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1 Samuel 21:1-22:23; Isaiah 61:1-13; Romans 6:1-14

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

You may have noticed that society is not becoming more virtuous. How will we respond? Dread? Disgust? Dismay? No! This is the moment for Christians to truly make a difference in our world, carefully depending on the Lord to show us how to make the best use of our time. Redeeming the time probably will not involve cramming more activities into our hectic schedules or increasing our online browsing. It might be, however, setting aside more moments to be still in His presence and in His Word before “walk[ing] in wisdom toward them that are without” (Col. 4:5). Holy Spirit, make us alert to the chances You give to do good. —Caroline Webb

Each moment is a treasure, a present to employ,
Not chasing fleeting pleasures, but finding lasting joy.  —Ken Puls

1 Samuel 19:8-20:42; Isaiah 60:1-22; Romans 5:12-21

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NKJV

We may wish some things in Scripture were outlined more clearly to avoid differences and variations in practices. But the New Testament pattern could not be clearer when it comes to Christian behaviour—for all believers of all ages, in all places and under all circumstances. No retaliation towards anyone, regardless of the offence experienced. No exceptions ever about our attitude and actions towards anyone in Christ or out of Christ. Always pursue what is good for every person. —Peter Ramsay

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. —T.O. Chisholm

1 Samuel 18:6-19:7; Isaiah 59:1-21; Romans 4:23-5:11

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV

I remember Boyd Nicholson saying of the coal miners of Scotland, “They mined coal by day and diamonds by night”! Although they may have been “unlearned” men, they were giants in the Word of God! This Book is a priceless treasure and precious truths are revealed as we take time to mine His Word. In this day, there is a real lack of knowledge of God’s Word. Sadly, many Christians are floundering and seeking advice from worldly “experts”, rather
than the truths of the Bible. In times of past persecution, ignorance of the Scriptures was forced. Today, it is a choice! —Jim Comte

Precious Holy Bible, treasure rich and rare.
Word of God eternal, balm for every care. —A.P. Gibbs

1 Samuel 17:32-18:5; Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 4:1-22

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Luke 23:41

Ponder the assessment of this criminal beside the Lord Jesus. He understood his own guilt but had grasped also the sinlessness of the Christ. “Not one thing out of place”, had been done by the Man beside him. Peter said, “He did no sin”; Paul said, “He knew no sin”; John said, “In Him there is no sin” (1 Peter 2:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 3:4). He also grasped the sovereignty of the Christ, and the surety of resurrection. He saw a dying Man who had an impending kingdom. He realized that the one beside Him was the Saviour and so he cried, “Remember me”. —L. Cain

That Man of Calvary has won my heart from me,
And died to set me free, blest Man of Calvary!  —M. Ferguson

1 Samuel 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9-57:21; Romans 3:1-31

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you. John 6:27 NKJV

The Great Chinese Famine (1958-1961) resulted in the deaths of tens of millions. Some desperate people found and ate a form of “edible clay”. It filled them, but they still starved to death. Why? This “food” had no life-sustaining nutrients. This illustrates our verse. Those who attempt to satisfy their spiritual hunger through physical pleasures will starve to death spiritually. God called the farmer in Luke 12 a “fool”, and that very night he died a spiritual
pauper (v. 20). Don’t make the same mistake! Receive the Bread of Life and find true spiritual nourishment. —Brian Cretney

Ever may our souls be fed, with this true and living Bread,
Day by day with strength supplied, through the life of Christ who died. —J. Conder

1 Samuel 16:1-23; Isaiah 55:1-56:8; Romans 2:1-29

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 117:1-2

What a joy it is to praise the Lord throughout our lives! We praise Him with our singing and our words. We unite in fellowship with other believers and mingle our voices to praise Him together. We praise God for who He is and also for what He has done. These verses highlight some specific reasons why we should praise the Lord. His merciful kindness is great. His truth endures for ever. We have an amazing God, and we should praise Him with every
breath we have. —Caleb Riordan

Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all.  —Edward Perronet

1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? Numbers 20:4

As they travelled through the wilderness the children of Israel were constantly complaining. Yet all the hardships they faced for 40 years were their own fault. In fact the wilderness journey could have been avoided if they had not rejected God’s plan. They could have entered the Promised Land within a matter of weeks instead of wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Are you wandering in the wilderness, my friend, because you are too stubborn to listen
carefully to God’s way? —David Croudace

Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be;
Lead me by Thine own hand, choose out Thy path for me.  —Horatius Bonar

1 Samuel 14; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Romans 1:1-17

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar. Genesis 28:18

From pillow to pillar! Even though he was journeying into the unknown, by the grace of God Jacob was able to sleep peacefully. And God affirmed His faithfulness through a vision to him while Jacob rested in Him. The next day Jacob turned his rock pillow into a pillar of commemoration. Let us also learn to rest in the Lord, and allow Him to speak to our hearts, and then abound with our own pillar of thanksgiving and remembrance! —Elizabeth C. Bishop

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art,
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.  —Jean Sophia Pigott

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

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

This statement of faith comes right after Jeremiah’s pitiful cries of despair. But Jeremiah saw a reason for hope. Your despair can come to hope too. The Lord’s love has not diminished. His compassion is still warming. His care is still active toward His people. He provides for our needs as each day brings us closer to the time He returns. God’s faithfulness can be counted on in spite of all the adverse problems and sorrows of the present. —Gaius C. Goff

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou hast been Thou forever will be. —Thomas Chisholm

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

And there arose a great storm of wind…And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow. Mark 4:37-38

Have you ever felt like the Lord was silent when going through a rough patch in your life? Are you sailing through deep waters and it feels like He is sleeping in the back of the boat? The faithless disciples awoke Him, rebuking Him for His apparent lack of concern for them. Dear child of God, the Lord is always with you in the boat. His plan is perfect and will speak peace to the troubling storm at the right time. Be encouraged knowing that the boat can
never sink when He is in it. —Sid Halsband

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil. —Edward Mote