Category: Uncategorised

2 Samuel 2:1-32; Micah 4:9-5:15; Romans 11:1-12

Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 2 Kings 3:16-17

When faced with difficult circumstances we often look for the logical solution. If we need money, we find a job. If sick, we see the doctor. But logic doesn’t always work and we may find ourselves overwhelmed by difficulties. God is not bound by conventional ways. He encourages prayer and the digging of ditches of faith. He invites trust and patience. And then, the water comes—without a drop of rain. He can do the impossible, even for us! —Deborah Manera

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? —Corrie Ten Boom

2 Samuel 1:1-27; Micah 3:1-4:8; Romans 9:30-10:21

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

The tendency to be self-reliant seems to be part of our human nature and one which the world endorses. Even children defiantly protest saying, “I’ll do it my own self!” The danger with this line of thinking is that it feeds our self pride and fails to acknowledge our total dependency upon God for everything. Jesus reminds us that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Perhaps a good question to ask ourselves today is, am I self-reliant or God-dependant? —E. V.

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord, Oh, to be lost in Thee;
Oh, that it may be no more I, but Christ that lives in me.  —Mrs. A. Whiddington

1 Samuel 30:1-31:13; Micah 1:1-2:13; Romans 9:1-29

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. Exodus 4:1

When God asks us to do something He always makes available the power to do it. Unfortunately Moses was reluctant to obey and refused to be satisfied with God’s first choice. So the Lord gave Moses what he wanted. Sadly it was God’s second best. Moses was convinced that Aaron would be an asset when in reality he became a source for evil when he led the people to idolatry at Sinai. What problems could have been avoided had Moses accepted God’s first choice? What might we avoid? —Sid Halsband

Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heavenly light, teach me Thy way.  —Benjamin Ramsey

1 Samuel 28:1-29:11; Isaiah 66:1-24; Romans 8:18-39

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1

One rendering of this text is: “Blessed is the man whose life is a practical transcript of the will of God.” We are expected to walk worthy of the vocation to which we are called (Eph. 4:1). The world looks at the believer and says “Your actions speak so loudly I can’t hear what you say.” It is incumbent upon every child of God to maintain a clear, godly testimony in both word and deed. There is no room for a hypocritical lifestyle in the body of Christ. —Wm. H. Gustafson

I want my heart His throne to be,
So that a watching world may see,
His likeness shining forth in me;
I want to be like Jesus. —T. O. Chisholm

1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. Luke 2:51
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20

The Lord Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary. What a delight it must have been for them to witness a child, who never told a lie or who never answered back but who always did as He was told right away! Any young believer reading this today should seek to follow His example. When you do, remember you are really pleasing Him, as well as your parents! —Pete Smith

When we seek to obey, mom and dad every day,
It is something that pleases the Lord.
It brings honour to Him, when we choose not to sin,
But instead want to follow His Word. —P. J. S.

1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

Seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you? Psalm 50:17 NKJV
But You have lovingly delivered my soul…for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. Isaiah 38:17 NKJV

What a contrast we see in these two verses. The wicked hate instruction from God and do all they can to cast away His words. On the other hand, believers know how much God has done for them and they rejoice because their sins have been cast behind God’s back where even He cannot see them anymore. “As far as the
east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12 NKJV). We worship and praise the Lord Jesus Christ for our great salvation! —Annette Baal

A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings,
I bring, blessed Saviour, to Thee! —Ernst C. Homberg

1 Samuel 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

He…laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. John 13:4

Deity clothed Himself with humanity when Christ came. He who was equal with God, took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. Then He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto the point of death (Phil. 2:6-8). Here He laid aside His garments to teach His disciples the humility that attends any genuine servant. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NKJV). Is it too hard for us to be humble and serve Him when He Himself had shown us the way? —K. C. Ung

God, gracious, tender, laid aside His splendor,
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul.  —W. E. Booth

1 Samuel 21:1-22:23; Isaiah 61:1-11; Romans 6:1-14

Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire. 2 Samuel 23:5

This excerpt from David’s last words is a fitting summary of his lifelong relationship with his God. How much more suitable are they for every born again child of God in this age! We are the recipients of God’s eternal promise, a thorough promise, an organized promise, a steadfast promise, a joyful promise, and a most appealing promise. Our Lord Jesus is now the Mediator of this better covenant established upon so many better promises (Heb. 8:6). —Rick Morse

Standing on the promises of Christ my Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord.   —R. Kelso Carter

1 Samuel 19:8-20:42; Isaiah 60:1-22; Romans 5:12-21

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25

Many details highlight the thrilling account of Acts 16:25-40: arrest, prison, midnight, songs, earthquake, the gospel, faith, kindness, contemplated suicide, conviction, belief, baptism, joy, release, and comfort. Christianity thrives on persecution. It was so in its early history and continues today. Is your Christianity thriving: vital, vigorous and victorious? —W. Ross Rainey

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?  —Isaac Watts

1 Samuel 18:6-19:7; Isaiah 59:1-21; Romans 4:23-5:11

All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. 1 Chronicles 9:22

It isn’t until certain members of the local church are indisposed or called to heaven that we truly miss the “porters.” Saints who clean the building and prepare it for meetings. Those who collect the trash or who regularly give lifts in their cars to housebound believers and unbelievers alike. Ones who are always in the kitchen washing up or who are ever ready to give out the hymn books and do it with a smile. I could go on but let us try and recognise them now and give them a hand where possible. —Brian Russell

Serve the Lord with gladness in our works and ways,
Come before His presence with our songs of praise,
Unto Him our Maker we would pledge anew,
Life’s supreme devotion to service true. —B. B. McKinney