Author: Andrea Mathew

2 Kings 6:24-7:20; Jeremiah 41:1-42:6; Hebrews 10:19-39

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far
from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. Matthew 16:22

How could Peter be so right in one instance and in the next
breath be so wrong? We might think that if the Apostle could be so
inconsistent, what hope do I have? Peter gives us the answer near
the end of his life. “For if these things be in you, and abound…ye shall
never fall” (2 Pet. 1:8, 10). Today we have the benefit of God’s mind
and will recorded in our precious Bibles. If we attend to it we shall
not fail. —Sid Halsband

The B-I-B-L-E! Yes, that’s the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God. The B-I-B-L-E!
— Author Unknown

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

Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22

If Adam and Eve had been faithful to God’s plan of obedience,
there never would have been a need for sacrifice. God’s plan of
sacrifice was necessary because obedience failed. Fortunately for
us, Christ came fulfilling both needs—complete obedience to the
Father and also a perfect sacrifice for us and our sins. Is it any wonder
that the Lord has such delight in His Son? —Jeff Frey

O Thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all! —Joseph Swain

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

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13

My dear grandfather got up from the breakfast table and said
to the others, “A day’s march nearer Home”, and that morning at
11:00am, he was Home! He was living in anticipation of the blessed
hope and longing for the Lord’s return. Do we live in anticipation
of His return? Is your life counting for God, or are you living for
the things that are temporal? —Jim Comte

Jesus is coming! The promise is true;
Who are the chosen, the faithful, the few,
Waiting and watching, prepared for review?
Jesus is coming again! —Daniel Whittle

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

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone
cheerful? Let him sing psalms. James 5:13, NKJV

Historian, Luke Tyerman wrote of the Wesleys’ converts: “Their
religion made them happy; and happiness always finds vent in
song”. The world delights to sing songs that celebrate this fleeting
age. Christians may sing of their glorious God, His gracious
salvation and the eternal destiny that awaits them. We should be
a people known for meaningful and joyful singing. English speakers
possess more than five centuries of rich hymnody—a song for
every divine attribute and every human situation. Make spiritual,
scriptural, and exuberant songs part of your daily practice.
—Keith Keyser

Sing without ceasing, sing the Saviour’s present grace, How all things
shine in light divine for those who’ve seen His face. —John N. Darby

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

And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou
doest is not good. Exodus 18:17

Jethro was pointing out to Moses that if he didn’t change his
ways with regard to how he was carrying out his work, he would
simply wear out! Do we need to pause and reassess how we’re
spending our time? Is it being used in a wasteful or worthwhile
manner? Are we prepared to listen to the advice of others? If you
are too busy to have real communion with your God in prayer, to
enjoy meaningful study of His Word or even to spend quality time
with your family, then “the thing that thou doest is not good”.
—Pete Smith

Where is the blessedness I knew, when first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view of Jesus and His Word?
—W. Cowper

2 Kings 2:1-25; Jeremiah 35:1-19; Hebrews 7:1-28

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without
ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts 12:5

Peter’s release from prison is a striking example of the power of
God in response to His people. It provides us with lessons about
the precision, persistency and promise of prayer against insurmountable
odds. It is also a gospel picture of God’s strong hand
to save. Chained, guarded, and under the sentence of death (v. 6),
Peter is like the complacent sinner, asleep to his true condition. But
a light shatters the darkness, chains fall off, doors open up (v. 10)
and a path is taken directly to a prayer meeting (v. 12). Powerful!
Keep on praying then for those difficult situations, and difficult
people. God answers prayer! —Mark Kolchin

My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. —Charles Wesley

2 Kings 1:1-18; Jeremiah 34:1-22; Hebrews 5:11-6:20

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be…slow to
speak. James 1:19

Slow to speak means long to think. Long to think means careful
to speak. Therefore, each one of us should pray for slowness
of speech. Like a wild fire, sometimes our words can proceed so
rapidly out of our mouths that there is often destruction and loss
before we even finish. If only we could tame our tempestuous
tongues! When our thoughts have fully germinated into wisdom,
then through our words may the fruit of wisdom appear as a blessing
to others. —Shane Johnson

Awake, my tongue, thy tribute bring,
To Him who gave thee power to sing;
Praise Him who is all praise above,
The source of wisdom and of love. —J. Needham

1 Kings 22:1-53; Jeremiah 33:1-26; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding. Proverbs 3:5, NKJV

Icy roads, a drunk driver, a head on crash—a life changed
forever. Why do bad things happen to good people? We can only
see with human eyes. God knows the beginning, the middle, and
the end. He is in control. Our job is to trust. —Debbie Douglas

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by,
Trusting Him whate’er befall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
— Ira D. Sankey

1 Kings 21:1-29; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Then [they] took Jesus. John 18:12

It is hard to fathom these words. His created beings “took Jesus”
and bound Him (John 18:12); Pilate “took Jesus” and scourged Him
(19:1); the chief priests “took Jesus” to be crucified (19:16). Then, in
tender tones, we read that Joseph of Arimathaea “took the body of
Jesus” from the cross (19:38), then, with Nicodemus, they “took the
body of Jesus” to prepare it for burial (19:40). It may seem that Jesus
appears passive in this whole process. But this was all done “that
the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:24, 28, 36). Make no mistake,
Jesus was in total control. His purpose? That He, Himself, might
“take” something: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sins of the world” (John 1:29). —Brian Cretney

He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry, and suffered, and died alone.—C. Gabriel

1 Kings 20:1-43; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3:1-19

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:3

Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
And to wait for his Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
There was a story of a Christian salesman, who was asked of his
occupation. His noble reply was, “I’m waiting for the Lord from
heaven. In the meantime, I’m selling buttons to pay expenses”.
—Curtis Thigpen

Christ the Lord will come again,
None shall wait for Him in vain;
We shall then His glory see;
He who died to set us free. —J. Swain