14th July 2025

The Loneliest of Man

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy . . .

 Genesis 39:21

Today's Bible Reading: Genesis 39:11-22.

On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped out of their lunar landing module and became the first humans to walk on the surface of the moon. But we don’t often think about the third person on their team, Michael Collins, who was flying the command module for Apollo 11. After his teammates clambered down the ladder to test the lunar surface, Collins waited alone on the far side of the moon. He was out of touch with Neil, Buzz and everyone on earth. NASA’s mission control commented, “Not since Adam has any human known such solitude as Mike Collins.”

There are times when we might feel completely alone. Imagine, for instance, how Joseph, Jacob’s son, felt when he was taken from Israel to Egypt after his brothers sold him (Genesis 37:23–28). Then he was thrust into further isolation by being thrown in prison on false charges (39:19–20).

How did Joseph survive in prison in a foreign land with no family anywhere nearby? Listen to this: “While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him” (v 20–21). Four times we are reminded of this wonderful and comforting truth in Genesis 39.

Do you feel alone or isolated from others? Hold on to the truth of God’s presence, promised by the Lord Jesus Himself: “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Know this, with Jesus as your Saviour, you are never alone.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, please help me know, as You have promised in the Scriptures, that You are with me as You were with Joseph. Thank You. In Jesus name. Amen.

13th July 2025

Cleansing Power of Christ

If the blood of bulls and of goats . . . sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh;

how much more shall the blood of Christ, . . . purge your conscience

from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:13-14

Today's Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15.

To have a guilty conscience is an experience. Psychologists may define it as a guilt complex and may seek to rationalize away the sense of guilt; but once this has been awakened through the application of the law of God, no explanation will quiet the insistent voice of conscience. Many a criminal has finally given himself over to the authorities because the accusations of a guilty conscience were worse than prison bars. The Bible teaches that Christ cleanses the conscience. To have a guilty conscience cleansed and to be free from its constant accusation is an experience, but it is not the cleansing of the conscience that saves you; it is faith in Christ, and Christ alone that saves, and a cleansed conscience is the result of having come into the right relationship with God.

Prayer: Father God, I stand in awe of the magnitude of Your forgiveness, and thank You for it. In Jesus name. Amen.

12th July 2025

Biblical Heroes

Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,

for He has prepared a city for them.  

Hebrews 11:16

Today's Bible Reading: Romans 1:18-25.

The Bible does not gloss over the faults, errors or sins of those whose lives it records. If it did, we might wonder if the Bible was really accurate and could be trusted. But it can be trusted, and one reason is because of its honesty about the human nature.

Why does the Bible tell us about the sins of men and women who believed in God and were supposed to be following God, but failed? One reason is so we will learn from their example and not make the same mistakes that they did. They did not fail because God had not told them how He wanted them to live. They failed because they turned their backs on God’s Word and chose to go their own way. And this can happen to us. In 1 Corinthians 10:11, the Bible says: These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us.

But the Bible also records their sinfulness, so we will each realise how much we need a Saviour. We are not any different from them; we too sin, and we too need God’s forgiveness. And God made this possible by sending Jesus Christ, who alone was sinless, into the world to take away our sins. Are you trusting Him for your salvation?

Prayer: Almighty Father, thank You that You are always faithful, even when I am not, when I let You down. Help me to live the Christian life. In Jesus name. Amen