Month: September 2019

1 Kings 22:1-53; Jeremiah 33:1-26; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding. Proverbs 3:5, NKJV

Icy roads, a drunk driver, a head on crash—a life changed
forever. Why do bad things happen to good people? We can only
see with human eyes. God knows the beginning, the middle, and
the end. He is in control. Our job is to trust. —Debbie Douglas

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by,
Trusting Him whate’er befall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
— Ira D. Sankey

1 Kings 21:1-29; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Then [they] took Jesus. John 18:12

It is hard to fathom these words. His created beings “took Jesus”
and bound Him (John 18:12); Pilate “took Jesus” and scourged Him
(19:1); the chief priests “took Jesus” to be crucified (19:16). Then, in
tender tones, we read that Joseph of Arimathaea “took the body of
Jesus” from the cross (19:38), then, with Nicodemus, they “took the
body of Jesus” to prepare it for burial (19:40). It may seem that Jesus
appears passive in this whole process. But this was all done “that
the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:24, 28, 36). Make no mistake,
Jesus was in total control. His purpose? That He, Himself, might
“take” something: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sins of the world” (John 1:29). —Brian Cretney

He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry, and suffered, and died alone.—C. Gabriel

1 Kings 20:1-43; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3:1-19

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:3

Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
And to wait for his Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
There was a story of a Christian salesman, who was asked of his
occupation. His noble reply was, “I’m waiting for the Lord from
heaven. In the meantime, I’m selling buttons to pay expenses”.
—Curtis Thigpen

Christ the Lord will come again,
None shall wait for Him in vain;
We shall then His glory see;
He who died to set us free. —J. Swain

1 Kings 19:1-21; Jeremiah 31:1-40; Hebrews 2:1-18

Master, carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4:38

Raging winds caused high waves on Lake Galilee to rise above
the little boat carrying the sleeping Man of Galilee. Troubled
disciples, some fishermen, were alarmed and cried, “Master, carest
thou not that we perish?”. Did He care? Assuredly so! In His care
for them and us, He had left heaven to live with them. His care
had brought Him to that very situation. From the stern of their
little craft, He commanded the waves to subside, and calmness
returned. Thankfully, He rides in the little boat of your life and
mine, and He bid the turmoil of life’s troubled sea to respond to
His voice of command. —Arnot P. McIntee

When we are faced with trials sore, He’s just a prayer away.
He’ll calm the storm and give you peace, your night He’ll turn to day.
— N. Auld

1 Kings 18:1-46; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Hebrews 1:1-14

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Paul and the early church believed that commitment to Christ
meant enmity from the world. Early in the history of the church,
the full might of the Roman Empire was exerted in state-sponsored
persecution of Christians. The experience of many believers (then
and through the ages) is that living in a godly manner does not
bring reward but abuse. Today Christianity is the most widely
persecuted faith in the world and yet the church of God is growing
at a fast rate. Let us always be ready to lay down our lives for the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord. —Paul Young

There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear, The sweetest name on earth.
— Frederick Whitfield

1 Kings 17:1-24; Jeremiah 29:1-32; Philemon 1:1-25

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.
Ezekiel 36:26a, NKJV

Our friends felt sorry for a duck that was sitting on infertile eggs,
so replaced them with hen eggs. The duck continued sitting and
three weeks later hatched four tiny chicks. To the consternation of
our friends, the duck was soon attempting to lead the chicks into
a nearby pond. Four tiny chicks stood at the water’s edge cheeping
loudly. What was the problem? Those chicks didn’t have the
heart of a duckling. For them to be able to swim they needed to be
born a duckling. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again”
(John 3:7, nkjv). Have you ever come to Jesus and been born into
God’s family? If not, why not today? —Janet Fleming

Mine was a life that caused much pain,
But my heart is changed, I’ve been born again. —Janet Fleming

1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27:1-28:17; Colossians 4:2-18

Seek those things which are above. Colossians 3:1, NKJV

Stop for a moment and picture a seed—perhaps a deeply wrinkled
peach seed or a bristly mango seed or a tasty pumpkin seed.
From examining the seed, could you ever guess or imagine what
the fruit would look like? That hard, uneven peach seed bears no
resemblance to the soft, fuzzy, blushing peach it will become; the
mango seed, although large, will develop into a huge tree; and the
green pumpkin seed will turn into a cheerful orange globe. We too,
looking at our present bodies, cannot guess or imagine the glories
of the resurrection life ahead for us when we are transformed into
His likeness. Today, let us lift our eyes from the things around us
and cultivate a longing for the eternal, for Home. —M. MacMullen

In hope we lift our wishful, longing eyes,
Waiting to see the Morning Star arise. —E. J. Hopkins

1 Kings 15:1-32; Jeremiah 26:1-24; Colossians 3:5-4:1

I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were
left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:2b

Our interest in the missionary work of the Lord should be an
important part of our lives. Those engaged in this spiritual service
are our brothers and sisters. We may not know many of the labourers
personally in God’s great harvest field, but we can have a part
in their work by prayer, financial support and learning about their
ministry. An assembly that prays for and supports missionaries
will be a healthy assembly. Our interest in labourers personally
will strengthen us and them for their work ahead. —G. C. G.

Lord we love our land; countless lives to be won;
Jesus bring revival, that through us Your will be done,
Lord we sense Your moving, touching our lives with power,
We are ready to serve You, to go this day, this hour. —C. Rollinson

1 Kings 13:33-14:31; Jeremiah 24:1-25:38; Colossians 2:8-3:4

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto
us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Peter lays out three blessings in these verses. We have the power
of God, promises from God and we are partakers with God. But
He has given us much more than just these things. Through His
divine power He has given us “all” things. This salvation that He
has provided through the death of the Lord Jesus is enough for
time and eternity, for “life and godliness” (v. 3). —N. C. Funston

Awesome power, boundless grace;
None can fathom all Your ways.
— John G. Elliot

1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23:1-40; Colossians 1:21-2:7

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
I am the light of the world. John 9:5

When one speaks according to God’s Word, light emanates from
what is said. To speak the whole counsel of God is to bring light
into darkness. Preaching like that brings such help to God’s people
and preaching like that can’t help but focus on our Saviour. Jesus is
Light and Truth and Life, (John 14:6). The Scriptures are God’s full
proclamation of Himself and His beloved Son (2 Tim. 2:15). May
we preach them faithfully and obey them fully. —Annette Baal

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith, in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
Who unto the Saviour, for refuge have fled? —J. Rippon