Month: September 2008

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 22; Jeremiah 33; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:10

I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  Luke 22:32

Like Peter, we have been delivered from the clutches of Satan’s grip and the prayer of our Shepherd underpins our faith. Now that we are His sheep, we have a responsibility to His flock. During precious times at the feet of our Saviour, we are being equipped to wash the feet of the saints. Now that we have been converted, our focus is no longer self, but as the Lord leads, we go forth to serve. May we provoke one another unto love and good works, to strengthen His own and stir the hearts of His servants.  —Sam Thorpe

How I praise Thee, precious Saviour, that thy love laid hold on me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me, that I might Thy channel be.               
                                                                             —Mary E. Maxwell

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 21; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  Matthew 14:26-27
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.  Matthew14:33

After a long, hard day, a spirit appeared from out of the darkness! The worst of their fears, however, turned out to be an unrecognized blessing. What changed the disciples’ viewpoint was the realization that Christ was present and in control. The same realization will bring us peace of mind, and bring praise to God.  —David J. Logan

Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear,
It is not night if Thou art near. —John Keble

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 20; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  Matthew 28:6

“Is it time Lenin was finally buried?” ask the Russian people, according to the National Post, of October 27, 2005. For eight decades the body of Vladimir Lenin has been encased in a glass box in his granite mausoleum in Moscow’s Red Square. He led the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, and died at 53 years of age in 1924. Let us thank our Lord, He does not rest in a glass case, but almost two millennia ago, He vacated the tomb and ascended bodily into Heaven with the promise that He would come again (Jn. 14:3).  —Arnot P. McIntee

Go and search the tomb of Jesus, where the Lord of glory lay;
Jesus is not there, He is risen, and has borne our sins away.
It is finished! It is finished ! Captive led, captivity! —Robert Chapman

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 19; Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 2

I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.  Psalm 32:5

Salvation is not a complex thing. It is a simple yet profound faith in Christ. It is more, however, than a casual inviting of Jesus into the heart. Salvation follows a consciousness of sin, and sinfulness. It is an awareness that God’s standard has not been met and a sense, therefore, of deserving His punishment for eternity. There must be an honest confession of sin followed by faith in Christ. Then comes Divine forgiveness, spiritual rebirth, and new life in Christ. —Doug Kazen

Full salvation! Full salvation! Lo, the fountain opened wide,
Streams through every land and nation, from the Saviour’s wounded side.
Full salvation! Full salvation! Streams an endless crimson tide.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 18; Jeremiah 30; Hebrews 1

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.  Colossians 3:21

Literally this text says, “Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, lest they lose heart.” Those of us who are fathers, mentors or leaders  must not frustrate those in our charge, to the point of them losing heart. How could we do this? Perhaps we don’t keep our promises. Perhaps we set standards for them that are both unrealistic and unbiblical. If we are going to provoke at all, make it unto “love and good works!" —Craig Funston

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song! —B. B. McKinney

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 17; Jeremiah 29; Philemon

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

This verse reveals the man of God by what he does not do. In other Scriptures we see three men who present the positive side. Enoch (def. consecrated) pleased God and walked with Him (Gen. 5:22). Elijah (def. Jehovah is God) was a man of God and stood before the Lord (1 Kings 19:13). David (def. beloved) was a man after God’s own heart and sat before the Lord (1 Chron. 17:16). —E. MacLelland

We should walk to please the Lord,
Stand before Him—hear His Word,
Seek His presence and there rest,
And we’ll find His way is best. —E. M.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27-28; Col. 4:2-18

Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.  Psalm 45:2

The Lord Jesus is more beautiful then all the children of men and the Psalmist finds it hard to describe Him. This phrase “Thou art fairer than the children of men”can be translated, “Beautiful, beautiful, perfectly beautiful Thou art.” Abraham was called the “friend of God” and David was called the “man after God’s own heart” but the Lord Jesus Christ far exceeds them all. Truly He is fairer than the children of men. Do you find Him so? —Paul Robertson

Fairest of all the earth beside,
Chiefest of all unto thy Bride,
Fullness divine in Thee, I see,
Beautiful Man of Calvary! —Manie P. Ferguson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 15:1-32; Jeremiah 26; Colossians 3:5 to 4:1

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  Hebrews 13:2

Abraham and Lot both entertained angelic visitors. Abraham sought how long they could stay while Lot was concerned about how long they would stay. Abraham’s visit resulted in blessing and communion with the Lord, but Lot’s visit resulted in the destruction of all that he had, even though he himself was spared. It’s time for us to stop entertaining the thought of hospitality and start being hospitable. Invite some visitors home for Sunday dinner. You just might meet a messenger from heaven. —Rex Trogdon

Room for Jesus, King of glory! Hasten now, His Word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open, bid Him enter while you may.
                                                                  —Daniel W. Whittle

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 13:33 to 14:31; Jer. 24-25; Col. 2:8 to 3:4

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46:10

It is so difficult to be still. When calamity strikes, our first reaction is to want to take action. Intuitively, we think that we possess the knowledge and ability to deal with whatever life throws at us. It is foolhardy, however, to ignore the One who has all power and is called “the only wise God” (1 Tim. 1:17). Trials come so that we may learn to trust God. Let us rest in the knowledge that He is mighty to save, regardless of the problem. —Keith Keyser

My eager heart, be still! Thy Lord will surely come,
And take thee to His home, with Him to dwell;
It may not be today; and yet, my soul, it may. —George A. Warburton

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23; Colossians 1:21 to 2:7

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.  Ex. 28:29

As our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus continually presents us to the Father. He presents us as His loved, purchased possession for which He bore the judgement of our sin. It is incredible what the Lord has made of every Christian—once worthless sinners but now beautiful and precious stones set in gold and placed on the heart of God. What a wonderful High Priest we have. —Baylor Crawford

So near so very near to God, I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.
So dear, so very dear to God, dearer I cannot be;
The love wherewith he loves the Son, such is His love to me.—C. P.