Month: October 2020

1 Chronicles 12:1-40; Ezekiel 13:1-23; John 4:31-54

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. Psalm 37:39

No matter what you are going through, whatever your circumstances are, look to the Lord Jesus. And all that has clouded your vision will grow strangely dim in the light of His beautiful face. He is our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble. He is always there! Our Lord God has promised He will never leave or forsake us. Believe His promises. —Vickie Gaynier

Oh soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free —Helen Howarth Lemmel

1 Chronicles 10:1-11:47; Ezekiel 12:1-28; John 4:1-30

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8

“Who will go for us?” The “us” suggests the three Persons in the Godhead involved in the process of “sending.” The Father sent the Son because He loved us (1 John 4:9-10). The Son sent the Spirit to represent Him in His absence (John 16:7). Finally the Spirit empowered the witnesses sent out by the Son (Acts 1:7-8) to teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). Today the Lord still asks, “Whom shall I send?” Will you answer, “Here am I; send me”? —K. C. Ung

Hast Thou, O Lord, a work to do? Here am I, send me!
The field is white, the lab’rers few, here am I, send me! —J. G. Lawson

1 Chronicles 8:1-9:44; Ezekiel 11:1-25; John 3:22-36

According to his own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:8, NKJV

When we think of the work of God, many focus on the results and successes. We need to be careful, as that may be the perspective of worldly wisdom (see 1 Cor. 1:18-31). It’s understandable to want to see positive results. But God will reward on the basis of our hard work or “labor”—not necessarily earthly gains. There is always that temptation to seek the praise of men in whatever we do, when it is the praise of God that should be our goal. Serving in the work of God takes a lot of sweat and struggles, tears and trials. In other words, a lot of laboring! —N. C. Funston

Take my hands and let them move, at the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be, swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee. —Frances Ridley Havergal

1 Chronicles 7:1-40; Ezekiel 10:1-22; John 2:23-3:21

Make this valley full of ditches. 2 Kings 3:16

It has been said that God does not take us into the desert to abandon us, but to get us alone with Himself. The Israelite army was in a desert and had run out of water. The solution to their desperate need? Dig ditches in the valley. How can we apply this to ourselves? To dig one must get down low, must expend great effort with sweat, and must prepare for the answer. The more ditches they dug the more water they would have received. And the answer came from the most unexpected source—from Edom! In our valley, in our desert, let us also dig ditches of prayer in preparation for a land filled with water (v. 17). —M. MacMullen

Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls us near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer prayer. —John Newton

1 Chronicles 6:1-81; Ezekiel 8:1-9:11; John 2:1-22

Put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:11, NKJV

We are in a war! Satan, our enemy, is relentless, unappeasable and strives to wear down the believer. He seeks to destroy our walk with God and our families. He is undermining the Church and the Word of God. His tactics have not changed since Eden, when he challenged Eve, “Has God indeed said…?” (Gen. 3:1, NKJV). His purpose is to divide our families and assemblies. His Word has not changed, cannot change and will not change in spite of societies changing and corrupt standards! —Jim Comte

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands. —Haldor Lillenas

1 Chronicles 4:24-5:26; Ezekiel 7:1-27; John 1:19-51

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10

Being made ready for Heaven is entirely God’s work. Just like Adam and Eve failed to cover their own nakedness we also will find it impossible to cover our spiritual nakedness before a holy God. Today our souls can rejoice that the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness are provided by the Lord Himself. Give up trying to cover your own sin and surrender to Him and put on His robe of righteousness. —Sid Halsband

It is the Father’s joy to bless,
His love provides for me a dress,
A robe of spotless righteousness,
O Lamb of God in Thee. —Mary Jane Deck Walker

1 Chronicles 3:1-4:23; Ezekiel 5:1-6:14; John 1:1-18

If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree…he who is hanged is accursed of God. Deuteronomy 21:22-23, NKJV

The Jews preferred stoning, but sometimes they hung criminals because the sight deterred crime. The guilty were accursed of God for their crimes; their corpse on the tree merely affirmed that fact. This is why the Jews demanded of Pilate, “crucify him, crucify him” (John 19:6). They not only wanted an innocent man dead, but wanted to show that He was accursed of God too. Unknown to them, that was God’s plan. God used man’s injustice to work His righteous judgment of sin that we might be saved! —W. A. H.

Nailed upon Golgotha’s tree—as a victim.
Who is He? Lamb of God, ‘tis He, ‘tis He, on the cross of Calvary. —A. P. Gibbs

1 Chronicles 2:1-55; Ezekiel 3:16-4:17; 2 Timothy 4:1-22

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you…That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:3, 10

This is a good pattern to follow as we pray for each other. Begin with thanksgiving, thanking the Lord for those we know. Then, pray for them, in every direction: As they go onward—walking worthy of the Lord; upward—living a life fully pleasing to Him; outward—being fruitful in every good work; and inward—getting to know the Lord better. —Rex Trogdon

Thou art coming to a King; large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much. —John Newton

1 Chronicles 1:1-54; Ezekiel 2:1-3:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-17

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14

The first Duke of Hamilton built a church and a mausoleum—a family burial chamber. On the destruction of Hamilton palace, a sculptured stone cross in its grounds was removed to the church grounds and still stands there today. One might wonder whether the Duke anticipated any divine favour for funding a church to be built? Perhaps not, because the above verse is inscribed on the stone cross. It suggests a genuine realization of what was achieved by Christ on the cross—the potential of our salvation. —Brian Powlesland

In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river. —Fanny Crosby

2 Kings 25:1-30; Ezekiel 1:1-28; 2 Timothy 2:26

Whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

“Eunoia” is the shortest English word containing all five vowels. It stems from the Greek language and means “beautiful thinking”. This should be the hallmark of every Christian. We are called to think beautifully and therefore our focus should be on the glory of God’s creation, the perfection of Christ, His completed work on the cross and the majesty which is His at the right hand of God. The most beautiful thinking is always Christ-centred. —Paul Young

Jesus the very thought of Thee, with sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see, and in Thy presence rest. —Bernard of Clairvoux