Month: October 2019

2 Kings 24:1-20; Lamentations 4:1-5:22; 2 Timothy 1:1-18

He first findeth his own brother Simon. John 1:41

Andrew whose name means “manly”, brought his brother Peter
to the Lord for salvation. As well, it was through Andrew that a lad
surrendered his valued lunch to Christ (John 6:9). Andrew could
relate the message of the Saviour to a family member, or his newfound
friend—a lad. He had won the confidence of both. Lord,
help me introduce my family and friends to You today, both for
salvation and surrender. —Arnot P. McIntee

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win;
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.
— Katie Wilkinson

2 Kings 23:1-37; Lamentations 3:1-66; 1 Timothy 6:1-21

The song of songs, which is Solomon’s. Song of Songs 1:1

This was most likely Solomon’s “superlative” song of the 1,005
he wrote (1 Kgs. 4:32). It concerned a royal sovereign who was altogether
lovely, the fairest of ten thousand to his beloved. He was
the apple tree in the forest; a rare find indeed, giving her shade
and satisfaction (Song 2:3). He was ever gracious, bringing her to
his banqueting house with love bannered above her (2:4). Today
we are at the banqueting house of the Lord. Have you reserved
your song of songs for your Beloved? —K. C. Ung

Come, let us sing the song of songs,
The saints in heaven began the strain,
The worship which to Christ belongs:
Worthy the Lamb, for He was slain! —James Montgomery

2 Kings 21:19-22:20; Lamentations 2:1-22; 1 Timothy 5:1-25

By thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:37

There’s no escaping our own history. Like a ball and chain,
it will follow every unrepentant sinner to the final judgment.
Can anyone imagine the horror of having every blasphemous,
ungrateful, hateful, or malicious thing we’ve ever spoken replayed
before the Judge of all the earth? What possible plea of innocence
could we make? But, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all
sin, and releases us into eternal absolution. —Rick Morse

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose went forth and followed Thee. —Charles Wesley

2 Kings 20:1-21:18; Lamentations 1:1-22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16

Making the word of God of none effect. Mark 7:13

The car radio was on and it was an interesting interview with
a leading British politician, who was also a member of the Anglican
synod. At one stage he responded to a question by saying that
“The Bible was the handmaiden of the church”. Sadly many may
believe such a statement. Yet that is to reduce the Bible gravely and
to make it of none effect. Authority does not lie with the church but
with the revealed will of God in the Bible. It is the Word of God
that should govern all aspects of the life and belief of the Christian.
Let us submit to its precepts today. —Paul Young

Cling to the Bible, though all else be taken;
Lose not its precepts, so precious and pure;
Souls that are sleeping its tidings awaken;
Life from the dead in its promise sure. —M. J. Smith

2 Kings 19:1-37; Jeremiah 52:1-34; 1 Timothy 3:1-16

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in me. John 14:1

Are you troubled today? The Lord understands. At Lazarus’s
burial, He “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (John 11:33). With
the burden of the cross before Him, the Lord declared, “Now is my
soul troubled” (John 12:27). And as a close friend was about to lift
up his heel in betrayal (Ps. 41:9), Jesus “was troubled in spirit” (John
13:21). Perhaps you are troubled for similar reasons: bereaved,
burdened, betrayed. How beautiful that, as troubled as He was
in those last moments before Calvary, He turned to His own and
said, “Let not your heart be troubled”. — Brian Cretney

O yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long night dreary, I know my Savior cares.
—Frank Graeff

2 Kings 18:1-37; Jeremiah 51:25-64; 1 Timothy 2:1-15

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

There are many different types of exchanges these days, all dealing
with one commodity or another. But the most valuable commodity
that one can exchange is the soul. People exchange it for
so many reasons: drugs, alcohol, money, entertainment, but never
consider the consequences. Judas exchanged his soul for thirty
pieces of silver. Tragically many today exchange theirs for much
less. The only worthwhile exchange is to give your dying soul to
the Lord Jesus Christ that He might make it alive. —Ken Gunnell

Come weary soul, and here find rest;
Accept redemption, and be blessed:
The Christ who died, by God is crowned,
To pardon on redemption ground.
— D. W. Whittle

2 Kings 17:1-41; Jeremiah 51:1-24; 1 Timothy 1:1-20

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah…while he was still shut
up in the court of the prison, saying…“Call to Me, and I will
answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you
do not know.” Jeremiah 33:1, 3, NKJV

“Prison experiences” are often the means God uses to reveal
Himself. He delights in using the imposed shackles of our
circumstances to communicate to us. So regardless of what
scenario your so called “prison” represents, God invites you to call
on Him. He will answer you in surprising ways you could never
have experienced travelling a road of ease and freedom. —E. V.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
— Charles Wesley

2 Kings 15:32-16:20; Jeremiah 50:21-46; Titus 2:9-:15

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

As an Englishman I have always admired the North American
practice of holding a day of thanksgiving in the autumn. We have
so much to be grateful for and it all stems from the one source—
our beloved Lord Jesus who gave His all. Never ask the Father for
anything until you have given thanks for past blessings.
—Brian Russell

Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In Whom the world rejoices.
— Martin Rinkart

2 Kings 14:23-15:31; Jeremiah 50:1-20; Titus 1:1-2:8

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He
will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His
love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV

When God eventually delivers Israel He will enthusiastically
sing to express His delight in them. What will it be like when the
Creator of all things conveys His tender affections to His redeemed
in song? The prophet indicates that those experiencing this peaceful
melody will be unable to respond to it in words—they will
simply choose to rest in their Beloved. What a gracious God we
have! One that lavishes redeemed sinners with songs of tender affection
despite all the heartbreak we have caused Him. —W. A. H.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice.
—Fanny J. Crosby

2 Kings 13:1-14:22; Jeremiah 49:1-39; Hebrews 13:7-25

The Lord hath appeared…saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn
thee. Jeremiah 31:3

How thrilling to think of God loving us for eternity. Our finite
minds comprehend now and an eternity to come. But God tells us
of eternity past and the fact that His love for us existed in that eternity
also—I have loved thee with an everlasting love. He further
tells us that His eternal love is characterized by “lovingkindness”.
Our minds cannot understand it now, but we’ll have eternity to
learn and comprehend it all. —Ken Gross

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measure-less and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—the saints’ and angels’ song.
— F. M. Lehman