Month: October 2025

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

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4

How fleeting is a person’s life in the light of God’s eternity! Man is utterly insignificant in light of who God is, and yet He desires for us to know Him and fellowship with Him! Our life here is just the beginning of eternity for each of us, spent either with God or without Him. For those of us who know Him, we cannot imagine what it would be like to be separated from God and all that He is; goodness, love and light forever. —G. Frear

A thousand years are in His sight,
The same as yesterday’s quick flight;
Man’s life is but a fleeting thing,
Like blooms which fall, or birds that sing. —G. F

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

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-20 NKJV

Recently a friend died and I need to sort through her belongings, some of which she treasured dearly. It makes one realize that we cannot take our earthly treasures with us when we die or if the Lord returns. What does count is the treasure we are storing in heaven. Will what I am working for today be of value on that day? —Janet Fleming

Are you building today for eternity’s shore?
Your 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

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

Apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge…If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.  Proverbs 2:2-5

Apply. Cry. Seek. Search. These are commands from the Lord, and obeying them takes diligence and discipline on the part of the believer. Our daily reading of and meditation on the Word of God is vital to our understanding and knowledge of God. Let us discipline ourselves not to neglect His Word, not even for a day!  —Elizabeth C. Bishop

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And every one who seeks, may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare,
Are hidden in its mighty depths, for every searcher there. —E. Hodder

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

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NKJV

God considers the believer to have died with Christ and to have been raised with Him on the third day. Christ now lives His life in us. Therefore, He desires us to manifest His life as a witness to the lost and an encouragement to believers. Our manner of life must be one of faith, yoked to and learning of Him (Matt. 11:29). His sacrificial love motivates our worship and service. Not I, but Christ! —George Ferrier

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;
Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.  —A. B. Simpson& Ada A. Whiddington

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

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. Job 41:33 

Whatever manner of creature this leviathan was, it was clearly known to Job and walked the earth in his day. We may imagine a dinosaur or perhaps even a fire-breathing dragon, but the fact that he was made without fear is remarkable in itself. While in a Roman prison, Paul rejoiced that many Christians were boldly speaking the word of God without fear (Phil. 1:14). Rather than being immobilized by being timid, may we also be without fear as we seek some lost soul for Him today. —Rick Morse

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A foll’wer of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name? —Isaac Watts

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

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts. Mark 1:13

He was with the wild beasts, but there was no peril. Adam had been given dominion over the animal kingdom but lost that position when he sinned in the garden (Ps. 8:3-9). But there is another Man and He has ever had dominion over creation for He is the Creator. Presently, “We see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:8-9). The Creator has tasted death for us and soon will be crowned with glory! “What manner of man is this!” (Luke 8:25). —L. Cain

Jesus, the Conqueror, reigns, in glorious strength arrayed;
His kingdom over all maintains, and bids the earth be glad. —C. Wesley

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

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

Each of these statements could be considered in this way: the young person who is walking, the middle-aged person who is standing, and the senior who is sitting. We all identify with one of them. Each is encouraged to delight in the law of the Lord and bring forth fruit in his season (vv. 2-3). No matter what season of life we are in, there is something we can do for the Lord. Let’s allow Him to use us until He calls us home to heaven. —Virginia Strout

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him, in all that I do.  —Thomas O. Chisholm

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

Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. Genesis 49:27 NKJV
And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him. Deuteronomy 33:12

Wolves are never spoken well of in Scripture. Their nature is one of viciousness and pitiless killing. From the Benjamites’ awful crime in Judges 19 to Saul’s irrational hatred of David, Jacob’s assessment of Benjamin proved to be correct. It had not changed when another Saul persecuted the early Church. But how wonderfully different are our two texts today! The first could describe Saul of Tarsus by nature: the second, what he became by grace. Truly, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). —Phil Coulson

Grace first contrived the way to save rebellious man;
And all the steps that grace display, which drew the wondrous plan.  —Philip Doddridge

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

That your love may abound yet more and more. Philippians 1:9

God’s Word is always challenging us to take the next step. Whether it be in our love toward each other (1 Thess. 4:9-10), our Christian walk (1 Thess. 4:11), or bearing fruit for Christ (John 15:2), we are encouraged to increase it more and more! This may likely require us to step out of our comfort zone. God does this because He knows that our places of comfort rarely promote spiritual growth, but rather complacency. May we respond to the Spirit’s prompting and
experience the “abundant life” He offers (John 10:10). —E. V.

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me. —Eliza E. Hewitt

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

And she vowed…and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid…[and] wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:11

Some people think “God owes me” because they have gone through much hardship. They think that the things that they have endured or the service they have done brings merit for them before God. Hannah received a son because God’s purposes for Samuel were greater than her grief. God owes us nothing. It is we who owe God our very lives because of His great grace. – K. W.

Grace it was, yea, grace abounding, brought Thee down to save the lost;
Ye above, His throne surrounding, praise Him, praise Him all His host;
Saints! Adore Him! Saints! Adore Him! Ye are they who owe Him most.  —Thomas Kelly