TDR: 19 May (2 Kings 4:23)

‘It shall be well’ (2 Kings 4:23) This was the language of a believer in trouble; and it should be our language under similar circumstances. Our trials, troubles, and difficulties may be great; but it shall be well with those who fear God. Are you alarmed at the powerful working of corruption within you? It…

‘Then they went and told Jesus’ (Matthew 14:12) When Herod beheaded John the Baptist, his disciples took his body and buried it, and then they went and told Jesus. Let us imitate their example, and carry everything to Jesus. He loves to listen to the tale of human woe. He can and will sympathise with…

‘He will quiet you with His love’ (Zephaniah 3:17) Human love is changeable, being a passion; God’s love is unchangeable, being a perfection. Having loved, He will always love. Nothing can occur in time except what He knew in eternity; consequently there can be no reason today, why God should not love me, but what…

‘Blessed are you who hunger now’ (Luke 6:21) Appetite supposes life, and is regulated by nature; the carnal appetite is satisfied with carnal things; but a Christian can only be satisfied with spiritual things. They hunger to enjoy Christ; for righteousness is worked in them by the Spirit, and given to them by Jesus; to…

‘We walk by faith’ (2 Corinthians 5:7) The Christian’s path is often very rough; thorns and briars grow on either side, dark clouds hang over it, and no cheering prospects appear to animate the heart. But if he or she acts consistently, they still believe it is the right path; that trials are mercies in…

‘They will be mine, says the LORD Almighty’ (Malachi 3:17) Who? Those who fear the Lord and think upon His name. Those who do not want to offend Him because they love Him. Those who desire to obey Him above all things, to be conformed to Him and glorify Him. Those who think upon His…

‘The LORD has blessed us abundantly’ (Joshua 17:14) Christian believer, can you join with the children of Joseph this morning, and give a similar testimony? Your God has blessed you in Jesus, and through Jesus; look back to the rock from where you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from where you…

‘Their righteousness is from me, declares the LORD’ (Isaiah 54:17) The longer the Christian lives, the more they learn; and the more the Holy Spirit teaches them, the more they loathe themselves, renouncing their own righteousness as filthy rags. They hoped to grow in holiness, to feel their corruptions subdued, and to enjoy the presence…

‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (Philippians 4:4) This is a very difficult instruction. Sometimes the Lord hides His face; or we fear and doubt His love; perhaps we are bewildered by the powerful working of sin’s corruption within us. We can be brought down by Satan’s dire temptations; and the dealings of providence are so…

‘He does not willingly bring affliction’ (Lamentations 3:33) Our afflictions do not flow from sovereignty, but from our Heavenly Father’s wisdom, holiness, and love. He finds no pleasure in our pains, groans, and sighs. He is never hasty in using the rod: mercy flies to help us, but He is slow to anger and of…

‘The glory of His grace’ (Ephesians 1:6) The glory of grace is its FREENESS: it fixes upon objects that are most unworthy; it bestows upon them the richest blessings; it raises them to the highest honour; it promises them the greatest happiness; and all for its own glory. Nothing can be freer than grace. The…

‘Wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you’ (Proverbs 20:22) Dear friends, it is your privilege in every perplexity and trial to go to the Lord, to spread your case before Him, to plead His precious promises, and to wait expecting Him to appear for you. Wait on Him for light to discover the…

‘O Israel, I will not forget you’ (Isaiah 44:21) What tenderness, mercy and love are here! Friends forget us, relatives are careless about us, and we sometimes fear that God has forgotten us; but here He assures us that we shall never be forgotten by Him. Our names are in His book; our Representative is…

‘Pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17) In prayer we must approach God as our Father, ask of Him what we really need, and expect to receive according to His wisdom and word. Our wants are constantly returning, therefore our prayers should be constantly ascending. The ear of God is always open; He is always ready…

‘Being in anguish’ (Luke 22:44) Dear friends, let us visit Gethsemane this morning and see this strange sight. Here is our surety; the only-begotten Son of God; the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of His person; groaning on the cold ground and baptised in blood. His heart is filled with horror and…

‘I will heal your backslidings’ (Jeremiah 3:22) Sin brings sickness. The believer can only be healthy as they walk with Christ, live above the world, and look for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the feet of Jesus we are safe, and shall be healthy; but if we wander from Him, spiritual disease…

‘Has your Counsellor perished?’ (Micah 4:9) The Lord’s people need counsel, and Jesus is given to them as a COUNSELLOR. He is exactly suited to their needs, being possessed of infinite wisdom, unbounded benevolence, great experience, and high honour. He never lost a cause. He counsels freely, cheerfully, and successfully. He turns the counsel of…

‘But grow in grace’ (2 Peter 3:18) Never rest satisfied with your present attainments. God has much to bestow, and we are capable of receiving much, enjoying much and using much to His glory. As the tree planted in good soil grows both in the root and the branches, so should the Christian; he or…