Category: Uncategorised

Judges 10:6-11:28; Isaiah 31:1-9; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8, NKJV

What a comfort. On days when our schedules are packed and we cannot keep up, He has not changed. On other days, when the time lingers and the clock doesn’t seem to move, He has not changed. He is “my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (2 Sam. 22:2, NKJV). Bring Him into your day today. —Danielle Robins

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free. —Helen Howarth Lemmel

Judges 9:1-10:5; Isaiah 30:1-33; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this. Luke 7:4

The Jews thought the centurion was worthy of the Lord Jesus’ time and effort. According to them, “He loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue” (Luke 7:5, NKJV). Yet the centurion himself said, “I am not worthy” (Matt. 8:8). They were thinking of all the good he had done; he was thinking of all the bad. Had he committed things in his youth that he now regretted? Had he taken advantage of his position of power? We don’t know. But what we do know is this: this man modelled the way we should approach the Lord Jesus when we need something from Him. — Shane Johnson

I know not why God’s wondrous grace, to me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love, redeemed me for His own.—D. Whittle

Judges 8:1-35; Isaiah 29:1-24; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12, NKJV

Despite my warnings the student continued to act out. I said that he was not being obedient. “Obedient? I’m not a dog!” he retorted. Our society values obedience so little that even dogs are expected to behave better than humans. If we want to stand out for Christ, we can start with obedience: to our parents, employers, elders and anyone in a position of authority over us. While the world thrives on rebellion, they will watch us and marvel. —Jeff Frey

Thou my everlasting portion, more than friend or life to me;
All along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee.—Crosby

Judges 7:1-25; Isaiah 28:1-29; 1 Corinthians 7:1-40

And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Luke 7:19, NKJV

In brighter times, John had confidently announced: “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). But his circumstances changed. Now, he is languishing alone in prison. Did Jesus rebuke him for being in such a spiritual state? No! He immediately sent him words of reassurance. Like John, we need to go to Christ with our doubts. He will reassure us through His Word and our communion with Him. —Peter Ramsay

Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way?
Jesus will help you; just come to Him today. —Ralph Carmichael

Judges 6:1-40; Isaiah 27:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

No man cared for my soul. Psalm 142:4

David’s sad complaint was made when hiding in a cave from his pursuers. He was weary of often fleeing for his life. After my husband was diagnosed with a critical illness, a couple who lived a distance away came to share comfort. During their visit the wife went to the piano to play and sing No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus. The memory of that kindness still lingers. If you know of someone suffering: send a card, make a call—do something. Believers have all been gifted to do some service well. When that gift is used nobody will need to say, “No one cared.” —E. Dyck

Before I loved Him, He loved me; before I found Him, He found me.
Before I sought Him, He sought me; yes, Jesus cares for me. —Ron Hamilton

Judges 5:1-31; Isaiah 26:1-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalm 22:1

In this Psalm we see the spiritual agony of the suffering Saviour. We are reminded of the physical suffering and the emotional torture that humanity heaped upon Him. And ultimately we know that God’s purpose was accomplished—a people for Himself! And we are included in that company! Truly these are wonderful thoughts to read and meditate on today. —G. Frear

The Holy One forsaken by God,
Suffering for sin, being struck by the rod,
He suffered alone, all forsook Him and ran,
As He hung on the cross to save sinful man. —G. F.

Judges 4:1-24; Isaiah 25:1-12; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. Luke 19:42

As our Lord wept over Jerusalem in the final days before His crucifixion, it pained Him to know that He had come to His own but they hadn’t received Him. Rejecting their promised Messiah, Israel had blinded themselves to His promised blessings. But our God is a promise-keeping God and He has not cast them off forever (Rom 11:1). He is fully trustworthy! —Rick Morse

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring. Glory in the highest,
I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God. —R. Kelso Carter

Judges 3:5-31; Isaiah 24:1-23; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, NKJV

The truth does not need dressing up with man’s clever words. It is not the messenger, but the message. It is not the style, but the substance. The reason is simple—that our faith would rest in the power of God through His Word and by His Spirit. Let His Word do His work. —Rex Trogdon

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say, than to you He hath said,
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled? —John Rippon

Judges 2:6-3:4; Isaiah 22:15-23:18; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

So will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. Zechariah 8:13

We are saved to be a blessing, to be soldiers in the army of God, opposing the forces of evil. Our command is to “fear not.” Fear paralyzes, but faith empowers. “Let your hands be strong”, uplifted in prayer, wielding the sword of the Spirit. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isa. 41:10a). —D. Pickup

I may never march in the infantry,
Ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery;
I may never fly o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army. —Author Unknown

Judges 1:1-2:5; Isaiah 21:1-22:14; 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7b

Martin Luther recorded a dream that Satan came and told him he could never get to Heaven because he was such a dreadful sinner. “Have you a list of my sins?” Luther asked. “Yes,” said Satan and brought a long list of failures. Twice Luther asked if there were more and Satan brought him a long list. Again, Luther asked if there were any more. “That is all,” Satan said. “Then” cried Luther, “write now across them all ‘the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).’” And Satan left! Have you been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ? —W. Ross Rainey

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? —Elisha A. Hoffman