Month: July 2023

Judges 16:1-31; Isaiah 35:1-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

When an artist draws a picture, all things relate to a point on the horizon. Doing this keeps the objects in the picture in a proper perspective and proportion. In Psalm 73, Asaph gives us a horizon point on which to focus—afterward! If my gaze is averted, and I begin to focus on time instead of eternity, circumstances in my life will appear distorted and mishapen, perhaps taking on more importance than is warranted. How vital to our peace, that we keep His perspective. —Lynn Shatford

Pilgrim of Jesus, o’er life’s troubled sea,
Courage, and onward pursue;
A crown of rejoicing is waiting for thee,
Ever keep heaven in view. —H. R. Jeffrey

Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Cor. 9:6 

Paul’s teaching is designed to affect our wallets and bank accounts. There’s a vast difference between Sunday donations and spiritual sacrifices. The former merely allows you to check it off your conscience list. “Donation made”. The latter overflows in multiple blessings. God makes “all grace to abound” to the giver. The giver is enriched. The recipient is helped. Love and prayerfulness are fostered among believers, and God is pleased and glorified for
He loves cheerful givers. —Peter Ramsay

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my heart, my life, my all. —Isaac Watts

Judges 13:1-25; Isaiah 33:1-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Keep yourselves in the love of God… Jude 1:21

Jude presents the keeping power of God. Believers are preserved in Jesus Christ. Fallen angels are reserved in chains and God is able to keep you from falling. Here Jude tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God. This is up to us and dependent on us. God’s love is constant in that He cannot love us more nor will He love us less. The keys are in the accompanying responsibilities. We are to remember the apostle’s words; a result of being in the Word. We are to build ourselves up in the faith, keep praying, and show compassion to others as we look for the coming of Christ. —Gary McBride

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee. —E. Prentiss

Judges 11:29-12:15; Isaiah 32:1-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

I have a garden called “My Mind” which no one else can see.  And from it grows all kinds of things, all planted there by me. Before me lie two different sacks, containing different seeds. The first is labelled “Spirit’s Fruit”, the other: “Fleshly Greed”. Don’t be fooled. God is not mocked. We reap that which we sow. Though hidden there inside my mind, in time, that fruit will show. It shows up in my character: my words, my walk, my ways. Eventually the garden no one sees, its hidden work will display. So tend that garden carefully, for thoughts are just like seeds. They’ll either grow the Spirit’s fruit or harmful, choking weeds. —Brian Cretney

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  —2 Corinthians 9:6

Judges 10:6-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 2 Cor. 13:11-12

Final words are important. Paul’s final greeting gives us quite a list of parting words to ponder. Farewell—rejoice, be content. Become complete—be whole, repair any broken relationships. Be of good comfort—be encouraged. Be of one mind—be unified, with the mind of Christ. Live in peace—within and without, with ourselves and with others. The God of love and peace will be with you—enjoy His presence. Greet one another with a holy kiss—let others know you care. —Rex Trogdon

God be with you till we meet again; loving counsels guide, uphold you,
May the Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.  —Jeremiah E. Rankin 

Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

The house was filled with the odour of the ointment. John 12:3

When Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, she was in a physical posture of worship (literally “to bow to the ground” see Gen. 18:2). In anointing His feet with her very costly  spikenard and wiping it with her hair she was laying her glory, her long hair, (1 Cor. 11:15) at the feet of Jesus and worshipping Him. No wonder the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3). Can you make fragrant the house of God with your worship unto the Lord today? —K.C. Ung

When Mary poured a rich perfume,
On Jesus’ weary feet,
Her caring filled that humble room;
The fragrance there was sweet. —C. W. Gillette

Judges 8:1-35; Isaiah 29:1-24; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

I know thy … poverty. Revelation 2:9

Smyrna was one of the most prosperous cities in Asia Minor, so the poverty of the Christians was not typical. Like “the churches of Macedonia” (2 Cor. 8:1), their destitution was caused by faithfulness to Christ. The Greek noun translated “poverty” is applied in the New Testament only to these churches and, significantly, to the Lord Jesus: “…that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). From anyone other than Christ, the words “I know” would have rung hollow. —Phil Coulson

He knows it all, and on His breast,
Thou mayest now repose;
Drop every care at His behest,
The Lord is near; He knows. —Emma G. Dietrick

Judges 7:1-25; Isaiah 28:1-29; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 3 John 1:7

One day I thanked a veteran for the hero he’d become. He said, don’t thank me, thank the folks at home for the sacrifices they made, providing the resources to keep us going on the front lines. We could not have won the victory without them! Today, let us consider the missionaries, full time workers who trust the Lord every day for their material needs and the resources needed to accomplish the tasks before them. Today, will you uphold God’s servants before the throne of grace and give for their support. It is an investment you will never regret. —Jim Paul

If you cannot give your thousands, you can give the widow’s mite;
And the least you give for Jesus, will be precious in His sight.  —Daniel March

Judges 6:1-40; Isaiah 27:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

(They) could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones. 1 Chronicles 12:2

Being able to use both hands means that these men could “fight wounded”. Many times, in our spiritual warfare we must fight wounded. Wounded by discouragement, family, friends, health, disappointments. At those times we can rest on the promises of the Lord, like Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Fight on wounded warrior, for His glory! —D. Sabourin

Fear not! be not dismayed,
He, evermore, will be with thee,
To give His aid,
And He will strengthen thee. —Edward G. Taylor

Judges 5:1-31; Isaiah 26:1-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him… 2 Timothy 2:12

Here the apostle gives us words of encouragement midst the sufferings that come to us through our association with Christ. Paul reminds us that our present sufferings must be endured in the light of the day of reward that lies ahead. Indeed the sufferings of Christ Himself, were borne because of the reward that lay ahead for Him. We read “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” The leaving of this eternal throne, the stoop to Bethlehem and the agonies of the cross were all because He had this blissful reward in view— His Bride. Let us take heart amid the sufferings of the present time, with the future glory in mind. —Willie H. Burnett

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.  —E.K. Rusthol