enough. There are so many things we seem to know that we do not do. It is important to know them, but it is essential that we do them. The quote speaks a truth that we will all be wise to follow. None of us knows the day of our death but if we all treated one another as lovingly and kindly as we would if we were seeing each other for the last time, certainly our life would never be the same again. What is lost because we treat someone with this amount of kindness and they do live through the night? Nothing is lost and a great deal is gained, because we have treated them the way we would like to be treated. We have all heard the prayer of the little boy who said to God, “Please make all the bad people good and the good people nice.” Some may hold all the right doctrines and yet be unkind to the children of our Heavenly Father. Paul tells us, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” He also told us that “love suffereth long, and is kind.” Our Lord told us that God “is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” The only picture our Lord gives us of the judgment seat has to do with how we treated others, what we did and did not do. We are all determining the amount of mercy we are going to receive at the judgment seat by the amount of mercy we now show to each other. “For the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

24 January 2021 "Humility is an attitude of subjection out of love for the King’s goodness. How can understanding men and women ever be proud in the presence of the God of eternal time, of unlimited space, of unchangeable character-God infinite in grace and matchless in love? It is the knowledge of God which generates the birth of humility in the soul." - Dennis GillettThe Genius of Discipleship

24 January 2021 Genesis 39; 40 Psalms 44 Matthew 26 "IS IT I LORD?" Today we read of the traumatic arrest of Jesus and how jealousy of his popularity led to a terrible travesty of justice. Raw human nature is not interested in truth, only in the triumph of personal pride and prestige. Our Genesis reading had a somewhat similar example. The integrity of Joseph, after being sold by his brothers, results in him gaining a position of trust. But then he is falsely accused and put into prison, but, as with Jesus, the overseeing eye of God is causing all things to work together for the fulfilment of the Divine purpose. Paul particularly recognised this, see his words in Romans 8:26-30. Consider the way in which the disciples were tested. Jesus perplexed them by saying, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me” [Matthew 26:21] which caused consternation among them and they “began to say one after another, ‘Is it I, Lord?’” [Matthew 26:22]. He responds, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me” [Matthew 26:23]. Were they not all doing this as they had this fellowship Passover meal together? Then as they shared “the cup” they would be again perplexed as he said, after telling them all to drink of it, “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” [Matthew 26:28] With what fervency of thought and understanding would they drink of it later, and partake of the bread, when they were fully awake as to its’ meaning. Now why did Jesus say to them that one of them was going to betray him? It was not going to change anything! Surely it was to make them all anxiously examine their hearts and motives. Is today any different? If we really belong to Jesus, shouldn’t we be keeping our consciences active every day? Our Master expects this of all those who bear his name. Jesus told Ananias in a vision that Paul was “a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name …” [Acts 9:15] Do you carry his name – howbeit in a very modest way? Paul was later to say to the Jewish hierarchy, “I have lived my life in all good conscience up this day” [Acts 23:1]. Have a look at 2 Corinthians 1:12-14 and note Paul’s words about “the testimony of our conscience …that we behaved … with simplicity (or holiness) and godly sincerity …” Let that be our aim every day. ------- - DC

Be Compassionate The subway train stops and a man and three young children board a car. The man sits down in one of many empty seats, but the children proceed to run up and down the aisle, making a considerable disturbance. Most of the commuters have their heads buried in their evening newspapers, but soon the whole car is becoming agitated due to the unruly behavior of these three youngsters. Finally someone speaks to the father and tells him that his children are disturbing everyone in the car. He hangs his head and says, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to do. You see we just left the hospital. Their mother died about an hour ago. They’re so upset, they don’t know how to react. They have been cooped up in the hospital room for hours. I’m sorry they’re disturbing you.” Suddenly the feelings changed. Now everyone feels compassion when before they felt indignation at the unruly behavior of the young children. What has changed? The youngsters are still acting the same as before. The attitude of the passengers has changed because they now understand why the children are behaving in an uncontrollable way. If only we could all learn to be more compassionate toward others whose behavior does not agree with our own mood. We do not always know why people are behaving as they are. We do not know what has happened in the past to cause them to do the things they are doing. It is not always that we are condoning their behavior but if we had the same problems they have, the same history they have endured, then perhaps our behavior would not be any better than theirs. For this reason, we need to learn to be more compassionate, more patient, more understanding of others. We can honestly say to anyone we meet, “If I were you, I would be feeling the same way you are.” This is not being hypocritical, for if we really were him, and he was suffering mentally or physically, we would feel the same as he does. What can we do now to help the one whose behavior is less than we wish it were? Perhaps by just being willing to listen, to show a little attention, to be compassionate, to care. Our Lord told us, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” The children were misbehaving, true. But when the circumstances became known, anger gave way to compassion. We may not always know why others are as they are, but we are wise to show compassion, for we are going to need all the mercy we can get from our Lord. He went on to say, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

