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2 Samuel 15:1-37; Zephaniah 3:1-20; Galatians 3:1-14

[His compassions] are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23

This past summer we had day after day of rain. Massive flooding occurred all around us. Rivers overflowed their banks. Fields and crops were under water. Trees and structures washed away. I’m sure many animals lost their lives. During this time, I often thought of Noah and his ark experience. How hopeless were the people living on earth at that time. How safe Noah and his family were in the ark. God always cares for those faithful to Him. —Debbie Douglas

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.  T. O. Chisholm

2 Samuel 14:1-33; Zephaniah 2:1-15; Galatians 2:1-21

Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water, follow him. Luke 22:10

Who are you following? Peter and John followed an unnamed man who was most likely a bond servant. The Greek word used here for “following” emphasizes the need to walk in his path, travelling alongside the bond servant. The pitcher he carried was filled with water and makes us think of purification and refreshment. As they followed, Peter and John were led to a furnished room where they would later share in a sweet feast with the Lord Jesus. The message today is clear, follow the Lord’s directives and be led to a place of sanctuary with Him. —G. B.

Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus,
Anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on.  —William Cushing

2 Samuel 13:1-39; Zephaniah 1:1-18; Galatians 1:1-24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

To worship God carries the idea of humble submission as we come before our Creator to honour, serve, fear and adore Him. It is to appreciate the infinite worth of God and is not meant to be drudgery or a cheerless activity but a delightful enjoyment of God Himself. Yet our enjoyment is not the primary purpose of worship as it is all for the Lord’s pleasure and so we honour Him as we exalt His name in worship. —Paul Young

Come, oh come, and let us worship,
Gathered in the house of prayer;
Praise the God of our salvation
While He waits to meet us there.  —Fanny J. Crosby

2 Samuel 12:1-31; Habakkuk 3:1-19; Romans 16:1-27

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. 2 Samuel 7:14

Speaking here to Solomon, God expressed several prophetic truths. These three things speak of Christ (vv. 14-16). “I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men” (v. 14). “My mercy shall not depart away from him” (v. 15). “Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever” (v. 16). God’s words may have been to Solomon, yet His eyes were on a greater than Solomon, His Son and His work at Calvary. —Sam Thorpe, Jr.

Alas! And did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head,
For such a worm as I?  —Isaac Watts

2 Samuel 10:1-11:27; Habakkuk 2:1-20; Romans 15:14-33

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. Luke 16:10

The Latin motto of Barnard Castle School in Newgate, UK, is “Parvis Imbutus Tentabis Grandia Tutus”. It means “When you are steeped in little things, you can safely attempt great things.” When we think of our life of faith, it is a good motto to be etched in our minds, to encourage us to attempt great things for God. —Brian Powlesland

No service in itself is small,
None great though earth it fill,
But that is small that seeks its own,
And great that seeks God’s will.  —Abraham Kuyper

2 Samuel 8:1-9:13; Habakkuk 1:1-17; Romans 14:19-15:13

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8

In the preceding verses, Simon Peter exhorts us to add certain character qualities to our faith. He lists seven things: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. After we add these things to our faith, he challenges us to use higher math, saying these things should abound, literally be multiplied. If we lack these things, we are shortsighted, but if we practice these things, we will have an abundant entrance into glory (vv. 9-11). It all adds up! —Rex Trogdon

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open, We shall tread the streets of gold.  —Eliza E. Hewitt

2 Samuel 7:1-29; Nahum 2:1-3:19; Romans 14:1-18

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16

A Texas plumber packs a New Testament with his tools every day and is known as “the witnessing plumber.” Telling of him, a man of God said, “That plumber has won hundreds to Christ. Many will listen to a workman who will not listen to a preacher.” Praise God for men and women who live and preach God in the mission field of the workplace. Let us not be ashamed of the gospel of our soon returning Lord Jesus Christ. —Arnot P. McIntee

Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far,
Let night disown each radiant star!
’Tis midnight with my soul, till He,
Bright morning star, bid darkness flee.  —Joseph Grigg

2 Samuel 6:1-23; Nahum 1:1-15; Romans 13:1-14

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. John 6:26 

Many people receive daily providential blessings without ever thanking the Creator or acknowledging His kindness. Some even deny that He exists, choosing to live for the material world with no thought of spiritual realities. This is criminal ingratitude on a cosmic level! Unlike them, believers look to God to meet their physical needs, praying “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). Moreover, they agree with Christ that man must live by God’s eternal-life-giving word (Matt. 4:4). —K. R. Keyser

Till He come we take the bread, type of Him on whom we feed,
Him who liveth and was dead! We give Thee thanks, O Lord.  —Horatius Bonar

2 Samuel 4:1-5:25; Micah 7:1-20; Romans 12:1-21

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. Romans 1:1

The word “servant” means a bondservant or slave. In the Old Testament a Hebrew slave was freed after six years (Ex. 21:2-6). However, out of love for his master he could choose to remain a slave forever, his pierced ear identifying him with his master.  Christ is God’s perfect servant whose opened ears led Him to Calvary (Ps. 40:6-8). As willing servants of our Lord Jesus Christ let us follow His example, opening our ears and saying “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:10). —George Ferrier

This is our God the Servant King;
He calls us now to follow Him.
To bring our lives as a daily offering;
Of worship to the Servant King. —Graham Kendrick

2 Samuel 3:1-39; Micah 6:1-16; Romans 11:13-36

Let the living bird loose into the open field. Leviticus 14:7

Leviticus 14 details the sacrifice to be made when a leper was pronounced clean. Before being released, a living bird was to be dipped into the blood of a sacrificed bird. Imagine the moment of the bird’s release. Watch as its wings open wide and it flies free. The imprisonment of the cage is now in the past, the bird soars on its wing-embracing freedom. What made the difference? The freedom was gained through the sacrifice. The living bird has been dipped in shed blood. It is only upon the grounds of the shed blood of Christ that imprisoned sinners can know true freedom. —Matthew Butler

There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.  —William Cowper