Month: September 2014

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 13:33 to 14:31; Jer. 24-25; Col. 2:8 to 3:4

I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thess. 5:23

Christ loved the church. He gave His life to purchase it. He wants it to be holy, without blemish, spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:25, 27). Paul’s goal in preaching and teaching was to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:28). This perfection will be realized in a coming day, but that doesn’t excuse me from aspiring to a life of daily holiness now. We are to be salt and light in this world. What does the world see in me? Does my saltiness make them thirst for the things of God? Does my light show them the way? —Milton Haack

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free. —J. E. Orr

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 13:1-32; Jeremiah 23; Colossians 1:21 to 2:7

Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling…according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Timothy 1:9

Most gifts we receive from others are given to us during our lifetime. But the greatest gift ever offered to us was given to us in Christ before the world began. That glorious fact speaks to us of the greatness of the gift and the love and commitment of the Giver. There is nothing we could do to earn or deserve it because the gift was given before we were even born. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. —Ken Gross

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul; thank you Lord, for making me whole; Thank you, Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free.
—S. & B. Sykes

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 12; Jeremiah 21-22; Colossians 1:1-20

All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.  Isaiah 64:6
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Psalm 51:7b

After falling into a nearby sewage pond, a small boy came to his home expecting to be welcomed inside, but was instead sent by his mother to wash the filth away. The Bible tells us that nothing that defiles will ever enter into heaven (Rev. 21:27). We are defiled by sin and thus have no claim on heaven. But God still wants us there and the Lord Jesus has shed His blood to make us utterly clean and fit to enter. Have you come to Jesus and accepted His cleansing from sin? —Janet Fleming

Jesus came down from heaven to die,
To die for a sinner like me,
As His blood flowed down at Calvary’s cross
In His death, my forgiveness, I see. —J. F.

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 11; Jeremiah 19-20; Philippians 4:2-23

Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.  Romans 14:8b

Our omniscient and all-wise Lord veils from us details relating to both our life and our death. Such uncertainties should not cause us anxiety. Rather, we should rest firmly in the one great fact about which there is no doubt—we are the Lord’s! Whatever may occur in life or death, we are assured that we are His, bought by His precious blood and sealed by His Holy Spirit. —George Hall

Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.
—G. Wade Robinson

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 10; Jeremiah 18; Philippians 3 to 4:1

When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God…go after it…that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way before.  Joshua 3:3-4b

All the Israelites had to do was follow the Ark of God, the symbol of His divine presence, when entering the Jordan River. Fear of the unknown likely gripped their hearts. But God was going through the experience with them. How perfectly in keeping with God’s love for us. He isn’t just an observer of our struggles—He enters into them. He is with you today.  —Jim Comte

Following Jesus ever day by day,
Nothing can harm me when He leads the way;
Darkness or sunshine what e’er befall,
Jesus my Shepherd is my All in All. —Leonard Weaver

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 9; Jeremiah 17; Philippians 2:12-30

For God so loved the world.   John 3:16
His father saw him and had compassion.  Luke 15:20

The father in the story of the prodigal son is a beautiful picture of God the Father. He loved his boy in spite of the young man’s selfishness and sin. And when he returned, the father looked past all the boy’s shortcomings and gave him position, authority, and a renewed relationship in his household. When God so loved the world, it was you He loved. He looks past all your sins to Calvary and is ready to forgive and to give you a place as a son of God. Now this is love, is it not? Come to Him today. —Charlie Tempest

Oh love of God how rich and pure,
How measureless and strong,
It shall forever more endure,
The saints’ and angels’ song. —F. M. Lehman

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:31-66; Jer. 16; Philippians 1:21 to 2:11

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  Isaiah 43:1

The closing verses of the previous chapter paint a vivid picture of the thunderous fury of God’s anger towards sin, but in the above verse the clouds have been driven away, and the warmth of God’s redeeming love can be felt. I love the intimate words of Boaz, “Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased (redeemed) to be my wife” (Ruth 4:10). Dear child of God, take as your own the personal message of redemption and preservation, as God says to you, “I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine”.  —Arnot P. McIntee

I think of my blessed Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song.
—Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15; Philippians 1:1-20

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  Mark 9:23

Do you believe Jesus’ words? Many times the disciples did not. They did not believe that Jesus would take them through the storm, although He had said “Let us pass over unto the other side” (Mark 4:35). After being taught on numerous occasions by the Lord of His death and resurrection (Mark 9:31), they still did not believe the witnesses that came from the empty tomb (Mark 16:11, 13). Let us search the Scriptures daily, believing every word, and living it out faithfully. —D. Pickup

Oh, believe it! Oh, believe it!
Christ has died upon the tree, that from sin you might be free;
Oh, believe it! Oh, believe it!
Jesus died for you and me, Oh, believe it! —J. Ferguson