Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 23; Lamentations 3; 1 Timothy 6

 

His mouth is most sweet, Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend.    Song of Solomon 5:16

 

The Lord Jesus’ incomparable beauty makes all of the glittering prizes of earth seem dim by comparison. His words are unequaled in the annals of history and still bring joy and comfort to countless saints around the world. He is our Beloved, because He first loved us and loves us still with unfailing ardour (1 John 4:19). One day believers will see Him as He is, and love Him “with unsinning hearts.”         —Keith Keyser

 

Thy beauties, Lord, Thy holy precious worth,
Surpassing far the deepest joys of earth,
Attract our hearts—our joy Thy constant love
Thyself our object in those scenes above.
—C. A. Coates

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 21:19 to 22:20; Lamentations 2; 1 Timothy 5

 

But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.    Hebrews 6:9

 

Paul is admonishing the Christians saying “Let us go on to maturity.” Let us keep elevating in our faith. Having already learned the basics of Christian doctrine, they should now live and do the things that accompany salvation. We too should be always maturing, growing daily in our faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2).    —E. MacLelland

 

O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory, there shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised, to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.
—J. E. Bode

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 20 to 21:18; Lamentations 1; 1 Timothy 4

 

There followed Him a great company of people, and of women.
Luke 23:27

 

Luke highly honoured the women in Jesus’ life. He recorded that, “The women … followed him from Galilee” (Luke 23:49); from the commencement of His public ministry even to His crucifixion, when they stood afar off, beholding Jesus (Luke 23:49). When Jesus was buried, Luke wrote, “The women also … followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid” (Luke 23:55). On resurrection morn, it was Mary Magdalene … and other women “which told these things unto the apostles” (Luke 24:10). Thank God for faithul, virtuous women with hearts for the Saviour.    —K. C. Ung

 

He’s risen! He’s risen! Hear the women’s glad cry;
He’s risen! He’s risen! No more will He die. —L. P. Gilmour

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 19; Jeremiah 52; 1 Timothy 3

 

Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken, ye people, from far.  Isaiah 49:1
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.    Proverbs 21:23

 

Listening may be the most loving thing I do today. By listening I learn and never get into trouble. The tongue has almost infinite potential for trouble, so speak softly and wisely. God made us with two ears but only one tongue. Bite your tongue before it bites others. Gossip ends at a wise person’s ears.    —Milton Haack

 

Master, speak! Thy servant heareth,
Waiting for Thy gracious word,
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;
Master! let it now be heard.
—Frances R. Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 18; Jeremiah 51:25-64; 1 Timothy 2

 

Thou hast left thy first love.    Revelation 2:4

 

Not all love is good. We have a tendency to love what we shouldn’t. Demas forsook Paul, “having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). John warns us not to love the world (1 John 2:15). James warns that friendship with the world is enmity with God (Jam. 4:4). God loves righteousness but hates iniquity. The Psalmist said: “Oh how I love thy law” (Psa. 119:97), and “I love the Lord” (Psa. 116:1). How is it with you today? Who and what do you love? The answer reveals the condition of your heart.     —Carl Knott

 

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. —W. R. Featherston

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 17; Jeremiah 51:1-24; 1 Timothy 1

 

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?    Galatians 5:7

 

You will notice that it doesn’t say what but who. So often we are led astray by others. Is your fellowship with the Lord hindered today because you are in a wrong relationship – an unequal yoke? Are you listening to someone whose teachings are not found in the
Scriptures of truth? Have you stumbled because of your friendships in the world? “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” (Heb. 12:1-2).    —Pete Smith

 

Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;
Life with its way before thee lies;
Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.
—J. S. B. Monsell

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 15:32 to 16:20; Jer. 50:21-46; Titus 2:9 to 3:15

 

O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.    Psalm 107:1

 

There is an important truth recorded for us in the history lesson of Psalm 107. Time and again, we see the children of Israel falling into sin, then crying out to the Lord to rescue them. He graciously does, only to have them fall into sin again. What remedy does the psalmist prescribe for this cycle? Thankfulness! “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (v. 8, 15, 21, 31). Thankfulness begets obedience. Let’s learn to be a thankful people!    —L. Shatford

 

Whole-hearted thanksgiving to Thee I will bring
In praise of Thy marvelous deeds I will sing.
—W. H. Doane

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 14:23 to 15:31; Jer. 50:1-20; Titus 1 to 2:8

 

Then said He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.    Matthew 26:38

 

Here is the God/Man declaring that His divine soul (not His persona, nor His flesh) is afflicted with sorrow of such magnitude as to bring it to the contemplation of death. Why? Because of His contemplation of our cup of sin, which comes from the very core of our sinful nature. And the horror of drinking that cup brought His holy soul to an agony that was unto death. No other burden could have drawn His soul to that point. No other love could have redeemed our souls.            —Doug Kazen

 

Man of sorrows! What a name, for the Son of God, who came;
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
—Philip P. Bliss

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Kings 13 to 14:22; Jeremiah 49; Hebrews 13:7-25

 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. So Christ also after having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.     Hebrews 9:27-28 (RV)

Two things are appointed to humanity; death and judgement. The Lord Jesus experienced both, as attested by the word “also.” However there is a world of difference between the two. Man’s death is because  of his own sin. The Lord’s death was on account of sins other than His own. And while man’s judgment follows death, that of the Lord’s came before death when He bore God’s judgment for human guilt thus securing salvation for those “that wait for him.”    —Drew Craig

 

O what a Saviour that He died for me,
From condemnation He hath made me free. —J. McGranahan

 

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

 

And there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff (supplies).    1 Samuel 25: 13
Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil … Then said David … But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff (supplies) they shall part alike.    1 Samuel 30:22, 23, 24

 

David ordered that those who stayed by the stuff would share equally with those who went out to battle. What a gracious principle. God rewards both the “front line” workers and those in the background. By praying, giving and encouraging, you can stay by the stuff and support those who are actively engaged.    —Robert Gentile

 

Members on our Head depending; lights reflecting Him, our Sun,
Brethren His commands attending, we in Him, our Lord, are one.
—Nikolaus L. vonZinzendorf