Daily Reading Plan for Thursday 24th August 2023

Prayer
-Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world.
-Give thanks to God for the freedoms we have to share the Gospel in England and pray that it may continue.
-Pray for missionaries across the world who are seeking to preach the Gospel and establish a faithful church.
-Pray for those in persecuted countries who have to meet in secret. Even those who are now in prison for their faith. Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world.

Church Services
Sermons
Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (also available online via Facebook)
Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
Bible study and prayer
Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
Lunch hour service
Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (also available online via Facebook
(Thursday) scripture reading - Genesis 28 v 10-17
​Outreach/witnessing
Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer.

Daily reading
Preface - Samuel by God's direction goeth to Bethlehem under pretence of a sacrifice. Jesse's seven sons pass before him, but are not approved by God. David is sent for, approved, and anointed. An evil spirit troubleth Saul, who by the advice of his servants sendeth for David, and is relieved by his music.
1 Samuel 16
Preface - Directions to treat a weak brother kindly, and not to despise or censure one another in matters of indifference. Christ's right to our best services, whether we live or die. We must all be answerable for our respective conduct at his judgment seat. We must be careful not to use our Christian liberty to the hurt or offence of tender consciences.
Romans 14

A Puritans Catechism
Q57 - Which is the seventh commandment?
A - The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
The believer's prayer for divine teaching
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119 v 18
The law of God here spoken of is the Bible. In the days of David, the Law, or the Five Books of Moses, formed the greater part of the Bible, and so the whole was often called the Law. So, in the first verse, 'His delight is in the law of the Lord.' At verse 97 he says, 'O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.' And here, 'Open thou mine eyes.'
The wondrous things seem to be the great things of an eternal world. David had looked on the wonders of this world - he had turned his enquiring eyes upon the wonders of nature, sun, moon and starts, mountains, trees, and rivers. He had seen many of the wonders of art; but now, he wanted to see the spiritual wonders contained in the Bible. He wanted to know about God Himself in all His majesty, purity, and grace. He wanted to learn the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer, and the glory that is to follow. These were the wondrous things David wanted to see.
'Open mine eyes.' - David was not blind - his eye was not dim. He could read the Bible from end to end, and yet he felt that he needed more light. He felt that he needed to see deeper, to have eyes of his understanding opened. He felt that if he had nothing but his own eyes and natural understanding, he would not discover the wonders which he panted to see. He wanted Divine teaching - the eye salve of the spirit; and therefore he would not open the Bible without this prayer, 'Open Thou mine eyes.