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Search TAG: Nearer to God daily devotional

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Daily devotional

March 19 - Four marks

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” - Acts 2:42 Scripture read...
Daily devotional

March 18 - Preparing for an exam

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.�...
Daily devotional

March 17 - Preparing with God’s comfort

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is...
Daily devotional

March 16 - Preparing by looking

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and ha...
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Daily devotional

March 15 - Preparing our hearts

“...rend your hearts and not your garments..” - Joel 2:13 Scripture reading: Joel 2:1-14 A Christian's goal is fellowship with the Lord. The prophet Joel encourages us onward toward that goal, even as his message encouraged the people of his own day. Joel told the people that God was interested in their hearts more than in outward actions. The ancient Israelites would weep, fast and rend their garments as a sign of grief and repentance, but all too easily these outward actions were just that, outward, with no spiritual meaning. The prophetic message that God gave to Joel is clear: when you draw near to God be sure that you are sincere. As we live before the Lord today and all the days that He will give us, we must make sure that our relationship with the Lord Jesus is not just a going-through-the-motions, but rather a matter of our repentant heart and renewed mind. Our reading from Joel also contains a marvellous assurance from the Lord. When we rend our hearts and not our garments, verse 13 tells us, God will be gracious. He will be merciful, tender and compassionate, blessing us in love. He will be slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, providing for our salvation and all our needs, physical and spiritual, because He loves us. The goal is fellowship with the Lord. To experience this, exercise your faith and return to the Lord. Christ has opened the way by His sacrificial death. Repent in all sincerity and do so in the good hope of receiving God's blessings of forgiveness, mercy, and love. Suggestions for prayer Make your request to the Lord that He would lead you in the path of fellowship with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus. Praise Him for His forgiveness, mercy and love. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 14 - Preparing by denying, taking up, and following

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 Scripture reading: Luke 9:18-27 A basic step in discipleship is self-denial. If Jesus really comes first in your life, then you must deny yourself. Self-denial requires the use of the word NO. We are called to say NO to sin and Satan. Consider your life. Do you see a pattern of you saying NO to sin? Discipleship has a price and a vital part of the price is denying yourself. A further needed step is taking up your cross daily. Jesus' one atoning sacrifice on the cross is unique, unrepeatable. For us, taking up our cross is different. We are not earning salvation, rather this is the Lord's call to costly discipleship. It means enduring physical pain, sorrow, or stress. We take up our cross because it causes us to come to the Lord casting our burdens and cares upon Him. In our text we also see the Gospel call of Jesus: Come, follow me! It is a call to a meaningful life, a call to service, and to experience the love of the Lord. To respond to that call in covenant obedience is the most important decision we will ever make in our earthly life. It is a decision that requires the other two steps: self-denial and taking up the cross. As we look ahead to Good Friday and Easter, and consider our path this week, let us be spiritually prepared. Respond to Jesus' call to follow Him. Find sweet fellowship with the Saviour as you learn more and more to deny yourself and to take up your cross daily. Suggestions for prayer Seek the guidance of the Lord and His strength to learn self-denial. Ask for wisdom to deal with life as a disciple who willingly takes up the cross. Pray for grace to respond affirmatively to Jesus' call to follow Him. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 13 - Preparing with mercy