23 January 2021 "There is much intellectual pride in the world today, and intellectual pride is inimical to the truth of God. Let us be ready always to accept truth but beware of pride, for pride is the ultimate sin. It can come to us in many forms, and none is more insidious than the appeal to intellect and the authority of scholarship. Where facts are concerned we must recognise the claims of scholarship, but in many ways bearing especially on faith in the Bible, fact and judgement or opinion are so interwoven as to be very difficult to disentangle. The “wisdom of the world” starts its thinking from presuppositions which govern its conclusions, and where the presuppositions are false the conclusions will be also, no matter how learnedly and persuasively they are presented." - L.G. SargentA Sound Mind

23 January 2021 Genesis 38 Psalms 41; 42; 43 Matthew 25 “I DO NOT KNOW YOU” The final half of Matthew 24 and the parables of Matthew 25 contain the teachings of Jesus about the end of this world and how to be on the Master’s side in the Divine Kingdom that will replace it. Note how Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” [Matthew 24:14] Today this is happening – modern travel and the remarkable internet with its automated translation are making it possible. Notice also, it is the gospel of the kingdom, the wonder that there is to be a world wide kingdom. Sadly there are all too many false gospels around, as was also the case in the first century, which Paul bluntly warns about in Galatians 1:6-9. Sadly too, as we read today in Matthew 25, there will be those waiting for the return of the bridegroom, Jesus, who will not be ready! Five of the ten virgins are foolish, their lamps are going out for lack of oil, [Matthew 25:8-13] and the bridegroom says to them, “I do not know you.” Why? They have been waiting for him to return! What does the oil represent? We suggest it is – faith – a true real faith developed from a true understanding. Now faith is not something you develop in a moment, in a day, or in a week. True faith has its roots set in knowledge, “the conviction of things not seen” [Hebrews 11:1]. Those who lay a quick foundation of belief, but then do not build on it to create a strong and firm conviction of faith - are the foolish virgins. True faith experiences a daily relationship with Christ and regular reading and meditation of God’s word. If this is not happening Jesus will at that time say “I do not know you” Some are anxious to know when we can expect the midnight cry! [Matthew 25:6] But the eye of faith concentrates on being ready, knowing that Jesus said that “no one knows (when), not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” [Matthew 24:36] For those not ready, it will be a cry of fear. The final time of total chaos will also manifest itself in a physical way, in Luke’s record of this, he reports that Jesus said “There will be great earthquakes” [Luke 21:11] In Revelation the word earthquake occurs 7 times! The final passage describes it as being “such as there has never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.” [Revelation 16:18] Have a look at Isaiah 2:10-19 which states “the LORD alone will be exalted on that day” [isaiah 2:11]. May we live so that the LORD says “I know you.”. ------- - DC

