Wednesday, September 20, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 12:1-33; Jeremiah 21:1-22:30; Colossians 1:1-20

Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. Jeremiah 7:4

Every temple that Israel touched was eventually destroyed because of their disobedience. Jeremiah urged them to repent, but they thought that the temple would shield them from wrath. He countered this error by predicting its destruction and their exile. Centuries later God incarnate prophesied regarding His body: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Despite their part in His crucifixion, the risen Christ sent His apostles to proclaim to the Jews first, salvation through faith in Him (Acts 1:8). —Keith Keyser

“Destroy this temple” He prophesied; the Saviour whom they crucified;
But now His body’s risen;
And we shall dwell with Him in heaven, forever glorified. —K. R. K.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 11:1-43; Jeremiah 19:1-20:18; Philippians 4:2-23

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32

What a beautiful verse. It has deep meaning for me as it was a verse my mother used to often quote. It was my privilege to see her live it out too. It reminds us of the wonderful grace of God who has forgiven us through Christ. It is such a relief to know that we are completely forgiven by the Lord. However, as we are forgiven by God, then we should never withhold or be reluctant to show the kindness and the tender-heartedness of forgiveness to others. We should be known by our willingness to forgive and forget. —Paul Young

God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name, I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name,
And in Jesus’ name I come to you, to share His love as He told me to. —Carol Owens

Monday, September 18, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 10:1-29; Jeremiah 18:1-23; Philippians 3:1-4:1

They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 22:26 

In this verse, God condemns Israel’s priests who were violating His laws, yet are we any better today? As God’s children, do our lives show the difference between holy and unholy, the clean and the unclean? Or have we been so desensitized by the world’s standards that we can no longer see a difference? “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1 Pet. 1:15). —E. V.

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see. —William D. Longstaff

Lord’s Day, September 17, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 9:1-28; Jeremiah 17:1-27; Philippians 2:12-30

And upon the first day of the week…came together to break bread. Acts 20:7
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store. 1 Corinthians 16:2
Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

It is not by accident that Christians meet on the first day of the week to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread and to give of their substance. But let us not limit the offering of the sacrifice of praise and the sharing of our substance to our corporate gatherings. Let us do so continually. —Tom Steere

Let my hands perform His bidding, let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only, Let my lips speak forth His praise. —M. James

Saturday, September 16, 2017

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

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Another has commented—“How wonderful is this truth, that our Lord indwells the hearts of His people! Yet this is just one of three ways we need to know Him. I need to know Christ for me, Christ in me and Christ through me. Christ dying on the cross for me—my substitution and sacrifice. Christ living in my heart—my sanctification and satisfaction. Christ speaking through me by my life—my service and sufficiency. Those who are indwelt and controlled by Christ, find in Him their all-in-all.” —Pete Smith

I take salvation full and free,
Through Him who gave His life for me,
He undertakes my all to be:
I take—He undertakes. —A. B. Simpson

Friday, September 15, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15:1-21; Philippians 1:1-20

By them (the springs) shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. Psalm 104:12

We are delighted, and God is glorified, by the songs of birds. Let us add our song to that of the birds. We have the Holy Spirit as our habitation, a well of water springing up unto everlasting life within us. As we live in the Spirit, let us sing praises to our God. And beyond the song may we have sweet meditation of Him. “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Ps. 103:1). —D. Pickup

The birds upon the treetops sing their song,
The angels chant their chorus all day long;
The flowers in the garden blend their hue,
So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you, praise Him too? —D. G.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Jeremiah 14:1-22; Ephesians 6:10-24

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle (scorch) upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

The God who led Israel safely through the Red Sea; across the weary wilderness and over the Jordan is the same God leading you and me today. Twice God says “when.” It’s never a question of “if”! In all of our lives there will be the “whens,” but remember He is our unfailing resource in every trial. Faith must rest on His sustaining grace, His unfailing promises, and His constant comfort. “I am the Lord thy God” (v. 3). —Jim Comte

Through days of toil when heart doth fail; God will take care of you.
When dangers fierce, your path assail; God will take care of you. —Martin

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 6:1-38; Jeremiah 13:1-27; Ephesians 5:22-6:9

Bring him unto me. Mark 9:19

These four simple words were spoken to a father who was at his wit’s end, trying to find help for his son. “When human help fails, bring him to Me,” the Lord Jesus says. “When your child is sick or lost or broken, bring him to Me,” the Lord whispers. “Where there is no other possible way to fix your child, bring him to Me.” “And they brought him unto him” (v. 20). Then “Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose” (v. 27). —Shane Johnson

I believe in Christ; He is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell His soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead He raised.
Good works were His; His name be praised. —Bruce R. McConkie

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 4:1-5:18; Jeremiah 12:17; Ephesians 5:1-21

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John 6:68

Abraham Lincoln said, “I have been driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go; my wisdom and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day.” —E. Bennett MacLelland

Only in Thee, O Saviour mine,
Dwelleth my soul in peace divine,
Pleasures of earth, so seemingly sweet,
Fail at the last my longings to meet.
Only in Thee, my bliss is complete,
Only dear Lord in Thee. —Thomas O. Chisholm 

Monday, September 11, 2017

DAILY READINGS: 1 Kings 3:1-28; Jeremiah 11:1-23; Ephesians 4:17-32

She hath done what she could. Mark 14:8

What a commendation by the Saviour! She may not have been able to do much for the Lord, but what she could do, she did do. She had a tremendous appreciation of the Lord she loved. We too may not be able to do much for Him. Be assured, however, we will be blessed for our labours for Him. The Lord never asked us to be successful but to be faithful. Surely that is what matters the most. —John M. Clegg

I just keep trusting my Lord as I walk a long;
I just keep trusting my Lord and He gives a song.
Though the storm clouds darken the sky o’er the heav’nly trail,
I just keep trusting my Lord, He will never fail. —J. Peterson