Month: September 2015

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23; Colossians 1:21 to 2:7

 

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.  Ecclesiastes 10:7

Oh the upside down values of this world! Those who have nothing in the “Bank of Heaven” walk as if they are royalty, while the one who is rich toward God is lowly esteemed. One shamelessly glorifies sin to the world’s applause, while the other, bowed in humility, labours on unnoticed. One day, the Lord will overturn this world’s corrupted values (Ezek. 21:27). But until then, we testify to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6), actually turning it right side up. Keep these things in mind as we make our way toward heaven. —Mark Kolchin

Precious, more precious, wealth that can never be told!
Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! Precious, more precious than gold.
—Fanny Crosby

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 12; Jeremiah 21-22; Colossians 1:1-20

 

Then released he Barabbas unto them and…delivered him to be crucified.  Matthew 27:26

I have often wondered if Barabbas went to Calvary following his release. Did he perhaps look into the face of the crucified Jesus and quietly say, “Because You are dying there, I live”? Admittedly, we do not know what his thoughts were. Every child of God, however, can say, on the authority of Holy Scripture, “He died for me.” —George Hall

No other hope, no other plea;
He took my place and died for me;
O precious Lamb of Calvary!
He took my place and died for me.
—Eliza E. Hewitt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 11; Jeremiah 19-20; Philippians 4:2-23

 

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:21

Israel is not like any other nation. God formed this nation “for myself”. It is the only nation on the face of the earth formed for God’s purposes and pleasure. Even though they have strayed and suffered over the centuries, God has not finished with Israel, for He states, “They shall shew forth my praise.” He promises, “I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory” (Isa. 46:13). These promises are not to other nations or the Church. Israel has a future with God! There is nothing men can do about it, because God has promised it. Believers should pray for her salvation, blessing and peace. —Carl Knott

Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father, 
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
—Thomas Chisholm

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 10; Jeremiah 18; Philippians 3 to 4:1

 

Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.  John 7:30
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering… 2 Timothy 4:2

Repeatedly the Jews tried to take the Lord Jesus but no-one could lay hands on Him because His hour had not yet come. We too are under God’s protection! We may be criticized, opposed, rejected, called intolerant and even hated because we faithfully proclaim what God says in His unchanging Word! But they have no power to do anything to us beyond what the Lord Himself permits. Whatever the reaction, we must continue declaring the whole Word of God. —David Croudace

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply.
—John Keith

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 9; Jeremiah 17; Philippians 2:12-30

 

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity.  Proverbs 1:3

When the Scottish Parliament was established a decade or so ago, it commissioned the manufacture of a mace as a symbol of its powers. Inscribed into the mace are four words—“Wisdom, Justice, Compassion and Integrity”. These are intended to convey the aspirations of the Scottish Government as to its principles of governing. Whether the characteristics are evident all the time may be questioned by some but they were all constantly evident characteristics in the life of Christ and should be evident in the lives of all Christians. —Brian Powlesland

Oh to be saved from myself, dear Lord, Oh to be lost in Thee,
Oh that it might be no more I, but Christ, that lives in me.
—Ada Whiddington

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:31-66; Jer. 16; Philippians 1:21 to 2:11

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  John 5:24

Can you look back to a time when you passed from death into life?  My date was March 2, 1938 when I first heard and understood the gospel. I was a very rebellious young man and refused to obey my parents. But I knew I was a sinner. That afternoon a man of God sat down with me in our home and explained the gospel to me. With tears I opened my heart and received Christ as my Lord and Saviour. It was the beginning of a new life for me. Have you as a broken sinner, repentant and believing, received the Lord Jesus? —Donald L. Norbie

Will you take Jesus to be your guide? His love will brighten the way;
Safe in His keeping you may abide; will you take Jesus today?
—W. Rock

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15; Philippians 1:1-20

 

The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.  Ruth 2:12
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

In every age God says that there is a reward to those who seek to please Him. Wouldn’t the goodness of God in creation and in salvation be enough? Aren’t we blessed in just the living of a godly life? To be rewarded for seeking Him, for doing good in His name seems to be a goodness beyond expectation, blessings beyond reason. —D. Pickup

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open, we shall tread the streets of gold.
—Hewitt

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 7; Jeremiah 14; Ephesians 6:10-24

 

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  Ephesians 5:30

Many years ago at the Keswick Convention in England, a Christian said to George Silwood, “Is it not blessed to be safe in the arms of Jesus?” “Yes,” said Mr. Silwood, “but I am safer than that.” When asked how this could be, Mr. Silwood happily replied, “Why, I am as safe as an arm of Jesus,” then quoted the words of our text. If you have genuinely believed on Christ, then you are not only eternally saved but eternally safe and secure. —W. Ross Rainey

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, 
I will not, I will not desert to his foes; 
That soul, tho’ all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
—Author Unknown

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 6; Jeremiah 13; Ephesians 5:22 to 6:9

 

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst…stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  Revelation 5:6

There stood a Lamb. Majestic sight! In all His glory! The Lion of the tribe of Judah fully possesses all the attributes of deity. The seven horns are symbolic of His omnipotence. The seven eyes are symbolic of His omniscience and omnipresence—the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And all of this glory proceeds from a slain Lamb! Does anything in all creation compare with the suffering and glory of the Lamb? —Shane Johnson

Behold the glories of the Lamb, amidst His Father’s throne.
Prepare new honours for His name, and songs before unknown.
—Isaac Watts