Month: August 2008

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 15; Zephaniah 3; Galatians 3:1-14

I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart.          Psalm 40:8
He…prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.  Matt. 26:39

The Lord Jesus was delighted with His Father’s decisions. Are we delighted with our father’s decisions? Often we complain (or worse) when our father or mother make a decision that doesn’t coincide with our desires. The Lord Jesus’ simple request—according to your will—leaves us ashamed. It is no wonder that the Father was pleased with His Son—the Son was pleased with His Father. May we show our pleasure in Him as we worship today.                —Tom Steere

Thine only Son, Thy heart’s delight far back, ere time began,
Thou in Thy boundless love didst give to die for ruined man. —E. Whyte

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 14; Zephaniah 2; Galatians 2

The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  Revelation 12:9

Central Park in Madrid is home to a dreadful spectacle, what the tourist guide book describes as, “the world’s only monument created in his honour”. It is a statue of Lucifer—the fallen angel—erected there in 1881. How easy to be deceived into believing that a monument is needed to denote his work. Just as there are millions of Christians who are “monuments of grace”, so it is that there are millions of souls who are living monuments to sin. How will you be remembered? As a “sinner” or as “a sinner saved by grace?”  —Brian Powlesland

A monument of grace, a sinner saved by blood,
The streams of love I trace, up to the fountain God. —John Kent

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 13; Zephaniah 1; Galatians 1 

Esau said to Jacob, Feed me…that same red [pottage]; for I am faint…Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright…and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.    Genesis 25:30-31,33
Ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected.                           Hebrews 12:17a

Contacted by a lawyer to be a medical witness, I responded, “I’ve been expecting your call; the opposing attorney called me two weeks ago.” His immediate question was, “Did you sign anything?" In human dealings, it is the signature that validates the agreement. An unsigned document is of little worth. But with God, the spoken word is as binding as a signed contract.        —David J. Logan

We'll give account for every word, though idle;
Oh help us, Lord, our wayward tongues to bridle. —D. J. L.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 12; Habakkuk 3; Romans 16

Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 1 Samuel 18:4

Because of his love for David, Jonathan surrendered much to him, but sadly, not all. Jonathan never gave his shoes to David, and that is significant. He was prepared to give much but was not prepared to tread the path that David trod. We read, “David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house” (1 Sam. 23:18). So it is in our day. There are many who protest their love for Christ and who are prepared to give Him things that do not demand the deepest sacrifice—themselves. Do we share in His reproach? —W. H. Burnett

All to Jesus I surrender; now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to his name! —J. W. Van De Venter

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 10-11; Habakkuk 2; Romans 15:14-33

Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.  Job 37:14

On a class trip with my students to Niagara Falls, I decided to take them for a ride on the Maid of the Mist tour boat. As we approached the base of the falls, the thundering roar of the water and the giant walls of rock caused me to literally “stand still” and reflect on my smallness and God’s greatness. May we continually praise and wonder at the One who, in the beginning, “created the heaven and the earth.” —Bob Cretney

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed. —C. Boberg and R. Hughes

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 8-9; Habakkuk 1; Romans 14:19 to 15:13

A great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.  1 Corinthians 16:9

Paul wanted to stay in Ephesus because of the open door, although he was very conscious of many adversaries! He did not run away but remained in order to face the opposition against God’s Word directly and so enter the open door with the Gospel. Sometimes we feel “Oh, let’s go elsewhere where there are less problems!” God may want us to stay right where He has put us in order to uphold the truth of His Word. —David Croudace

Go labour on; ‘tis not for nought;
Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain.
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not:
The Master praises, what are men? —Horatius Bonar

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 7; Nahum 2-3; Romans 14:1-18

David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.  2 Samuel 24:10

David had already had his position as king consolidated by the Lord. However, he wasn’t content trusting his God, and His prevailing might, so he tried to evaluate his strength on a human level. It is an enormous mistake to rely on self and self-sufficiency. Remember if “God be for us who can be against us!” (Rom. 8:31) —Brian Russell

I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying, all my need.
I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, trusting only Thee!
I am trusting Thee forever, and for all. —Frances R. Havergal

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 6; Nahum 1; Romans 13

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?   Luke 15:4
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.    Matthew 13:46

None but the Saviour knew the cost of our salvation. He once told of a shepherd and the distance he went to find a sheep that was lost—“until he find it.” He spoke again of a merchantman and the price he paid for a single pearl—“all that he had.” Truly the Saviour must have valued us highly when He went to the cross! And, we are precious to Him still. Let us live as such.                  —J. Strahan

O how He loves me! O how He loves me!
I know not why, I only cry, O how He loves me! —Johnson Oatman

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 4-5; Micah 7; Romans 12

They called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.  Genesis 24:58

Rebekah’s response to the servant of Abraham was, “I will go.” She had never seen or met Isaac her bridegroom-to-be. She simply and completely accepted the word of the messenger, having seen only tokens of his wealth and provision. The Word of God says that the Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself a sacrifice for sin (Heb.10:12) and is the Son of God (Mk. 15:39). Will you go with Him?   —Duncan Maxwell

Who is this who comes to meet me, on the desert way,
As the morning star foretelling God’s unclouded day?
He it is who came to win me on the cross of shame;
In his glory well I know Him, evermore the same. —Paul Gerhardt

DAILY READINGS: 2 Samuel 3; Micah 6; Romans 11:13-36

When I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come.  Psalm 71:18

With the Lord, there is never an ending without a new beginning. Our children become grownups and soon the next generation is coming. Dear grandparents, don’t lose your edge. The grandchildren need to hear your stories. You have the advantage and experience of time to know that their impressionable years do not last long. Take advantage of every opportunity to claim your little ones for Christ. The memory of the just is a shining light! —M. Peters

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong.   —A. B.Warner