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1 Samuel 13:1-23; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14

Who is a rock save our God? Psalm 18:31b

On August 6, 1930 a man, dependent upon alcohol and utterly destitute went to RBS Hammond’s meeting for men in Sydney, Australia. The attraction was tea and a rock cake but the gospel was clearly preached. The man left, went to a nearby park, knelt down, prayed the sinner’s prayer and rose a changed man. Arthur Stace subsequently said that “I went into the meeting for a rock cake and came out with the Rock of Ages!”. He preached the gospel all his life and never touched alcohol again. He became famous as “Mr. Eternity” because he chalked the word “Eternity” over 500,000 times on the sidewalks of Sydney. What a testimony to God’s transforming power! —Paul Young

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee;
Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling. —A. Toplady

1 Samuel 11:1-12:25; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Corinthians 12:1-13

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget. Psalm 78:7

We need to let our children and grandchildren know about our life experiences with the Lord. But the truth is we are still learning that God’s faithfulness never changes, that He is consistent to His promises. We continue to experience the glory of seeing God’s face by faith now, but what a wonderful moment when we see the face of our Lord. —G. C. G.

Put thou thy trust in God, in duty’s path go on;
Walk in His strength with faith and hope, so shall thy work be done.
Though years on years roll on, His covenant shall endure;
Though clouds and darkness hide His path, the promised grace is sure.
Through waves, and clouds, and storms, He gently clears the way;
Wait thou, His time, so shall this night soon end in joyous day. —Paul Gerhardt

1 Samuel 9:15-10:27; Isaiah 50:1-51:8; 2 Corinthians 11:1-33

They shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:34

How do you know that you know God? The word “for” in today’s verse gives a clue. It is only through the cleansing work of the gospel. The gospel reveals who God is, from the advent of Christ to His finished work on the cross. Regardless of social standing, we are sinners, rebellious to God’s character. We cannot rid ourselves of our sin so God promises to do it for us. He reckons the penalty of our sin as paid through the death of His Son. Anyone who trusts this knows God. —J. D. Fraser

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His spirit, washed in His blood.  —Fanny J. Crosby

1 Samuel 8:1-9:14; Isaiah 49:1-26; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah—am not I better to thee than ten sons? 1 Samuel 1:8

Hannah never answers this question from her husband. Was it because she could not admit to the one who loved her so much that truly he was not more to her than a son? That in her heart she knew that she should be satisfied with Elkanah’s love, but she wasn’t? Could we be like Hannah, not fully satisfied with the love of our Saviour? We look to relationships, children, friends, money, pleasures, health for satisfaction. These are all fine in themselves but we should be finding our all in all in the Lord. —M. Robins

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. —Dallán Forgaill

1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:17

Many believers are experiencing intense suffering today. Some are in the valley of the shadow of death and ready to leave the world behind. Take heart. In the light of eternity this is but a moment. Each affliction has a divine purpose. It will ultimately bring us to that exceeding, eternal weight of glory. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! The road may be rough but soon we’ll see Him. —Jim Paul

I know the blessed Son of God will greet me,
With scenes of earth for me forever past.
He delegates no other One to meet me,
When Heaven’s portals then I reach at last.  —Jim Paterson

1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 47:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

The Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. Job 42:12

A good way to read the book of Job is to begin with the last chapter, where we find that the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Why begin here? Knowing this frames the rest of the book from a divine perspective and context. We find that before glory and blessing comes suffering and testing. Job had to be tested before he was able to handle all the blessings God had ultimately prepared for him. He needed to realize that this double blessing came from the Lord, not his own efforts. Satan tried hard to shake his faith but in the end it strengthened it. What a man of faith he was. What a wonderful example for us today. —Eleanor Isaacson

His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod. —J. Yate

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 1 Kings 9:3

The Lord God expressed His pleasure, and made promises to Solomon regarding the earthly house which he built. Imagine how much greater is His delight, with the spiritual house now being built by the Lord Jesus. The church is a holy habitation of the Lord, in the Lord, and for the Lord. How privileged are His people, who are each living stones in this eternal structure, with Christ Himself  as the chief cornerstone. —Rick Morse

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth. —Samuel J. Stone

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:2

A little girl stepped shivering into the shelter of a London, England church. After the meeting, she approached the preacher, “Sir, I never knew my name was in the Bible!” He smiled, “Well, little girl what is your name?“. “My name is Edith.” “Oh, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Edith does not appear in the Bible.” She insisted, “Yes, it does. I heard you read it tonight. It said, ?Jesus receiveth sinners, and Edith with them!’”. Dear reader, have you identified
yourself as a sinner and trusted Christ? —George Ferrier

Come, and He will give you rest;
Trust Him, for His Word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men. —Frances Bevan

1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam. 1 Samuel 22:1

David had only recently been a hero in Israel. Goliath and the Philistines had been defeated and the future seemed bright. In a moment, things changed and he was forced to flee for his life. Maybe today, like David, you find your world has been turned upside down. In times like this, it may seem an odd place to go, but sometimes we need to retreat and have a “cave of Adullam experience”, a chance to get alone with God, to pour out our hearts to Him and wait for His comfort and direction. “In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be
overpast” (Ps. 57:1). —Paul Robertson

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer! —J. Scriven

Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:6

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

Years ago, I worked in the Ottawa Heart Institute, and many of our patients were Québécois. Once, calling a hospital in Québéc, I pronounced the patient’s name so perfectly, the person I was speaking with switched to French. My silence quickly disabused her of the notion that I too was Québécois! Remembering this incident recently, I was convicted as to whether my speech reflects my true citizenship. Is the heavenly accent of God’s righteousness and love, holiness and grace apparent in my speech? May we daily speak the language of heaven to those we meet. —Cathy Oriold

Take my lips and let them be,
Filled with messages from Thee.  —Frances R. Havergal