Thursday, October 31, 2019

1 Chronicles 12:1-40; Ezekiel 13:1-23; John 4:31-54

Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Timothy 4:15

Paul challenged Timothy to be a good servant (v. 6); to be consumed by his work. He encouraged him to give himself wholeheartedly to the work of the Lord and to the things of God. How is our testimony in regards to this? Is it passable and lukewarm? Or are we giving our all? Paul did not want this young man to hit a plateau and settle down, but rather to advance, to progress as a pioneer, cutting his way through the obstacles, leaving a path for all to see and follow. Don’t go in for mediocracy but be fully engaged for the Lord! —Pete Smith

He’ll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by His righteous, omnipotent hand. —G. Keith

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

1 Chronicles 10:1-11:47; Ezekiel 12:1-28; John 4:1-30

Will a man make gods for himself, which are not gods? Jeremiah 16:20, NKJV

It is well known that cows are sacred in India, but they have many other gods too. The Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, India, is home to some 20,000 rats. These rats are fed, protected and worshipped! Macaque monkeys freely roam the streets and temples of India. They are fed, protected and even honoured due to their association with the Hindu deity Hanuman, the monkey god. The god of this world has and is blinding the minds of millions! Only the gospel of our Lord Jesus can set them free. —Raymond Jones

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty victorious, Thy great name we praise. —Walter Chalmers Smith

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

1 Chronicles 8:1-9:44; Ezekiel 11:1-25; John 3:22-36

They…yielded their bodies. Daniel 3:28, NKJV

You would have thought that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had read Romans 12:1-2. They certainly lived it! The practice of their faith went well beyond lip service and eating habits. It involved their whole body and it was their whole body that was put to the test. The fire that they were thrown into had no effect on their bodies, from top to bottom (3:27), including even the smell of fire! Their bodies were free from the attack of the enemy and free for the Master’s use. It is our privilege to be the same sort of living sacrifices, in body, soul, and spirit. —N. C. Funston

We are an offering,
We lift our voices, we lift our hands
We lift our lives up to You;
We are an offering, we are an offering. —Dwight Liles

Monday, October 28, 2019

1 Chronicles 7:1-40; Ezekiel 10:1-22; John 2:23-3:21

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

It is important that we do not carelessly judge other believers’ motives and service. In fact, we are not even qualified to judge ourselves (1 Cor. 4:3). Ultimately Christ will judge our lives. In the meantime, He uses His Word to keep us on the straight path, convicting us when we stray, returning us back onto His way, and instructing us how to remain on it. —George Ferrier

All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread. —Frances J. Crosby

Lord’s Day, October 27, 2019

1 Chronicles 6:1-81; Ezekiel 8:1-9:11; John 2:1-22


Then said I, Woe is me!…because I am a man of unclean lips…
Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal…
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar…and said,
Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away,
and thy sin purged. Isaiah 6:5-7


A live coal from the altar would mean the fire had consumed the
sacrifice. Upon Isaiah’s confession of sin the atoning value of the
sacrifice was available to purge him from sin and iniquity. What
a profound picture of Christ’s atoning death, fully meeting the
repentant sinner’s need for cleansing and forgiveness. —P. W.


But Christ the heavenly lamb, took all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood than they.
— Isaac Watts

Saturday, October 26, 2019

1 Chronicles 4:24-5:26; Ezekiel 7:1-27; John 1:19-51


He brought me into his banqueting house and his banner over
me was love. Song of Solomon 2:4


Could we put it this way? His banner over me—Love! His love
is always there, despite our doubts at times. Jeremiah reminds
us that it is an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3); the psalmist, that He
has set His love upon us permanently (Ps. 91:14). John declares
that the Lord fully loves His own unto the end (John 13:1) and
Paul says that nothing shall ever separate us from that love (Rom.
8:39). He who called us in love (Eph. 1:4-5) has also brought us into
His house with a banner of love that will never be removed or replaced.
Let us never forget this reassuring truth. —Mark Kolchin


Things future, nor things that are now, not all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forego, or sever my soul from His love.
—A. Toplady

Friday, October 25, 2019

1 Chronicles 3:1-4:23; Ezekiel 5:1-6:14; John 1:1-18


Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the
priests, and they builded the sheep gate…And next unto him
builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the
son of Imri. Nehemiah 3:1-2


And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put
not their necks to the work of their Lord. Nehemiah 3:5


God is watching and keeping records. He knows who is labouring
faithfully, skillfully and joyfully for His kingdom. He is also
aware of those who are not giving their best. “Let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).
—D. Pickup


Work, for the night is coming, work thro’ the sunny noon;
Fill the brightest hours with labour, rest comes sure and soon.
— Annie L. Coghill

Thursday, October 24, 2019

1 Chronicles 2:1-55; Ezekiel 3:16-4:17; 2 Timothy 4:1-22


Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and
fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. Job 1:20


Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my
salvation. Habakkuk 3:18


Job and Habukkuk faced unprecedented catastrophes. They
had questions to which they were given no answers. Despite this,
they rose above the circumstances and worshipped God. There
are times when difficulties arise in our lives that don’t seem to
make sense, and there are no answers. O that we might be able to
respond like these worthies of the faith, and despite circumstances,
to rise above them and worship God. —W. H. Burnett


When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way,
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way,
Make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way. —B. M. Ramsay

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

1 Chronicles 1:1-54; Ezekiel 2:1-3:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-17


There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1


At the Exodus, a lamb’s blood was applied to the door of each
Hebrew house and so the oldest child was protected when the destroying
angel passed through the land of Egypt. Later in Israel’s
history, Rahab, upon instruction from the spies, hung a scarlet
cord in her window, sheltering in safety as the walls of Jericho collapsed.
There is another judgement coming and each of us needs
to be sure that we have trusted Jesus to take the penalty for our sin.
Are you safe should that judgement fall? —Janet Fleming


Today there is given a warning, of the danger if you do not choose, God’s
offer of love and forgiveness—why do you the Saviour refuse? I challenge
you now to consider, the risk as you linger once more—Is scarlet thread
in your heart’s window?Is blood applied over the door?—Janet Fleming

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

2 Kings 25:1-30; Ezekiel 1:1-28; 2 Timothy 2:1-26


Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your
inheritance. Psalm 2:8, NKJV


It is said that “Life’s golden altar is the altar of intercession”.
Although Abraham had just received the promise of a son, he put
his own joys and concerns to one side and interceded on behalf of
the wicked inhabitants of Sodom. Ours is a day when the face of
evil is showing itself ever darker, when wickedness and lies are
gathering momentum and, in the ensuing mudslide, are carrying
away institutions and families and much that is precious in their
path. Let us join Abraham, not in hiding from the darkness around
us, but in interceding for those who have never known the streams
of light pouring down from the Father of lights. —M. MacMullen


Make me a witness like You, dear Lord, showing the love of the cross; Sharing Your Word till all have heard, serving whatever the cost.—R. Hamilton