Begin, Act, Move There is a Chinese proverb which says, “Do not fear going forward slowly, fear only to stand still.” Begin where you are. But begin. Act. Move. Don’t just stay where you are. It is amazing how much progress can be made simply by keeping on keeping on. As Confucius said so many years ago, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Back then that was about the only way one could get from point A to point B. Now we send up astronauts who can orbit the earth in ninety minutes; still, even their journey to the moon must begin with one step as they walk to the launch pad. We need to have our destination firmly fixed in our minds, and then get moving, however slowly, toward it. So many people never get anywhere because they do not know where they want to go. In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asked the Cheshire cat which way she should go as she stood at the crossroads of several paths. The cat asked Alice where she wanted to go, and when Alice said she didn’t know, the cat’s answer was, “Then any way will do.” As brothers and sisters of the Lord we need to have our destination firmly fixed in our minds: we want to be in the kingdom of God more than anything else in all the world. If that is our goal, then each day we need to choose a path that will lead us there. As we grow older, our steps may be slower and smaller, but just the same we need to keep moving in the right direction. At the end of each day we should look back to see if we have moved closer to the Lord or farther away. What did we do today that will have any lasting value? Did we do our readings? Did we call or visit someone who is sick? Our progress may be slow but by looking back over time we can see that we have moved even as the hour hand on our watch moves though we cannot see its movement. It is painfully true that if we are not actively doing positive things for the Lord, then we are moving in the wrong direction. Watching people fall away from the Truth, sometimes very slowly, is very distressing. Usually the first sign that someone is losing his first love is the fact he stops doing the daily Bible readings. We move toward the Lord when we read His word and away from Him when we don’t. Yet many will admit that some days they just don’t get around to it. Are we neglecting to get around to reading the Bible an entire day? If we are too busy to read the Bible, we are simply too busy. There is no use telling God that we love Him if we ignore His love letter which He caused to be written for our learning and salvation. He knows whether or not we read His word, for David tells us He knows when we sit down and rise up, and Jesus told us He knows the number of hairs on our head, so He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. Doing our daily Bible readings may seem like a very small step, but it is a step in the right direction. When we don’t read the scriptures, we are taking steps in the wrong direction. So when we wake up each morning, let us resolve that we are going to move forward toward the kingdom of God. Let us keep God’s message in the forefront of our minds by faithfully reading His word daily. Our steps may be small and slow, but remember to just keep on moving steadily in the right direction. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens Dr. Albert Schweitzer is reported to have said, “Many have discovered helping others to be the most enduring therapy, for it’s the burdens you help another to bear that make your own seem light.” This thought ties in with what Paul told us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” If we will only look outside ourselves and see who we can help, we will achieve a double advantage. While we are helping others, we find that our own troubles suddenly seem lighter. Go, therefore and find someone worse off and help him. It is the best possible therapy for our problems, according to Dr. Schweitzer. When we feel sorry for ourselves, we are thinking only of ourselves. King Saul was acting like a child when he said, “There is none of you that is sorry for me.” As king he could have found many in Israel to help, instead of thinking about his wounded pride and his obsession with hunting David. Far too many are worrying about their feelings when there are others crying out for help. But we may not hear their cries for help because we are lamenting our own situation. Jesus had compassion for the multitudes. He put their interests before his own. When he had not eaten for 40 days, he refused to perform a miracle to provide for his own needs; yet when the crowds had been with him for only three days, he was concerned that they might become faint on the way home without food. “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.” Just as Jesus gave the needs of others higher priority than his own needs, so should we. Paul gives us good advice, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself ...” Paul made an elaborate analogy about the body and how each part is important. This is so “... that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” God made the body with a sympathetic nerve so that if one part of the body is hurting, the whole body suffers. Now we are the body of Christ. If we can only acquire this kind of a sympathetic nerve for each other, then we will leap to the aid of one who is hurting, and in the process, we will find that our own hurts are minimized. So the best way to heal our hurts is to look outside ourselves. Let us remember Paul’s words commenting on the words of the Lord Jesus, “I have showed you all things how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

22 January 2021 "Christ has, in a manner, already "entered in," having entered into his rest. Here is our calling. Are we living up to it, as members of "the righteous nation which keeps the truth"? (Isaiah 26:2) These are the conditions under which peace obtains, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:2)" - C.C. Walker “The Prince of Peace” (1914)

21 January 2021 "True holiness having love for its essence, we can examine ourselves, and see whether we are possessed of this grace. How can we determine? Are we bearing the fruits of the Spirit? We cannot do this unless we are as closely associated with Christ as the branch is to its parent vine. Jesus said to His disciples that He is the vine, and they are the branches, and as the branches cannot bear fruit of themselves, neither can we unless we abide in Him, for a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit. Much has been said, at times, of our being in Christ. And so we are, or have been. As a branch of a vine may be taken away–­as a man may lose his garment, so we may be severed from Christ, and lose his protective covering. So Paul’s care was to “be found in him.” And Jesus said, “Severed from me, you can do nothing.” “I in them, and they in me” is the way in which he expressed our relationship. The branch is imbedded in the vine, and the latter furnishes sap and life to it, and in this way it is enabled to bear fruit." - J.T. Irwin Holiness (1922)

