Category: Uncategorised

1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15:1-21; Philippians 1:1-20

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Colossians 3:9

Alexander McCall Smith in one of his novels makes a true statement, “There are people who will tell you lies because they take a secret pleasure in misleading you.” Lies always mislead and can create all sorts of tension. Lying words can lead to the breakdown of relationships and the unforeseen consequences can be serious and far reaching. Therefore we are instructed to “lie not.” Our words should never be deceptive or misleading but always transparently honest. —Paul Young

Take my voice, and let me sing, always, only for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be, filled with messages from Thee. —Frances Ridley Havergal

1 Kings 7:1-51; Jeremiah 14:1-22; Ephesians 6:10-24

And we labor, working with our own hands. 1 Corinthians 4:12a, NKJV

Paul knew all about hard work and that it involved more than preaching in the synagogue—which was hard work indeed! He was conscious to balance a good work ethic with the active work of God (see Acts 20:34-35). He knew he had spiritual authority to live from the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:1-18), but at the same time he did not want to be a burden to the people of God (see 2 Cor. 12:13-16; 1 Thess. 4:11). His work ethic was part and parcel of what he taught and practised (Eph. 4:28). It ought to be ours too.—N. C. Funston

Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray. Make me a blessing to someone today. —Ira B. Wilson

1 Kings 6:1-38; Jeremiah 13:1-27; Ephesians 5:22-6:9

And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. Leviticus 14:5

The cross of the Lord Jesus is pictured here in the leper’s cleansing ceremony. The bird pictures the Lord Jesus in His humanity, in His weakness and humility. To the Jewish eye, He seemed just a carpenter’s son; to the Roman eye, just an inferior inhabitant of the mighty empire. To many, He was just another “bird” among millions of others. But when He was killed on a Roman cross, His blood cleansed us and set us free. —Shane Johnson

He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me. —Charles Wesley

1 Kings 4:1-5:18; Jeremiah 12:1-17; Ephesians 5:1-21

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

Our Creator God is the One who calls us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). We serve an awe-inspiring God who has everything we could ever need—strength, courage, wisdom, discernment, faith, hope—and most of all love, our greatest need of all. —Glenda Paquette

Great God of wonders! All Thy ways, Display Thine attributes divine,
But the bright glories of Thy grace, Above Thine other wonders shine. —Samuel Davies

1 Kings 3:1-28; Jeremiah 11:1-23; Ephesians 4:17-32

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

This Psalm shows the confidence of those who trust in the Lord! He gives salvation first and then meets our other needs, in particular here, those things that make us afraid. Others may let us down but He will not. This knowledge strengthens us and gives us courage to go on for Him. —G. Frear

The Lord’s my salvation and light indeed, I will not fear,
He meets my need; He is my strength, I’ll not be afraid;
For my debt of sin, He’s surely paid. —G. F

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

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. Luke 17:15
Then Job arose…and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. Job 1:20

Here are two different situations. In the first, a leper was healed and in the second Job lost all his family. But the end result was the same. It is easy to worship when God has blessed us, but not so easy when life is hard. As our son said recently “Whether I have a ‘song’ or a heavy heart, if He was worthy yesterday, He is still worthy today.” Will you determine to bring worship to Him this day? —Janet Fleming

I want to praise my Lord, sing of His cross,
Tell how His death has brought victory from loss. —Janet Fleming

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

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. Mark 1:31

Peter’s wife’s mother was healed in a moment, and in the same moment she was enabled to minister. One moment sick; in the same moment strong. One moment weak; in the same moment well. One moment helpless; in the same moment healed. This is symbolic of what Christ always does for sin-sick, feverish souls. —W. Ross Rainey

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, love lifted me. —James Rowe

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

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. Psalm 55:22
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

It is the blessed privilege of the believer to let go of every burden, committing ourselves and our burdens to the One who cares for us. There is nothing too large or too small for Him to do for you in accordance with His will. Therefore, when we come before His throne of grace, remember that He has been “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb. 4:15), and is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). —E. C. B.

I hear His voice amidst the stillness blest, and care and fear are past.
I lay me down within His arms to rest, from all my works at last. —Gerhard Tersteegen

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

For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:7

On January 1, 1863 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It set free all slaves but would only come into effect if the North won the Civil War. For the believer, Christ’s death and resurrection has already won the victory. Positionally our old man, a slave of indwelling sin, died with Him, and with Him we have been raised in newness of life. In our new man, the power of indwelling sin has been annulled. No longer our master we have received the status of a freed man, no longer compelled to respond when it beckons. Praise God! —George Ferrier

Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom, no more in chains of sin I repine! Jesus the glorious emancipator, now and forever He shall be mine. —Haldor Lillenas

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

He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

Our Lord foretold His death, burial, and resurrection, as He looked beyond Golgotha to glory. Yet death by crucifixion was like no other. In the context of public shame and excruciating suffering, there is no other means of death quite so horrifying. The cross simultaneously shows us the extent of humanity’s cruelty, the depths of our sinfulness and the scope of God’s love. May we never think casually about Calvary, where He endured such a death for us. —Rick Morse

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood.
Sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujuh what a Saviour! —Philip P. Bliss