Growing in Grace – August 2026

August 2026

“And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean” (Leviticus 13:45).

“Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper” (Numbers 5:2).

We find the disease of leprosy mentioned quite often in the Word of God, in both the Old and the New Testaments. We know that the Lord Jesus cured people of their leprosy, and they were very grateful, for there was no cure for it in those days. In many countries today we do not see leprosy very often, but in a few countries of the world it is still quite common.

As we see in our verses today, a leper in the land of Israel had to stay outside the area where other people lived, and had to warn everyone who came near him that he was unclean. Leprosy in the Bible is a picture of sin. It is a very good picture of how sin works in us, for leprosy acts by taking away the sensation of pain in many parts of the body. Then, when you do not feel the pain of burning your finger, or pinching it between two hard objects, you injure yourself without even knowing it. Gradually parts of your body are damaged severely, and you lose the ends of your fingers, or your toes, and even parts of your face. If you have leprosy over a long period of time, you die from it, unless you are able to get treatment for it.

Sin in us is like that too. Before we were saved, we often sinned and did not even realize, in some cases, that we were doing anything wrong. We became so used to sin that we did not feel it anymore. Then, by the time we realized what was happening, perhaps we were doing some rather serious things. That is how sin works in us.

But just as the Lord Jesus cured leprosy, so He is able to “cure us” from sin. He wants to wash away our sins and give us a new life in Him. This does not mean that we never sin again, for even after we are saved, we still have the old sinful nature. But the Lord gives us power to keep that old nature from acting, if we look to Him.

Sunday, August 30, 2026

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“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10).

“The Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother” (Galatians 4:26 JND).

Yesterday we saw some of the history of the city of Jerusalem, and how important that city is to the people of Israel. We saw too that it will be the capital of Israel, and indeed the capital of the whole world, during the millennium.

Here in our verses today we see the heavenly Jerusalem, a picture of what we will share together in heaven as the church of God. God compares us to the city of Jerusalem, for just as Jerusalem in the land of Israel will be God’s center on earth in a coming day, so we will be God’s center in heaven. The holy city pictures to us the church, but it is looked at as a city. If you read Revelation, chapter 21:9-27, you will read a description of that city. It is probably not meant to be taken literally, as it is a picture, but if we look at the dimensions of it, how big it is! Twelve thousand furlongs long, twelve thousand furlongs wide, and twelve thousand furlongs high. Since there are eight furlongs in a mile, that means that this city is fifteen hundred miles long, fifteen hundred miles wide, and fifteen hundred miles high! You and I have never seen a city like that. Even if it were all on one level, it would cover more than two-thirds of the land area of continental U.S.A. But this city is also fifteen hundred miles high! We cannot imagine anything like that.

It is also very beautiful, as we read of its foundations being decorated with all kinds of precious stones, and its gates being made of pearl. There is no night there, nor do they need light from the sun, for we read that “the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23).

Again, all this is probably just a picture of what we will enjoy in a coming day, and there are spiritual meanings to all these things that we will not take time to go into here. But as I have already said, God is going to have a Jerusalem on earth, but also you and I, as His church, will be the “new Jerusalem” in heaven.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

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“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18).

“They shall call thee [Jerusalem], The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 60:14).

For the past few days we have spoken about the city of Babylon, and how it represents man in all his pride. Now we would like to look at another city — a city that the Lord loves. You have probably heard of it, and read about it, both in the Bible, and in the news today — the city of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem is in the news a lot today, as the nation of Israel claims it as its capital, yet many in the Muslim world consider it to be their sacred city too. There is constant fighting over it, although the nation of Israel controls it with its army.

Jerusalem is a very old city, and many consider that the reference in our first verse to Melchizedek as “king of Salem” as a proof that the city of Jerusalem existed away back in his day, nearly 4000 years ago. What we know definitely about Jerusalem dates from about 1000 B.C., although it is mentioned in Egyptian history under another name about 1400 B.C. Before David was king the Jebusites had settled there, and they were not definitely defeated until David’s time.

Perhaps no city in the world has been fought over as much as Jerusalem. It was destroyed at least twice, attacked more than fifty times, and captured and recaptured forty-four times. Under David and Solomon the city became the capital of Israel, and evidently was very beautiful. Much later, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, the city was destroyed and then eventually rebuilt. It came under Muslim control in the seventh century A.D., and continued in this way until the British took it over during World War 1.

