Month: October 2017

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 13:1-14:22; Jeremiah 49:1-39; Hebrews 13:7-25

He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. Jeremiah 51:15

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures teach that God is the Creator. This principle has been totally abandoned by academia so that our youth are taught the theory of evolution. If we refuse to accept Him as Creator, then we will refuse Him as Redeemer. He is both our Creator and Redeemer. Praise God! —W. H. G.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.
Then sings my soul, How great Thou art! —Carl Boberg

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 11:1-12:21; Jeremiah 48:1-47; Hebrews 12:18-13:6

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

What good news this is! As sinners, we are guilty before God, and under His condemnation. Yet, His grace is reaching out to us, offering us a complete pardon. We must not think that this offer indicates that God has lowered His standards regarding our guiltiness. The gospel proclaims that the bestowing of mercy on the guilty is entirely consistent with God’s righteous character. The out-flow of mercy to us is the result of the perfect work of Christ who “died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3). Today, turn from sin, and trust the Saviour. —George Hall

Mercy there was great and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary. —W. R. Newell

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 10:1-36; Jeremiah 45:1-47:7; Hebrews 12:1-17

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

When Corrie Ten Boom was young she learned something that she never forgot. Her heart was heavy with difficult questions and so she asked her father for answers. In response, he asked her to carry his suitcase for him. The bag was too heavy. Corrie could not even lift it. “It is the same with knowledge,” he told her, “For now, you must trust me to carry it for you.” This lesson she carried with her into adulthood. Any atrocity she could not understand at the concentration camp, she entrusted to her loving Father to carry. —Shane Johnson

When your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. —C. Tindley

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 9:1-37; Jeremiah 44:1-30; Hebrews 11:17-40

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jeremiah 18:4

Consider Abraham, faithless, but he became the “father of the faithful”. Moses slew an Egyptian in his anger, but became the meekest man on the face of the earth. David was lustful, but became a man after God’s own heart. Peter denied his Lord but was used of God later when 3,000 souls were saved (Acts 2:41). God is working in us to make us like His Son. May we let Him do His good work day by day. —E. Bennett MacLelland

Make me and mold me after Thine will,
While I am waiting patient and still. —Adelaide Pollard

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 8:1-29; Jeremiah 42:7-43:13; Hebrews 11:1-16

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Mark 8:34

It is interesting that the Lord Jesus Christ encourages His followers to “take up [their] cross”. Why not take up our “burden”, or our “load”? He chose the word “cross” so we might identify with and enter into His work. What a privilege. He always knew He would go to the cross. He took upon His sinless self the penalty for sin that was due us because He loves us, (Gal. 2:20). At the cross the work was once and forever done. May we bear ours faithfully. —A. Baal

The cross! the cross! the blood-stained cross!
The cross of Christ I see.
It tells me of that precious blood
That once was shed for me. —J. H. Stockton

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20; Jer. 41:1-42:6; Heb. 10:19-39

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6

All the angels of God worship Him yet they are not beneficiaries of His finished work, nor do they know what it is to be lost, loved and redeemed. How much more should we, who have the knowledge of sins forgiven and peace with God; who have the Lord Jesus as our Redeemer and Saviour; who fear no condemnation; who have a glorious future; be a praising and worshipping people? I wonder if the angels look down from heaven and wonder why we don’t praise Him more? —Dan Coulson

To Christ the Lord, let every tongue its noblest tribute bring:
Himself the subject of our song, what joy it is to sing! —S Stennett

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Jeremiah 39:1-40:16; Hebrews 10:1-18

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Malcolm Barrow worked tirelessly for the Lord through many years until 2015, when he went home to heaven. At his funeral it was stated of him: “He did not ask for God to lighten his load but rather to strengthen
his back.” So much more could be achieved today, if instead of giving up, we asked God for the grace and strength to keep going. —Janet Fleming

Rough your path may be before you; obstacles along your road;
Let Him walk today beside you, He will help you bear your load.
Dark your way may seem and lonely, in His presence daily rest,
For the Lord will always take you, on the path He knows is best. —Janet Fleming

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 5:1-27; Jeremiah 38:1-28; Hebrews 9:15-28

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever. Deuteronomy 29:29.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor. 2:10

The apostle makes it clear that the natural man cannot discern spiritual things (1 Cor. 10:14), but through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the child of God has access to divine “secrets.” The Lord Jesus promised, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Let us claim this promise, and make ourselves available to the Spirit’s teaching. —W. H. Burnett

Speak Thy servant heareth, be not silent Lord,
Waits my soul upon Thee, for the quickening word. —E. M. Grimes

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 4:1-44; Jeremiah 37:1-21; Hebrews 9:1-14

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. Ecclesiastes 1:13

The resources that have gone into pointless scientific exploration are mind boggling. We’ve walked on the moon and brought back rocks. We’ve sent unmanned spacecraft throughout our solar system to take pictures. We’re even planning a one-way trip to Mars! Having left God out of the search, man continues to ask, yet receives the blackness of space and the darkness of his heart for answers. Willing ignorance carries its own sentence of despair. —Rick Morse

Throughout the universe of bliss, the centre Thou, and Sun;
Th’ eternal theme of praise is this, to heaven’s beloved One. —Josiah Conder

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 3:1-27; Jeremiah 36:1-32; Hebrews 8:1-13

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

Becoming grandparents is a real joy and adds a new dimension to your life. However it is important that our children and grandchildren see in us examples to look up to. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my later years when grandchildren ask to come and see us to seek advice in their temporal—and even better—their spiritual lives. We must make sure we older ones are spiritual helps not hindrances. —Brian Russell

May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour;
So that all may see I triumph only through His power. —Kate Wilkinson