7th August 2025

Rejoicing Love

. . . As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

So shall your God rejoices over you.

Isaiah 62:5

Today's Bible Reading: Isaiah 62:1–5.

The image of a bride and groom delighting over each other is the picture the prophet Isaiah painted to describe the type of delight and love God has for His people. In a beautifully poetic description of God’s promised deliverance, Isaiah reminded his readers that the salvation God offered them reflected the reality of living in a broken world—comfort for the broken-hearted, joy for those who mourn and provision for the needs of His people (Isaiah 6:1-3:). God offered help to His people because, just like a bride and groom celebrate their love for each other, “so shall your God rejoice over you” (62:5).

It is a remarkable truth that God delights in us and wants a relationship with us. Even when we struggle because of the effects of living in a broken world, we have a God who loves us, not begrudgingly, but with a rejoicing, lasting love that “endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

Prayer: Loving God, thank You for rejoicing over me in love.

6th August 2025

The Mystery of His Love

 I have loved you with an everlasting love . . .   

Jeremiah 31:3

Today's Bible Reading: 1 John 4:7-16.

No human experience can fully illustrate the imputed righteousness of God, as conceived by His infinite love. It is a mystery-incomprehensible and inexplicable. Like the mystery of the sun’s heat and light, we cannot measure it or explain it, and yet we could not live without it. Writing of the mystery of completed righteousness, Paul said, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. . . . But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:7, 9). What God has wrought in us is wonderful. But His work has just begun. He has a wonderful, exciting, thrilling future for all of His believing children.

Prayer: Lord God, My finite mind cannot grasp all there is in store for those who love You, but this does not take away the joy and expectation all Your love has prepared—everlastingly! Father, I praise, bless and thank You, in Jesus name. Amen.

5th August 2025

Keep Your Word

 “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.'

Matthew 5:37.

Today's Bible Reading: Numbers 30.

When a witness is ready to testify in court, they raise their hand and say, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help me, God.” The witness is calling God to be a witness to the truth of the testimony.

The basic principle taught in Numbers 30 is that vows must be kept. Our word must stand. Truth telling is an essential characteristic of Christians. Twisting the truth or telling lies has no place among us. The reason for this is that we are called to reflect God. “God is not human, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?” (Numbers 23:19). When our word can not be trusted, we look like the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44).

The Lord Jesus made clear the importance of truth telling when He said, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). He was saying that we should be so marked by the truth that we should not need a vow to back up our word. Sometimes a vow will be required of us. But let our word be enough. May our word be consistent with our actions. Many a person (believers) have be murdered, destroyed and put to death, because of lies.

Prayer:  Father, the temptation to lie or twist the truth is always strong. Help me to be someone who is known speaking the truth, and by doing so, reflect You. Amen