Saturday, October 23, 2010

DAILY READINGS: 1 Chronicles 1; Ezekiel 2 to 3:15; 2 Timothy 3

The Lord is…longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

God’s judgment is coming. Some may scoff at such a thought.
Others are indifferent and live only for the moment. All the while
God’s longsuffering continues. Why? Because He is waiting for as
many as possible to turn to Him and repent of their sins. He is waiting
for you. But one day, and it could be soon, the door will close.
Have you trusted Him? He’s waiting for you, but not for much
longer! —L. Richard

What do you hope, dear brother,
To gain by a further delay?
There’s no one to save you but Jesus,
There’s no other way but His way. —G. F. Root

Friday, October 22, 2010

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 25; Ezekiel 1; 2 Timothy 2

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and
two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels
weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are
hid in the earth in the midst of my tent. Joshua 7:21a

Achan is living proof of James 1:14, 15. He was tempted and
drawn away by his own lust. His lust conceived and brought forth
sin. By the time his sin was finished, he and his family were dead.
What a miserable indictment! No one forced him to look or lust. No
one made him carry or conceal. There are severe consequences when
it comes to dabbling in sin. Sin has both immediate and eternal consequences.
Keep yourself from it. —N. Craig Funston

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice, which is more than liberty. —F. W. Faber

 

Thrusday, October 21, 2010

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 24; Lamentations 4-5; 2 Timothy 1

And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought
them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods
of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves
unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. Judges 2:12

Some move rapidly, some progress slowly, but one thing is constant
about infections—they spread. The decay of society is a constant
danger and we must guard our thinking, so it does not become
infected with the mind of this age. Daily immersion in God’s Word
and daily contact with Him through prayer are the only things that
can vaccinate the Christian against such infections. Heaven’s prescription!
—Rick Morse

What has stripped the seeming beauty, from the idols of the earth;
Not the sense of right or duty, but the sight of peerless worth!—Anon.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

DAILY READINGS: 2 Kings 23; Lamentations 3; 1 Timothy 6

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been
slain. Revelation 5:6a

Among all the animals of sacrifice which typify the Lord, the one
treasured above all others is the Lamb. Whether on the tree or the
throne, the Lamb pictures as well as preaches the message of the
Bible—man’s total ruin and God’s perfect remedy embodied in the
Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. No wonder the
perfection of worship is realized in heaven in three doxologies; the
work of the Lamb (5:9); the honour of the Lamb (5:11-12); and the rule
of the Lamb (5:13-14). —Les Rainey

Lamb of God! Our souls adore Thee, while upon Thy face we gaze;
There the Father’s love and glory, shine in all their brightest rays.—J. Deck

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

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

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Eph. 2:12

Depression troubles many today. There is a deep feeling of hopelessness
and anxiety. The Germans call it angst. You have lost a job, a
loved one, or health itself. The walls are closing in around you and
you want to die. Dear friend, if you have God, you have hope. Turn
to Him and the future is bright. —Donald L. Norbie

Only in Thee, O Saviour mine,
Dwelleth my soul in peace divine,
Peace that the world, tho’ all combine,
Never can take from me. —Thomas O. Chisholm

Monday, October 18, 2010

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

In the last days perilous times shall come. 2 Timothy 3:1b

This world in the last few years has undergone more dramatic
changes than at any other time in history. Fear has gripped its inhabitants
in every part of the earth. Great floods, earthquakes, famines,
disease, as well as a reign of terror unparalleled in history. Leaders
have spent endless hours trying to negotiate peace and resolve the
great divisions that cause wars, bloodshed and pain. These events all
point to the fact that our Lord is coming soon. The only true place of
security is in knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord! —Jim Paul

Be still my soul: nor contemplate disaster,
The hand that led still leads thee on life’s way,
While world events move on—both grave, faster;
For thee they lead to life’s eternal day. —J. Danson Smith

Lord’s Day, October 17, 2010

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

I came down from heaven. John 6:38

Whatever did it mean for the Son of God to come down, down
from His high throne to lay aside His garment of light and take a
body of mortal flesh? The King of Glory eating food cooked in the
back kitchen of a home in Bethany! He walked the dust of earth,
rubbed shoulders with sinners, touched the leper and was touched
by the sick and ailing, yet ever holy, harmless, and undefiled. Then to
be taken by His own creatures and nailed to a cross. How far down
He came to save sinners and take them up to glory!
—J. Boyd Nicholson

Did the Lord a man become, that He might the law fulfill,
Bleed and suffer in my room; and canst thou my tongue be still?—J. Newton

Saturday, October 16, 2010

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

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong:
didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go
thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Matt. 20:13-14

Those hired at the eleventh hour worked just one hour and were
willing to accept whatever pay the master saw fit to give them. Paid,
but not according to what they had worked, but rather out of the
grace of the master, as he assessed what they were willing to do. The
Lord rewarded their willingness and gave more than they deserved.
God’s righteousness, sovereignty and grace are all seen here. Let us
so work, according to our abilities, and leave the question of reward
to His gracious, divine will. —Dawn Heels

Great God of wonders all Thy ways display Thine attributes divine,
But the bright glories of Thy grace, above Thine other wonders shine.—Anon.

Friday, October 15, 2010

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

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed my
lambs. John 21:15

This thrice repeated question seared into Peter’s consciousness.
But the Lord had earlier given to His disciples and to us a simple test
of love for Him. “If a man love Me, he will keep My words” (John
14:23). It is remiss to profess love for Christ unless we are obedient to
the Word of God. If we love Him we will obey Him. —Doug Kazen

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