Sunday, December 31, 2023

Ready to Reason

Read:  Psalm 45 / Proverbs 31 / 2 Chronicles 15 / Titus 1

 

Psalm 45:1,2,11 ~ My heart is indicting a good matter: I speak of the things... touching the king: my tongue is the pen a ready writer... for He is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Proverbs 31:8 ~ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

2 Chronicles 15:15 ~ They had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

Titus 1:2,9 ~ In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began... Be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 

 

Be ready to speak for our King

With evidence rightly explored. 

The Gospel of Christ that we bring

Will save those who trust in the Lord. 

 

Be ready to reason with those

Who seek for the proof verified

Establishing that our Lord rose;

His promise could not be denied!  

 


Saturday, December 30, 2023

Boasting Banned

Read:  Psalm 44 / Proverbs 30 / 2 Chronicles 14 / 2 Tim. 4

 

Psalm 44:4,8 ~ Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob...  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.

Proverbs 30:4,5 ~ Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?... What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

2 Chronicles 14:11 ~ LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude... let not man prevail against thee.

2 Timothy 4:18 ~ The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

 

Let every boast be banned but one,

As we exalt our Lord and Savior

Who saved us when we were undone

And died to grant us saving favor.

 

How wondrously the Lord our God

Accomplished all that He had planned! 

We boast in Christ, whom we applaud,

With every other boasting banned. 

 


Friday, December 29, 2023

Led by His Light

Read:  Psalm 43 / Proverbs 29 / 2 Chronicles 13 / 2 Tim. 3

 

Psalm 43:3,4 ~ O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill... Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.

Proverbs 29:18 ~ Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

2 Chronicles 13:18 ~ The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.

2 Timothy 3:1,7,15 ~ In the last days perilous times shall come... ever learning... never able to come to the knowledge of the truth... The holy scriptures... are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

The Lord has led me by His light

To bring me to His holy hill. 

His cross, His altar, fills my sight,

A vision that arrests me still.

 

My heart relies on Christ alone

To save my soul from condemnation. 

The Holy Scriptures make this known;

He is the Light of my salvation.  

 


Thursday, December 28, 2023

Faithful through the Floods

Read:  Psalm 42 / Proverbs 28 / 2 Chronicles 12 / 2 Tim. 2

 

Psalm 42:5,7 ~ Why art thou cast down, O my soul?... hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance… Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Proverbs 28:5 ~ Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

2 Chronicles 12:14 ~ And he [Rehoboam] did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

2 Timothy 2:19 ~ The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

 

There is no cause to be cast down;

The Lord is faithful every day.

When floods arise, they cannot drown

His love for me in any way. 

 

Since I, on 28 December,

Was saved in 1973,

Through every storm I can remember,

My Lord has led me faithfully. 

 


Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Instructed by Integrity

Read:  Psalm 41 / Proverbs 27 / 2 Chronicles 11 / 2 Tim. 1

 

Psalm 41:11,12 ~ By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity... before thy face forever.

Proverbs 27:11 ~ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

2 Chronicles 11:4 ~ Thus saith the LORD… return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD.

2 Timothy 1:7,13 ~ God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind...Hold fast the form of sound words... in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

Instructed by integrity,

I am persuaded and inclined

To love the Lord who first loved me

With all my heart, my soul, and mind. 

 

So may I seek my Savior's pleasure

In all my thoughts, my words, and deeds

With grace He gives in perfect measure

Sufficiently for all my needs. 

 

 

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Defending us by Dying

Read:  Psalm 40 / Proverbs 26 / 2 Chronicles 10 / 1 Tim. 6

 

Psalm 40:2,3 ~ He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock... And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.

Proverbs 26:2 ~ The curse causeless shall not come.

2 Chronicles 10:15 ~ The cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word.

1 Timothy 6:12 ~ Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

The horrible pit was so deep

From which we were rescued by Christ!

We all went astray just like sheep;

We all, by our sin, were enticed.

 

But Christ has defended our cause,

By dying for all who were cursed. 

The Lord satisfied His own laws;

His blessing cannot be reversed!  

 


Monday, December 25, 2023

Christ of Christmas

Read:  Psalm 39 / Proverbs 25 / 2 Chronicles 9 / 1 Tim. 5

 

Psalm 39:5,6 ~ Behold... mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity... Every man walketh in a vain show... he heapeth up riches.... Thou makest his beauty to consume... every man is vanity. Selah.