22 January 2021 Genesis 37 Psalms 39; 40 Matthew 24 SUN, MOON AND STARS In both our Genesis and Matthew readings today we have reference to the sun, moon and stars – and in neither are they to be understood in a literal sense. The context makes this evident. In Genesis Joseph has a dream and tells his parents and brothers about it. “Behold I have dreamed a dream. Behold the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me” [Genesis 37:9] His father has no doubt as to what the dream symbolises and says, “ ‘Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?’ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind” [Genesis 37:10-11]. This reminds us about how Mary kept the sayings about Jesus in mind. [Luke 2:19] The jealousy of the brothers is the trigger that creates a sequence of events that leads to the fulfilment of Joseph’s dream – another example of how God weaves in the actions prompted by human nature, to bring about his purpose. It is also the way he oversees the character building of those he is calling to serve him. In Matthew 24 Jesus says the sun, moon and stars will be a sign of his coming. The time of great tribulation comes when “the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” [Matthew 24:29] The total collapse of earth’s ruling powers is indicated, together with all the stars; all is darkness, the earth is in chaos; the “earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect …” [Matthew 24:30-31] As we see world Governments more and more in crisis let us remember these words and build up our faith; any faith left in human beings will vanish. Stock up on the ‘oil’ of your faith so you are not among the foolish virgins we will read about tomorrow. ------- - DC

21 January 2021 Genesis 36Psalms 38Matthew 23 "CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER" Matthew 23 is full of blunt observations by Jesus about the religious leaders, but no indication is given of their reaction. The end of Matthew 22 shows how he silenced them with a question they could not answer and “from that day did anyone dare ask him any more questions.” Chapter 23 starts by telling us he is speaking to “the crowds and to his disciples” [Matthew 23:1], and the whole chapter is about this. He is in the Temple because Chapter 24 starts by saying, “Jesus left the Temple …” He begins by saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you – but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.” [Matthew 23:2,3] This observation has been all too common in religious circles – right down to our day. This must not be so among those who sincerely read God’s word. “They do their deeds to be seen by others” [Matthew 23:5] says Jesus, “and being called Rabbi (teacher) by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” [Matthew 23:7-9] These words have been ignored in the main Christian churches right through the Centuries – and until the Bible was printed and everyone could read God’s word - most were ignorant of these teachings of Jesus. May the words of the Bible be our teacher. The really observant reader may notice that Jesus’ words, “Woe unto you” are spoken to the “scribes and Pharisees” 7 times! See Matthew 23:13,15,16,23,25,27,29. We have noted several hidden sevens in our readings in recent weeks. Jesus bluntly says to them, “you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” [Mathew 23:28]. This reminds us of the words in the Proverbs of the one who “harbours deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.” [Proverbs 26:24,25] May there be none in ours, may our speech be totally genuine.-------- DC

Bonds of Love “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” These words of John the Baptist still apply today. They were certainly true as John applied them to his joy of seeing and hearing the Lord Jesus Christ. John took a general truth and applied it to his specific situation. We can still do this same thing here in the twentieth century while we await the coming of the bridegroom from heaven to take his faithful as his bride. While we wait it is quite right and proper for marriages in the Lord to take place, and we recently experienced the joy John spoke of when he said that the friend of the bridegroom rejoiceth greatly. It has been our happy lot to travel to Western Canada to witness and hear the voice of the bride and the bridegroom as our son was married in the Lord to a sister in Christ. Weddings are truly a happy time when two who both love Jesus decide to walk hand in hand together towards his kingdom. When these two young people married, they joined two families who previously had not known one another. Now we feel a strong affinity for those we had not previously met. As a result of this marriage, those who might never have met are now drawn close together in love. The young people in love are in the center but the circles of love radiate out from them and encompass many others who are now drawn together because of our mutual love for our children and those they love. Isn’t this the way it is in Christ? We, by becoming his, come to love so many others who also love him, who without this common bond of love, would not otherwise have known one another. We feel a closeness to our brethren and sisters because they love the same Lord we love. We have the most precious thing in the world in common, our love and devotion to Jesus. Just as we love the members of our new daughter-in-law’s family, so we love the other members of Christ’s familv. If we belong to Christ, then we belong to the family of Abraham and become an heir to all the glorious promises God made to him. As in the natural, so in the spiritual by becoming related to Christ we become related to a host of new relatives we have not here-to-fore known. Some of the members of our family in Christ we may not meet personally until Christ returns to join us all together in one big happy family reunion at the marriage supper of the lamb. What joys there are in this life in being related to Christ. But what greater joys there are in store for us in the future! Right now we can rejoice greatly because of the happy family ties that bind us together, but this is nothing in comparison to the joy that is set before us when that glorious wedding of the future becomes a reality. We are now in the engagement period, and our engagement may be long or short. We do not know the date of our wedding. We do know this, that it is imperative that we continue to look and long for the return of our bridegroom. He will accept us only if we have been faithful to him while we waited. Let us be happy and faithful while we wait, living out the sentiments so beautifully expressed by the prophet Isaiah who said, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with garments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