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” - Matthew 5:7 Scripture reading: Matthew 5:1-12 Christians realize the need for the mercy of God. The Lord Jesus went to the cross, suffered and died because His heart was merciful to us. In our text, the Lord speaks about this much-needed virtue. He told the crowd on the Galilean hillside and us today, that we have a responsibility. If we want inner peace, true happiness and satisfaction, we need not only desire to receive God's mercy, but we need to be merciful ourselves. In a world filled with hate and cries for vengeance, we must show mercy to those who have wronged us. In a world filled with suffering and pain, we must reach out to others and help them in their distress. When you speak and act, you must judge your words and actions by the standard of mercy. Daily we pray to experience God’s mercy as we ask Him for pardon and for grace. Then we realize that Jesus's words are of utmost importance to us: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Today, recommit yourself and your ways to the Lord. To do this, Jesus says that you must be merciful. Are you? It takes a heart willing to give up sin to live a Christ-like life. It takes God's all-powerful help. In your words and deeds today and every day show that you are a true disciple. Be merciful to those around you. By God's grace we can be merciful and so we shall experience the mercy of our Saviour in a measure rich and full. Suggestions for prayer Seek the working of the Spirit to soften your heart and to guide you so that you can be a faithful disciple, showing mercy to those with whom you come in contact at home, at work, at school, at church, wherever you might be.  Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 12 - Invited and ready

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14 Scripture reading: Matthew 22:1-14 In Jesus' parable, the guests came because they received a royal invitation. Yet, some didn't care; some reacted negatively. Others were invited right off the street. The king provided all that was needed for these guests to clean up, but when he entered, one man was still in his old, dirty clothes; he had not put on the new robe the king had provided. This man had no excuse for not wearing the robe given by the king. He had not valued the invitation highly enough to make himself ready. When the king called him to account, the man was speechless. He had no reason to be there without wedding clothes on. The king had him thrown out. The penalty was severe, but just. Jesus taught the people that it is not just the invitation that matters, but also the readiness of the guests. Today, you are invited to church for worship. Many will ignore the invitation. Will you? Perhaps you will come to church, but are you ready, clothed in the righteousness of Christ? Like the king in the parable, the Lord God not only invites, but He also notices who has come into His presence clothed aright. Turn to the Lord in true repentance. Trust the Saviour with true faith. It is the humble, trusting soul, the disciple who is following Jesus, who is clothed with the robe of salvation. Wearing that robe, we can enter into God's House and worship Him in spirit and in truth. You are invited. Make sure that you are ready. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to give you the grace and wisdom you need to prepare to worship Him this day in spirit and in truth. Pray for those who ignore the King's invitation that they may be converted. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 11- Preparing with the Lord’s favour

“Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation…” - Psalm 51:11, 12 Scripture reading: Psalm 51:1-19 Few today know what it is to be “cast out.” We live in a very tolerant society, but in other places and times, it was different. To be cast out was like a sentence of death. Whole nations were cast out of their homes and left to perish. It is a tragedy repeated far too often in human history. King David knew the feeling of being cast out. He recognized that his sin had evil results and feared that he would lose God's favour and that God's Holy Spirit would be taken from him. This terrible feeling drove him to seek the Lord and His grace in prayer. We should learn from this. Too often our souls can be dull. We take it for granted that God's Holy Spirit is happily dwelling in our hearts. The fact is: sin disrupts our fellowship with God. When we turn away from the Lord in self-righteousness, or neglect the means of grace provided for us in the church, we will soon feel a spiritual emptiness and lack a good conscience. David could not accept this spiritual loss. He had sinned, but he turned to the Holy Spirit Who could restore him to God's favour. That blessed restoration resulted in David again experiencing the joy of the Lord's salvation. As another week ends and you prepare for worship in God's House tomorrow, may you seek the blessing of the Spirit's work of applying Jesus' righteousness to you, so that you too will experience the Lord's favour and the joy of His salvation. Suggestions for prayer Seek to experience the Lord's favour by asking the Spirit to apply Jesus' righteousness to you and allow you to know the Lord's favour. Pray for spiritual wisdom which recognizes the importance of public worship, which the church provides tomorrow. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 10 - Heartfelt preparation

