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1 Kings 2:1-46; Jeremiah 10:1-25; Ephesians 4:1-16

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23 NKJV

H. K. Downie characterized this psalm as, “A failing body—an enduring soul.” Maude was nearing the end of 90 full years of life when I visited her. “Oh, listen to this wonderful verse”, she exclaimed: “Nevertheless I am continually with You.” She was weak, suffering great pain and soon would be in the presence of the Lord. In spite of her condition, she was assured of the Lord’s presence continually. How wonderful that our God knows all about our pain and sorrow! He cares, comforts and protects all through our lives and will receive us to glory! What a prospect! —Jim Comte

O that will be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me!
When by His grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory for me.  —Charles H. Gabriel

1 Kings 1:1-53; Jeremiah 9:1-26; Ephesians 3:1-21

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 NKJV

Christians, do we shine light on the true righteousness that comes through faith in Christ’s finished work, or on self-righteousness through works? Rather than telling men, “Do,” as believers we joyfully exclaim, “Done!” In this way we don’t lose our testimony before the world when we admit we’re sinners who cannot keep the law but are righteous through a new way, “The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Rom. 3:22). Christians, be bright and salty. —J. D. Fraser

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son! —Lou Fellingham

2 Samuel 24:1-25; Jeremiah 8:1-22; Ephesians 2:11-22

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 NKJV

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” There are many things in life that are not exactly as advertised. However, as believers, we know the gospel is as true as it sounds. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins. His free gift of redemption is offered through His grace and love. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Rejoice in the gospel’s truth! —Annette Baal

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. —Fanny J. Crosby

2 Samuel 23:1-39; Jeremiah 7:1-34; Ephesians 1:15-2:10

He spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. John 9:6-7

The Lord Jesus healed people in ways that were often fresh and unpredictable. In this text, He made clay with His spittle and anointed the man’s eyes. Why would the Lord make this man’s eyes even darker with the clay? He was already in darkness. So it is in our daily lives, sometimes trials get more dark just before a
miracle. So dear reader, wait expectantly and patiently for God to bring you the miracle you have been praying and waiting for. —Eleanor Isaacson

Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead,
Your Shepherd selecteth the path you must tread;
The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee,
He drank all the bitter at Calvary. —Paul Rader

2 Samuel 22:1-51; Jeremiah 6:1-30; Ephesians 1:1-14

Every man should…enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13

Today is the working person’s holiday—Labour Day. Some may say it’s the hum-drum of one working year after another. We should regard work as a gift of God. The Bible tells us a working person sleeps better (Eccl. 5:12). Since our bodies are designed for use, work makes us feel better than idleness ever could. There is a story of three men doing the same thing. When asked what they were doing, one said he was struggling for a paycheck. The second man said he was cutting stone. To the third man work was wonderful and answered, “I’m building a cathedral.” A farmer doesn’t merely work the soil; he feeds the world. —E. Dyck

I want to live for Jesus, I want to please God’s Son;
If He has found me faithful I’ll hear Him say, “Well done.” —F. Garland

2 Samuel 21:1-22; Jeremiah 5:1-31; Galatians 6:1-18

Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.  Psalm 113:1

“Servants of the Lord” are worshipers who praise the Lord. Praising His “name,” means more than identifying Him. It involves revealing the character of God and His personhood. We exalt Him for His greatness which is above and beyond all the greatest of heaven and earth. We speak of His inherent glory and uniqueness.  His infinite nature is in every characteristic of Him. His grace is enduring and endless. His power is limitless. His love is measureless. He knows all things, is everywhere and is eternal in His existence. He is without beginning or end. —G. C. G.

Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee;
For Thou hast formed us for Thyself,
And our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. —St. Augustine

2 Samuel 20:1-26; Jeremiah 4:3-31; Galatians 5:10-26

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory. John 17:24

We all have our concepts of what arrival in heaven will be like. We read of pearly gates and streets of pure gold and maybe can’t wait to see the awesome splendor. But our Saviour says we will be occupied with His glory. Any other beauty will not compare to the sight of the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Even
so come, Lord Jesus. —Ken Gross

When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.   —Charles H. Gabriel

2 Samuel 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6-4:2; Galatians 4:21-5:9

So she (Ruth) gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned. Ruth 2:17

Ruth gathered sheaves from the field daily, but to get the benefit and blessing from her labours, she had to thresh them to separate the wheat from the chaff. In the same vein, the apostle Paul exhorted young Timothy saying—“Give attendance to reading… Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all” (1 Tim. 4:13, 15). Reading the Scriptures would correspond to “gleaning.” Meditation would correspond to “beating-out.” Reading the Scriptures daily is a vital necessity, but this must be followed by meditation, to get to the kernel of truth contained therein, and thus to feed our souls. —W. H. Burnett

O may these holy pages be, our ever new delight,
And still new beauties may we see, and still increasing light. —A. Steele

2 Samuel 18:1-19:8; Jeremiah 2:1-3:5; Galatians 4:1-20

For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.  Philippians 2:21

From the beginning of time, mankind has pursued its own way, doing “that which was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25). These pursuits inevitably resulted in painful consequences. The prodigal son in Luke 15 is a prime example of this. His willful quest for his own way, led him down a destructive path of sin and regret. Do you find yourself spiraling down such a path today? By returning to your heavenly Father in repentance, you will find forgiveness wrapped in the warmth of His loving embrace. —E. V.

Thou the prodigals hast pardoned,
Kissed us with a Father’s love;
Killed the fatted calf, and called us,
E’er to dwell with Thee above. —James G. Deck

2 Samuel 16:1-17:29; Jeremiah 1:1-19; Galatians 3:15-29

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. James 5:7

Just as a farmer patiently waits for the harvest, so too our Father in heaven, our husbandman (John 15:1) patiently waits for us to bear much fruit (John 15:8). His people are the precious fruit that He has cultivated and nurtured with an assortment of tools, purging and pruning until that day when He gathers us to Himself.

Then the harvest for which He has long been waiting will be fully
grown and His greatest delight. —M. Kolchin

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take the harvest home;
From His field shall in that day, all offenses purge away. —H. Alford