Month: September 2024

1 Kings 22:1-53; Jeremiah 33:1-26; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

The dictionary defines “refuge” as a place of shelter and safety. In Israel’s day, “Cities of Refuge” were established to protect those who had accidently slain someone (Num. 35:11). Christ’s sacrifice on the cross sheltered us from God’s wrath against sin (Rom. 5:9). Even today, our heavenly Father promises to shelter us in the storms of life. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). What storm are you facing today? Run to God,
your refuge, and find help for your every need. —E.V.

The Lord’s our rock, in Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm. —Vernon Charlesworth

1 Kings 21:1-29; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. Song of Songs 4:6

In Scripture, myrrh is associated with grief and sorrow, whereas frankincense is associated with times of celebration and worship. So it is with the future bride of Solomon, pending that glad moment when she would be united with Him, she occupies herself with the things that remind her of Him. Before He went to Calvary, the Lord Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. It was so we, His future bride, could be sustained in our love for Him, by revisiting Calvary, that mountain of myrrh, the mount of sorrow, and send the fragrance of our worship on high. —Willie H. Burnett

Backward look we, drawn to Calvary, musing while we sing;
Forward haste we to Thy coming, Lord and King!  —Douglas Russell

1 Kings 20:1-43; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3:1-19

We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Matthew 11:17

Here in our Lord’s day, we see a people being stubbornly unreasonable, much as it is today. When the Lord cried, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isa. 1:18), it fell on many deaf ears in those times, as it does in these. When people refuse the merciful invitation of the Gospel, it is their unreasonable way of refusing to consider what their Creator wants to say to them. Our God is longsuffering beyond measure, but we wonder how much longer this will last. —Rick Morse

The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.  —Jim Reeves

1 Kings 19:1-21; Jeremiah 31:1-40; Hebrews 2:1-18

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. Hebrews 11:39

At our Vacation Bible School, we have sometimes had a speaker do a chalk drawing and award it to one of the children for answering a question about the message. But that child does not get to take the drawing home with them right away. He must wait until the end of the week. In this way, the drawing serves as a lesson to others, teaching that we must wait to receive God’s promise as He works out His purposes in our lives and uses us as an illustration
to others. —Warren Hagey

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain. —William Cowper

1 Kings 18:1-46; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Hebrews 1:1-14

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee; And I will make of thee a great nation. Genesis 12:1-2
(Jesus said) If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

When God spoke to him, Abram could have easily questioned what He directed. But God had given His command and promised what He would do as a reward. Abram responded. Today, God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings and says keep my commandments. Do we love Him enough to do so? —Ken Gross

Trust and Obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey. — John H. Sammis

1 Kings 17:1-24; Jeremiah 29:1-32; Philemon 1:1-25

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). Hebrews 10:23

Jewish believers were being persecuted and the writer urged them to hold fast to their profession of faith in the Lord Jesus. Likewise, we must not waver in our faith in Christ when faced with problems or trials. Let us be true and faithful to our profession of faith. If any problems arise, we can always draw near with full assurance of faith in Him and let our needs be known. He will be faithful to His promises to help us. —K.C. Ung

God’s promises are true,
He will His own defend,
Arise and shine for Him,
Your light ne’er let grow dim. —A.M. Reynolds

1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27:1-28:17; Colossians 4:2-18

My times are in Your hand. Psalm 31:15 NKJV

Years ago I sat at the bedside of my younger sister as she lay dying of an aggressive cancer at age 49. It was so sad to see her suffer, though the staff were so kind and caring. She was mostly asleep during those final days but sometimes she woke up and briefly spoke before falling back to sleep. On one occasion she suddenly woke and said, “I’m dying”. I did not know how to respond but others said, “No you are not!” They spoke out of love but it was untrue as she was dying. As I reflected, Ps. 31:15 came to mind, and I wish I had quoted the words. Our times are always in God’s hand
and we never know when He will call us and say our time on earth is over. It is so important to be ready. My sister was, praise God. —Paul Young

When all my labours and trials are oe’r, and I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore, will through the ages be glory for me.  —C . Gabriel

1 Kings 15:1-32; Jeremiah 26:1-24; Colossians 3:5-4:1

The messenger…spake unto him (Micaiah), saying, Behold…the words of the prophets declare good unto the king…let thy word …be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak. 1 Kings 22:13-14

The prophet Micaiah refused to follow popular opinion, but without fear of man proclaimed exactly what God told him. This is the type of preacher needed today. One who faithfully declares only what the Bible says, whether the world calls it “politically incorrect” or not. “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). —David Croudace

When the earth shall cease to be, and the heavens pass away,
The unchanging Word of God we’ll see, just as it is today. —Charles Naylor

1 Kings 13:33-14:31; Jeremiah 24:1-25:38; Colossians 2:8-3:4

Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek. Hebrews 5:6
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedek. Hebrews 5:10

The answer as to why the Lord Jesus, the “priest” of Hebrews 5:6, is later referred to as “high priest” in verse 10 lies between the two quotations. In Psalm 110:4, God declared Christ to be a priest “for ever” after the order of Melchizedek. Thus His office was unique— He was the only one. As a result of His suffering and death, however, the Aaronic order has been terminated, and a whole new family of priests, “holy” and “royal” (1 Peter 2:5, 9), now look to
Him as their “high priest”. —Phil Coulson

Jesus, in Thee our eyes behold,
A thousand glories more;
Than the rich gems and polished gold,
The sons of Aaron wore. —Isaac Watts

1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23:1-40; Colossians 1:21-2:7

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. Matthew 8:34

The demoniacs’ dramatic conversions led the townspeople to investigate the Lord for themselves. Sadly, they promptly asked Him to leave. They were accustomed to these violently possessed men. No doubt they could think of numerous dysfunctionally sinful people in their community. But they could not fathom the love that transformed
these debased men into new creatures. The newly saved are sometimes rejected by their loved ones because the lost are frightened by God’s power that frees from sin and produces spiritual fruit. Wickedness they comprehend, but grace is inscrutable. —Keith R. Keyser

Ungrateful sinners, whence this scorn of long-extended grace?
And whence this madness, that insults the Almighty to His face?—P. Doddridge