“...because your heart was penitent...I also have heard you, declares the Lord.” - 2 Kings 22:19 Scripture reading: 2 Kings 22:1-20 A major part of our faith and our response to God is found in our inner life. People around us hear our words and see our actions, but God alone reads our hearts. When we stifle our deep and powerful heartfelt feelings toward God, we do ourselves spiritual damage. That is certainly true when it comes to repentance. Those who deaden their hearts, deny their inner struggles and train themselves to be unfeeling, have great difficulty here, because repentance involves our total being as we turn away from the world and toward the Lord Jesus Christ. We see this in 2 Kings 22. The Law of the Lord convicted King Josiah of his sin and the sin of his people. The king had a reaction. Outwardly he tore his clothes, a public action and custom of his day. That outward action, however, was not merely a custom, rather it was the result of what was going on in the heart of the king. His heart was truly penitent as he wept. He humbled himself before the Lord. His outward actions were a reflection of his inner struggle of soul and of his repentance. In a few weeks, we will mark Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. Many will outwardly celebrate with chocolate bunnies and coloured Easter eggs and nothing more. God grant that our celebration be far different! May all that Christ Jesus accomplished move us deeply. Like Josiah, let us turn to the Lord with penitent hearts. The Lord Jesus receives the penitent in His overflowing grace! Suggestions for prayer: Express your sincere penitence with prayer that humbly seeks the Lord's forgiveness. Seek His divine help to banish pride, worldliness and stubbornness from your heart and life. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 9 - Preparing in humility

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 18:14b Scripture reading: Luke 18:1-14 The Lord Jesus, in this parable, states that the way to righteousness is the way of humility. The tax collector, by very definition in those days, a sinner, does not try to deny his sin. He confessed his sin, cried out to God for mercy and trusted in God's gracious pardon. He knew that he had no merits to claim, no deals to make; he just asked to be forgiven. So it was, says Jesus in the parable, that the tax collector went to his house, right with God. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The tax collector found the way of righteousness, and peace with God. It is the way of humility: confessing one's sin and finding the sure hope of pardon in Jesus Christ, Whose sacrifice on the cross is the means by which pardon is given. As we look forward to the days of Christian remembrance, particularly Good Friday and Easter, may our hearts and souls be stirred to appreciate the grace of God. Let us be humbled, as we realize that only the perfect sacrifice of the Saviour could pay the price of our pardon. Remember that God does not forgive you because you feel you are better than others, or because you have said or done enough to merit His pardon. What every sinner needs is to humbly confess his sins, trust in Christ's power to forgive through His sacrifice on the cross, and then live in humble obedience each day as thankful recipients of God's amazing grace. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Holy Spirit to move powerfully upon your heart and in your life, so that you may know your need of pardon and humbly seek that pardon where it is found: through the power of Christ's sacrifice. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 8 - Preparing with forgiveness

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” - Isaiah 1:18 Scripture reading: Isaiah 1:10-18 The sweetest word for the sinner is – forgiveness. The forgiveness that Jesus merited for us is the most blessed gift that a sinful human can receive. No earthly treasure can compare with forgiveness, because it is the doorway through which we can enter into fellowship with God. God does not ask the impossible. The plan handed to us by God to receive His pardon is reasonable. It is based on divine love, so great that the Father sent His Son to die for our sins. In return, the Lord asks us to recognize our sins, repent and come to Jesus in faith. This is truly a most reasonable plan. Those who respond to this call of God find His pardon and a wonderful fellowship with Him. What a blessing it is to be forgiven! We find peace with God and the joy of knowing that our hearts and lives, once stained by sin as red as scarlet, are now by the power of Christ's death and resurrection washed clean, as white as snow. As you look forward to remembering the days of Christ's passion, His death, and His glorious resurrection, do so knowing that by trusting in Him you share in the divine blessing of forgiveness. By the power of the Spirit, be part of the fellowship of forgiveness. Have peace with God. Be calm in your soul. Be steady in your faith. Trust God's promise that He looks upon you, not as a stained sinner, but as one washed clean in Jesus' blood. Suggestions for prayer Make a heartfelt prayer for forgiveness part of your daily devotions. Also request the indwelling power of the Lord to assure you that His pardon is real in your heart and life. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 7 - Preparing with joy

