Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 11-12; Jeremiah 48; Hebrews 12:18 to 13:6

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20-21

Why spend all one’s time and effort chasing after things beyond our daily needs? It makes so much more sense to put one’s effort into the things of God, to use our talents for His glory rather than to possess whatever takes our fancy. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot). —G. Frear

God in heaven hath a treasure,
Riches none may count or tell;
Hath a deep eternal pleasure,
Christ the Son, He loveth well. —P. S.

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 10; Jeremiah 45-47; Hebrews 12:1-17

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things is hard to do. Should I be thankful for the extreme heat? Yes, it helps our corn grow and mature. Should I be thankful that our freezer stopped? Yes, it needed to be replaced by a more efficient model. Should I be thankful for unkind people at work? Yes, it makes me strive to be more thoughtful to others. Lord make me grateful. —Deborah G. Douglas

Give thanks to God, for good is He, His grace abideth ever;
To Him all praise and glory be, His mercy faileth never.
Each creature’s need He doth supply, His grace abideth ever;
Give thanks to God, enthroned on high, whose mercy faileth never.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 9; Jeremiah 44; Hebrews 11:17-40

The Lord reigns; Let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; Let the earth be moved! Psalm 99:1 (NKJV)

The word “holy” appears four times in this psalm, more than any other. God’s name, His essence, and His inhabitation are declared holy. Charles Spurgeon writes: “The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy which can ever engage the attention of a child of God is the name, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God”. God, His name and His dwelling place transcend all that is common and earthly. Let us not speak casually of these, for God is holy. He is separate from all else! All that is associated with Him should be revered. —W. A. H.

Holy and reverend is the name of our eternal King:
Thrice holy Lord, the angels cry; thrice holy, let us sing. —J. Needham

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 8; Jeremiah 42:7 to 43:13; Hebrews 11:1-16

…we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

When two individuals need to be reconciled it is because one or more issues have come between them. When I think of God and His holiness and my sinful nature, no one needs to convince me we need to be reconciled. The distance between us staggers my mind. How grateful I am for the next verse. It tells me that God made One who knew no sin (His spotless Son) to be sin for us. As a result, God now sees us clothed with His own righteousness and we are reconciled to Him through Christ and His finished work. —Ken Gross

Sin atoning Sacrifice, Thou art precious in mine eyes;
Thou alone my rest shall be, now and through eternity.
—H. Gratton Guinness

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 6:24 to 7:20; Jer. 41 to 42:6; Heb. 10:19-39

…Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas… Acts 15:39-40 (NKJV)

Every disciple needs a mentor. When a young sapling is placed in the ground a stake is tied to it to make sure it grows straight. Sometimes even a fence is placed around it. Young disciples are like that. They need older, wiser, sturdier Christians planted beside them, holding them up and protecting them. Left to themselves, the winds of false doctrines will easily bend these young saplings and produce a crooked tree. Once fully grown, a crooked tree is nearly impossible to straighten. Let us be mindful of the saplings among us and tie ourselves to them until they are full grown. —Shane Johnson

We are the hands of Christ, reaching out to those in need,
We are the spirit of hope, we are the voice of peace. —S. Angrisano

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Jeremiah 39-40; Hebrews 10:1-18

…unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

To love His appearing is the exact opposite of “ashamed…at his coming” (1 John 2:28). To love His appearing is to seek His presence and be in His Word daily, setting our affections on things above. Nor would we be found in any place not becoming a Christian. Our speech will be with grace seasoned with salt, waiting and watching for our blessed Lord. —Edith MacLelland

Thou art coming! At Thy table,
We are witnesses for this.
As we meet Thee in communion,
Earnest of our coming bliss.
—Frances Ridley Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 5; Jeremiah 38; Hebrews 9:15-28

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

A reporter asked a young man convicted of murder, “How do you live with yourself?” He replied: “The Bible says if I confess my sins, I will be forgiven.” “Forgiven!” the reporter cried out. “Do you deserve forgiveness?!” My heart went out to that young man. After all, who among us deserves forgiveness? The Bible tells us there is no one righteous, not even one (Rom. 3:10). God’s forgiveness can’t be earned or bought. It must be received by confessing our need for Him. There is no crime or sin His saving grace won’t forgive. Come to Him today! —Deborah Manera

I asked the Lord “How much do you love me?”
He said “this much”—opened up His arms—and died.
—Author Unknown

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 4; Jeremiah 37; Hebrews 9:1-14

If thou seekest…and searchest…Then shalt thou…find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:4-5

A thought provoking epigram says: “Raking is easy—you are just moving leaves. Digging is hard, but you might discover diamonds”. To the believer the message is the same. Are we content with a cursory reading of God’s Word, glancing over familiar passages, scanning well-known stories, not really expecting to find treasure? We are instructed by the Preacher to search for wisdom as for hidden treasure. Dr. Luke tells us of noble believers who examined the Scriptures daily to seek the truth. Today let’s dig and keep on digging until we have joyfully unearthed eternal treasure. —M. M.

Glorious Lord, with joy we praise Thee! Power eternal fills Thy hand;
Yea, in majesty and triumph, every word of God shall stand. —J. Dougan

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 3; Jeremiah 36; Hebrews 8

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

In the mountains of Spain a shepherd’s flock grazed in the field beside the road. He never took his eyes off the sheep while we talked. Some strayed near the roadside. First he called to them. They paused; looked up. They recognized his voice but kept moving toward the road. Next, he threw a stone beyond them in warning. They jumped but did not return. Finally, he sent his dog to move them back to the field. I wonder if we are not often like those sheep. We hear, even pause, but keep going toward danger. Is He speaking to you? Heed the Shepherd’s voice and avoid more drastic measures. —Carl Knott

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid, and home rejoicing brought me. —Baker

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 2; Jeremiah 35; Hebrews 7

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16

The Lord asked, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matt. 16:13). The disciples told him that some saw Him on a par with the great prophets of old such as Elijah, or Jeremiah, or the more recent John the Baptist. But Peter saw beyond all of these and identifies Him as possessed of full deity—”Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). It is this that separates the Lord Jesus from all other men and supposed leaders of world religions. He alone is the eternal Son of the eternal God.
—W. H. Burnett

Thou are the everlasting Word, The Father’s only Son;
God manifestly seen and heard, And heav’n’s beloved one.
—Josiah Conder