Proverbs 25:25,27 ~ As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news… for men to search their own glory is not glory.

2 Chronicles 9:6 ~ Behold, the one half of the greatness… was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

2 Corinthians 9:15; 2 Timothy 5:21 ~ Thanks be unto God for His Unspeakable Gift…  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels… observe these things.

 

Our days, our wealth, and beauty flee,

For life on earth is very short. 

It is the truth that makes us free;

This is the good news we report! 

 

The glory Solomon possessed

Brought vanity that vexed his soul,

Yet on this Christmas we are blessed

By Christ, God’s Gift Unspeakable!  

 


Sunday, December 24, 2023

Purifying our Praise

Read:  Psalm 38 / Proverbs 24 / 2 Chronicles 8 / 1 Tim. 4 

 

Psalm 38:9 ~ Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

Proverbs 24:27 ~ Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

2 Chronicles 8:16 ~ Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.

1 Timothy 4:6 ~ Be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine.

 

The preparation God requires

That lifts our hearts to Him with praise

Is purifying our desires

As He examines all our ways.

 

The ministry that God perfects

Exalts our Savior and our Lord.

The King of glory now inspects

The house wherein He is adored.  

 


Saturday, December 23, 2023

Deep Delight

Read:  Psalm 37 / Proverbs 23 / 2 Chronicles 7 / 1 Tim. 3

 

Psalm 37:4 ~ Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Proverbs 23:26 ~ My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ~ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

1 Timothy 3:16 ~ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

Our deep delight in Jesus Christ

Shall lift us from the sinful mire

Of vain distractions that enticed

Yet never filled our heart’s desire. 

 

God turns us from our wicked ways

To humbly seek His face and favor,

To give to Him our hearts with praise,

And preach the Gospel of our Savior. 

 


Friday, December 22, 2023

Fountain of our Faith

Read:  Psalm 36 / Proverbs 22 / 2 Chronicles 6 / 1 Tim. 2

 

Psalm 36:9 ~ For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Proverbs 22:20-21 ~ Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

2 Chronicles 6:17 ~ Now then, O LORD... let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.

1 Timothy 2:3-6 ~ This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior… will have ALL men to be saved… Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time.

 

The fountain of our faith now springs

With everlasting life from Christ,

The Lord of lords, the King of kings,

Who for our souls was sacrificed. 

 

The Word of God is verified

By prophesies that we recall

Fulfilled by Jesus Christ who died

To pay the ransom price for ALL. 

 


Thursday, December 21, 2023

Wondrous Warfare

Read:  Psalm 35 / Proverbs 21 / 2 Chronicles 5 / 1 Tim. 1

 

Psalm 35:1 ~ Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Proverbs 21:31 ~ The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 5:14 ~ The priests could not stand to minister... for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

1 Timothy 1:18 ~ This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare. 

 

Our God is mighty in the fight

Against Satanic enemies.

Though they are hidden from our sight,

They cannot hide from God who sees. 

 

We praise our Lord, the King of glory

And show the prophecies before

Which had foretold the wondrous story

Of Christ who fought and won our war!  

 


Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Magnify His Mercy

Read:  Psalm 34 / Proverbs 20 / 2 Chronicles 4 / 2 Thes. 3

 

Psalm 34:3 ~ O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 

Proverbs 20:6,9 ~ Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?... Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

2 Chronicles 4:18 ~ Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ~ But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil... The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God...into the patient waiting for Christ.

 

O magnify the Lord with me!

Behold His mercy we explore:  

He set aside His majesty 

To purge our sins forevermore! 

 

O magnify His love so great

Displayed when Jesus died for us

As patiently we watch and wait

For His appearing glorious! 

 


Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Confirming His Counsel

Read:  Psalm 33 / Proverbs 19 / 2 Chronicles 3 / 2 Thes. 2

 

Psalm 33:10,11 ~ The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught... The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 19:21 ~ There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

2 Chronicles 3:17 ~ And he reared up the pillars before the temple... and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin [He shall establish], and the name of that on the left Boaz [He has strength, i.e., He is able].

2 Thessalonians 2:10 ~ They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 

The counsel of the Lord shall stand

When other counsels come to naught.

The Lord shall do as He has planned,

Confirming what His Word has taught.

 

As pillars on the left and right

Within the temple were engraved,

The counsel of God’s truth and might

Shall stand, by which we have been saved.