Month: September 2023

1 Kings 2:1-46; Jeremiah 10:1-25; Ephesians 4:1-16

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

Man places great emphasis on the value of silver and gold. Today, the world deals in trading such valuable commodities. Yet when considering them in relation to the cost of our redemption, they are described as corruptible. We could never place a value on the true cost of our redemption. It was precious blood that came from a precious Saviour. We praise and thank God for the tremendous cost and value of our redemption today. —John M. Clegg

Rejoice! Rejoice lift up your head,
And praise the living God,
That for your souls the Saviour shed,
His own most precious blood. —C. Russell Hurditch

1 Kings 1:1-53; Jeremiah 9:1-26; Ephesians 3:1-21

Thus they changed their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. Psalm 106:20 NKJV

Israel departed from the Lord and fashioned a counterfeit deity in His place. Rather than exalting them, this debased them. It does not say that they changed “His” glory—that is, the Almighty’s glory. Instead it says “their glory”, indicating that He is the rightful object of human honour. Furthermore, in salvation He determines to glorify believers with Christ (Rom. 8:30). Ironically, people flee from their Creator, thinking that He wants to limit them. In fact, He actually wants to beautify and enrich us with the abundant and eternal life of knowing Him (John 17:3). —Keith R. Keyser

Baptized in death’s cold waters, for us Thy blood was shed,
For us Thou, Lord of Glory, wast numbered with the dead.  —J. G. Deck

2 Samuel 24:1-25; Jeremiah 8:1-22; Ephesians 2:11-22

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [endurance]. James 1:3

Listen to James, “Count it all joy…for you know…”. Mark the verb. He doesn’t say, “you hope”; he says “you know”. This is the secret to facing such trials with joy. We can face it knowing, on God’s authority, that the proving of our faith produces endurance and in time God’s perfect work. Perseverance is not the same as patience. Some of the Lord’s good saints are very impatient. Yet they endure in the face of trials because they know it produces the likeness of Christ in our lives. Therefore, let us press on in the testing of our faith. —David A. Dunlap

Praise God for the hammer, the file, and the furnace.
The hammer molds us, the file sharpens us, and the fire tempers us.  —Samuel Rutherford

2 Samuel 23:1-39; Jeremiah 7:1-34; Ephesians 1:15-2:10

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

In 1555 in England, Thomas Haukes was condemned to be burned at the stake. Friends asked him for a sign to instill confidence for their own impending fiery trial. Thomas told them he would lift his hands to heaven to indicate God’s help. Near the end Thomas’ hands rose above his head in praise and thanksgiving, clapping loudly three times before passing into Christ’s presence.  Similarly, our trials are an opportunity to glorify God and encourage other believers of His sustaining grace. —George Ferrier

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share.  —Annie Johnson Flint

2 Samuel 22:1-51; Jeremiah 6:1-30; Ephesians 1:1-14

Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 1 Cor. 14:12

Rivalry and jostling for prominence and power were taking root in the Corinthian fellowship. In such an environment, where one believer is trying to best another, “fellowship” is an oxymoron. Seeking and striving to outdo, outshine and outmaneuver one another is not what Christ had in mind in the Upper Room. The camouflage can be elaborate: prayers, verses, gladhanding, and sadly, many side-conversations. Am I really seeking to excel in building up the whole fellowship to be a stronger entity for Christ, or are my motives less pure? —Peter Ramsay

We will love with tender care,
Knowing love to Christ,
[Christians] who His image bear,
For the love of Christ. —William W. Reid

2 Samuel 21:1-22; Jeremiah 5:1-31; Galatians 6:1-18

A great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9
The foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened… Acts 16:26

God opened doors for both entrance and escape for Paul. In light of this, any fear of adversaries would not deter him from opportunities to speak the mystery of Christ (Col. 4:3) or to bring the faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27). Even the prison’s gates, when opened for escape, presented Paul with an opportunity to testify to his jailor and accusers. O that God might grant us discernment to sense each day’s opportunities. —David J. Reed

To live for Him who gave me life;
To strive for Him who suffered strife. —Author Unknown

2 Samuel 20:1-26; Jeremiah 4:3-31; Galatians 5:10-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

What a delightful cluster of fruit! This fruit has to do with our inner character. But who we are on the inside will  surely be manifested on the outside. In my teenage years, my Sunday School teacher often said, “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say!”. I have never forgotten those words. The “fruit of the Spirit” was fully displayed in the Lord Jesus. May Christ’s likeness be displayed in your life and mine, today and every day! —Jim Comte

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity,
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. —Albert Orsborn

2 Samuel 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6-4:2; Galatians 4:21-5:9

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isaiah 1:18
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions. Isaiah 43:25

Recently someone complimented me on my appearance. My unspoken response was “They need stronger glasses”. Yes I know all my physical faults too well. I am also sadly aware of my spiritual faults, failures, and sins. The amazing thing is that our God (who sees all), does not see them. He sees only His perfect, beloved Son as He looks at us. He sees us covered by His Son’s blood. He sees us in Christ. What a joy to know that our sins are blotted out. —Anonymous

Gone, gone, gone, gone. Yes my sins are gone.
Now my soul is free, and in my heart’s a song!  —Helen Griggs

2 Samuel 18:1-19:8; Jeremiah 2:1-3:5; Galatians 4:1-20

And they fled before the men of Ai. Joshua 7:4

Jericho had been conquered and the Israelites were euphoric. Then triumph turned to the disaster of defeat at the small garrison of Ai. The barrier to blessing was sin in the camp and it had not been detected because the attack on Ai had not been done prayerfully. Consultation with the divine Commander would have produced the knowledge of internal problems and the attack would have been delayed as the problem of Achan’s sin was sorted out. Prayer could have avoided defeat. There is a lesson here for us today. —Paul Young

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.—James Montgomery

2 Samuel 16:1-17:29; Jeremiah 1:1-19; Galatians 3:15-29

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. Ps. 69:4

It is amazing how God has taken the words of David as he passed through trials, and used them to foreshadow the thoughts and feelings of the Lord Jesus as He was going through His sufferings! Our Lord was content to do His Father’s will, no matter what the cost. There was no other way that mankind could be redeemed and saved from the terrible scourge of sin. —G. Frear

Amazingly, You cried, “I am a worm, and not a man at all.
To men I am despised and base; their scornings on me fall.”
When I proclaim my praise of You, then all the Church will hear,
And I will pay my vows in full, where men hold You in fear.   —Timothy R. Smith