30th January 2026

Star Gazing

When they had come into the house,

they saw the young Child with Mary His mother,

and fell down and worshipped Him.

Matthew 2:11

Today's Bible Reading: Micah 5:1-2.

The Bible does not tell us exactly where they came from; it only tells us that they were from a country to the east of Israel (where Jesus was born). Neither does it tell us if they rode camels—although they probably did, since they would have had to cross long sections of desert to reach their destination.

Many Bible scholars believe they probably came from the ancient country of Persia, hundreds of miles away. If so, they might have become familiar with the Old Testament’s prophecies about the coming Messiah, through Jews who had been forced to settle there centuries before. They may, for example, have known of the prophet Isaiah’s words: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6).

What is certain, however, is that God revealed to them that the long-awaited Messiah had now been born, and they were determined to find Him and honour Him. When they finally arrived in Jerusalem, they asked where He could be found, and were told of the prophet Micah’s words that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The sign God had given them in the heavens went before them, and they discovered Jesus. Immediately, the Bible says, “they fell down and worshipped Him” (Matthew 2:11).

I pray that you will be like those wise men—seeking Jesus with your whole heart, and then by faith committing your life to Him. He is the greatest gift you will ever discover or receive.

Prayer: Help me, Father God, to know more deeply in my heart, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His name I ask. Amen.

29th January 2026

Is He At Your Door ?

Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . .

Revelation 3:20

Today's Bible Reading: Revelation 3:20-22.

In the closing words to the church in Laodicea, Jesus presents a vivid image of His desire for a close, personal relationship with each individual. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," He says, a gentle yet powerful invitation to fellowship.

This imagery reflects the intimacy of a personal relationship. Jesus, the King of Kings, humbly stands at the door of our hearts, seeking entrance. Notice that He doesn't force His way in; rather, He patiently waits for us to respond. The knocking is an expression of His love and the desire for communion with us. 

The conditions for this fellowship are beautifully simple: "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door." Hearing His voice involves attentiveness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the recognition of Jesus as Lord. Opening the door requires an act of our will, a decision to invite Him into every area of our lives. 

The promise that follows is profound: "I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." The symbolism of dining together speaks of intimacy, friendship, and shared life. Jesus desires not only to be present in our lives but to share in the joys and challenges, to commune with us in a way that transforms our relationship with Him. 

Consider the state of the door of your heart. Is it open to the Lord Jesus, or have we unintentionally kept Him waiting outside? May we each respond to His loving invitation, hear His voice, and open the door wide, welcoming Him into the very core of our being. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for standing at the door of my heart, patiently knocking. Open my ears to hear your voice and soften my heart to respond to your invitation. Come in, dine with me, and may my life be a testimony to the intimate relationship I share with you. In your precious name, I pray. Amen.

28th January 2026

In God's Service

God called to him from the midst of the bush

and said, “Moses, Moses!”

Exodus 3:4

Today's Bible Reading:  Exodus 3;1-12.

Imagine for just a moment that you are God. You are the Creator of the Universe and you possess all power within yourself. However, your people are being held as slaves and the time has come to deliver them. Who would you choose to do this great work? Perhaps you would send a great military leader? What about sending a skilled politician? Maybe you would send some great orator, someone good with words; a man who could give heart-stirring speeches that would grip the hearts of men. If you had the population of the world at your disposal, would you have sent Moses? Probably not! After all, he was 80 years old, when God called him. He was a fugitive from justice, wanted for murder in Egypt, the very place you want to send him! Yes, Moses was well educated, but that was over 40 years ago. Yes, he had been well connected with the royal family, and in the political circles of the day, but that too had been a long time ago. Yet, when it came time for God to send a deliverer to Israel, this is exactly the person God chose for the job. To us humans, it might not make much sense, but to God it was all part of a great plan.

While you think about that, think about this too. We are living in the midst of a world that is going to Hell. People are perishing daily and need desperately to be reached with the message of Jesus Christ. If you were God, whom would you send to reach them? Would you raise up some kind of super saints? Maybe you would ordain a few angels to to the work. But, surely you would not send a bunch of old sinners saved by grace to tell other old sinners about that grace. If we were God, we would want the brightest minds and the most skilled individuals we could get our hands on. Yet, when God chose to reach this world for Himself, He looked around and decided that saved sinners made the best candidates for His work.

As a Christian, are you doing that work today?

(WARNING – Be careful of saying today's prayer).

Prayer: Father God, Help me in some way every day this year, to tell someone about the Lord Jesus. In my Saviour's name I ask. Amen.