Category: Uncategorised

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

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

The moon has no light; it merely reflects the sun’s light. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes between them, blocking the sun’s light. Our hearts were previously darkened until the knowledge of Christ’s glory shone into them. Since then, the truth of Christ’s glorious death and resurrection shines forth from us to a lost world when they see Christ in us. Let us prevent anything on earth from eclipsing the truth of Christ’s glory shining through us. —George Ferrier

Send the light, where souls are dying, in their darkness, gloom and night.
Haste, O haste! The days are fleeting, and the hours, how swift their flight!  —Fanny Crosby

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

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

The Gospel of John’s most powerful verse for the unbeliever is verse 16. Its most powerful verse for the believer is the one above. They are profound words and the commitment of a lifetime for any believer who takes them fully to heart. John the Baptist knew that for full blessing, he must keep himself in the background. He willingly, and with joy, accepted the growing popularity of Jesus and found in it his own joy fulfilled. We must all guard our lives to exalt Christ and diminish self. The hardest secret for a man to keep is his own opinion about himself; a hard lesson to learn! —Sam Thorpe

For a servant of Christ to seek to attract attention to himself,
is really a form of disloyalty. —William MacDonald

Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.  Ephesians 1:7
That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

Ruth Paxson writes, “A vast deposit of riches has been made for Christians in the bank of heaven. It is the oldest bank in existence. It dates way back to “B. W. W.” – “Before the World Was!” Paul reminds us that it was through the work of our Saviour that we have these blessings, and “That, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Ponder the cost of your forgiveness and rejoice in the exceeding
riches of His grace today. – Jim Comte

Marvelous, infinite matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe. —Julia Johnson

Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the Lord, she has not drawn near to her God. Zephaniah 3:2 NKJV

In the generation before the Babylonian captivity, obstinate Jerusalem refused the Almighty’s discipline, preferring vain idols to His saving power. That He wanted them to draw near was incomparable grace. Only unbelief explains their neglect of this privilege. Contemporary believers are similarly invited to come to Him for wisdom, rest, and comfort. Individually and corporately we may do this through Bible reading and prayer. His command to remember Him through the Lord’s supper is a weekly opportunity to draw near to our Maker and Redeemer. —Keith Keyser

And since Thy great compassion, thus brings Thy children near Thee, May we to praise, devote our days, and keep forever near Thee.—H. Ware

Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

[The Lord] shut up the sea with doors…And said, hitherto shalt though come, but no further. Job 38:8, 11
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment. Proverbs 8:29

Jesus spoke to the troubled sea, “Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). Even the sea’s mighty waves know to obey the voice of their Creator. Am I as ready to respond to His voice when He says, “Let not your heart be troubled …peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:1, 27). His command to us is not to worry but to give it all to Him, and “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). —Elizabeth C. Bishop

The winds and the waves shall obey My voice; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey My will; peace, be still. —Mary A. Baker

Judges 20:1-48; Isaiah 38:1-39:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house …for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10 NKJV

I imagine most of us grew up hearing about Zacchaeus, the wee little man. But what happened that day was profound. While Zacchaeus was seeking the Lord, the Lord was seeking him! That’s true for all who come to the Saviour. Some may have overlooked Zacchaeus, but his faith did not go unnoticed by the Lord. When the Lord invited Himself to his house, Zacchaeus responded with haste and joyfully received Him. What a difference the Lord made in his life! How about yours? —Rex Trogdon

Christ liveth in me, Christ liveth in me,
Oh! What a salvation this, that Christ liveth in me.  —Daniel W. Whittle

Judges 19:1-30; Isaiah 37:8-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

For this child I prayed. 1 Samuel 1: 27
I have also dedicated him to the Lord. 1 Sam. 1:28 (AMP)
Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up. 1 Samuel 2:19

Hannah’s godly example as a mother is most challenging. She is marked by supplication, having prayed for Samuel before his birth and no doubt throughout his life. She was also sacrificial, being willing to give him fully to the Lord and His work. She was also wonderful in her service to her boy, lovingly making him a comes such rich blessings and potential. —Pete Smith

There are few things more powerful
than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother.  —Boyd K. Packer

Judges 17:1-18:31; Isaiah 36:1-37:7; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me. John 17:11

Although not of this world, God has chosen to leave His saints in the world. We have been left here for a reason and that grand purpose is the propagation of the the Gospel. But even as we seek to fulfil our mission, there is the peril of living in an unholy world. Thus our Saviour prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one)” (v. 15). What a blessed assurance. We are kept even as we carry
forward His great evangelistic purpose. —L. Cain

While I am a pilgrim here, let Thy love my spirit cheer.
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend, lead me to my journey’s end.  —John Newton

Judges 16:1-31; Isaiah 35:1-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored. Lamentations 5:21 NKJV

Particularly in the western world, the church of God is in need of restoration. As we look into our hearts, is there sorrow for her condition? Are their tears for our personal failures? Is there missing joy when it comes to God’s presence in our lives? Do we look on with indifference when we see other believers’ living in a spiritual desert? Before Jerusalem’s destruction, God told Jeremiah, “I will bring them up and restore them to this place” (Jer. 27:22). God is the God of restoration. Whether for ourselves or for others, the Lord loves to renew His people. May He do so in our lives and in our gatherings. —David W. Oliver

Lord, let Thine all-consuming fire, the truth of all Thou art,
Consume my indifference and inspire a pure, impassioned heart. —D.W.O.

Judges 14:1-15:20; Isaiah 34:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son. Genesis 22:12
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Abraham loved his son but was willing to sacrifice him, and God acknowledged Abraham’s love for Him because of it. We are shown God’s amazing love for us when we look at Calvary’s cross and see the Lord Jesus, God’s beloved Son, dying there for our sins. Let us praise and thank Him for such love. —Mary Robins

His love is wonderful to me,
His love is wonderful to me:
For Jesus loved me so, He did to Calvary go:
His love is wonderful to me. —Paul White