20 January 2021 "For us the days are short: the turning of the calendar can only bring this home more closely to us. But for us the doors are still open: the opportunity to prepare ourselves to "go in with him to the marriage", before the door is shut; the opportunity to unite together in the work of opening the door of faith to as many as the Lord will still call, either by personal activity or by prayer for those who can be active; perhaps even the opportunity to make the last pages of our history as a community less full of strife ... "These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name" (Revelation 3:7-8). Could we make those words as true of us as they were of the ecclesia in Philadelphia?" - Alfred Nicholls An Open Door (1970)

Birds of a Feather “It is difficult to soar with the eagles when you work with a bunch of turkeys.” This sign was recently seen on a desk in a large office. It is true that we are affected by those around us. Even if we regard our fellow workers as a bunch of turkeys, it should not inhibit our ability to soar above them. It may be difficult but it is not impossible. While we are in the world, we are not to be a part of it. We cannot fly in formation with those of the world for they are all going in the wrong direction. If we really are part of their flock, then we are in trouble. Another old saying of the world is “birds of a feather flock together.” So while we may be working with a bunch of turkeys, we really do need to take off and soar above them as the eagles do. Isaiah speaks of a day when “we shall mount up with wings as eagles.” If we hope to do that in the future, we are required now to leave the other kinds of birds to their gobbling and strutting. We need to get on with our service to our Lord by soaring above the turkey talk of the flock at work or school. We may not like to think of some of our worldly associates as spiritual turkeys but we need to read carefully what Paul says. “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.” It is a sad commentary on the human race that these sins are so common that we would have to leave the world in order to have no association with such people. If this was true in Paul’s day, it is also true today. So what are we to do? We want to soar with the eagles and we are surrounded by turkeys. Well, by being an eagle, we can soar above them and not partake of their evil deeds. Jesus prayed to his Heavenly Father on our behalf saying, “I have given them thy word, and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I request not that thou wouldst take them out of the world but that thou wouldst keep them out of the evil: of the world they are not, even as I am not of the world.” So, we should not be discouraged that we have to work or go to school with a bunch of turkeys. The world is full of them but it is important that we continue to soar above them in the way we talk and act. Turkeys gobble and make a lot of noise but not much sense. That is a good parallel to empty and vain conversation. How often do we sound like turkeys? It may be hard to soar with the eagles but its is not impossible, for if God is for us, who can be against us? With Paul we can say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” When our Lord comes, we had better not be strutting around the turkey pen with all the rest of the turkeys, sounding and acting like them. Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” Let us make sure that we are as different from the world as eagles are from turkeys. Again the Master said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.”