Today, Jews, Muslims, and Christians all have a strong interest in Jerusalem, and the eyes of the whole world are focused on it. But the day is coming when it will be the capital, not only of Israel, but of the entire millennial earth. Only when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to reign during the millennium will it again be called the “city of peace,” which is what Jerusalem means. (Salem is the Hebrew word for peace.)

Friday, August 28, 2026

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“And great Babylon come in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (Revelation 16:19).

“And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all” (Revelation 18:21).

Here again, at the end of the Bible, we find the name of Babylon mentioned again. It is obviously not the same as the tower of Babel we read about in Genesis, nor is it the city of Babylon in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. This time it is the great religious and political system of things that will develop in the world after the Lord comes and takes us home to heaven. At that time, the pride of man will reach a tremendous height, and they will even think, at one point, that they can fight against God.

We will not go into a lot of detail about all that is going to happen, but we will only point out that the same pride that started away back in the time of Nimrod and continued into the time of Nebuchadnezzar, will still be present even after we are safely at home with the Lord. The name of Babylon is the name used to describe that pride, and it will an awful thing to see. Yet we read that when the Lord brings down judgment on that whole system, it “shall be found no more at all.” God hates pride, for as we have noted before, the pride of man takes the glory that belongs only to God, and gives it to man. God is going to bring down all of man’s pride, so that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, can be exalted above all else.

Many people on this earth at that time will be very sad when this happens, for a lot of business and commerce will be lost when that whole system is gone. The lives of many people will be disrupted. But God must do this, so that His kingdom can be established. All the evil must be taken away so that the Lord Jesus can reign over the earth as the rightful King.

Thursday, August 27, 2026

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“O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field” (Daniel 4:31-32).

“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this” (Daniel 5:22).

One of the reasons why the name Babylon is mentioned so often in the Bible is that it is connected with the pride of man. As we saw yesterday, man’s pride started away back in the book of Genesis, and that pride is there all the way through man’s history. It will be the same pride that God will judge, after every true Christian has been called home at the Lord’s coming for us.

When Nebuchadnezzar became so proud, the Lord changed him to be like an animal, with hair that grew like eagles’ feathers, and nails like birds’ claws. (Yes, that really happened! You can read about it in Daniel, chapter 4). He also ate grass like a cow. Then, after seven years, the Lord gave him back his right mind and his kingdom, and he honored the Lord. He recognized that the Lord was the only true God, and that he, the great Nebuchadnezzar, was only a man.

Later on, after Nebuchadnezzar had died, his grandson Belshazzar became king, and he too was very proud. You can read about him in Daniel, chapter 5. Belshazzar was actually the son of Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter, whose name was Nitocris. Instead of learning from what had happened to his grandfather, Belshazzar worshipped the Babylonian gods, and then dared to bring the gold and silver vessels that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and drink wine from them. While they were doing this, they praised all those false gods.

But then the Lord allowed a hand to appear suddenly, and it wrote on the wall of the palace where all this was going on. Can you imagine how frightened Belshazzar was, when that hand appeared, and wrote on the wall something he could not understand? But while he was frightened, he does not seem to have repented before God, and the Bible tells us that he was killed that very night. The Persians were camped outside the city with their army, and Belshazzar felt that they would never get into the city. But they managed to dam up the Euphrates River, and then just came under the wall where the riverbed was. All that big wall did not protect the city, when God was ready for the Babylonian empire to end!

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

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“Nimrod … and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel” (Genesis 10:9-10).

“The king [Nebuchadnezzar] spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built … by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).

The name Babylon occurs many times in the Bible, and perhaps you have wondered why it is mentioned so often. We know from history that it was an ancient city, the capital of the Chaldean Empire, but why is it mentioned so many times in the Bible, and in different connections?

The history of Babylon goes a long way back, as we see by our first verse. Away back in the book of Genesis, we read about a man named Nimrod, who started a kingdom called Babel. Babel and Babylon are apparently the same in the Hebrew language, so that Babylon, at least in spirit, started a long time ago. It seems that Nimrod was also responsible for starting what later became the kingdom of Assyria.

