Wednesday, October 19, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 21:19 to 22:20; Lamentations 2; 1 Timothy 5

And Moses brought their cause before the Lord. Numbers 27:5
…Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 2 Kings 19:14

Moses was challenged by the situation the daughters of Zelophehad had brought before him. What was the right course of action? What was God’s will? Moses rightly laid the matter before the Lord. Hezekiah did the same when the armies of Assyria were surrounding Jerusalem. On both occasions the Lord answered their prayers and revealed His mind. When we are faced with difficult problems as elders, individuals or parents, where do we turn for guidance? —Pete Smith

Mine eyes are unto Thee, my God; my soul on Thee doth wait,
My hope is in Thy faithful Word, and in Thy love so great.
—Author Unknown

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 20 to 21:18; Lamentations 1; 1 Timothy 4

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us… Psalm 90:17

The above prayer request was penned by Moses. Is this our desire as well, to reflect God’s beauty? How is this even possible? Moses’ face shone when he came down from the mountain. Why? Because he had spent time in God’s presence! We too will reflect His beauty as we spend more time in His presence. —E. V.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wondrous compassion and purity:
O, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
—Albert Osborn

Monday, October 17, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 19; Jeremiah 52; 1 Timothy 3

Saul said…I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord…because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Sam. 15:24

Saul made a feeble excuse! A king fearing his people! This is a typical example of peer pressure—doing what will please everyone around me, instead of what I know is right and will please the Lord. Everyday we have to make similar choices and must decide, “Will I do what is popular or will I do what God would have me do?” The problem can be summed up by asking, “Do I fear God or do I fear man?” —David Croudace

Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease,
While others fight to win the prize, and sail through bloody seas?
—Issac Watts

Lord’s Day, October 16, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 18; Jeremiah 51:25-64; 1 Timothy 2

…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross… Hebrews 12:2

The cross was a time of fearful suffering: spiritual, emotional and physical. Christ did not enjoy the cross; He endured it. He knew beforehand the nature of his death. For months He told His disciples that in Jerusalem He would be rejected, humiliated, scourged and nailed to a cross. What sustained Him through that awesome suffering? Part of the answer is the joy of having a vast throng of the redeemed in heaven with Him. When sinners turn to Him it gives Him much joy. When believers follow Him and live for Him it makes His heart glad. Let’s give Him joy by our lives. —Donald L. Norbie

I gave, I gave My life for thee;
What has thou given for Me? —Frances R. Havergal

Saturday, October 15, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 17; Jeremiah 51:1-24; 1 Timothy 1

…that great shepherd of the sheep… Hebrews 13:20

The writer to the Hebrews has been giving his readers some firm reminders. In every way, in the glorious person, titles and offices of the Lord Jesus, He is better than anything to which they may have been accustomed previously. Now at the end of this sure and triumphant treatise, he commends them lovingly to the care of their great Shepherd. The way ahead will be fraught with false doctrine and hostility, but the victorious, great Shepherd will be there to strengthen at every moment of the earthly pilgrimage. —Mark Fenn

We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the Guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray. —Dorothy A. Thrupp

Friday, October 14, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 15:32 to 16:20; Jer. 50:21-46; Titus 2:9 to 3:15

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations [trials]. 1 Peter 1:6
…as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10

The word manifold literally means “very many coloured”. Peter speaks of very many coloured trials and of the very many coloured graces of God. Whatever the colour of your trial today, dear child of God, He has grace of a corresponding hue. Thank you, Father. Your grace is sufficient for me. —Arnot P. McIntee

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure;
His power has no boundary known unto men,
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth, again.
—Annie Johnson Flint

Thursday, October 13, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 14:23 to 15:31; Jer. 50:1-20; Titus 1 to 2:8

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1
…walk worthy of the vocation to which ye are called. Ephesians 4:1

An alternate rendering of Psalm 119:1 is: “Blessed is the man whose life is a practical transcript of the will of God.” Believers face a major challenge in making our walk and talk agree, in other words living a lifestyle consistent with the teachings of Scripture. The unsaved world loves to point out our inconsistencies. We should frequently ask ourselves what the Lord Jesus would do in a given circumstance and then seek to emulate Him in all we do. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Walking with Jesus—walking ev’ry day, walking all the way;
Walking in the sunlight, walking in the shadows,
Walking with Jesus, walking with Jesus alone. —Author Unknown

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 13 to 14:22; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 13:7-25

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Psalms 22:1
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Completely abandoned. Forsaken by men, forsaken by God, our Lord Jesus endured the punishment for our sins. In contrast God has promised the believer that we will never be deserted by Him. He is with us in life and in death. He is with us for eternity. If you have not yet done so, today choose Christ, choose eternity with God.
—George Ferrier

He died on Calvary’s mountain, for me they pierced His side.
For me He opened that fountain, the crimson, cleansing tide.
For me He waiteth in glory, seated upon His throne.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!
—Ludie Pickett

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 11-12; Jeremiah 48; Hebrews 12:18 to 13:6

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20-21

Why spend all one’s time and effort chasing after things beyond our daily needs? It makes so much more sense to put one’s effort into the things of God, to use our talents for His glory rather than to possess whatever takes our fancy. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot). —G. Frear

God in heaven hath a treasure,
Riches none may count or tell;
Hath a deep eternal pleasure,
Christ the Son, He loveth well. —P. S.

Monday, October 10, 2016

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

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things is hard to do. Should I be thankful for the extreme heat? Yes, it helps our corn grow and mature. Should I be thankful that our freezer stopped? Yes, it needed to be replaced by a more efficient model. Should I be thankful for unkind people at work? Yes, it makes me strive to be more thoughtful to others. Lord make me grateful. —Deborah G. Douglas

Give thanks to God, for good is He, His grace abideth ever;
To Him all praise and glory be, His mercy faileth never.
Each creature’s need He doth supply, His grace abideth ever;
Give thanks to God, enthroned on high, whose mercy faileth never.
—Author Unknown