Month: September 2024

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

Then they…ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. Acts 7:57-58

The Lord may not immediately reveal the fruit of our service for Him. It was only when Paul entered heaven that Stephen first glimpsed the fruit of his martyr’s death, in the life of the young man Saul (Acts 9:5; 22:20). Beloved, we must remain faithful. Let us never get discouraged. Keep pressing on for Christ. The fruit may not be immediately visible, but all will be fully revealed in eternity. —George Ferrier

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay. —E. E. Hewitt

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

There was a certain nobleman…he went unto [Jesus], and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son. John 4:46-47

Besides his great love for his son, this man is admirable for his humility. We read at first that this father “besought” Jesus to help. In the Greek, this particular word is used when someone requests a favour from someone considered their equal. This man was a royal official who, perhaps, considered his status reason enough to receive this special favour from the “miracle-worker”. But as the story unfolds, he calls Jesus “Sir”, an elevated term of respect. He
placed himself under the authority of Jesus. If we are going see the Lord work His power in our lives today, we must come in humility and submit to His authority. —Brian Cretney

O Master, let me walk with Thee, in lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret, help me bear, the strain of toil, the fret of care.—W. Gladden

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

As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted…and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you. Ezekiel 22:22

Israel had descended into gross idolatry and God likened them to impure silver. Here He tells Ezekiel of His plan to purify them. They would go through much suffering (refining in a very hot furnace) because He wanted them to understand that He, the Lord, was pouring out His fury on them for their sin. Hundreds of years later God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ bore that awful fury for our sin and for all of mankind. —Mary Robins

Till on that Cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live. —Stuart Townend

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

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

Consider this exhortation, “Keep yourselves in the love of God”! Ponder the activities necessary for such an endeavour: building, praying, and looking! The looking refers to our anticipation of the coming of the Lord and the rapture of the saints. We are to joyfully and anxiously await the coming of the Lord for His Church. It will be an act of mercy as He takes us to glory and thus delivers us from the impending Great Tribulation. —L. Cain

What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see,
When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace.  —Jim Hill

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

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest. Heb. 4:11 NKJV

In Matthew 11, the Lord Jesus offered rest to sinners burdened by sin—wonderful news for every sinner seeking salvation. There is another rest offered to saints. This rest has to do with the satisfaction we find in Christ and the enjoyment of His finished work on the cross. Believers do not have to strive to please God through endless activity but rather serve God out of devotion. According to Hebrews 4, this is “promised land” living for saints. Many believers never experience or enjoy the rest found in Christ, thus the call to be diligent to enter that rest. —Gary McBride

Jesus I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness,
Of Thy loving heart. —J. Pigott

2 Samuel 21:1-22; Jeremiah 51:1-31; Galatians 6:1-18

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7 NKJV

Many years ago, gorse was introduced to New Zealand. A man told my brother that his father was employed by an early missionary to water his gorse plants. Some years later the son was employed by our father to spray gorse as it has become one of New Zealand’s most noxious weeds. Most days I pull out several small plants by hand before their prickles become sharp. Likewise, in our lives, we must weed out what will cause trouble and watch what we sow to ensure the right harvest. —Janet Fleming

Are you building today for eternity’s shore?
Life’s work, is it lasting and true?
Will it stand when the fires have tested its worth?
Will it then seem of value to you? —Janet Fleming

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

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast… Hebrews 6:19

One of the most important pieces of equipment on a ship is the anchor. In a storm, if the anchor breaks free the vessel is in danger of drifting onto the rocks with disastrous results. Today is still the day of grace, and God is offering an anchor to lost souls drifting in the storms of life. His plan of salvation is the only anchor that will prove true and steadfast. Trust in the Lord Jesus and you will find a sure hope and an anchor for your soul. —Sid Halsband

We have an anchor that keeps the soul,
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!  —Priscilla J. Owens

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

His soul an offering for sin. Isaiah 53:10
The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
We have turned every one to his own way. Isaiah 53:6

Our failings before a Holy God are complex and immense. There is our sin, a word which means falling short and missing the mark. We have continuously “come short of the glory of God”. Secondly there is our iniquity. We have gone beyond God’s limits in our depravity and lawlessness. Thirdly, as unique individuals, we have personally rejected God’s path and “gone our own way”. Thank the Lord, Jehovah’s perfect servant has fully dealt with every aspect of our failure. When He cried “It is finished”, our redemption was complete and God Almighty was satisfied. —Doug Lewis

Upon His faultless Lamb, God, was pleased my faults to lay,
That He for me should suffer, my debt of sin to pay. —George J. Webb

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

Ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
At the time when kings go forth to battle…David tarried…by this deed [against Bathsheba] thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. 2 Samuel 11:1; 12:14

Our liberty in Christ is to bring Him glory not shame. God rewarded David and Daniel’s youthful faithfulness with influential positions. Sadly, David’s faithfulness waned, and sin ensued, providing the enemy great occasion against God. Contrastingly, Daniel, remained faithful, and gave no such occasion (Dan. 6:4)! Steadfast, faithful, loving service is paramount in our lives to bring glory to Him. May we run and finish well! —David J. Reed

Looking off unto Jesus, I go not astray;
My eyes are on Him and He shows me the way. —J.N. Darby & A. Warner

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

Where is the lamb? Genesis 22:7
Behold the Lamb. John 1:29

Isaac is the first to mention the word “lamb” in Scripture. In response to his question, his father Abraham was able to tell him that God will provide Himself a lamb, the lamb is then prophesied. The first mention in the New Testament of the “lamb” is by John the Baptist on the banks of the river Jordan. There the lamb is identified. Finally the last mention of “lamb” in Scripture is by the Apostle John where he sees the Lamb upon a throne glorified. May our
Lamb be magnified in our midst today! —John M. Clegg

Lamb of God,Thou now art seated,
High beside Thy Father’s throne;
All Thy gracious work completed,
All Thy mighty vict’ry won. —James G Deck