Month: August 2025

1 Samuel 17:32-18:5; Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 4:1-22

He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:32

Being single can be difficult. For most, the heart’s desire is to be married and if you’re still single today, you may be having feelings of doubt and loneliness. Your prayers speak of trust in God, but you struggle with a sense of injustice concerning your state. In the midst of your pain, remember your true calling is to have a relationship with Him. Rest in that and then surrender control to God moment by moment. There is no partiality with God (Rom. 2:11). He will not grant marriage to someone and not another because He loves or favours one above the other. He has placed you exactly where you need to be for now. —K. W.

All to Jesus I surrender, make me, Saviour, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Spirit, truly know that Thou art mine. —J. Van De Venter

1 Samuel 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9-57:21; Romans 3:1-31

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Gospel changes lives. Despite fierce opposition, Christians carrying forth this message have impacted the world from Christ’s resurrection to this day. We too need to carry the Gospel to our generation. Its essentials have never changed. According to God’s Word, Christ died for our sins. He was buried, but that was not the end. He was raised again. The empty tomb affirms a finished work and that eternal life is offered to everyone. May we be faithful and
pass on this life-giving message to someone today.—Gaius C. Goff

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood: Hallelujah, what a Saviour!    —Philip P. Bliss

1 Samuel 16:1-23; Isaiah 55:1-56:8; Romans 2:1-29

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor. 1:18

A young man walked down a busy street wearing a sandwich board sign which read on the front, “I’m a fool for Christ.” As you turned to see the back, it read, “Whose fool are you?” The cross of Christ is still the object of the world’s hatred and rejection. Is it because while the cross reveals God’s love and grace, at the same time, it speaks of man’s sinfulness and God’s holiness? Although those facts may make us uncomfortable they are true. And it is
also true that if you reject Christ and treat the cross as foolish, you are rejecting your only hope for eternity. I ask the question, whose fool are you? Trust the Saviour today. —Jim Comte

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away. —Isaac Watts

1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 NKJV

God, the Father of all creation, longs to have intimate fellowship with us. Sharing a meal with someone has long been a symbol of friendship and the Lord promises this level of communion to those who hear His voice and accept His presence. He tenderly invites us to take time out of our full schedules each day to dine at His table. —Olive Wilson

Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus,
Losing sight of all but Thee,
O what joy Thy presence gives us,
Calling up our hearts to Thee! —C. A. W.

1 Samuel 14:1-52; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Romans 1:1-17

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?… thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

The prospect of death deeply frightens many people. Some do their best to not think about it and certainly do not discuss it. Others are made of sterner stuff and seem fearless in the face of death. Thankfully through the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, death has been conquered and for the Christian, there is a sense of positive anticipation and even the feeling of triumph as death approaches. The Christian has, with the power of the Holy
Spirit, the ability to finish well by looking forward to our heavenly home. —Paul Young

Lives again our glorious King, where, Oh death, is now thy sting?
He died our souls to save, where’s thy victory, boasting grave?—C. Wesley

1 Samuel 13:1-23; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14

I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it. Psalm 52:9

“Thou hast done it.” How’s that for an established fact! Done what? Everything He said He would do—even that which has not yet been revealed as an accomplished fact. Look at 2 Cor. 6:2, “In the day of salvation [yet future when spoken] have I succoured thee.” This promise was first made to Israel, then here to believers, and is yet to have its complete fulfillment. Yet we read that He has done it. God uses verb tenses we could never use; God speaks uniquely in the “present-future-past.” It’s all “already done” to Him!—Eunice Free

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith, in His excellent Word!
What more can He say, than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? —Unknown

1 Samuel 11:1-12:25; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Corinthians 12:1-13

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 NKJV

Growing faith and abounding love thrive in persecution and tribulation. For this, Paul gives thanks and extols as exemplary for all believers. A life without trial is a life without growth. James says to count them as “all joy” (James 1:2). —Brian Gunning

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me. —John Newton

1 Samuel 9:15-10:27; Isaiah 50:1-51:8; 2 Corinthians 11:1-33

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Heb. 13:8

How wonderful it is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We serve a God that does not change. This should give all believers comfort. Comfort in knowing we can put our trust in Him and His promises. Comfort in the abundant life, freedom, and forgiveness of sins He gives. Comfort that He has promised that He is working out all things for the good of those who love Him. Comfort that He will come again and take us to be with Him. God keeps His promises! He never changes! Let us take comfort in Him today. —Caleb Riordan

Jesus is coming! O sing the glad word!
Coming for those He redeemed by His blood,
Coming to reign as the glorified Lord!
Jesus is coming again! —D. W. Whittle

1 Samuel 8:1-9:14; Isaiah 49:1-26; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Great minds spend years examining the riches of science, literature, history, and art. Life can be consumed exploring the creation, while one neglects the Creator. Happily, believers study these subjects to appreciate our Maker’s wisdom. The brilliant astronomer Kepler described his research as “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” The
Almighty’s love displayed in the gift of His Son dwarfs every other subject. It passes all human comprehension and brings together believers of all intellectual levels to plumb the depths of His infinite love displayed at the cross. —Keith Keyser

Love so vast that nought can bound, love too deep for thought to sound,
Love which brought the Lord of all, to the wormwood and the gall.  —Albert Midlane

1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me. Isaiah 61:1

There are three references in Isaiah to the anointing of the Lord Jesus. It is the Father who says, “I have put my spirit upon him” (Is. 42:1). The Spirit moves Isaiah to write, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” (Is. 11:2). And in our verse today, it is the Lord Jesus speaking. Three different speakers and three distinct implications. In Isaiah 11 it is about the future reign of Christ, in Isaiah 42 the context is the pastoral ministry of Christ, and Isaiah 61 is about the public ministry of Christ. In the OT, kings, priests, and prophets were anointed and the Spirit anointed the Lord Jesus at His baptism. What a wonderful Saviour we serve! —Gary McBride

Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring,
Crown Him, crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King! —F. Crosby