Month: October 2023

2 Kings 24:1-20; Lamentations 4:1-5:22; 2 Timothy 1:1-18

The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Matthew 4:16

Spiritual darkness resulted from humanity’s disobedience of God. This world became a dark place and worse still, people’s hearts were darkened. As the Old Testament closed, there followed 400 years of silence from God. Humanity lived on in the darkness. Then the Lord broke His silence and sent the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Simple but true! —Vickie Gaynier

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus! —P. P. Bliss

2 Kings 23:1-37; Lamentations 3:1-66; 1 Timothy 6:1-21

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. Romans 12:10 NKJV

The phrase “one another” occurs about 18 times in the New Testament, most often in connection with the word, “love”. This underscores the importance of how we are to view, and relate with believers. The Lord Jesus said, we are to love others as He has loved us. This type of interaction is not always easy, especially when other believers have different backgrounds, opinions and viewpoints. The keys to a proper response are obedience to the Word, a desire to glorify God and to have the same attitude as the Lord Jesus toward others. —Gary McBride

Others, Lord yes others, let this my motto be,
Help me to live for others that I might live like Thee.  —C. Meigs

2 Kings 21:19-22:20; Lamentations 2:1-22; 1 Timothy 5:1-25

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes…she took of the fruit thereof.  Genesis 3:6

God had said of that tree, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (2:17). Eve’s first mistake was to even look at the tree. The fact that the tree was “pleasant to the eyes” did not make it less deadly, but certainly made it more tempting. Just by looking, she concluded it was “good for food”. She let her eyes overpower her mind and conscience. Sin can look so appealing. God help us that we should not be likewise foolish. — Ken Gross

Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with Thine, and take away,
All that now makes it hard to say,
“Thy will be done!” —Charlotte Elliott

2 Kings 20:1-21:18; Lamentations 1:1-22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV
Until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom. Matthew 26:29b NKJV

One Sunday morning my mother was not feeling well so was unable to meet with the believers that day to remember the Lord. Before the day was over she was home with her Saviour. One day soon we will each share at the Lord’s table for the last time. Jesus is coming soon! But if we should die first and have trusted Christ we will immediately be face to face with the Saviour. —Janet Fleming

As bread is broken week by week,
Each emblem has a word to speak.
There’s one less feast, till I am home,
For this is only, till He come. —Janet Fleming

2 Kings 19:1-37; Jeremiah 52:1-34; 1 Timothy 3:1-16

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? Matthew 5:13a NKJV

What makes salt lose its savour? Natural salt, as long as it stays pure, will never lose its saltiness. However, when impurities seep into the salt, they can cause it to lose its flavour and render it useless. What a solemn reminder for us! If we desire to maintain our effectiveness, it is crucial to recognize and repent from sin. — Lynn Shatford

Purify my heart.
Cleanse me from within,
And make me holy.
Purify my heart.
Cleanse me from my sin,
Deep within. —Brian Doerksen

2 Kings 18:1-37; Jeremiah 51:25-64; 1 Timothy 2:1-15

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Is not this passage a beautiful example of our Saviour’s love for us? He is “Jehovah Rohi”, our Shepherd. Dear friend, in Christ we lack nothing. He provides everything we need. He restores and refreshes our souls! —Bronwyn Hagey

All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.  —Fanny Crosby

2 Kings 17:1-41; Jeremiah 51:1-24; 1 Timothy 1:1-20

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld… John 1:14 NKJV

Our Lord didn’t live in a protective bubble where each appearance was sheltered and staged. Domestically, He experienced infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood within a family that was divided about Him. Socially, He attended the events of life—weddings, funerals and banquets. He knew what it was to do piecework in a carpentry shop and sail in fishing boats. Physically, He experienced storms, sleepless nights, exhaustion, hunger and thirst. Emotionally, He felt the wounds of rejection, betrayal and scorn. And, spiritually, when “he…made him to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21) He was left unsheltered at the Cross. —Peter Ramsay

Jesus! All perfections, rise and end in Thee;
Brightness of God’s glory, Thou, eternally. —D. A. McGregor

2 Kings 15:32-16:20; Jeremiah 50:21-46; Titus 2:9-3:15

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death. Matthew 26:59

The Pharisees took a fatal risk in bringing false witnesses against the Lord. The law regarding this (Deut. 19:16-19) would have seen all of them put to death, if Pilate had been aware of it. The Jews may have considered this, but jealousy always makes people act irrationally. They were on a quest to have the Lord Jesus executed. Yet in those moments, we know He would have forgiven any one of them, if they would have repented and believed. —Rick Morse

There is forgiveness, God doth say,
Through the blood, through the blood;
Both sin and guilt are put away,
Through the blood, through the blood.  —John H. Burridge

2 Kings 14:23-15:31; Jeremiah 50:1-20; Titus 1:1-2:8

They drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites…they brought Joseph into Egypt…the Lord was with Joseph…he served [Potiphar] and he made him overseer over his house…[Potiphar’s wife] said, Lie with me…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Gen. 37:28; 39:2, 4, 7, 9

Joseph gives us a worthy example for when trials and troubles beset us. Having been separated from his family, he faithfully served his new master in Egypt. He did not complain of his new circumstances. Furthermore, he remained faithful to the Lord when tempted by his master’s wife. Serve the Lord and in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will guide you and bless you. —Bob Cretney

Our times are in Thy hand: whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright, as best may seem to Thee.  —W. F. Lloyd

2 Kings 13-14:22; Jeremiah 49:1-39; Hebrews 13:7-25

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 150:6

The whole gamut of human emotions and conditions are addressed in the psalms. Sighs of anxiety, grief and tears come from deep within the writers. Heights of optimism, enthusiasm and joy are also a part of the spectrum. Wherever saints of God are found, and whatever their state, the refrain, “Praise ye the Lord”, resonates in their souls. We rejoice, teach, edify and admonish each other when we sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. —Gaius C. Goff

Rejoice! Rejoice! Ye saints rejoice! Rejoice with one accord;
Rejoice with all your heart and voice, in Christ the exalted Lord.
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