Hundreds of years later we find the name Babylon again, when the people of Judah were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He was a very proud ruler, but used of God to punish the nation of Judah for worshipping idols, and constantly rebelling against God. God gave Nebuchadnezzar all the power and glory that he had, but then he dared to say, concerning the great city of Babylon, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built … by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).

Babylon was indeed a large and beautiful city, and probably the biggest city in the ancient world. Its hanging gardens, built on terraces by Nebuchadnezzar for his wife, are regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Euphrates River flowed right through the city, guaranteeing a water supply, and apparently the city had twenty-five brass gates.

Its walls were absolutely amazing. Built of clay bricks, the walls were at least two hundred feet high, and possibly as high as three hundred feet. They were also about eighty feet thick. Can you imagine a wall like that — between twenty and thirty stories high? The average traffic lane on a major freeway in North America is about twelve feet (3.6 meters) wide, so those walls were wider than six lanes on a big highway. No wonder king Belshazzar (Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson) thought he was safe inside that wall! But we will see tomorrow what happened.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

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“For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

These verses may seem hard to understand, but if we know how things were done when this epistle was written, it becomes clear. In the days of the Roman Empire, the army often went on military campaigns against other nations and peoples. If the army returned to Rome victorious (and usually they did!), they brought quite a few captives with them. The proud Roman general would ride through the streets of Rome, amid the cheering of the people. With him would be the captives in chains, some appointed to die, and some allowed to live. All along there would be clouds of sweet-smelling incense and perfume sprayed into the air, which everyone could smell.

That sweet-smelling perfume meant something different to those condemned to die, and those who would live. It smelled nice to both groups, but to those who knew they would live, it was a reminder that the Romans had showed mercy to them. But to those who were condemned to die, it was a reminder that they were doomed, even though the perfume was the same.

The gospel is like that. It is a wonderful story of God’s love, and to those who accept it, it means eternal life, and a life with Christ in heaven for all eternity. To those who reject the gospel, it is still a beautiful story, but it reminds them of eternal judgment, for refusing God’s love.

Wherever we go, if we speak about the Lord Jesus and His love, it is a “sweet savor to God.” God loves to hear us speak well of His beloved Son. But that sweet savor means something different to those who are saved, and those who are lost.

Monday, August 24, 2026

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“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).

When we do anything that is competitive, we all like to win. Also, we like to see those whom we support, win too. I can remember driving by the football stadium one Lord’s day afternoon, in the city where I grew up. The home team in our city had just lost the game to another visiting team, and many of the local fans were not happy. I saw one man walking along the sidewalk who was so upset that he was kicking every parked car he passed, just to work out his frustrations. But how can we be more than conquerors? After all, if we win, we win. How can we do more than win?

Perhaps we can use an illustration. Back in the days of sailing ships, they sometimes encountered severe storms. Then they had to take in the sails, and just let the wind carry them wherever it blew. Then, after the storm was over, they would get things back together, check their position, and try to get back on course. If they got through the storm and had no damage to the ship, they would say they had conquered. They had made it through the storm.

But suppose that after the storm, when they checked their position, they found that instead of blowing them off course, the storm had driven them right on course, and that they were much closer to their destination than if the weather had been nice. Instead of working against them, the storm had worked for them! That would be a case of being more than a conqueror.

It is often that way in our lives. The storms the Lord allows in our Christian pathway do not blow us off course. They are working for us, not against us, and through those storms we learn lessons we could not learn any other way. Also, we learn the Lord’s care of us, and how He can protect us. We could not learn that kind of thing in heaven, for there will be no storms up there. We have to learn all that down here, but we will have the memory of it for all eternity.

Sunday, August 23, 2026

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“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

The Apostle Paul had many different experiences in his life. Some of them were rather difficult, and others were very pleasant. You can read about some of those difficult experiences in 2 Corinthians, at the end of chapter 11. But Paul had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself.

Notice that he says he had “learned” to be content. Paul was no different naturally than any of the rest of us. He did not naturally like hard circumstances; he would have liked everything to go smoothly for him. But that is not the way we learn things in our Christian life. Paul had to learn to be content in whatever situation he was, and so do we.

How could Paul be content in difficult circumstances? It was because he knew that the Lord had placed him in that situation, and that the Lord had a purpose in doing it. He knew that he had something to learn wherever the Lord placed him, and perhaps the Lord also had something for him to do there. Most important, he knew that wherever he was, the Lord was with him, and would give him the strength to do what He had for him to do there. We learn far more in difficult situations than we do when things are going smoothly for us.

