Month: July 2022

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 1 Kings 9:3

The Lord God expressed His pleasure, and made promises to Solomon regarding the earthly house which he built. Imagine how much greater is His delight, with the spiritual house now being built by the Lord Jesus. The church is a holy habitation of the Lord, in the Lord, and for the Lord. How privileged are His people, who are each living stones in this eternal structure, with Christ Himself  as the chief cornerstone. —Rick Morse

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth. —Samuel J. Stone

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:2

A little girl stepped shivering into the shelter of a London, England church. After the meeting, she approached the preacher, “Sir, I never knew my name was in the Bible!” He smiled, “Well, little girl what is your name?“. “My name is Edith.” “Oh, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Edith does not appear in the Bible.” She insisted, “Yes, it does. I heard you read it tonight. It said, ?Jesus receiveth sinners, and Edith with them!’”. Dear reader, have you identified
yourself as a sinner and trusted Christ? —George Ferrier

Come, and He will give you rest;
Trust Him, for His Word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men. —Frances Bevan

1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam. 1 Samuel 22:1

David had only recently been a hero in Israel. Goliath and the Philistines had been defeated and the future seemed bright. In a moment, things changed and he was forced to flee for his life. Maybe today, like David, you find your world has been turned upside down. In times like this, it may seem an odd place to go, but sometimes we need to retreat and have a “cave of Adullam experience”, a chance to get alone with God, to pour out our hearts to Him and wait for His comfort and direction. “In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be
overpast” (Ps. 57:1). —Paul Robertson

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer! —J. Scriven

Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

Years ago, I worked in the Ottawa Heart Institute, and many of our patients were Québécois. Once, calling a hospital in Québéc, I pronounced the patient’s name so perfectly, the person I was speaking with switched to French. My silence quickly disabused her of the notion that I too was Québécois! Remembering this incident recently, I was convicted as to whether my speech reflects my true citizenship. Is the heavenly accent of God’s righteousness and love, holiness and grace apparent in my speech? May we daily speak the language of heaven to those we meet. —Cathy Oriold

Take my lips and let them be,
Filled with messages from Thee.  —Frances R. Havergal

Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19

What words of comfort and assurance to the child of God in a world which has become completely unstable.  Thrones, dominions and powers are being toppled by the day, leaving the world in a state of fear, confusion and anarchy. But concerning our God it is said, “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end” (Ps. 102:27). He is the unchanging One, midst all the changing scenes on earth, and will remain so forever. —W. H. Burnett

While all things change, Thou changest not,
Forgetting ne’er though oft forgot,
Thy love immutably the same,
Declares the glory of Thy name. —James H. Evans

Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

Thou art my hope in the day of evil. Jeremiah 17:17

As believers we must remember that exercising faith does not end at salvation. How often do we cast our cares on the Lord and then proceed to pick them up again? Those of us older in the faith can testify that “[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Remember that without faith it is impossible to please Him. —Brian Russell

How good is the God we adore!
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend:
His love is as great as His pow’r, 
And knows neither measure nor end.  —Joseph Hart

Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear…Why dost thou shew me iniquity? Habakkuk 1:2-3

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

Habakkuk felt greatly burdened by the circumstances the nation of Judah was in and this led him to pray and ask the Lord “how long?” and “why?”. We often pose these same questions when we find ourselves in adversity. The answers might not be immediately forthcoming, but we can, like Habakkuk, rejoice in and enjoy our relationship with the Lord, resting secure in the knowledge that He is working His purposes out. —Philip A. Kaye

Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all.  —Edgar P. Stites

Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

The veil of the temple was rent in [two] from the top to the bottom. Matthew 27:51

The veil was reportedly 30 feet wide and 60 feet high. Furthermore, it was said to be between 9 and 18 inches thick. The veil was hung on supports raised between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Imagine the distress among the priests when this barrier was torn, top to bottom, exposing the sacred place that was death to enter for anyone except the High Priest once a year. Now it was wide open. Jewish tradition records that the priests sewed this massive furnishing back up again! God opened the way; man hastily barred it. Let’s celebrate that the new and living way is open forever and cannot be closed by anything. —M. MacMullen

The veil is rent! Lo, Jesus stands, before the throne of grace.
And clouds of incense from His hands fill all that glorious place. —J. Deck

Judges 19:1-30; Isaiah 37:8-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

And Hezekiah received the letter…and read it: and…went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord… Isaiah 37:14-15

What bad news are you holding in your hand today? Have you been left in despair or wondering what you can possibly do? A relative’s letter, a doctor’s note, an unexpected large bill or a prayer letter from one of the Lord’s servants? Follow Hezekiah’s example of faith and “spread it before the Lord.” Bring the matter to Him in prayer. Acknowledge His greatness. He knows all things already and has the answer. Depend alone on Him! —Pete Smith

Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls us near!
To seek our God and Father’s face,
Who loves to answer prayer. —J. Newton

Judges 17:1-18:31; Isaiah 36:1-37:7; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

There failed [nothing] of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45

It seems everywhere we look today we see disappointment and failure. Promises are so easily made, yet so seldom carried through. Our Redeemer is totally dependable. “Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num.  23:19). “All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Cor. 1:20). —Wm. H. Gustafson

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you, One who will not fail.
Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;
Heav’n and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails. —Arthur Luther