Friday, July 31, 2020

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord. So what wisdom do they have? Jeremiah 8:9, NKJV

These days God’s Word is being rejected on a daily basis. It is generally viewed as archaic and irrelevant. As new frontiers and new discoveries happen, man’s wisdom is seen as boundless. Yet, there is no real wisdom in anything apart from God. His Word is perfect, beautiful and is His complete revelation to us. It “brings out of his treasure things new and old” (Matt. 13:52, NKJV). Don’t reject God’s Word for the empty wisdom of today. —Annette Baal

In Your Word, You to see, and my daily treasure, I go there to heed;
Truths old, things that will be, things that Your Spirit deems I need. —Annette Baal

Thursday, July 30, 2020

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words. Deuteronomy 11:18

God was preparing His people to enter the Promised Land and He wanted to make sure His Word went with them and their descendants (Deut. 11:21). Parents were to pass His Word down to their children. They were to teach it to them whenever and wherever they had opportunity to do so (11:19). They were to attend to it openly so that both parents and children could be reminded of it always and be blessed (11:21). Do we as parents seek to apply these worthy practices in relation to our children? —K. C. Ung

Happy the home where prayer is heard,
And praise is wont to rise;
Where parents love the sacred Word,
And all its wisdom prize. —Henry Ware Jr.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34, NKJV
[Jesus] said, “It is finished!” John 19:30, NKJV

Our Lord completely fulfilled all the will of His Father, in every way finishing His work. What a divine example for each of us, to do and to finish His will, till He come. Dear believer, don’t give up! The finish line is just ahead: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). —E. C. B.

I want to finish well, I want to end this race,
Still leaning on His amazing grace. —Steve Chapman

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

When fire broke out in the hold of the ship, passengers and crew formed a line and passed buckets of water. A friend of D. L. Moody suggested they go to the other end of the ship and pray for the safety of all. “We’ll do nothing of the kind,” replied the man of God. “We’ll stand right here, pass the buckets and pray hard as we do.” Let us pass the soul-saving-Gospel to the lost, praying hard as we do. —Arnot P. McIntee

Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray:
Be wise the erring soul to win:
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in. —Horatius Bonar

Monday, July 27, 2020

Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

The world is filled with people who have lost their way. Jesus came to be the way. Others have been influenced by the world’s false philosophies. Jesus is the truth. Yet others can only be described as dead. Jesus is the One who is the life. If you are not saved, Jesus is the answer to all your needs. The Way, the Truth and the Life. —Sid Halsband

Without the way there is no going;
Without the truth there is no knowing;
Without the life there is no living;
I am the way, the truth and the life,
That’s what Jesus said.—Thomas à Kempis

Lord’s Day, July 26, 2020

Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. John 19:30

This was not the cry of a defeated, despairing man gasping for his last breath. It was a shout of triumph! His suffering was over and the penalty for our sins was paid in full. It was the cry of the Victor. The enemy was vanquished. All His foes defeated. The eternal purpose of God in man’s history had been accomplished in redeeming, restoring and forgiving sinful man. The law we had broken was satisfied. Tetelestai—our debt was paid in full. —Jim Comte

Up Calv’ry’s mountain one dreadful morn
Walked Christ my Saviour weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on the cross,
That He might save them from endless loss. —Avis B. Christiansen

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Psalm 4:3

The older I get the more I appreciate the value of prayer. There is absolutely nothing I cannot speak to my Heavenly Father about. Mundane matters as well as spiritual are of interest to Him. Also if you pray for certain people—tell them. It warms my heart to know that others care enough to pray for me. —Brian Russell

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer. —Joseph Scriven

Friday, July 24, 2020

Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. Joel 2:26, NKJV

Spurgeon writes: “Lost years can never be restored literally. Time once past is gone forever. The locusts did not eat the years —the locusts ate the fruits of the years’ labour—the harvests of the fields. The restoration of the years must be the restoration of those fruits of which the locusts consumed. You cannot have back your time. But there is a strange and wonderful way in which God can give back to you the wasted blessings, the unripened fruits of years over which you mourned.” —W. A. H.

Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died, on Calvary. —William R. Newell

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Judges 19:1-30; Isaiah 37:8-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary…he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea…he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased. Mark 6:48, 50-51

Four times here the Lord is linked with “them”, His disciples. He understood their difficulties. He came into the midst of their trial, nothing hindering Him! He spoke words of encouragement. Finally, as He entered their boat, calm was restored. Dear friend, wait upon Him in prayer—He can do the impossible, draw near with words of comfort and restore peace to your troubled soul. —Pete Smith

Fear not, I am with thee, O, be not dismayed!
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. –Author Unknown

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Judges 17:1-18:31; Isaiah 36:1-37:7; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

No other foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:11, NKJV

When it comes to a Saviour, there is “no other name” (Acts 4:12, NKJV). When it comes to Salvation, there is no other way (John 14:6). Likewise, when it comes to the Church there is no other foundation. Many churches are founded on “sandy” foundations, and things can only get worse from there. The person and work of Christ, past, present and future, is the only solid basis for the Church’s foundation. —N. C. Funston

Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
Chosen of the Lord and precious,
Binding all the Church in one. —Latin Hymn, 7th century; translated by John M. Neale