Month: July 2019

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have
purposed, so shall it stand. Isaiah 14:24

A recurring theme throughout Scripture is God’s sovereign governance.
Entwined with His long-suffering mercy and grace is the
ultimate finality of holiness and justice. The reign of sin will come
to an end along with all of its subjects; but those who have trusted
that their own justice was enacted at Calvary will go on into everlasting
glory. Mercy and truth, righteousness and peace—they
have embraced at the cross. Have you been there for yourself?
—Rick Morse

Beneath the cross of Jesus, at times mine eye can see;
The very dying form of One who suffered there for me.
— Elizabeth Clephane

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

Some of the king’s descendants. Daniel 1:3, NKJV

These captive children of Israel are described here as “some of the
royal family” (nasb). What a bright future lay ahead of them, until
that fateful (yet God-ordained) day when they were taken away,
never to see “home” again! Imagine—from the privilege of their
father’s court to a foreigner’s court and from the land of God to
a land of many gods. Nothing was turning out as they anticipated.
Yet the Scriptures reveal that over the next few decades they
were exactly where God wanted them. We also are royal sons and
daughters in a foreign land. May we be as faithful to God as these
men were! —N. C. Funston

Tho’ exiled from home, yet still I may sing,
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King. —Harriet E. Buell

1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into
heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the
right hand of God. Acts 7:55

Stephen’s message was so powerful and convicting that it infuriated
the unbelieving crowd. They were full of anger, but he was
full of faith and the Spirit (Acts 6:5). Just before heaven opened to
receive him, he peered above and saw the glory of God and Jesus
standing at His right hand, waiting to receive him. A faithful testimony
for Christ, a steadfast gaze toward heaven, a forgiving heart
to others (v. 60) and then the call to glory, the same benchmarks that
we should exhibit in our witness and service. —Mark Kolchin

Gazing on the Lord in glory, while our hearts in worship bow,
There we read the wondrous story, of the cross—its shame and woe.
—C. Thompson

Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall
be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3

The Most High God is far above all, unequaled, and supreme.
Separate from His creation, He is the possessor of heaven and
earth, the Sovereign of the ages. Yet He delights to draw near to
us. God the Son descended from heaven, humbling Himself in
His incarnation, taking a servant’s place. He was willing to die
for our sins so all who believe on Him will eternally live with
God. Our future is to have the Most High God forever near to us.
Praise His name. —George Ferrier

God is both further from us, and nearer to us,
than any other being. —C. S. Lewis

Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Get thee out…unto a land that I will shew thee. Genesis 12:1
Take now thy son…upon one of the mountains which I will tell
thee of. Genesis 22:2

Wouldn’t it be great if God showed and told us exactly where
we were to go and what we were to do in life? Yet, note the order
in both of these verses. First came the instructions to obey: “Get
out”, “Take your son”. Then, following that obedience, came the
directions—not all at once, mind you, but one step at a time. Such
is the walk of faith: one step of obedience brings light for the next
step of obedience. God is not obligated to “show” or “tell” us
anything when we have not yet obeyed in an area of our lives that
God has clearly put His finger on. —Brian Cretney

One step thou seest: then go forward boldly;
Take that, and thy next duty shall be told thee. —Author Unknown

Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning
every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also
labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me
mightily. Colossians 1:27-29

The corporate world speaks of vision statements and mission
statements. They focus on a goal and hone their policies in reaching
it. This type of corporate talk is taken from New Testament thinking.
Of all people we should be forward thinking. Our vision? Christ
Himself. Our mission? To make disciples so that we and many like
us will be like Christ. Our backward movements result when we
stray from this heavenly vision. Aim at God’s goal. —J. A. Bjorlie

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art. —Dallan Forgaill

Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-23

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden
the request of his lips. Selah. Psalm 21:2

God is always there to give and protect those who seek His face.
He is truly a giving God! Right from the beginning, we read that
“God so loved the world, that he gave” (John 3:16). He gave His very
best in the Person of His beloved Son. He was in Christ, reconciling
the world to Himself when He paid the price of our sin on the
cross (2 Cor. 5:19). What a giving God He is! —G. Frear

God’s strength and salvation, He gives to His own,
Great mercy and grace to us, He has surely shown,
Our heart’s desire He gives us all of our way,
When we delight in Him and trust Him day by day.
—G. F.

Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Prepare to meet thy God. Amos 4:12
I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
Depart from me…into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels. Matthew 25:41

The cry of God’s ancient prophet is the cry of the 21st century
servant of the Lord, “Prepare to meet thy God”. To die prepared is to
go to the place prepared by the Lord for His people. To reject that
love and fail to prepare to meet Him, is to be sentenced eternally
to the place prepared for the devil and his angels. Oh, prepare to
meet thy God. —Arnot P. McIntee

Repent and believe this very hour,
Trust in the Saviour’s grace and power,
Then shall your joyous answer be,
“Prepared” for the long eternity. —E. A. Hoffman

Judges 19; Isaiah 37:8-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me. Psalm 23:4, NKJV

Comfort is derived from Latin roots: con, “to be with” and fortis,
“strong.” Literally comfort means “to strengthen by companionship”.
A child facing a lonely dark trek would walk without fear if
his father held his hand. Likewise, God wants His people to realize
the blessed reality of His presence when facing life’s trials in the
ever-shifting valley of shadows. Comfort in times of distress is one
of the principal benefits of walking with God. —W. A. H.

I have been through the valley of sorrow and weeping,
The valley of trouble and pain;
But the God of all comfort, the God of all comfort,
Was with me to hold and sustain. —Lettie Cowman

Judges 17:1-18:31; Isaiah 36:1-37:7; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Were we to travel north we would eventually reach the north
pole and keeping the same path, we would eventually reach the
south pole. There is a finite distance between the north and south
poles. In contrast, were we to travel east we could keep going
east and never reach any east pole. There is an immeasurable distance
between east and west and this is how the Lord describes
the indeterminable distance He has removed our transgressions
from us. —Brian Powlesland

I have lived with the Lord for a number of years,
That’s why I never have doubtings or fears,
For my sins are all hid in the depths of the sea;
They were cast away there, by the Man on the tree. —George Cutting