Month: June 2019

Deuteronomy 28:1-37; Amos 3:1-4:13; Luke 14:1-24

For God speaketh once, yea twice…Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. Job 33:14, 16

A Christian social worker who had tried for three years to win a rebellious girl finally used tough love and told the youth, “I’ve shed my last tear for you, and given my last ounce of care”. Some time later the girl called to pour out her desperation. Instantly the worker’s care revived. Her years of kindness paid with a changed life. Today, God’s loving concern still wraps His arms of mercy around the wanderer who seeks Him. —E. Dyck

Chilled in the shadows, I wandered in sin,
Far from the warmth of the light,
Then Jesus found me and changed me within,
Kindled His love in the night. —Ron Hamilton

Deuteronomy 26:16-27:26; Amos 1:1-2:16; Luke 13:22-35

Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15

My wife’s grandfather was sitting on a bench one day. A young lady sat down beside him and said, “Do you mind if I smoke a cigarette?”. The wise man replied, “Not at all, as long as you don’t mind me telling you of the greatest gift God wants to give you”. In a gentle and reverential manner he shared that, “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Seize every opportunity to tell of God’s great plan of salvation. —Bob Cretney

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me;
And may I bravely do my part; to win that soul for Thee. —L. Tucker

Deuteronomy 25:1-26:15; Jonah 3:1-4:11; Luke 13:1-21

We were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 2 Corinthians 7:5

Paul suffered greatly in his work for the Lord. He cites some of those experiences in 2 Corinthians 11, identifying the pain and persecution he endured. He concludes with the remark “That which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (v. 28). False prophets, legislative intimidation and worldly influences produce the “fightings” without; false teachers and misguided brethren bring about the “fears within”. These adversities, formidable indeed are but part of the “good fight” (1 Tim. 6:12), that we must wage if we are to receive the crowns that He will give. —Mark Kolchin

Sure I must fight if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy Word. —I. Watts

Deuteronomy 23:9-24:22; Jonah 1:1-2:10; Luke 12:41-59

For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:10

Heaven is a glorious anticipation for the Christian. It is viewed as a city in the above verse. Cities are places of activity, buildings, music, sport and are certainly not boring. Yet Heaven is also viewed as a country (Heb. 11:16) and that reminds us of variety (mountains, rivers) and beauty. It is also considered a home (John 14:4) and homes are places of security, familiarity and friendship. What a glory Heaven is: activity, beauty and loved ones. We thank God that this is our anticipation through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. —Paul Young

There is a land that is fairer than day, and by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way to prepare us a dwelling place there. —Sanford Fillmore Bennett

Deuteronomy 22:1-23:8; Joel 3:1-21; Luke 12:22-40

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:9

Eli had many faults and failures, but we must commend his positive attitude towards Samuel when he realised this young boy was going to be God’s choice, not himself, in serving the coming generation. Rather than overlooking spiritual young people, let us encourage them not to despise their youth (1 Tim. 4:12). —Brian Russell

You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek,
You are my all in all. —Dennis Jernigan

Deuteronomy 20:1-21:23; Joel 2:1-32; Luke 12:1-21

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable. 2 Timothy 3:16

In reading the accounts about the birth of Christ, I was again impressed by the magnitude of the dilemma facing both Mary and Joseph. When Mary understood her favoured condition, she broke out into a song replete with quotes from Scripture. When Joseph was faced with her condition, he too found direction from Scripture. Joseph’s guidance came from Deuteronomy. Interestingly, some thirty years later, his legal son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His hour of great testing, also found His ground of authority in the Word of God—specifically in Deuteronomy. As Paul says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”. —M. MacMullen

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life. —P. P. Bliss

Deuteronomy 18:9-19:21; Joel 1:1-20; Luke 11:37-54

Lovest thou me more than these? John 21:15
Lovest thou me? John 21:16
Lovest thou me? John 21:17

The Lord wanted Peter to speak the words “I love You” to Him. Does our Saviour ever tire of hearing us say it? No, He does not. Just as we enjoy hearing that we are loved, so does He. Do you regularly tell the Lord, “Thou knowest that I love thee” (21:15-17). But do we show our love to Him as well? By our love for His Word? Our treatment of fellow believers? Our efforts in the gospel? Lovingly tell, and show, Him today! —Vernon Markle

Love led my Saviour to die in my stead, why should He love me so?
Meekly to Calvary He was led. Why should He love me so? -Robert Harkness

Deuteronomy 17:1-18:8; Obadiah 1-21; Luke 11:14-36

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:26

Many of us, having times of need, have failed to appeal to our Lord for help. The Greek scholar, Kenneth Wuest states, “In Him there is seasonal grace”. That is the help needed for a specific time and season. Jacob’s need was for his family (Gen. 33:1-7). Whatever your need is at this hour, take it to the throne of grace for promised help. —Arnot P. McIntee

My soul, ask what wilt, thou canst not be too bold:
Since His own blood for thee was spilt, what else can He withhold? —John Newton

Deuteronomy 16:1-22; Song of Solomon 6:10-8:14; Luke 11:1-13

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Often we feel afraid and troubled by our circumstances. Perhaps our whole world has been turned upside down by an illness, or the loss of a loved one on whom we were dependent. In the midst of it all, the Lord tells us, “my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). We need not fear if we take these words to heart. Paul went through great trials in his life and still he could say, “Rejoice in the Lord always…And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds” (Phil. 4:4, 7). In your sorrow, rejoice in these words. —Ken Gunnell

Fear not! ‘Tis God’s own voice
That speaks to thee these words;
Lift up your head —rejoice In Jesus thy Lord. —E. G. Taylor

Deuteronomy 14:22-15:23; Song of Solomon 5:2-6:9; Luke 10:25-42

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? Luke 12:24, NKJV

Once when a friend and her husband were struggling financially she stated to her husband, “I cannot expect God to just drop food out of the sky”. At that moment a bun landed at her feet. As she looked up she saw a bird flying on its way. Today she said to me, “There have been many times when we have been in need, but God has provided for our needs”. —Janet Fleming

When bills have grown high and funds seem so low,
Our God in His kindness, He already knows
The things that we need and He’s willing to share,
For each child of our Father is under His care. —Janet Fleming