Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 15; Zephaniah 3; Galatians 3:1-14

 

And it was so when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning … Thus Job did continually.    Job 1:5

 

Job took his parental responsibilities seriously. His children were adults, but he knew how easily temptation could lead to sin. He chose not to meddle or offer them unsolicited advice—instead he prayed. Before the day began, before work started—he brought his children before the Lord. Those we love may be out of our reach and influence, but they are not out of God’s. Wise is the parent who emulates Job’s example and continues to pray. Eternity will reveal the blessedness of a godly parent’s intercession!    —Deborah Manera

 

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed;
The motion of a hidden fire, that trembles in the breast. —J. Montgomery

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 14; Zephaniah 2; Galatians 2

 

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.    Jeremiah 17:7

 

The bumper sticker read: Know God – Know Hope. No God – No Hope. Exactly right! It is no accident that hope is closely linked to God. In Romans 15:13, He is called the God of hope, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope.” There is nothing vague in the Christian’s hope—it is an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast. To know God is to know hope, but without God, there is no hope.    —Robert Gentile

 

My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame.
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. —Edward Mole

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 13; Zephaniah 1; Galatians 1

 

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:11

 

The devil was cast down to the earth and took up accusation against the children of God. But we can overcome the devil, first of all by claiming the blood of the Lamb shed on the cross. Secondly, we must vocalize the Gospel through our testimony. And lastly, we must give our lives daily to the cause of Christ. The devil suffered ultimate defeat when Christ died on the cross for sin. He suffers setback and loss as we take up our cross daily and follow our Lord.    —D. Pickup

 

Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Christians, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise!
—S. Baring-Gould

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 12; Habakkuk 3; Romans 16

 

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.    Philippians 4:4

 

The saints at Philippi were experiencing troubles and evidently were spiritually discouraged. In this short letter Paul encourages them to “joy” or “rejoice“ sixteen times. The reason they were sad is that they were over occupied with their troubles, instead of being occupied with the Lord. In the verse above, notice where our joy is—not in ourselves, but in the Lord. What we are in Him never changes, nor does He. Notice when our joy is—always. Literally at all times, whether in sorrow or happiness, our joy in Him never changes. In Nehemiah’s day they laboured to build the walls of the city and “The joy of the Lord was their strength” (Neh. 8:10).    —Harold G. Smith

 

I love the Christ who died on Calvary, for He washed my sins away;
He put within my heart a melody, and I know it is there to stay. —E. Roth

 

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 10-11; Habakkuk 2; Romans 15:14-33

 

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.    Psalm 50:12
God … dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped (served, RV) with men’s hands as though he needeth anything.    Acts 17:24-25

 

For those of us who take joy in being God’s servants, there is ever the tendency to concentrate our efforts to do something for Him. Yet we might ask, how do we go about serving a God who doesn’t need anyone or anything? This is the God who in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ has given us all things richly  to enjoy. In His service, happiness and success come by seeking and finding Him, allowing Him to control our attitudes and our actions.    —Drew Craig

 

Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine. —J. E. Orr

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 8-9; Habakkuk 1; Romans 14:19 to 15:13

 

The brethren … sent him forth to Tarsus.    Acts 9:30

 

In Paul’s early life as a Christian, there were actually three periods of seclusion and retirement before he launched out on his great career of service: Damascus (three days – Acts 9:17-19); Arabia (three years – Acts 9:22-23 with Gal. 1:17-18); and Tarsus (Acts 9:30 – six to nine years). If it seems that God isn’t using you, simply wait on Him, put yourself at His disposal, and be alert for the Holy Spirit’s leading. Often He uses times of solitude to increase our capacity and make us ready for a mighty work for Him.     —W. Ross Rainey

 

Wait on the Lord, for whom hast thou,
On earth or in heaven but He?
Over thy soul a watch He keeps,
Wherever thy path may be. —Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 7; Nahum 2-3; Romans 14:1-18

 

Then [Jesus] saith unto them [Peter, James and John], My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me.    Matthew 26:38

 

The Lord and His disciples entered into the Garden of Gethsemane (Olive Press), the place of pressure and mental suffering. The Greek words for “exceeding sorrowful” are peri-lupos meaning “surrounded with sorrow.” Picture the beloved Son of God, blood drops of sweat falling to the ground, praying, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done” (Matt. 26:42).            —E. MacLelland

“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 Samuel 6; Nahum 1; Romans 13

 

For God so loved.    John 3:16a

 

Out of love, God provided salvation for sinful men before man ever fell. Out of love, the giving of God the Son, was fore-ordained from eternity. God’s love is eternal, unconditional, changeless. It reaches out to all persons regardless of their status or condition. In love, God offers freely eternal life and heaven to any sinner who will respond to Him. The saved soul loves Him because He first loved us.    —Doug Kazen

 

The cross reveals thy love below;
But better soon our hearts shall know,
The fullness of our Father’s love.
When we behold Thy face above.
—C. A. Bernstein

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 4-5; Micah 7; Romans 12

 

But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Corinthians 3:10

 

This word “how” is translated “by what means” in John 9:21 and Acts 4:9. God is not only interested in what we do, He is interested in how we do it. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, it doesn’t seem that the results of our service will be the Master’s focal point, but rather the means by which we achieved them. God gives the increase; our part is to do His work in His way.    —Rick Morse

The Church’s one foundation, is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation by water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her, to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died.
—S. J. Stone

 

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 3; Micah 6; Romans 11:13-36

 

I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect.
Genesis 17:1
Be ye therefore perfect.    Matthew 5:48

 

These exhortations are given to men, not angels! Yet today all we seem to hear is, “Nobody’s perfect.” With that we can excuse almost anything. In fact, calling someone a “perfectionist” is most often taken as a derogatory comment. But God’s will is not for us to excuse ourselves for being immature, worldly, ignorant or disloyal, but for us to walk before Him and be perfect: mature, complete, without spot or blemish, no missing parts. His Word and His Spirit are our resources. We haven’t arrived, but are we pressing on?    —Carl Knott

 

Nearer, still nearer, Lord to be Thine, sin with its follies I gladly resign;
All of its pleasures, pomp and pride, give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified.
—Leila N. Morris