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10b Scripture reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12 There are many devout Christians who are burdened with grief for their sins. Like the people gathered in Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra, who heard the law of the Lord and wept, these Christians know the burden that sin placed on them. It was a burden so heavy that only the perfect sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross could lift it from their souls. Sadly, there are those who reflect more upon the burden of their sin than upon the liberating sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. This is a dreadful error, because it causes them to endure endless grief and guilt. They are continually downcast and spiritually uneasy. This is needless and contrary to God's desire. Just as the repentant Jews, who wept when Ezra read the law, were told not to grieve, the Lord tells us that, when we repent and look to Jesus and His atoning sacrifice offered upon the cross, we also should not grieve. Grief and guilt result in spiritual weakness, which is easily exploited by the power of the evil one. The Lord calls us to believe that He is merciful in accepting the atoning sacrifice of His Son for the salvation of His people. What a joyful message! If you believe, then your sins are forgiven and you should find joy in that Gospel message. The joy that God gives to His pardoned people is a source of spiritual strength. May you know that blessed joy of the Lord and so be strengthened for each step of your life's journey. Suggestions for prayer Pray that the Lord will protect you against the schemes of the devil as he tries to fill you with grief and guilt. Seek the assurance of the Holy Spirit that, looking to Jesus in faith, you are truly forgiven and be filled with joy in that assurance. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 6 - Preparing in righteousness

“Tell the righteous it shall be well with them.” - Isaiah 3:10 Scripture reading: Isaiah 3:1-13 Next month, we will mark Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. The message of the saving work of Jesus is so important that we should not reserve it for contemplation only on those special days. It is a message that must touch our hearts, souls and lives every day! In our text, the Lord addresses the righteous. Are you among that number? You do not become part of this group by your actions and words, or work your way into this blessed fellowship. Only through Jesus’ sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, can you, by faith, share in the blessing of being justified and declared righteous in God's sight. Our text also reveals a wonderful blessing that the righteous receive: “it shall be well with them.” Those who, by grace, are made righteous in Christ will surely face times of trial, oppression and persecution in this world, but are safe in the righteousness bestowed by Christ and freed from the curse of sin. They enjoy an inner joy, peace with God and hope for a marvellous future in Christ's heavenly kingdom. Indeed, it shall be well for those who, saved by grace, through faith, are accounted righteous before God. Seek out God's assurance that you share in the righteousness of Christ, by faith. Repent of your sins and look to Jesus for pardon. Knowing that you have received the blessing of imputed righteousness, be assured that, no matter what earthly trials you may have to endure, ultimately in God's good time, it will be well with you for all eternity. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to work in your heart that, as a repentant believer, you may have the blessed assurance of which the prophet spoke. Pray for daily outpourings of God's grace to uphold you and yours through life's trials. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 5 - Preparing with love and fear

“I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” - Psalm 5:7 Scripture Reading: Psalm 5:1-12 David, under God's inspiration, speaks here of going to the tabernacle to worship the Lord. What David said speaks to us this Sunday as we worship the Lord at church. God's house of prayer is a special place: dedicated to the public worship of the Almighty. Here we listen to God's Word preached, sing praises to God, have public prayer and share in the sacraments. Our text urges us to worship in the proper spirit, today and at every service of Christian worship. We, like David, can enter God's house aright, because in His divine love, God has laid His sovereign claim upon us. Those who by faith know God's steadfast love are true worshippers and will receive a blessing. The proper spirit of worship also includes godly fear, that wholehearted respect and devotion, which is a hallmark of a true believer. When we fear the Lord, turning to Him respectfully, in awe of His majesty and amazed by His glory, then our worship is genuine and God pours out a blessing upon us as we appear in His courts. God's love and our reverent fear are basic to true and blessed worship. May your heart be prepared with such love and fear today as you go to church and as you prepare for the days of Christian remembrance in the month ahead. It is God's steadfast love that motivates us to come and worship, and our godly fear of Him provides the proper spirit in which we gather together in church this Lord's day. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for His wondrous love, which brought you into fellowship with Him and His people. Pray for a spirit of godly fear to fill your heart as you join in public worship today. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 4 - Preparing by breaking

