Category: Uncategorised

1 Samuel 13:1-23; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Corinthians 12:14 -13:14

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

The word “so” means “in this manner” or “in this way.” How did God love the world? This way: He gave His only begotten Son. We see the value of this gift in the numerous times Scripture says that the Father loves the Son. Yet He gave this One who was near and dear to Him to us. This is how God’s love manifests itself—by giving His all. In response do we give our all to Him?—George Ferrier

How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure. —Stuart Townend

1 Samuel 11:1-12:25; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Corinthians 12:1-13

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife. Genesis 22:6, NKJV

Isaac carried the wood. Jesus carried the cross. Abraham carried the fire and the knife, which would have been used in the sacrifice of his son, had God not provided a substitute. So too, God the Father brought the judgment of sin upon His Son and because of this we can be forgiven. Have you trusted Him for forgiveness? —Janet Fleming

Come with me to Calvary, to see my Saviour dying,
Come and gaze in wonder, upon His blessed face;
See the soldiers mock Him, while women watch with sadness,
Tell me, don’t you marvel, when viewing there God’s grace. —J. F.

1 Samuel 9:15-10:27; Isaiah 50:1-51:8; 2 Corinthians 11:1-33

God…holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. Psalm 66:8-9
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

How secure we are in the care and love of our Lord! He has “loved [us] with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3), “delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:10) and, not only that, but He is “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). —E. C. B.

My name from the palms of His hands eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart, it remains in marks of indelible grace. —Augustus M. Toplady

1 Samuel 8:1-9:14; Isaiah 49:1-26; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life…declare we unto you. 1 John 1:1, 3

The Lord Jesus told His followers that they would be His witnesses. They are on record declaring their ear-witness and eyewitness accounts. There is also the material evidence of that which they carefully examined and handled concerning the Word of life—the Lord Jesus. Our fellowship is based on the facts of His death, burial, and resurrection. Their testimony is true and has stood the tests of time. Do you believe it? —Rex Trogdon

I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me. —Eliza Hewitt

1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Come, for all things are now ready. Luke 14:17, NKJV

This verse is from the parable of the Great Banquet. Astonishingly, Jesus says that they all made excuses why they could not come. The invited guests were preoccupied with their property, their possessions and their relationships. That master became angry. We too have been invited to a feast, a sweet feast hosted by our dear Saviour. May we honour Him as He deserves with passionate worship as we feast on the rich lyrics of our hymns and embrace soul-satisfying truths from the Word. —M. MacMullen

God now brings thee to His dwelling
Spreads for thee His feast divine,
Bids thee welcome ever telling
What a portion there is thine. —J. D. Smith

1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 47:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 2:7

The importance of this exhortation is seen in the fact that it is repeated to each of the seven Churches in turn. Indeed, this is one of the most important requirements in any assembly—that the Spirit should be given His place. Whether it be in the matter of worship, as we function as a holy priesthood; in preaching of the Gospel; in ministry to the saints; or in our personal lives; the Spirit must be given absolute control. We must avoid any human intervention that would displace the control of the Spirit among us. —W. H. Burnett

Father grant Thy Holy Spirit, In our hearts may rule today,
Hold us ‘neath His mighty sway. —Charles H. Spurgeon

1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:16

The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord. So what wisdom do they have? Jeremiah 8:9, NKJV

These days God’s Word is being rejected on a daily basis. It is generally viewed as archaic and irrelevant. As new frontiers and new discoveries happen, man’s wisdom is seen as boundless. Yet, there is no real wisdom in anything apart from God. His Word is perfect, beautiful and is His complete revelation to us. It “brings out of his treasure things new and old” (Matt. 13:52, NKJV). Don’t reject God’s Word for the empty wisdom of today. —Annette Baal

In Your Word, You to see, and my daily treasure, I go there to heed;
Truths old, things that will be, things that Your Spirit deems I need. —Annette Baal

1 Samuel 2:1-36; Isaiah 44:24-45:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words. Deuteronomy 11:18

God was preparing His people to enter the Promised Land and He wanted to make sure His Word went with them and their descendants (Deut. 11:21). Parents were to pass His Word down to their children. They were to teach it to them whenever and wherever they had opportunity to do so (11:19). They were to attend to it openly so that both parents and children could be reminded of it always and be blessed (11:21). Do we as parents seek to apply these worthy practices in relation to our children? —K. C. Ung

Happy the home where prayer is heard,
And praise is wont to rise;
Where parents love the sacred Word,
And all its wisdom prize. —Henry Ware Jr.

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

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34, NKJV
[Jesus] said, “It is finished!” John 19:30, NKJV

Our Lord completely fulfilled all the will of His Father, in every way finishing His work. What a divine example for each of us, to do and to finish His will, till He come. Dear believer, don’t give up! The finish line is just ahead: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). —E. C. B.

I want to finish well, I want to end this race,
Still leaning on His amazing grace. —Steve Chapman

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

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

When fire broke out in the hold of the ship, passengers and crew formed a line and passed buckets of water. A friend of D. L. Moody suggested they go to the other end of the ship and pray for the safety of all. “We’ll do nothing of the kind,” replied the man of God. “We’ll stand right here, pass the buckets and pray hard as we do.” Let us pass the soul-saving-Gospel to the lost, praying hard as we do. —Arnot P. McIntee

Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray:
Be wise the erring soul to win:
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in. —Horatius Bonar