Month: August 2022

2 Samuel 15:1-37; Zephaniah 3:1-20; Galatians 3:1-14

As for God, his way is perfect. Psalm 18:30

David could have said to the Lord, “Why do you have me running from cave to cave with 400 misfits of Israel? I would be more effective leading the armies of Israel into battle. I would be better used in the palace than the cave.” Maybe you feel this way today. Trust David’s final assessment, “[God’s] way is perfect”. David needed to learn lessons that only the wilderness could teach. The Lord knows this in our lives too. Perhaps today’s lesson for you is not in the palace, but in the wilderness. The Lord knows best and we can trust Him to work out His master plan for us. David did eventually go to the palace and those misfits of Israel eventually became mighty men of valour. Trust Him. —Paul Robertson

Our times are in Thy hands, O God we wish them there,
Our lives, our souls, our all we leave entirely to Thy care. —W. Lloyd

2 Samuel 14:1-33; Zephaniah 2:1-15; Galatians 2:1-21

Every work that he (Hezekiah) began…he did it with all his heart, and prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:21

Spiritual lethargy and half-heartedness are features that can easily lurk within us. They are the product of the flesh and not of the Spirit of God. King Hezekiah achieved so much for Judah’s good and the Lord’s glory because he was wholehearted in his desires and actions. May we take a leaf out of his book and wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly, seek to live for the Lord. Is He not worthy of our full commitment? —Philip A. Kaye

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in endless praise.  —Frances R. Havergal

2 Samuel 13:1-39; Zephaniah 1:1-18; Galatians 1:1-24

Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Acts 10:33

These words of Cornelius reflect the attitude of heart needed to receive a message from the Lord. For Cornelius, it was to receive the message of salvation through Peter. For the believer, it is the ready and willing heart, waiting for direction, correction, or comfort from above, often coming through the timely words of a faithful servant. Peter provided those words as he was sent from the Lord. Maybe today it will be you that God sends to someone in need. —Mark Kolchin

Open my mouth and let me bear;
Tidings of mercy everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare;
Love with Thy children thus to share. —Clara Scott

2 Samuel 12:1-31; Habakkuk 3:1-19; Romans 16:1-27

Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things. Acts 13:38-39

It’s normal for the exciting novelty of a thing to wear off. Every earthly thing is affected by what economists call “marginal utility”. But the newness and freshness, the value and vastness of God’s salvation is never commonplace. Every moment spent meditating on what our God has accomplished in Christ, draws us nearer to Him in amazement and gratitude. O the scope of it! O the power of it! O the wonder of it! —Rick Morse

Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me.” —Philip P. Bliss

2 Samuel 10:1-11:27; Habakkuk 2:1-20; Romans 15:14-33

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. Mark 12:42

The word “poor” used here, means “utterly destitute”. Wouldn’t one mite have been enough then? Surely the widow had legitimate expenses. Giving one was still a sacrifice. But she threw in both and the Lord stated that she gave all that she had. His comment indicates that He knows what we give but also what we withold. How sobering. Her sacrifice was noted because it was an utter act of faith. She gave all she had and was depending on God for what came next. This should challenge us as to how much we are willing to sacrifice. After all, He gave His all for us. —K. J. W.

O blessed Saviour! is Thy love, so great, so full, so free?
Fain would we give our hearts, our minds, our lives, our all, to Thee.   —Joseph Stennett

2 Samuel 8:1-9:13; Habakkuk 1:1-17; Romans 14:19-15:13

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 1 Samuel 8:3

Does this verse make you feel better about your kids? Some of the greatest burdens we bear, are when our adult children make decisions that dishonour the Lord. How do we handle this? First, we should be honest and not cover up the spiritual shortcomings of our children. Secondly, don’t cripple yourself with regret. Their failure is not an indictment of your parenting skills. Remember God is the best Father of all and His children often don’t walk in
His ways. We should not take undue credit when they succeed neither should we blame ourselves when they fail. Trust God! The last chapter of their book has not been written yet. —Sid Halsband

Simply trusting every day; trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all. —Edgar Stites

2 Samuel 7:1-29; Nahum 2:1-3:19; Romans 14:1-18

He (Elijah) arose, and went for his life…and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:3-4

Why did God allow Elijah to experience such great emotions? What Elijah had accomplished on Mount Carmel was one of the greatest solo triumphs in history. Elijah could have boasted of this for the rest of his life. God so hates pride that surely one of the reasons for Elijah’s downcast state of mind was to eliminate any such feelings. As the apostle Paul learned, it was God’s grace not Paul’s efforts, that was sufficient. —Brian Russell

Forbid it Lord that I should boast,
Save in the cross of Christ my Lord.
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood. —Isaac Watts

2 Samuel 6:1-23; Nahum 1:1-15; Romans 13:1-14

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. 1 Chronicles 28:9

What is a perfect heart? One that is just, characterized by peace and quiet. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, yet the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit can give us a perfect heart. Once that takes place we have the opportunity to serve the Saviour with a heart filled with love and compassion and a willing mind. —Wm. H. Gustafson

True-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Under Thy standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.   —Frances R. Havergal

2 Samuel 4:1-5:25; Micah 7:1-20; Romans 12:1-21

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:9

Here we have a surprising scene—Elijah, depressed, discouraged, and asking God to take him home. But God came to the cave and commissioned him to anoint two kings, and gave him a companion in service, Elisha, who would eventually succeed him. God showed Elijah that irrespective of how he felt about himself, He still had perfect confidence in him. There can be times in the life of God’s greatest servants when they feel like Elijah, but God knows
where they are, can draw near, minister to them, and restore them to service. —W. H. Burnett

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way,
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way. —B. Mansell Ramsey

2 Samuel 3:1-39; Micah 6:1-16; Romans 11:13-36

Even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. 1 Peter 3:1,  NKJV

Won without a word! More important than right words for sharing Christ, is the right attitude and behaviour in showing Christ. The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is not gender specific. Read 1 Peter 3 in its entirety. The standard set of graces for every follower of Christ includes creating harmony, showing compassion and love, having a tender heart and a humble spirit (v. 8). And when someone does ask us to speak-up, our response is to be gentle and respectful (v. 15). Peter calls it our “good conduct (behaviour) in Christ” (v. 16, NKJV). —P. Ramsay

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.  —Kate Wilkinson