Although it is not the main meaning of this verse, we can also use it to speak about how the Lord has made us. He has given us our bodies, our brains, our abilities, and our spiritual gifts. Sometimes perhaps we look at others, and wish we had the abilities or gifts that they have. But just as the human body is made up of many different parts, so believers do not all have the same abilities. As we saw with John the Baptist, the important thing is to use what the Lord has given us, where He wants us to use it. That is what pleases Him.

Saturday, August 22, 2026

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“John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this Man were true” (John 10:41).

We saw yesterday that John the Baptist was given a high honor by the Lord Jesus, because he was willing to be where the Lord wanted him, and he did what the Lord gave him to do. However, as I mentioned at the end of yesterday’s meditation, there was one other important reason why the Lord Jesus commended John so highly.

In our verse today, the people commented that John had not done any miracle. God could have given John the Baptist the power to do miracles, but He left that for the Lord Jesus to do. As the Messiah, it was His place to perform those miracles, to prove who He was. But the people also commented that everything that John had said about the Lord Jesus was true. At first this might seem like something very simple to us, but there is a deeper meaning to those words.

John the Baptist never talked about himself, or boasted about who he was, and the work he was doing. When the people asked him who he was, he said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23). But John always said a lot about the Lord Jesus, and who He was. He told the people to get ready for Him, as the rightful King of Israel. He could say in John 3:30, “He [the Lord Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.” It was also for this reason that the Lord commended John the Baptist

It is rather sad that some people who want to serve the Lord want to be given credit for it, and want to have a place of honor. I have some Christian friends that, whenever I talk to them, within five minutes want to tell me how much they are doing for the Lord. However, you and I know that the only One who is worthy to be honored is the Lord Jesus. John the Baptist understood this, and always talked about the Lord Jesus, not about himself. The people recognized this, and it caused many to believe on the Lord Jesus. That is the way it should be in our lives.

Friday, August 21, 2026

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“Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

Our verse today is somewhat connected with what we said yesterday. John the Baptist was a relatively young man when he was called to serve the Lord, and he probably began when he was only in his twenties. He also lived a very simple life, for the Bible records that he wore clothes made out of camels’ hair, and ate a diet of locusts (big grasshoppers) and wild honey. Clothes made out of camels’ hair did not likely feel that comfortable next to his skin, and to eat locusts … well, most of you would probably say, “Yuck!” Also, he lived out in desert areas; he did not live in a nice house.

However, there was something very important about John the Baptist, and for this reason the Lord says that no other prophet was greater than he was. Why was this? It was because John was in the place where the Lord placed him, and did exactly what the Lord told him to do. It is not how much we do that counts, but rather whether we do the Lord’s will, in the place where He wants us.

There had been many great prophets and great men in the Old Testament. Some of them had lived long lives, such as Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, to name a few. But John the Baptist lived a relatively short life, for he was beheaded as a young man, not likely more than thirty-one years of age. Yet the Lord gives him the highest honor He could give, because He did what He was asked to do. His work for the Lord was finished when he was quite young.

This is important for us to learn. It is not how long a life we live, or how much we do for the Lord. What is important is to be where He places us, and to do what He gives us to do. There is one more reason why the Lord commended John the Baptist so highly, but we will leave that for tomorrow.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

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“But, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to Him in all things, who is the Head, the Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 JND).

It is a wonderful experience to watch things grow, whether in a natural way, or a spiritual way. I grew up on a farm, and always enjoyed watching fruit trees and other farm plants grow. We all love to see children grow too, and mature in the right way.

The Lord wants us to grow too, in a spiritual way, and encourages this in His Word. But sometimes we may feel that we are not growing the way we should, and I have known a number of young people who felt that if only they lived somewhere else, or were connected with a different group of Christians, they would grow better. However, sometimes the Lord allows us to be placed where naturally we would not like to be. Let me tell you a story.