20 January 2021 Genesis 34; 35Psalms 37Matthew 22 "THOSE INVITED WERE NOT WORTHY" One of the most telling parables of Jesus is his story about “a king who gave a wedding feast for his own son” [Matthew 22:2]. Strangely the king had difficulty finding guests who were interested in attending. Many have more important things to do. He “sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast but they would not come” [Matthew 22:3] Why is that? We parallel this with Jesus’ statement “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” [Matthew 15:24]. They rejected his invitation. Further invitations are sent out, “but they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business.” [Matthew 22:5] And so it has been throughout history! Today, it is even more so, people dismiss the invitation as irrelevant to their lives – although some may give a token impression of accepting. The time came when “The wedding feast was ready , but those invited were not worthy” [Matthew 22:8] There is every reason to believe that time is now! Jesus is ready to come back – the world is in desperate need of him although few realise this. A final effort is made by the creator and his “servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found , both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.” [Matthew 22:10] In Luke’s record of this parable it says they went out to “the highways and hedges” [Luke 14:23] to find potential guests – and so the message has been taken far and wide today. It is vital that guests put on a “wedding garment” [Matthew 22:11,12] which the king helps to provide. In Revelation 19 we read of “the marriage of the Lamb” and “his bride” was to “clothe herself with fine linen … (which) is the righteous deeds of the saints” [Revelation 19:7,8]. In the parable one is present “without a wedding garment” and the servants “cast him into outer darkness.” [Matthew 22:13] As with nearly all Christ’s parables, there is a final “punch line” - so note Matthew 22:14, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” As we read the scriptures each day it becomes ever clearer why they are chosen.-------- DC

19 January 2021 "Our life is a loom, a means given us to make a pattern of righteousness like the pattern given us in the Lord Jesus Christ, the great example. The Lord God is the master weaver who sets the patterns. Before we take up our task we must needs consider this advice: "Before you turn to God and stretch out your hands to him, get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind" (Job 11:13-14)." - John J. MorganWeb of Eternal Life (1980)

Be Ye Merciful Recently we were listening to a radio broadcast of a championship game and the fans were booing one of the stars so loudly that the commentator began to discuss the habits of fans in booing athletes. One remark he made has stuck with us. He said, “Only saints want justice, the rest of us want mercy.” The avid sports fan demands justice and perfection in others. When their star fails to perform as they think he ought they give him the famous “Bronx cheer.” Certainly a dedicated athlete trying his best does not welcome this kind of treatment, but that’s the kind he gets from his public just the same. The booing fan couldn’t do nearly as well himself, yet he feels justified in giving the poor struggling player a piece of his mind for failing to come through in the clutch. No wonder David declared, “Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” Solomon said that “the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” It certainly is true that we are going to need all the mercy we can get. Why then does man demand justice for others when he is in such need of mercy himself? It’s the old story of the mote and the beam. It’s so easy to overlook the big plank in our eye while finding fault with the tiny speck in our brother’s eye. Human nature has always been this way. It is interesting to note that Jesus who did no sin was far more merciful and forgiving to the woman “taken in adultery, in the very act” than were her accusers who had been guilty of sin. In fact, some believe that the Greek text indicates that Jesus said, “He that is without this sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Although her accusers were also sinners and in need of mercy themselves, yet they demanded their form of justice for her. This type of thinking is still prevalent. We find the most vocal sometimes to be the one whose own private lite would indicate that they should be the most forgiving of others. This is true in the ecclesia as well as in the sports world. Why do we frail human beings make such a big thing of another’s short comings when we have so much to be forgiven ourselves? Jesus makes it very plain when he says that God is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. We sometimes have the twisted idea that we are doing God a service when we are NOT kind to the unthankful and the evil. Somehow we are holding up the banner of God’s truth by persecuting the evil. Certainly we are not to join them in their evil, but Jesus couldn’t have made it more clear that we, while not partaking of their evil, should be kind to them. “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful,” says Jesus. Christ taught us that we are going to receive mercy in direct proportion to the mercy we have shown. This thought should loom very large in our minds the next time we are tempted to point an accusing finger at another. This does not mean we condone wrong doing or wrong doctrine. Certainly Jesus did neither, but he was merciful to the sinner for, he reminded the self righteous Pharisees that “they that are whole need not a physician.” Unfortunately Phariseeism is not dead and we must combat it as zealously as we combat wrong doctrine and living. Jesus did. No one denied the woman was wrong. Jesus simply was willing to forgive while other sinners demanded justice. Almost all problems we face in the brotherhood and with our dealings with one another could be eliminated if we just show as much mercy as we know we will need to be accepted by Jesus. At the judgment seat it will only be those who completely forgave others who will be recipients of Christ’s forgiveness. “Only saints want justice, the rest of us want mercy.” Let us be kind unto the unthankful and to the evil because God is. “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”