Month: July 2019

Judges 16:1-31; Isaiah 35:1-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

When Rebekah neared the end of the wilderness journey, she was looking forward to meeting the man she had never seen, but loved—Isaac, who would be her bridegroom. On the final day of the journey, Rebekah saw someone coming to meet her, and indeed, it was Isaac himself who had come to escort her home. So also, when our wilderness journey is over, it will be the Lord Himself and no other, who will meet us on the way and escort us to His heavenly home to be His Bride. —W. H. Burnett

Oh, the blessed joy of meeting, all the desert past!
O the wondrous words of greeting,
He shall speak at last! He and I together entering, those bright courts above, He and I together sharing, all the Father’s love. —P. Gerdhart

Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. Jude 19, NKJV

The church faces false brethren who sow discord and separation—an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 6:19). These deceivers act this way because they lack the Spirit, whose indwelling is required for true believers (Rom. 8:9). Such fleshly ones are incapable of knowing His things (1 Cor. 2:12-16). The church functions on spiritual principles. Its simple organization enables saints to fellowship with the Lord without human intermediaries. It is designed to make them dependent on Him and to bring the triune God all the glory. Gatherings for prayer, praise, worship, teaching, and fellowship all require the Spirit’s work in us. —Keith Keyser

The Comforter is come, the earnest has been given;
He leads me onward to the home reserved for me in heaven.—H. Bennett

Judges 13:1-25; Isaiah 33:1-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

There be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us. 2 Chron. 32:7-8

Confronted by seemingly impossible odds—the mighty conquering armies of Assyria—Hezekiah encouraged Israel to look at their situation from a spiritual perspective. The Assyrian soldiers might seem invincible but they were simply human beings. In contrast Israel had the Lord their God on their side. If today, as a believer, you are facing great opposition, take time to look at your circumstances in the light of eternity. You have the Lord, the God of the entire universe on your side, upholding and protecting you! —David Croudace

Yet shall the armies Thou leadest, faithful and true to the last,
Find in Thy mansions eternal rest, when their warfare is past.
–Fanny J. Crosby

Judges 11:29-12:15; Isaiah 32:1-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Romans 12:15

To take pleasure in the success and accomplishments of others can require more grace than to share in the sadness of those who have failed or faced defeat. To rejoice in the blessing received by others means that we are not jealous or envious of them but are truly delighted for them. It is not to ask questions like, “Why them and not me?” or “Do they really deserve it?”. To be delighted with the success of others, when maybe we feel down or defeated, requires a deep work of God in our hearts and a genuine desire to respond in the same way as would the Lord. —Paul Young

But where the Lord has planted grace; and made His glories known;
There fruits of heavenly joy and peace, are found, and there alone.
—John Newton

Judges 10:6-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John 5:44

Are you like me? Sometimes, before I roll over and go to sleep I do one final check and see how many “likes” I got on my latest “selfie” post. Guilty. So many people go through life with a self seeking desire to be noticed and admired by man. It is a natural desire to want to be liked! But is it healthy? The world is shallow, mostly interested in appearances, not reality. The admonition for believers in this “social media” age is to seek the honour that comes from God only. —Sid Halsband

Make this poor self grow less and less,
Be Thou my life and aim;
O make me daily, through Thy grace,
More meet to bear Thy name. —J. C. Lavater

Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

A certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple. Acts 3:2

The lame man’s opportunity to be healed was past, or perhaps so he thought. It seems he had probably not come into contact with Jesus during His earthly ministry. His healing hadn’t been in God’s timing until now. Do we also wonder at God’s seeming delay in answering our prayers? Remember, God is always on time. Joseph in prison; Moses in the desert; Jeremiah in the dungeon; futures all uncertain but the outcome was sure in God’s plan and time. Joseph said “God meant it unto good” (Gen. 50:20). He will accomplish the same for you. “Wait on the Lord” (Ps. 27:14). —Vernon Markle

Our times are in God’s hands;
Father, we wish them there!
Our life, our souls, our all we leave, entirely to Thy care. —Henri A. C. Malan

Judges 8:1-35; Isaiah 29:1-24; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. 1 Samuel 17:37

As a Christian, when one is faced with a problem, it is a good thing to reflect on how the Lord has helped you in the past. The same God who delivered and strengthened in previous difficulties is able to do so again. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). —Brian Russell

The battle is the Lord’s,
Then victory’s secure;
Warriors of Christ march on, march on,
And to the end endure. —Author Unknown

Judges 7:1-25; Isaiah 28:1-29; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Behold, he cometh with clouds. Revelation 1:7

The world doesn’t believe or want to hear this news, but it is music to our ears! The Lord Jesus is coming! First, in the air, for us and instantly we will be with Him (1 Thess. 4:15-17). Then He will come to the earth to reign, and we will be with Him (1 Thess. 3:13). The hope of His coming should affect our thoughts, attitudes, plans, priorities and activities, every day, ‘til He come! Soon we will hear His lovely voice, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Song 2:10). Amen! —Carl Knott

O Lord Jesus, how long, how long,
Ere we shout the glad song— Christ returneth!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen. —H. L. Turner