I grew up in southern Ontario, Canada, near the city of Hamilton. Hamilton always was, and still is, mainly an industrial city, but the land around it is some of the best farmland for growing fruit in all of Canada. The land below the so-called Niagara escarpment is sandy and easy to work with, but that on top of the escarpment is hard. I had a good friend who was much older than I (he was born in 1882!), and who owned a fruit farm on the escarpment. One day a fruit inspector came from the Ontario government, to look at his fruit. My friend saw a basket of beautiful big peaches in the back of his car, which he had gotten from a farm below the escarpment. My friend was embarrassed to show the inspector his peaches because they were so much smaller. But the inspector picked up one of his peaches and bit into it. His face lit up, and he exclaimed, “What wonderful flavor! Could I have some of them?”

My friend was surprised, and remarked that the inspector already had much bigger and nicer looking peaches from below the escarpment. But the inspector said, “Yes, they look beautiful, but they don’t taste nearly as good as yours!” As an inspector, he knew that good ground would grow nice looking fruit, but that the best flavor is often found in fruit grown on hard ground.

It is often the same in our lives. The Lord may allow us to grow up to Him in difficult conditions, but that kind of ground often produces the best fruit in our lives. Let us not complain about our situation, or wish we were somewhere else. We can produce fruit wherever we are, and even in what we feel is hard ground. (If you do not understand what the Niagara escarpment is, look it up on the internet. I do not have space to explain it here.)

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

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“The people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned … pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people … And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole … and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:7-9).

Eventually the people realized that they had sinned in complaining about their good food, and in speaking against the Lord, and against Moses. They asked Moses to pray to the Lord, so that He would take away those awful serpents. Perhaps some of us are praying that way too, and asking the Lord to take away this Covid virus. But we see that Moses did not pray this way; it simply says that he “prayed for the people.” Moses realized that there was a deeper problem, and so he prayed for the people.

When Moses prayed, the Lord did not take away the serpents. They were still there, and still biting people. They needed to be reminded of the seriousness of what they had done in speaking against the Lord, and against Moses. But the Lord did something else, and you probably know the story well. The Lord told Moses to make a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole. Whenever someone had been bitten by a serpent, he had only to look at the serpent on the pole, and he would live.

You and I might have thought that having to look at a brass serpent was the last thing that people would want to do, if they had been bitten by a serpent. They would hate the sight of it! Yet that was the only way to be healed. All this has two good lessons for us.

First of all, the serpent of brass is a picture of the Lord Jesus, and we see this in John’s gospel. See if you can find the verse in John that mentions this serpent of brass. It is a picture of the Lord Jesus bearing our sins, so that we do not have to bear the punishment for them. The Lord wanted the children of Israel to realize that He could not forgive their sins, unless someone bore the punishment for them.

But there is another lesson for us here too. The Lord wanted the children of Israel to think about all that God had done for them, and all His power. If you remember, it was their own fault that they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years, for they had rebelled against the Lord, and refused to go into the land of Canaan. Also, they had learned lessons in the wilderness that they could not learn any other way. Now once again they were having to learn a lesson, and to see how the Lord could deliver them from the bite of the serpents.

It is the same for us in this Covid problem. The Lord has allowed it so that we all learn something. Also, He is going to bring us through it!

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

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“And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way” (Numbers 21:4).

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses … and the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people … and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:5-6).

Covid, covid, covid! We are all getting tired of it, and yet the problem seems to go on and on. It is a big nuisance to have to stand at a distance from other people, and wear masks much of the time. As I write this at the end of 2021, the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, and although its infection is not as serious as some of the previous ones, yet it is causing a lot of difficulty. Travel plans are being disrupted, supply chains of various things are being interrupted, and more restrictions are being placed on social gatherings. We all wish it would be over and done with!

In our first verse today, we find that the children of Israel became discouraged too. They had been wandering in the desert for about 38 years at this time, and were just about ready to enter the land of Canaan. But they found the going rather hard, and started to blame God, and Moses too. They had eaten manna for all those years, and God had never failed to supply it for them, but now they complained about it. They called it “light bread” and said that they loathed it. That means that they despised it, and hated it.

It was all right for them to be tired of going through the wilderness, but it was wrong for them to complain about the good food the Lord gave them, and it was wrong to speak against the Lord and against Moses, the leader whom God had given them. The Lord then sent fiery serpents to bite them, and many people died.

