Month: August 2019

2 Samuel 2:1-32; Micah 4:9-5:15; Romans 11:1-12

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17, NKJV
But we all…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.
2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Cor. 15:52, NKJV

When we trust Christ for salvation we are changed. As we allow
Christ to live His life through us we are changed. On that day
when Christ returns we will be changed. Have you trusted Christ
and started on that pathway of change today? —Janet Fleming

Give me a sight of Christ and heaven,
And there’s one thing I know,
I’ll never be the same again… —Janet Fleming

2 Samuel 1:1-27; Micah 3:1-4:8; Romans 9:30-10:21

For the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6

Under Nehemiah’s leadership, God’s people divided into
52 work groups and completed the rebuilding of the walls of
Jerusalem in just 52 days. Many of the builders did not reside
in Jerusalem but helped for the common good. Others were not
trained stone workers or carpenters (such as goldsmiths, perfume makers
and women) but helped with the work nevertheless. They
faced danger of attack, exposure to the weather and back-breaking
effort. Yet they worked willingly and with a common purpose to
complete their God-given task. Today we should be both building
up ourselves in our most holy faith and seeking to build up our
churches for the glory of the Lord. —Paul Young

Standing together, moving as one;
We are God’s army, called to overcome. —Noel & Tricia Richards

1 Samuel 30:1-31:13; Micah 1:1-2:13; Romans 9:1-29

And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab
thirty days. Deuteronomy 34:8
And his people made no burning for him (King Jehoram
departed without being desired). 2 Chronicles 21:19

Have you ever wondered how you will be remembered after
your passing? Most of us have. Moses and King Jehoram left
with opposite commendations. Moses would be sorely missed
but Jehoram’s people purposely dishonoured him and let him
die in contempt, not buried in the tomb of the kings. One was
highly esteemed, the other despised. Let us be like the apostle
Paul who could say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course” (2 Tim. 4:7). —Arnot P. McIntee

O God, I pray for grace to live,
So that when I die, I shall be missed. —Robert Murray McCheyne

1 Samuel 28:1-29:11; Isaiah 66:1-24; Romans 8:18-39

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalms 32:1

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins. Hebrews 10:4

The blood of animals could cover sins and grant forgiveness,
but could not take sin away. Only one sacrifice could, the Lamb of
God. God provided His Son a body of flesh and blood so He could
die for us. Only a perfect human being could die for our sins. How
blessed we are to be living in these days of grace when we have a
full remission of sins (Heb. 9:22). Our Saviour’s precious blood has
taken away our sins forever. —Harold G. Smith

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole agin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
— Robert Lowry

1 Samuel 26 to 27; Isaiah 65; Romans 8:1-17

I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou
loved us? Malachi 1:2

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17

The message of the last book of the Old Testament parallels that
given to the last of the seven churches in Revelation—Laodicea. In
both cases, God’s people challenged His assessment of their poor
spiritual condition. We learn that it is possible to be going through
the motions, utterly blind to the reality of our true spiritual condition.
Let us heed the challenge, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:29). —W. H. Burnett

Open my eyes that I may see,
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me. —C. H. Scott

1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean lips. Isaiah 6:5

Perhaps we would have expected Isaiah to focus on his unclean
hands because of his sinful actions. Or perhaps unclean feet because
of his path. Maybe even unclean heart. Why does he say
unclean lips? Because “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). It matters not what good we may do if we
say the wrong thing. God had a message for Isaiah to deliver and
it could only be told with purged lips. This is still true for us today.
Do we daily ask Him to guard our words? —Ken Gross

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blessed and have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul. —Elisha A. Hoffman

1 Samuel 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O
Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8, NKJV

A good night’s sleep is a gift from God. This verse is a good
encouragement for those nights when we struggle to rest. Years
ago our little daughter often had trouble falling asleep. I would
lie beside her, read this comforting verse, pray, and assure her the
Lord was caring and watching over her. She would soon drift off
to sleep. This old expression is still valuable, “Don’t count sheep,
talk to the Shepherd!”. “He gives His beloved sleep” (Ps. 127:2, NKJV).
—Jim Comte

Sorrow and care may meet, the tempest cloud may low’r,
The surge of sin may beat upon earth’s troubled shore;
God doth His own in safety keep; He giveth His beloved sleep.
—T. C. Tildesley

1 Samuel 21:1-22:23; Isaiah 61:1-11; Romans 6:1-14

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

King William III offered protection to all Scottish clan chiefs
who swore allegiance before January 1, 1692. “Letters of fire and
sword” were drawn up to punish all who failed to meet the deadline.
Procrastinating until December 30, the MacDonald clan chief
travelled to Fort William but found no one authorized to take the
oath. Then travelling to the Sherriff’s office, he waited days for him
to arrive, finally taking the oath. Missing the deadline resulted in
much loss of life. Equally for salvation we must go to the right
person, our Lord Jesus. The time to do it is now. Tomorrow may
be too late. —George Ferrier

O do not let the Word depart, and close thine eyes against the light!
Poor sinner, harden not your heart, be saved, oh, tonight!—E. H. Reed

1 Samuel 19:8-20:42; Isaiah 60:1-22; Romans 5:12-21

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labour in vain who
build it. Psalm 127:1, NKJV

The companionship of one man and one woman for life is God’s
primary purpose for marriage. His secondary purpose is His
desire for marriage to produce a godly next generation—not just
children. A Christian family is not a household of Christians, but a
Christian household. If Christ and His Word are not at the centre
of family life and all home affairs, that home cannot be called a
true Christian home. The vital focus of every Christian household
must be the glory of God! —W. A. H.

The greatest benefits God has conferred on human life,
fatherhood, motherhood, childhood, home, become the
greatest curse if Jesus Christ is not the head. —Oswald Chambers

1 Samuel 18:6-19:7; Isaiah 59:1-21; Romans 4:23-5:11

Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children
of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against
the Canaanites first, to fight against them? Judges 1:1

It is not uncommon for us to experience a dry time in our spiritual
life shortly after times of victory and blessing. One reason is a
tendency to think that our previous victory has come because of
our strength. The truth is that His strength has been made perfect
in our weakness. Continued leaning on Him will bring us back to
a place of joy. —G. C. G.

I need Thee, precious Saviour! For I am very blind,
A weak and foolish wanderer, with dark and evil mind.
I need Thy light, Lord Jesus! To tread the thorny road,
To guide me safe to glory, where I shall see my God.
— Fredrick Whitfield