Daily Readings for Tuesday 24th December 2024

Prayer - Tuesday
- Give thanks to God for those who have recently recovered from sickness.
- Pray for those who are sick or receiving treatment in our congregation.
- Pray that we each would walk close to God, putting off sins that easily beset us and that we would daily give thanks for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (1. John 1.3; Hebrews 12.1; 1 Thes. 5.16.)


Church Services
Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook)
Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook)
Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook)
Bible Study and Prayer
Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook)
Lunch Hour Service
Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook)
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 - The destruction of Jerusalem. Under the type of Zechariah is showed Christ's care for the flock, the Jews; and their rejection because of ingratitude and light estimation of him. The type and curse of a foolish shepherd.
Zechariah 11
Preface - Christ comforteth his disciples with the promise of a heavenly mansion: he professeth himself the way, the truth, and the life; and that he is one with the Father: he promiseth them power to do greater works than his own, and the grant of all that they should ask in his name: he requireth their obedience as a proof of their love, and giveth them a promise of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost: he leaveth his peace with them.
John 14


Daily Light - Morning
If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit
do mortify the deeds of the body,
ye shall live.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication...and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity.
Ro. 8.13; Ga. 5.19,21-25
Titus 2.11-14


Daily Light - Evening
Then said the princes of the Philistines,
What do these Hebrews here?

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief...or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Let not...your good be evil spoken of. - Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?...ye are the temple of the living God... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.

Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
1 Sa. 29.3; 1 Pe. 4.14-15
Ro. 14.16; 1 Pe. 2.12
2 Co. 6.14,16,17
1 Pe. 2.9


A Puritans Catechism​
Q 44 - Which is the second commandment?
A - The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.


The 1689
Baptist Confession of Faith
Of the Law of God
Chapter 19
PARAGRAPH 3
​
Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;6 and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties,7 all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.8
6 Heb. 10:1; Col. 2:17
7 1 Cor. 5:7
8 Col. 2:14,16–17; Eph. 2:14,16


Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
The sovereign mercy of Jesus
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 2 vs 16-18

We read of two great rebellions in the history of the universe - the rebellion of the angels, and the rebellion of man. For infinitely wise and gracious purposes God planned and permitted both of these, that out of evil He might bring forth good. The first took place in heaven itself. Pride was the sin by which the angels fell, and, therefore, it is called 'the condemnation of the devil.' They kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.' The next fall took place upon earth. Satan tempted, and man fell - believed the devil rather than God, and so came under the curse - 'Thou shalt surely die.' Both of these families came under the same frown - under the same condemnation - both were condemned to the same 'everlasting fire.' But the glorious Son of God resolved from all eternity, to die for sinners. Now, for which of the two shall He die? Perhaps the angels in heaven would long that He should die for their once brother angels. The angelic nature was higher than that of man. Men had fallen deeper into sin than the rebel angels. Will He not die for angels? Now, here is the answer - 'Verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.' Here is sovereign mercy passing by one of the family and coming to another. Let us wonder and adore the sovereign mercy of Jesus.