Month: October 2023

1 Chronicles 12:1-40; Ezekiel 13:1-23; John 4:31-54

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. Psalm 64:10

David had many enemies over the years. At times he could not be sure who to trust. No wonder he depended on the Lord so much. He is the only One who is ever trustworthy! And David knew that one day God would give his enemies righteous judgment. David’s task was to continue to live righteously before the Lord himself. God will take care of the rest. —G. Frear

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.  —Thomas Chisholm

1 Chronicles 10:1-11:47; Ezekiel 12:1-28; John 4:1-30

Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:31

Nehemiah closes his book with this very brief prayer. Such prayers permeate the book as a whole and teach us that he was a man who was truly in touch with God. The fact that his story is recorded on the pages of Scripture shows that this prayer was answered positively. God remembered him for good and so do we! If we should be called home before the rapture how will we be remembered? Will we, like Nehemiah, be remembered for our communion with and devotion to the Lord? —Philip A. Kaye

Remember me,
O my God, for good,
May I have lived
Just as I should. —Philip Kaye

1 Chronicles 8:1-9:44; Ezekiel 11:1-25; John 3:22-36

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. Isaiah 53:11

Helen Spurrell, in her translation of the Old Testament, renders this statement: “He shall be satisfied in the contemplation of the travail of His soul.” “His soul”, all that He is in Himself—was the penalty exacted to satisfy divine justice (Isa. 53:10) and, as He “poured out his soul unto death” (Isa. 53:12), who can fathom how awful was
the pain endured? Wonderfully, as He contemplates “the travail of his soul”; you and I with all the redeemed, are the prize enjoyed. We are thankful today for such a marvelous salvation. —Phil Coulson

Praise the Savior, ye who know Him,
Who can tell how much we owe Him? —T. Kelly

1 Chronicles 7:1-40; Ezekiel 10:1-22; John 2:23-3:21

Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? Luke 2:49 NKJV
Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. Luke 23:46 NKJV

Our Lord lived His life between these two statements. They are His first and last recorded words. They centre on the Father’s will. To do the Father’s will was why He came down from heaven (John 6:38), how He lived on earth—it was His daily food (John 4:34a), and what He always did in life—those things that pleased the Father (John 8:29). His goal in life was to finish His work (John 4:34b), and when He did, He used His last breath to commend His spirit into the Father’s hands. —Rex Trogdon

Without a hope, this world was sunk in sin and shame until,
The Saviour came to do the Father’s will. —Helen Griggs

1 Chronicles 6:1-81; Ezekiel 8:1-9:11; John 2:1-22

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Ps. 55:22 NKJV). One hard assignment given in life is to become a caregiver to an elderly parent, a very sick spouse, a dying or sick child. Often those around have no idea the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strains you are going through. Take heart, whatever burdens you are carrying, just when it seems you can’t go on any longer, take it to the Lord and leave it with Him. He cares. He sustains! —Jim Paul

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed e’re the day is half done,
When we reached the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.  —Annie Johnson Flint

1 Chronicles 4:24-5:26; Ezekiel 7:1-27; John 1:19-51

And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them. Gen. 50:21

Joseph had every reason to hold resentment toward his brothers. Yet he spoke kindly to them. Perhaps someone has broken their word to you; you’ve entered into a bad business deal or have an unfaithful spouse. Often when wronged we forgive, but we do not forget. Joseph had learned to forget his horrible treatment. The names of his sons show this. One means “causing to forget” (Manasseh) and the other, “I shall be doubly fruitful” (Ephraim). May we follow Joseph’s example not only to forgive but also to forget and treat our wrong-doers kindly. —K. J. W.

Forgive thy brother who has erred, and take him by the hand:
And, as you speak a generous word, assist his feet to stand.  —Daniel C. Colesworthy

1 Chronicles 3:1-4:23; Ezekiel 5:1-6:14; John 1:1-18

I…will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk 2:1
Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Hebrews 3:7-8

When God speaks, it is vital that we listen attentively and do what He says. Whether His message is one of comfort or correction, conviction or assurance, His purpose is always for our good and spiritual growth. At such a time, we have two choices, turn a deaf ear and harden our hearts, or humbly adhere to the Spirit’s voice. How will you respond when He speaks to you? Why not answer as Samuel did: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Sam. 3:9 NKJV). — E.V.

Speak Thou to me each day Lord, always in tend’rest tone,
Let me now hear Thy whisper, “Thou art not left alone.” —L. Pickett

1 Chronicles 2:1-55; Ezekiel 3:16-4:17; 2 Timothy 4:1-22

The fruit of the Spirit is…self control. Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

“Spirit-control” is better here. It is not a matter of trying harder to live like Christ. It is resigning my will and allowing His Spirit to live Christ through me. Doing so will glorify our Father (John 15:8) and guard me. “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Prov. 25:28 NKJV). The Pulpit Commentary puts it this way: “To such a city [with broken down walls] is compared the man who puts no restraint on his passions, desires and affections; he is always in danger of being carried away by them and involved in sin and destruction; he has no defence when temptation assaults him, having lost self-control.” May we allow the  Husbandman to cultivate Spirit-control in us today. —Brian Cretney

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine. —James Orr

1 Chronicles 1:1-54; Ezekiel 2:1-3:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be? 2 Peter 3:11
Then whose shall those things be? Luke 12:20

We live in an age of “things”. We strive to obtain necessities and luxuries that will bring us personal comfort and assure compliments from our friends. Tragically, we can only be certain of two facts regarding “things”. We will leave them behind for others, and they will ultimately be dissolved. May the Lord help us to desire Himself, not “things”. —Arnot P. McIntee

Is there a thing beneath the sun,
That strives with Thee, my heart to share?
O, tear it thence and reign alone,
The Lord of every object there. —Charles Wesley

2 Kings 25:1-30; Ezekiel 1:1-28; 2 Timothy 2:1-26

And the name of the second called he Ephraim: for God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Genesis 41:52

Joseph recognized God’s hand in both suffering and exaltation. In this he was a picture of the Lord Jesus. Suffering greatly at the hands of sinners, Christ ultimately went to Calvary and died for our sins. Today the risen, glorified Christ is bearing much fruit as He continues to save any who believe on Him in the land of His affliction (John 12:24). Today every believer has the opportunity to offer Him the fruit of their lips, remembering Him and proclaiming His death in the land of His affliction. —George Ferrier

Sing to the Lord of the harvest,
Sing songs of love and praise;
With joyful hearts and voices,
Your hallelujahs raise! —John Monsell