Month: September 2020

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

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 1 Peter 4:9

One week after coming home from our honeymoon a conference speaker challenged couples about the importance of hospitality. That evening we decided to put this into practice. What amazing times of fellowship with the Lord’s people and Lord’s servants we enjoyed in our home. This had a profound effect upon us and our children. Likewise through many years of service in the UK, Canada and the US, we thank our God for those who opened their homes or have taken us out for meals giving rich fellowship away from home. Young people, will you take up the challenge? You will never regret it! —Jim Paul

Happy the home where Jesus’ name, is sweet to every ear,
Where children early lisp His fame and parents hold Him dear. —Ware

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

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

What a promise in our times of fear! We are assured of three things. His presence. “I am with you.” Our relationship with Him. “I am your God.” And finally His power. “I will strengthen you,” “I will help you,” and “I will uphold you with my right hand.” His right hand suggests His omnipotence and our security. Thank God He is our God and we are in His eternal grasp. Rest in His care. —Jim Comte

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest—
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest. —Frances Ridley Havergal

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

Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9

What does it mean to walk with God? Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:22), and the writer to the Hebrews says that “Enoch…had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). Noah was a just (righteous) man and perfect (blameless) in his generations (Gen. 6:9). Walking with God involves pleasing Him and reflecting His holy character in our life. So let us walk with God, not ahead of Him, or like Peter, following the Lord afar off (Matt. 26:58). Are you walking with Him? —K. C. Ung

Walking with Jesus, oh, fellowship sweet!
Walking with Him hour by hour;
Talking with Him, as I work for His cause,
Trusting in His mighty power. —Lizzie G. Hall

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

Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. Numbers 8:7, NKJV

To be clean Levites washed their bodies and their clothes. But to be purified, Moses sprinkled them with holy water. This sprinkling imparted the value of what was sprinkled to it (Heb. 9:19- 22). Thus, the Levites were both clean and holy to the Lord. Today, believers experience spiritual cleansing at conversion and are set apart as a holy priesthood to Christ (Titus 3:5). Given the moral cleansing and spiritual purification we have undergone, may we faithfully serve the Lord as clean and holy priests. —W. A. H.

Glory be to Him who loved us, washed us from each sinful stain;
Glory be to Him who made us, priests and kings with Him to reign. —Horatius Bonar

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

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

A once popular preacher dreamed he saw in Heaven rows of beautiful crowns. “Is that big one for me?” he asked as he readily recalled God’s blessing on his preaching. “No,” came the attendant’s reply. “It’s for that poor deaf man who sat in the front row and pled with God for souls as you preached to them.” God still answers the fervent prayers of burdened saints. When next we listen to the preacher, let’s participate in prayer and thus be a co-worker in the Gospel. —Arnot P. McIntee

Oh, give me, Lord, Thy love for souls, for lost and wandering sheep,
That I might see the multitudes, and weep as Thou didst weep. —Eugene M. Harrison

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

Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people. 1 Chronicles 19:13

The small town where I live has recently honoured three of its sons who were awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of bravery during the two world wars. To commemorate this fact, name signs were erected at all the road entry points to the town which not only names the town but has an added description to define its heritage—“A Town of Courage.” To live a victorious Christian life great courage is required. The apostle Paul behaved in such a courageous way in the face of adversity that it set a valiant example for us to follow. —Brian Powlesland

He who would valiant be ‘gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master. —John Bunyan

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

For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp… therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you. Deuteronomy 23:14, NKJV

Because God was walking in the midst of Israel’s camp, His holiness required diligent removal of any unclean thing. In the New Testament, the Church, as the body of Christ is pictured as God’s temple with Him dwelling in their midst, and should thus display His holiness. Individually, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and should glorify God in our bodies. Whether corporately or individually, we should examine our lives for anything that would defile or mar His holiness. —E. V.

Oh, teach us more of Thy blest ways, Thou holy Lamb of God!
And fix us in Thy grace, as those redeemed by blood. —James Hutton

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

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. 2 Thessalonians 3:16, NKJV

Peace at all times and in every way! The Lord is the fountain and dispenser of the peace you are seeking. His reservoirs never run dry during peak season. His storehouses are never depleted during a famine. He has every means at His disposal to calm your fears and silence your doubts. He can sweeten bitter waters and soothe your wounded spirit. The Lord of peace Himself can do it. Open yourself to Him today, so He can pour in His peace. —Peter Ramsay

There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave,
A peace it cannot take away;
Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
I’ve a peace that has come there to stay! —Anne S. Murphy

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

[Jesus] said unto him…sell all that thou hast…and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Luke 18:22-23

This man lost out all the way around. He was unwilling to give up his treasures on earth to have treasures in Heaven. And yet he still was very sorrowful, even as he returned to his riches. As we follow our Lord, do we forget to lay up treasures in Heaven? They will be the only ones that last. Where your treasure is there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:20-21). —Ken Gross

So now Thy blessed Name I love, Thy will would e’er be mine.
Had I a thousand hearts to give, my Lord, they all were Thine! —Charles Wesley

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

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:9
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Phil. 3:19

“Enemies of the cross” (Phil. 3:18) are characterized by worshiping or putting their stomachs first. Food is necessary and good, but the results of gluttony and unhealthy eating eventually show themselves on the scale. We eat when we’re bored, sad or distressed. Do we trust God to satisfy us in these instances, or are we looking to other things to satisfy us? —Danielle Robins

Let Your song be the song I sing,
Through the blessing and burdens this life will bring,
In You alone I’m satisfied. —About a Mile