Month: July 2018

July 31, Reading 1 – 1 Samuel 3

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This is one of those precious records of where the Lord makes someone aware of Himself in a wonderful way. Paul’s meeting with Christ is equally dramatic and determinative for the future well-being of His people. This chapter makes the point that it was important that all of Israel recognized that God had attested Samuel as His prophet!

SJA Notes

* Faithful God, save us by Your Name and vindicate us by Your might. Please hear our prayer, give ear to the words of our mouths.

“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”

After the terrible moral depravity we see in Judges, and then with the promise of hope we read of in Ruth, here we have the calling of Samuel to be a prophet before the Lord.

A young boy is called by the Lord.

We know from previously that Samuel has been ministering before the Lord since he was very young, growing in the presence of the Lord – in both stature and favour with the Lord and also with man.

But here Samuel is CALLED.

How encouraged we can be from Samuel’s response (heeding Eli) – “Here I am!”

This is a good encouragement for us, to respond as Samuel did, to say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.”

We today have God’s word become flesh, having dwelt among us – Jesus, the Lord’s Christ in TRUTH, God in the Person of the Son – GOD’S WORD TO US.

This truth is never old or dusty, we are able to wrestle with it and chew on it all our days.

Let us be encouraged today to be like Samuel, to thank God for Jesus, through whom we are reconciled with God, called to be His people.

* Gracious Father God,

Please write Your word on our hearts today that we might not sin against You.

Please plant Your word deep in us, and grow it, that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.

Please open the eyes and ears of our hearts, that we might see and hear what you have for us today.

Please sink us in self that we might rise in You!

Amen.

July 31, Reading 2 – Isaiah 46

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Verse 4 is a comfort as you grow old. God still cares with the same passion and energy as He did when you were young. We suffer modern examples of Bel and Nebo here in Australia. Take heart, God is greater than the spiritual and secular forces arrayed against the Church.

SJA Notes

* God Above, please open our eyes and ears, our hearts, to hear from You today.

“… Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

How good this is to read, the love that is evident from the Lord God in these His words.

We see again the call from the Lord to stand firm against idolatry.

But we have Him declaring His diligence and compassion.

TO (OUR) GRAY HAIRS HE WILL CARRY US!

This is beautiful imagery.

God has made us. God will bear us. God will carry us and save us.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour! He alone is God!

* Gracious Heavenly Father,

There is none like You. There is no other. You have shown us this truth from the beginning, and You will show us through to the end.

Thank You that even in our old age You are God, the Lord, our Saviour.

Please mark us as a people singular in our devotion to You, whether young, old or in-between.

Amen.

July 31, Reading 3 – 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:16

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This warning Do not be yoked together with unbelievers is for our comfort and well-being. This warning is for before you commit! Yoked means to be legally tied to someone in business or in any other relationship, such as marriage. Paul has already dealt with the situation where this is already so – 1 Cor.7:12-14.

SJA Notes

* Loving God, thank You for breathing out Your word to us so that we can read and be fed today.

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

Sorrow falls upon us all, throughout our days – Coming heavy and heavier.

Godly grief produces repentance. Worldly grief produces death.

So.

What do we Jesus-believers do with our sorrow, our grief – as opposed to the world around us?

Peter in his letters gives us the antidote,

“… Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

And what of our King, what does He know of sorrow?

The prophet Isaiah foretells,

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;”

So then, what does our eternal hope have to say about sorrow?

We read in the book of Revelation,

“He will wipe away every tier from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

In our grief and sorrow, no matter the wound, we have an antidote!

We have a Saviour and King who not only knows our wounds, but has borne them out fully!

And we have a hope, sure and steady, that one day all sorrow and grief will be no more.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Father God,

Thank You, O Lord – Our hope is in You. Your love for us, Your steadfast love and  faithfulness.

Amen.