For the same reason it is all right for us to get tired of things like the Covid pandemic, but it is wrong to complain about it, and to blame the Lord for allowing it. The Lord has a purpose in it all, and He tests us, to see if we will trust Him to bring us through it. He is using things like the Covid pandemic to make this world realize that judgment is coming, and to draw people to Christ to be saved. If we complain about it, the Lord may have to allow difficulties in our lives too, just as He did for the Israelites. Let us remember that the Lord allows our circumstances in this world, and we can trust Him to look after us. We will speak a little more about this tomorrow.

Monday, August 17, 2026

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“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3:17).

Some years ago now, we visited the Tower of London in London, England. It is a very old castle that dates back to the 11th century, and was built by William the Conqueror. It has served the royal family in a number of ways, and was perhaps best known as a prison for the rich and famous. It also houses what are known as the crown jewels, which are fabulously expensive precious stones that have been accumulated over the years. As you may imagine, they are very carefully guarded, so that no one will steal them.

Do you think that the queen constantly thinks about those jewels? I doubt it. They are precious, of course, and she would surely be upset if some of them were stolen. But other things are probably much more on her mind and heart. Her heart is not likely in the Tower of London.

In the Bible, the word treasure is often used in a general sense, to mean what we really value. We all realize the truth of our first verse today, that where our treasure is, there will our heart be. For example, if one member of a family must go overseas, perhaps to serve in the army, we can appreciate that the hearts of that family are also overseas, wondering if their family member is all right.

We are reminded in our second verse today that we are the Lord’s treasures, or jewels. We belong to Him, and He is going to display us someday as that which He really values. Perhaps you have sung the Sunday school song, “When He cometh, when He cometh, to make up His jewels.” The author of that hymn got the thought from this verse.

But where is our treasure? If we realize that we belong to heaven, our hearts will be up there. But if our treasures are in this world, our hearts will be down here. We need to ask ourselves, Where is our treasure? If it is up in heaven, no one can steal it, nor can we lose it any other way.

Sunday, August 16, 2026

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“A broken and a contrite [repentant] heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

How many of you have broken something that you really liked, or perhaps worse still, broken something that someone else really liked? It is a terrible feeling to have your Mom’s favorite mug go crashing to the floor, or to rip a big hole in your favorite sweater. Most often after an accident like this, the broken object is useless.

In today’s verses we are not talking about “things,” but you, and your spirit and feelings. Maybe you feel you have really failed the Lord in something you have done or said. Perhaps just an angry word that really hurt someone else. You may think that you cannot pick up and keep going because this happens so often that you will never be any use as a Christian.

Do you know that the Lord says that often He can make better use of something that has been broken and mended than one that is still in perfect condition? If you broke the handle off a special mug, even if it were carefully mended, I am sure every time afterwards when it was picked up, the user would be very careful, as you would know its weak spot. It is like that with us as Christians. If we have failed and come to the Lord and confessed our mistakes, the Lord values that. We will not be proud of how we can manage on our own after a fall, and will be much more likely to ask the Lord for His continual help when we feel our weakness.

You will remember the story of Gideon in Judges 7. The 300 men that were left with Gideon to help him fight had pitchers with lamps inside. When the battle cry was shouted out, the men were to break the pitchers, and then the lamps would shine out. It would not have been very good if some of the men had thought, “Why should we waste these good pitchers by just breaking them?” No, the light could not shine unless the pitcher was smashed. In the same way, we may shine as a brighter light for the Lord if He has broken us in some way. That means that the Lord has been allowed to crush our proud thoughts, or humble us in some way so we can be more useful to Him.

We have all heard the expression “breaking in a horse.” This training teaches the horse who is master, and how he must behave in order to be useful. We took our golden retriever dog to obedience school when he was a puppy. I do not think he liked some of the things he was made to do, but he came out of the training a loving and obedient dog that was a pleasure to have around the home. It also gave the dog much more freedom, as we could take him out without using a leash. He would obey word commands without a leash.

Our second verse is very comforting if we find ourselves being “broken in” in some way. The Lord also loves to bind up and heal us. He does not leave us broken! Always remember how very much He loves you.

Saturday, August 15, 2026

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“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named … .” (Acts 9:36).

I left today’s verse unfinished for a reason. I imagine as you were reading along, you would have expected the next word to be a name like Peter, or James. But instead the name is Tabitha … a woman! Yes, you young girls can be disciples and we see a lovely example in this lady named Tabitha.