“And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it.” - 2 Kings 18:4b Scripture reading: 2 Kings 18:1-8 During Israel's 40 years in the wilderness, God commanded Moses to make a bronze snake as a remedy for a plague of poisonous serpents. The people of Israel kept that bronze serpent for some 800 years. There was nothing sinful in that bronze snake itself, but in disobedience, the people of Israel had turned it into an idol. They thought there was power in it and they worshipped it. At last King Hezekiah, realizing the problem, took drastic action: he broke that bronze serpent in pieces. He destroyed that originally good thing, which had become an idol for the people. As we prepare to mark the days of Christ's passion in the month ahead and in our whole walk of life with the Lord, we must consider how we view and use, or misuse, the good blessings of God. Anything: a house, a car, a job, a vacation, money itself can become an idol if we love it more than we love the Lord. Also, as Jesus declared in the Gospel, anyone: a wife or husband, a father or mother, children, a boyfriend or girlfriend, yes (!) any human being whom we love more than the Lord has become an idol in our hearts. By the power of the Spirit, recognize anything or anyone in your life that has become an idol. Then, by the power of the Lord, break it like King Hezekiah broke the snake. Dash in pieces the power of the idol that would damage your love for the Lord, which must come first in your hearts and lives. Suggestions for prayer In humble prayer ask the Lord to show you what has become an idol in your heart and life. Then ask for power from on high to break the power of that idolatry, so that love for the Lord will come first in your soul. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional, Uncategorised

March 3 - Preparing by carrying

“... they seized one Simon of Cyrene who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.” - Luke 23:26 Scripture reading: Luke 23:13-31 On the first Good Friday, Simon carried the cross of Jesus. Simon carried a physical cross and we Christians, who can see ourselves reflected in Simon, are called to carry our cross and follow after Jesus in heartfelt discipleship. As we look forward to Good Friday 2023, we do well to consider this calling carefully. Search your heart and life, and dare to ask yourself a few very important questions: How do you view your own trials and temptations? With a shrug of the shoulders or with much bitterness? The Lord calls you to see that it is through the struggles of life, that you carry a cross. As you follow Jesus, there will be trials and temptations: your cross is laid upon you for your spiritual benefit. Are you willingly carrying your cross? How are you living day by day? Are you following Christ, walking in His footsteps? That is the call of God to you. The pathway is not easy, but by following the Lord Jesus you prove yourself to be His disciple. As such, you are called to take up your cross. Where is your hope? The well-prepared Christian finds hope in the cross of Christ, not in vain human works and efforts. Hear the call of the Lord. Take up your cross and follow Jesus, and so you will be prepared not just to mark the special days of Jesus' passion, but to live a lifetime in fellowship with the One Whose sacrifice on the cross was the price of our salvation. Suggestions for prayer Seek wisdom from the Lord to view your trials and temptations from a Christian perspective. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength to bear whatever cross is there in your life as you follow Jesus. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 2 - Preparing with prayer

