Month: September 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 22; Jeremiah 33; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:10

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but [fornicators] and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4

The original word for fornicator here is pornos, from which we get the common name for one of our society’s gravest evils. As the world grows ever more accepting of sexual immorality and the flaunting of it, God’s people must be ever vigilant to escape its ruinous effects. It is an evil that corrupts the mind, ruins lives, destroys relationships, degrades humanity, abuses children, demeans women and fills the prisons. Keep yourself from it! Make no mistake, God will judge. —Rick Morse

When sin no more obstructs the sight, and flesh and sense deceive no more;
What heights and depths of love divine, will there through endless ages shine.
—Joseph Swain

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 21; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. 1 Kings 10:8

The queen of Sheba was awed by the prosperity of Solomon’s kingdom and the privilege of his servants. She said, “the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard” (1 Kgs. 10:7). So shall it be when we enter the kingdom of the King of kings. But while we watch and wait, by faith we can revel in His presence and learn from His Word. And when we do we will find that even now, the half has not been told. —D. Pickup

The half cannot be fancied,
This side the golden shore;
Oh, there He’ll be still sweeter,
Than He ever was before. —W. C. Martin

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 20; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor. 2 Corinthians 8:9

In 1936, the heir to the British throne gave up his kingdom to marry the woman he loved. In an interview, the director of a film portraying that story commented that she had “been loved a lot, but no one has ever given up their kingdom for me”. But that’s exactly what the Lord Jesus did! He left the beauties of heaven and came to this sin-cursed earth, to die a shameful death on the cross—all that He might woo us to Himself. How can you spurn love like that? —Lynn Shatford

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me!
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary. —E. Elliot

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 19; Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 2

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Luke 1:38

Consider Mary’s response to the revelation that she is to be the mother of the incarnate Son of God. Her words indicate sincere, whole-hearted acceptance of the role to which God has called her. With humility, she places her young life at the disposal of the Lord. In her response, there is no trace of either rejection or self-elevation. Mary’s submission to God’s will is a challenge to every believer. Do we desire to do His will, whatever it may cost? —George Hall

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 18; Jeremiah 30; Hebrews 1

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life…  2 Timothy 3:10

This would be a wonderful epitaph, though it would likely need to get shortened to fit on the gravestone! The sense here is to live a life so others can fully know what I believe—my doctrine, and how I live out what I believe—my manner of life. The key is to be a positive influence in everyplace and to everyone. If we’re going to impact people, we need to live a life of consistent integrity. —N. C. Funston

Give as ’twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you.
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.
—Ira Wilson

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 17; Jeremiah 29; Philemon

Behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment. Zechariah 3:4

When Joshua attempted to enter into God’s presence, he was prevented by the adversary who stood to oppose him (Zech. 3:1). Joshua’s desire was right, but his qualifications were not. It was not until his filthy garments were exchanged by the Lord for new ones that he was fit for service. Our sinful lives once barred us from the presence of God and from any service acceptable to Him. But in Christ Jesus, our filthy rags have been removed and we are now clothed in the righteousness of Christ, forever accepted in Him. —Mark Kolchin

Clean every whit, thou saidst it Lord, should one suspicion lurk?
Thine surely is a faithful word and thine a finished work.
—Mary Bowley

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27-28; Col. 4:2-18

…the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. – Ezekiel 48:35

Although He is omnipresent, people on earth often ignore the Lord. Some oppose Him and want Him excluded from the halls of education, government and public life in general. The church is a God-centered oasis in this spiritually calloused scene. Someday faith will give way to sight and the Lord will reign over this world from His capital in Jerusalem. Until then believers may fellowship with the King of kings as they pray and read His Word. —K. R. Keyser

What will it be to dwell above,
And with the Lord of glory reign?
No heart can think, no tongue can tell,
What joy ‘twill be with Christ to dwell. —Joseph Swain

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 15:1-32; Jeremiah 26; Colossians 3:5 to 4:1

Peter remembered…and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:75

Are you weeping today for something you know you should not have done? Peter remembered that Jesus said He would deny Him thrice and he wept bitterly. Later Jesus remembered him, provided him with a meal and dealt with his failure. Peter repented and was restored and re-commissioned for service (John 21:15-17). Are you weeping? Follow Peter’s footsteps and return to the Lord today. Live no more under the dark cloud of unconfessed backsliding. Move out into the sunshine and let Jesus lead you. —K. C. Ung

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. —W. R. Featherstone

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

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

Some religious traditions are harmless. Some churches have Sunday School in the morning, some in the afternoon and some have no Sunday School at all. People get used to a certain pattern and resist change. But other traditions can be deadly. Any tradition that undermines the gospel of grace is very destructive. To make baptism, church membership, or any work of man a condition of salvation is to undermine the gospel (Eph. 2:8-9). The Word of God is to be the authority in the churches, not the traditions of men. God’s Word is adequate for all of the needs of the church (1 Tim. 3:16-17). —Donald L. Norbie

Open Thy word of truth, that I may see
Thy message written clear and plain for me. —Mary Lathbury

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

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

In his painting entitled The Raising of the Cross, Rembrandt vividly portrayed Christ in deep agony on Calvary’s cruel tree. A careful examination of the masterpiece reveals one of the observers with the likeness of Rembrandt. It was his way of saying, “I was there.” The beloved apostle Paul put it this way, “the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Friend, Christ loved and died for you. Believe it for eternal salvation. —Arnot P. McIntee

‘Twas I that shed that sacred blood,
I nailed Him to the tree.
I crucified the Christ of God,
I joined the mockery. —Horatius Bonar