The story goes on to tell us that she was “full of good works and almsdeeds” (that is doing good things for the poor). But she died. All those whom she had helped were very sad and were showing the clothes she had sewn for them. Can’t you just picture the room, as Tabitha’s body was lying still on a bed, and those around all crying and holding up little jackets and sweaters and telling how kind Tabitha had been to them?

The other disciples in that area went to a nearby city where Peter was preaching and brought him to Joppa. By the Lord’s power he raised Tabitha to life again from her deathbed. Verse 42 then tells us that this was known all over Joppa, and that “many believed in the Lord.” Did we read anything that tells us that Tabitha preached a sermon? No, she brought many to know the Lord through her loving, kind and “Christ-like” acts, and through her death and being raised up again by the power of God through Peter. And so, young girls, we want to encourage you to reach out in kindness to those around you. Look around and ask the Lord where you might be able to show out His love through something you can do. That opens the door also to telling them about your special Friend, the Lord Jesus.

This doesn’t need to apply only to girls! There are many things you young boys can do as well. It all starts at home, and being helpful there is the way to begin before branching out beyond your home. And here is another point to think about. When it comes time for you to look around and wonder whom the Lord might have you to choose as your partner in life, look for someone who loves the Lord and loves to serve others.

Proverbs 31:30 tells us, “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

Friday, August 14, 2026

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“Who through faith subdued kingdoms … stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire … turned to flight the armies of the aliens … and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned … were slain with the sword … they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having received a good report through faith” (Hebrews 11:33-34, 36-39).

We were noticing yesterday that the Lord gave King Asa a great victory over the Ethiopians, who had attacked him for no reason other than wanting to take the wealth that he had. We also saw that the Lord allowed those five young men who went to Ecuador with the gospel to be killed, back in 1956. We see the same two groups of people in our verses today, for that same thing happened in the Old Testament.

I have not quoted the whole passage for you, but in Hebrews 11 you can read about all those who were tremendous examples of faith. A number of them are named for us, but then the Spirit of God, after mentioning some names in verse 32, proceeds to tell us of two different groups among those who had faith. As we see in our first verses today, there were those who won great victories, and we all like to hear about them. We like stories about Daniel in the lions’ den, or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being preserved in the fiery furnace. We like stories of armies that won battles, or about those who were raised from the dead.

But the Bible also tells us about others who suffered greatly. Some were imprisoned, some were mocked and scourged, and some were killed. Some were driven from their homes, and had to live in deserts and caves. Were these people without faith? No, for the Lord says, “These all … .obtained a good report through faith” (v. 39). It is the same today. The Lord gives some believers great victories, while others are suffering for Christ, and even giving up their lives for Him. Whatever the Lord allows in our lives, He is honored in it, and we will be rewarded for it.

Thursday, August 13, 2026

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“And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said … help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go” (2 Chronicles 14:11).

Yesterday we spoke about doing little things for the Lord, in preparation for bigger things, if the Lord decides to use us in this way. In our verse today, we see King Asa of Judah having to deal with a big problem. We looked at this same verse back in February, and pointed out how Asa had had ten years of peace, and had used that time well. He had built fortifications and increased his army, for he knew that sooner or later, an enemy would attack him. Asa had a large army, but the Ethiopians who came against him had almost twice as many men. Asa knew that despite all his good preparation, only the Lord could give him the victory.

The words Asa used — “We rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go” inspired the writing of a hymn. Back about 1895, a woman named Edith Cherry wrote the hymn, and several verses go like this:

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

When I was young, back in 1956, five young men went to Ecuador in South America, to take the gospel to the Auca Indians there. At first they were well received, for the aboriginal people there seemed friendly to them. But then some time later, when they went back a second time, all five of them were killed by those people, who evidently did not trust them. One of them was named Jim Elliot, and all of them were still young. Yet their sacrifice has been an inspiration to many other Christians. One quotation of Jim Elliot’s is worth repeating here — “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

On the very day that they suffered martyrdom for Christ, those five young men sang that hymn, written by Edith Cherry. We might ask the question, Why did the Lord deliver King Asa, and allow him to win a great victory, and yet allowed those five young missionaries to be killed? We can only say that God has His different ways with all of us, and His name is glorified sometimes by giving His people great victories, while at other times He is glorified by their submission to His will in giving up their lives for Him. (If you are interested in reading the story of these five young men, try and get a book called, “Through Gates of Splendor,” by Elisabeth Elliot, Jim Elliot’s widow.)