“And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”” - Luke 22:46 Scripture reading: Luke 22:39-46 For too many people, prayer is a last resort. Such people are, as it were, sleepwalking through life. They are missing out on the sweet fellowship with the Lord that prayer provides. As we read in our Scripture passage, the disciples, in their weakness, slept, while Jesus prayed. This account of what happened on the night before Good Friday, should challenge us. How is your prayer life? Prayer is to be more than mumbled words or well-worn phrases uttered by custom. Prayer is a sigh deep in our souls. Prayer springs from a heart yearning and searching for the One Who alone satisfies our needs. Christian, get up and pray, as you ready yourself to remember again the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus and His glorious resurrection! In our text, Jesus is telling us that we too, like those first disciples, need to be people of prayer, so that we will not fall into Satan's snares. The devil's plan is to impoverish our spiritual lives. When prayer is scarce, that is the result. Get up and pray to God for His needed blessings, both spiritual and physical. Pray for wisdom to turn in faith to Jesus Christ, the righteous One. Let us hear Jesus say to us: Get up and pray, seek the face of God, bow in adoration before the Almighty One, Who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Appear before the throne of grace in prayer, and you will have fellowship with the Crucified One Who is now the Glorified One! Suggestions for prayer Ask the Lord to help you be faithful in prayer. Make it your petition that you will be well prepared for life in fellowship with your Saviour, as you remember His sacrifice for you and His victory over sin and death. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

March 1 - Introduction to preparation

Preparation is an essential part of life. Our children go to school for years as a vital part of their preparation for adult life. We prepare for holidays, graduations, weddings and all sorts of other family celebrations. Spiritual preparation is also of utmost importance. For generations, some Reformed Churches had special services of preparation before administering the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper, although sadly this excellent custom has fallen into disuse in many churches. If your church still observes a preparatory Sunday, count yourself blessed. In a personal way we prepare for a new day, or to bring a day to its close, with family and private devotions, and I hope that this booklet will be a help and encouragement in this. Next month, we Christians will mark some of the most important days on the Christian calendar: Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. It is my hope and intention that, using this daily devotional in this month of March, in the Year of our Lord 2023, we will prepare spiritually to remember these high points in our Saviour's earthly ministry, upon which our very salvation is established. May God grant a blessing to all who use these devotionals to reflect on the Scriptures and to lift up faithful hearts in prayer. Preparing by Walking “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” - 1 John 2:6 Scripture reading: 1 John 2:1-11 Life is portrayed as a journey in a number of Scriptural passages. All of us are walking down a path with an eternal destination. Sadly, many walk down the broad highway that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Our calling as Christians is to walk the narrow path that leads to life. As we prepare to mark the great events of Jesus' earthly ministry: Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, we do well to consider our walk of life. The Lord gave His life to save us and calls us to follow Him. How? John's inspired answer is that we “ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”  Throughout his letter, John mentions how Jesus walked to save us. He lived as the atoning sacrifice (I John 2:2). We too are called to walk the path of sacrifice. What have you sacrificed for Jesus? Our Lord perfectly obeyed the Father's will. Jesus walked the path of righteousness (I John 2:29). Do you? Or are your feet on the path of worldly pleasure? God calls you to walk in obedient righteousness. Jesus also walked the path of love (I John 3:16). His love was real and enabled Him to give His life for His people's salvation. How real is your love? Do you love others enough to forgive them and bear with their weaknesses? Do you love the Lord enough to serve Him and build up His church? Those who walk as Jesus did, love God above all and their neighbour as themselves. Suggestions for prayer Ask the Holy Spirit to work in your heart so that you will truly reflect the sacrifice, righteousness and love of your Master, as you follow Him. Pray that you will be well prepared not only to mark the great events of Jesus' earthly ministry, but for a full life of discipleship. Rev. Gregg V. Martin was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1977. In his years of service, he pastored a total of five congregations in three Canadian provinces. He also served for more than seven years in Latin America as a missionary, providing leadership training in Reformed mission churches. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

