DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 16; Isaiah 55 to 56:8; Romans 2
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands…but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Hebrews 9:24
The high priest of old, celebrating the Day of Atonement, entered the Holiest of all carrying a censor full of burning coals with his hands full of incense (Lev. 16:12-16). When he put the incense on the fire it emitted a cloud which covered the mercy seat, shielding him from the great glory cloud representing the presence of God, “lest he die”. What a contrast to our great High Priest who stands face to face, no cloud intervening. His saving work at Calvary is now fully accomplished. Marvel of marvel, it is “for us”.—Drew Craig
Without a cloud between; to see him face to face; Not struck with dire amazement dumb, but triumphing in grace. —Albert Midlane
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 15; Isaiah 54; Romans 1:18-32
The Lord is thy keeper… Psalm 121:5
Our keeper. What a grand title for the Lord. It means that He is tending, guarding and protecting us. His eyes are constantly upon us and His ears are continually open to our cry (Ps. 34:15). He is never weary in His care over us (Isa. 40:28). He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:4). In other words, He is ever aware, always alert and eternally awake. Why has He taken this work upon Himself? His great redeeming love is everlasting. —Rex Trogdon
Keep Thou my all, O Lord, hide my life in Thine; O let Thy sacred light over my pathway shine; Kept by Thy tender care, gladly the cross I’ll bear; Hear Thou and grant my prayer, hide my life in Thine. —Fanny J. Crosby
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 14; Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12; Romans 1:1-17
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb… Revelation 12:11
Often the loudest voice a downcast Christian hears is the voice of the accuser. His constant reminders of our failures, shortcomings and past sins only beat us down and keep us fruitless and discouraged. That is of course only until we look again into heaven and appreciate afresh the sufficiency of the blood of the Lamb. Sufficient to cleanse but also sufficient to silence the accuser.—Sid Halsband
I hear the accuser roar, of ills that I have done; I know them well, and thousands more; Jehovah findeth none. —S. Gandy
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 13; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Cor. 12:14 to 13:14
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth… Psalm 60:4
Solomon tells us that God’s banner is love (Song 2:4). Jesus taught that love should characterize those that are His. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another” (John 13:34). “And I have declared unto them thy name…that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). Display the banner of God’s love in your life. Let all around you learn something of the love of God through you. May the love of God truly be shed abroad in your heart. —D. Pickup
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell. —F. Lehman
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 11-12; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Cor. 12:1-13
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Have you ever received wrong directions when travelling and ended up totally lost? The same thing will happen if you follow man’s directions as to how to get to heaven—eternally lost. So, don’t gamble with your eternal destination. God’s Word says that Jesus is the “only” way. You can rely on Him. —E. V.
If you would meet in heaven, Those that you miss today, The Blessèd One must lead you— He is the only way. —F. Glen
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 9:15 to 10:27; Isaiah 50 to 51:8; 2 Cor. 11
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Hebrews 11:29
As the children of Israel walked through the Red Sea, the enormous wall of water and the possibility of it crashing down on them could well have crossed their minds. However, they all ventured forth in faith. Why? They had seen God’s power at work in their own lives in the past and realised He could do it again. The obstacles and possibility of defeat may loom large, but if the Lord tells us to do something—let’s do it!—Brian Russell
When Israel by divine command; The pathless desert trod, They found through all the barren land; A sure resource in God. —J. Newton
Christ Loved the Church By: William MacDonald Published by: Gospel Folio Press (reprint 2008) “The author of this little book shows himself to be firmly committed to the New Testament’s teaching on the church universal and local and believes that these principles hold good for the twenty-first century. “The book consists of seventeen chapters which divide into two sections: chapters 1-9 cover the essential principles, while chapters 10-16 deal with their application in the life of the local church. A final chapter is an exhortation to the reader to put this teaching into practice in today’s hostile world. The chapters are concise, easy to read and understand and their tone is Christ-exalting. As the author states, ‘The general approach will be to review the great unchangeable verities concerning the church universal, and to show how each local assembly is responsible to witness to these truths in life and practice’. Appropriately, at the very beginning of the book, there is a timely word of caution that correctness of church position must never be divorced from correctness of condition. “Although the book is relatively short, the writer has managed to cover a great deal of ground. Having offered a definition of the church universal and local and having succinctly described the relationship between the two, he deals with the truth of the one body, the headship of Christ, reception into the assembly, the Holy Spirit in the church, discipline, the proclamation of the gospel, and the priesthood of all believers. Scripture references encourage the reader to go back to the word of God in order to confirm the teaching. The practical chapters cover baptism, the Lord’s supper, the prayer meeting, elders, deacons, finance, and the ministry of sisters. Works on these subjects are not always free from the noise of ‘grinding axes’. This book, however, is thoroughly scripture-based. It is a book which may act as a primer for young believers or a revision course for others. It is largehearted in its approach while holding firmly to the New Testament.” -Ed Hotchin, Hucknall, Nottingham, UK (Precious Seed magazine, Volume 64, Issue 1) Available in paperback and eBook formats.
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 8 to 9:14; Isaiah 49; 2 Cor. 10
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him… Psalm 37:7
We live in a society where the wheels of time seem to turn ever faster. Keeping up on this living treadmill can be a source of stress, frustration and even illness. An article on the subject states, “There is no merit in being busy, just for the sake of being busy.” Yet many are. We do not readily hear the Holy Spirit’s voice when in a frenzy running here and there. Diligence is required in our daily tasks, but maybe we need to think before acting and then take meaningful steps to move only in the Spirit’s will. If we guard the main purpose of our lives—to serve and draw near to Him, we will be guided as to how much activity we should be involved in.—E. Dyck
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; Leave to thy God to order and provide. —Katharina von Schlegel
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 6-7; Isaiah 48; 2 Corinthians 9
…thou gavest me no water for my feet…thou gavest me no kiss…my head with oil thou didst not anoint… Luke 7:44-46
Simon had the Lord in his home and yet he gave Him no personal attention—not even the common courtesies of the day. He missed a wonderful opportunity because his heart was not in the right condition. This is too often the case when we meet to remember and worship the Lord. He is there in our midst as He promised and yet sometimes we have nothing to say to Him, not even “Thank you Lord for saving my soul.” May we see Him with the eye of faith, remember how He has forgiven us, and at what cost, and lavish all our loving attention upon Him in songs and prayers of worship. —Carl Knott
If now, with eyes defiled and dim, we see the signs, but see not Him; O may His love the scales displace, and bid us see Him face to face! —Charles H. Spurgeon
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 4-5; Isaiah 47; 2 Corinthians 8
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them… Zephaniah 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19
The Apostle Peter reminds us that the things this world values most—silver and gold—could not save us. The Lord Jesus—the spotless, holy, sinless, impeccable Lamb of God—must give His life at Calvary to deliver us from the judgment of God. Unsaved soul, come to Christ and accept the redemption He offers through His blood, before it is too late. “After this [death] the Judgment” (Heb. 9:27). —W. H. Burnett
The rich man was there but his money, had melted and vanished away, A pauper he stood in the judgment, his debts were too heavy to pay. —Author Unknown
