Month: October 2008

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 11-12; Jeremiah 48; Hebrews 12:18 to 13:6

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  John 5:24

The privilege of hearing the Word of God gives opportunity to participate by believing. Indeed, it is a solemn responsibility to respond and God will hold us accountable for how we do. Respond positively and you will find that the result of believing is possession of everlasting life and eternal escape from the condemnation of God (Jn. 3:18). It is a place of full assurance and life eternal, “Because I live ye shall live also” (Jn. 14:19). —Duncan Maxwell

Verily, verily I say unto you, verily, verily—message ever new,
He that believeth on the Son, tis true, hath everlasting life.—J. McGranahan

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 10; Jeremiah 45-47; Hebrews 12:1-17

The servant said, Lord, it is done as Thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  Luke 14:22

A great banquet had been prepared. Invitations had been distributed, and for a variety of reasons, declined. Upon hearing of the ungrateful response, the host directed his servants to go into the highways and compel people to come and fill his house and enjoy his banquet. Yet even after doing that, there was still room—thank God. Many today refuse the invitation of the Saviour’s offer of free salvation and do so to the peril of their everlasting salvation. Let us redouble our efforts to compel and constrain unheeding sinners to accept the Saviour’s salvation.  —Arnot P. McIntee

Come, there’s bread in the house of thy Father, and to spare,
Lo! The table is spread and the feast is waiting there. —C. H. Gabriel

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 9; Jeremiah 44; Hebrews 11:17-40

Neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place. 2 Chronicles 34:28a
The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments…with all his heart, and with all his soul.  2 Chronicles 34:31a
All the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover,…according to the commandment of King Josiah.  2 Chron. 35:16

Josiah was told that it was the last days for the Kingdom of Judah. Even though He knew the end was near, He continued in obedience and in the keeping of God’s feasts. Where are we putting our energies as we see that it is the last days of the church age?        — R. P. A.

Life is the time to serve the Lord,
The time to ensure a great reward. —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 8; Jeremiah 42:7 to 43:13; Hebrews 11:1-16

Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. John 11:25a

Last summer I emptied the contents of a box that had contained spring flowering bulbs. Somehow I forgot about collecting up those dry brown bulbs to plant the next autumn. Imagine my surprise and delight on finding a clump of freesias flowering in profusion behind the water tank. Those bulbs and the resulting flowers remind me of a brother’s favourite comment: “The graves of Christians are the seed beds of resurrection.” —J. Fleming

Raised unto glory then; at His return;
Joyous our song shall be; at His return;
Gathered round to Him; all learn the heavenly hymn;
Jesus our joyful theme; at His return.—Anon.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 6:24 to 7:20; Jer. 41 to 42:6; Heb. 10:19-39

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne … stood a Lamb as it had been slain. Revelation 5:6a

Because of who He is, this throne was eternally the Lord Jesus’ just and proper place to sit as Sovereign. But because of His love for His creation, He is now seated there as a Lamb as though it had been slain. It is a humbling thought that the One who is all powerful and all knowing laid down His life for a sinner like me. Because of His great love, God’s Son will be displayed as the resurrected Lamb for all eternity. What a Saviour! —Baylor Crawford

Lamb of God! Thou now art seated, high upon Thy Father’s throne;
All Thy gracious work completed, all Thy mighty victory won.
Every knee in heaven is bending, to the Lamb for sinners slain;
Every harp and voice is swelling, “Worthy is the Lamb to reign.”—J. G. D.

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Jeremiah 39-40; Hebrews 10:1-18

If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord…all these blessings shall come on thee.  But…if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord…all these curses shall come upon thee    Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

On a recent school trip, two boys went missing because they failed to obey their teachers instruction as to where and when to meet the bus. After some anxious moments they were found, but how different the outcome could have been. God gave Israel the choice, obey and be blessed, or disobey and suffer the consequences. The Bible reveals that they chose their own path and suffered for it. Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments (John 14:15).  —C. Tempest

Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way
Thou art the potter, I am the clay. —Adelaide A. Pollard

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 5; Jeremiah 38; Hebrews 9:15-28

Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.  Psalm 69:20

Here we get a glimpse of the loneliness of our Lord in His sufferings. When we are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves in moments of loneliness, let us remember Him. Judas betrayed Him, and the rest of the disciples forsook Him and fled. His nation rejected Him and declared Him worthy of death. No man defended Him. Roman justice failed Him. Even heaven was silent, and He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Yet He suffered alone, that we might never have to be so. Bless Him! —Carl Knott

It was alone the Saviour prayed, in dark Gethsemane;
Alone He drained the bitter cup, and suffered there for me. —Ben H. Price

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 4; Jeremiah 37; Hebrews 9:1-14

What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

The value of a soul is priceless! Would you be so foolish as not to consider the worth of your own soul, that will live forever in hell or heaven? Be wise! Accept God’s offer of mercy today! Trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. He loves you and died to save your soul. Eternal riches will then be yours. —E. MacLelland

The treasures of earth must all fail,
Its riches and honour decay,
But the riches of love that are mine,
Even death cannot take them away. —H. B. Hartzler

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 3; Jeremiah 36; Hebrews 8

They brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:13-14

The mighty God took those little children in His arms and blessed them. The disciples would have sent them away! Are we seeking to reach the children of our generation? Are we bringing the words of our Saviour to them? The judgment seat will reveal and reward the effort invested in bringing the Gospel to the children.  —Jim Paul

But Jesus saw them ere they fled,
And sweetly smiled and kindly said,
Suffer the little children to come unto Me —William M. Hutchings

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 2; Jeremiah 35; Hebrews 7

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded. Isaiah 50:7

An alternate rendering of this verse reads, “The Lord God will help me; therefore I have not suffered myself to be overcome.” What was the Lord’s secret of victory over the pain, suffering and humilation He experienced in His life? He was wakened “morning by morning” (vs. 4) by the Father. What a marvelous way to start the day! We may access the same power “morning by morning” so that we will not allow ourselves to be overcome or shaken. And the result? “I know I shall not be ashamed; for the Lord God will help me.”   —M. MacMullen

Early will I seek thee, at the dawning of the day;
With my heart open and still, I will bow my head and pray.—Anon.