February 28 - Ashes for the head

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” - Job 42:5, 6   Scripture reading: Job 42:1-6 Saints in the Bible often showed their repentance by pouring ashes and dust on their heads. They were symbolically saying they felt consumed and buried by their sins. It was not a lame repentance like, “If I have offended you, I’m sorry.” They did not equivocate. Job, too, was genuine. God showed him how little he knew and how his complaints against God were groundless. For sure, Job was a godly man. He had knowledge of the truth, but his knowledge was limited. He could not understand how God would allow a man who loved him to suffer so much. He did not allow for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in his life as God saw fit. So he grumbled. And that was a serious sin. Yet, his godliness came out even more when he confessed his sins in a clear and unequivocal way. One recent US president claimed to be a Christian, but said he did not repent because he did not sin. How foolish! Let God’s Word and God’s Spirit show you your sins. Everyone sins! But what wonderful hope Christians have! You have an Advocate with the Father and He paid the full price for your sins. And don’t forget, real repentance requires a godly sorrow for sins, a hating of your sins, a forsaking of your sins, and a turning and living a godly life before God. Suggestions for prayer Pray that you will be a person of God’s Word and understand His will and that you will be quick to sincerely confess your sins. Pastor Mitchell Persaud is a missionary at New Horizon URCNA, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, where he has ministered for over 20 years. Feel free to Google his name for more information about New Horizon. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

February 27 - Job questions God’s wisdom

“After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” - Job 3:1  Scripture reading: Job 3:11-16 Job wished he had never been born and he cursed the day of his birth. He wished he were a stillborn baby. He wished he had starved to death as an infant. You can understand his angst as he mourned the loss of so much, including his beloved children. The pain he felt was unbearable! Was Job justified in saying these things? No, he was wrong. He was rejecting the providence of God. God had a reason for those things and if you read the last chapter of Job you will see this. God was strengthening Job and was going to make life better for him in the future. Job just didn’t see God’s plan – yet. You may be called to suffer too. God has His reasons. In your immediate future you may have mountains to climb. God may want you to be poor, so that you might be able to identify with and help the poor. God may want you sick so your children will learn to care for you. God may want you single so you can be of help to a married couple. Your immediate future may or may not be bright, but your future is bright. God will make your future better when you are in the presence of the Lord Jesus in heaven and will be rewarded for your obedience to Christ. Therefore, don’t accuse God of messing up your life. He knows what He is doing. He always does. And He loves you. You’ve been born again! Suggestion for prayer Pray that you will not complain when things go contrary to your expectations, knowing all will work out for your good. Pastor Mitchell Persaud is a missionary at New Horizon URCNA, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, where he has ministered for over 20 years. Feel free to Google his name for more information about New Horizon. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

February 26 - Old men aren’t always right

Job 32: 9 Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. Scripture reading: Job 32:2-9 Elihu, the younger of Job’s friends, was listening as Job’s other three friends railed against Job. He also suspected Job was in the wrong and was being judged by God, but he realized the older men were not theologically accurate in their condemnation of Job. This infuriated him. He expected so much better from these “very old” men. But as you begin to hear him speak, Elihu makes the same kinds of allegations of wrongdoing against Job as the old men did. He just made his accusations in a kinder way. He pleaded with Job not to think he was innocent of sinning against God. He accused Job of lying. He implied Job was saying he was more righteous than God. He assumed Job was guilty and that Job was accusing God of being unjust. Even as you gather to worship today, older preachers with lots of experience and dignified clothes aren’t necessarily correct, and young preachers, with all their new digital study aids and contemporary expressions, can be incorrect as well. Instead, listen to the one who promotes the cause of Christ, who focuses on the cross, who proves unclear passages with clear passages and shows a good understanding of the whole system of truth in the Scriptures. A godly preacher carefully and personally applies the passages of Scripture and focuses on God’s love for the saints and on the glory of God. Suggestions for prayer Pray that God will raise up more preachers who value truth and faithful application of the Scripture. Pastor Mitchell Persaud is a missionary at New Horizon URCNA, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, where he has ministered for over 20 years. Feel free to Google his name for more information about New Horizon. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

February 25 - Total inability in a nutshell

“How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?”  - Job 25:4  Scripture reading: Job 25:1-6 Reformed doctrines have been with us from the very beginning of time and taught in the first book of Moses, Genesis, and they continue to be taught through the Book of Revelation. They were merely recovered in the 1500’s. Reformed doctrines are biblical doctrines and Job knew them. One of the most remarkable doctrines we see in the Book of Job is the doctrine of man’s total inability, often called total depravity. In our text Bildad decried the sinfulness of man, every man who is born in the natural way. (Even a theologically inept man as Bildad knew some truth.) Then he reflected on what we have in Romans 3, that there is none righteous, no not one; there was none who sought after God. What precision! Man is rooted in sin and in his life he displays much sin. There is nothing good in him. He doesn’t have the resources to pay God for his sin and restore his relationship with God. His only hope is to plead for the righteousness of Jesus as his own. If he does this, he receives the protection that only God can give. Sadly, Bildad didn’t seem to know this part. Job wished he knew it. God’s grace is available to all who will call on Him. Don’t you want to tell someone today about the righteousness that man lacks, but which Christ earned and offers to him? Suggestions for prayer Say that you will learn the awesomeness of your salvation, knowing the wretchedness of the human heart. Pastor Mitchell Persaud is a missionary at New Horizon URCNA, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, where he has ministered for over 20 years. Feel free to Google his name for more information about New Horizon. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

February 24 - With friends like these, who needs enemies? 

“I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!” - Job 16:2  Scripture reading: Job 16:1-5 Job had lost almost everything. He was struggling with the fact that he knew and loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart and was yet suffering in soul, mind and body. He knew he had not betrayed the Lord. So the hurt caused by his close friends must have been very deep which you can see from his words. To add to that difficulty, they then accused him of being a wretched sinner whom God would soon kill. They claimed Job’s sin was the reason for his suffering. They were wrong. His friends were theologically illiterate. But they were his friends. Job could have told them to “get lost,” as we might say today. He didn’t. He was godly. He knew he had to speak up. Consider what he said to them: Job 19:2,3 "How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.” A good friend will speak up when his friends are doing wrong. Job did not abandon them. He did not blast them as being evil. He spoke strongly and clearly. Aren’t you too called to confront sin in a brother or sister? Yes, and you are to do so with words which are grounded in biblical truth. It doesn’t matter if you lose some friends. You should never try to keep friends through compromise. The honour of Christ is at stake. Suggestions for prayer Pray that you will learn to confront weaknesses in your Christian brothers and sisters in a godly and caring way, a way that is grounded on God’s Word. Pastor Mitchell Persaud is a missionary at New Horizon URCNA, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, where he has ministered for over 20 years. Feel free to Google his name for more information about New Horizon. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

Daily devotional

February 23 - Life is short and full of troubles

“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” - Job 14:1  Scripture Reading: Job 14:1-7 It really doesn’t matter if Job predated Moses or not, as some theologians believe. What is important is that both were inspired by the Holy Spirit and that we listen to both. Moses, in Psalm 90, reminded us that man’s days are short and are full of trouble, so man is to “number” his days, or rather, use his days wisely. Moses, a godly prophet, lived to be 120 years old and experienced many difficulties as he led God’s people who became more and more rebellious. The Israelites accused him of betraying them and taking them to the desert to die. Job expressed similar sentiments to his friends: Life was short and full of troubles. He understood the frailty of life. His friends did not understand that as long as man is in this world, man will be torn by sin, strife and death. They assumed life should be smooth and man would live long. How wrong they were! We need to realize that good nutrition, exercising regularly, and having quality medical care (as good as those things are), do not guarantee a good life and do not guarantee a long life. The nicest person you know will become “worm food” one day. So expect troubles in life and in death and prepare for them. You can face these troubles when you know Jesus; trust Him, and rest in Him. Heaven is waiting. Wait for heaven. A glorious life is coming. Suggestions for prayer Pray that you will not worry about how long you live, but you will learn to live well. Pastor Mitchell Persaud is a missionary at New Horizon URCNA, in Scarborough, ON, Canada, where he has ministered for over 20 years. Feel free to Google his name for more information about New Horizon. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.  ...

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