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

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“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him … and this uncircumcised Philistine [Goliath] shall be as one of them” (1 Samuel 17:34-36).

We all know the story of David and Goliath, and how David, who was only a young man, went out and killed Goliath, when none of the other soldiers were willing to go out and fight with him. At that time David used his sling and a stone, but we see from our verses that David was used to fighting in various ways.

When David was keeping his father’s sheep, he killed both a lion and a bear, and we know that he did not have a gun. He probably did not have even a sword or a spear, although the Bible does not say what weapon he used. It was quite an unusual thing for a young man to kill both a lion and a bear single-handed, without anyone else to help. Surely the Lord must have been with him, to enable him to do this.

This story teaches us an important lesson. We would all like to be like David, who became a real hero when he went out and killed Goliath. But David had learned to trust the Lord when he was only keeping sheep, and where he killed a lion and a bear when no one else knew about it. Then, when Goliath appeared, David was ready to go out and fight with him, because he had proved the Lord at home.

It should be the same in our lives. We would all like to do great things for the Lord, and perhaps we have read stories about others whom the Lord has used to do some great work for Him. But those people had to learn first of all to trust the Lord at home, and in places where they did things that no one else knew about.

If you want to do something for the Lord, start with things that are simple, and things that you can do without going anywhere. We learn the Lord’s power in doing simple things for Him, and then, if we are faithful in doing little things, the Lord may give us bigger things to do. David never asked to be a hero; he was content to keep his father’s sheep. But when the chance came to do something big, he was ready. It should be the same with us.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

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“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened [listened], and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16).

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened … and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12).

“And there shall in no wise enter into it [the holy city] anything that defileth [sinful] … but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

Earlier this year we spoke about the book of remembrance mentioned in the book of Malachi, but in our verses today we see that there are other books that God keeps. We do not usually think of God’s keeping books, and maybe they are not actual books as we know them. However, God does keep records of a number of things. Many years ago, before the days of computers, people used to question how God could possibly keep track of everything that we say, do, or think. Of course God can do anything, but since the invention of computers, we see how easily vast amounts of information can be stored on a very small computer chip.

First of all, we are reminded again that the Lord values it very much when we think about Him, and speak about Him. Back in the days when Malachi lived, about 400 B.C., there were only a few people in Israel who thought about the Lord, and spoke to one another about Him. He was so pleased with them that he kept a careful record of what they did. Today, when the world is tending to give up the Bible, the Lord still really appreciates it when we think of Him, and speak about Him.

But then the second verse for today is very serious, for someday the Lord is going to judge those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior. In order to make everything perfectly clear, the Lord will open his records, where everything that those people have done is recorded. They will not be able to argue, or get a smart lawyer to get them released. Everything will be perfectly just. How very solemn it will be to have to stand before a holy God, who knows all about them!

Finally, we read about the book of life, and in our third verse it is called the “Lamb’s book of life.” The Bible uses this name because the Lord Jesus, as the Lamb of God, suffered for us so that our names could be written in that book of life. The book of life is mentioned a number of times in the Bible, and it has the name of every believer in it. Is your name written in the book of life?

Monday, August 10, 2026

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“And the men said unto her … Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window … and she bound the scarlet line in the window” (Joshua 2:17-18, 21).

Perhaps you are all familiar with the story of Rahab, who lived in the city of Jericho thousands of years ago. She was not a very good woman, and had led a sinful life. But then the men from the children of Israel came to the city, and Rahab knew that they were spies. They had come to find out about the city of Jericho, and she invited them to stay at her house. The Lord had worked in her heart, and she knew that the Lord was going to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. She was friendly to the two spies, and helped them escape from the city. In return she asked that she and her family not be killed, when the Israelites came and took the city.

The men told her plainly that they would not kill anyone that was in her house, but that she must put the scarlet line in her window so that everyone would know which house was hers. But why was it a scarlet line? Scarlet is a very deep color of red, and reminds us of the blood of Christ. Just as that scarlet line protected Rahab and her family from the children of Israel, so the blood of Christ protects us from the judgment of God. If our sins are covered by the blood of Christ, we are not in danger of any judgment from God for our sins.

There is something else we notice here too. The men told Rahab to put the scarlet line in the window when they came into the land. But Rahab did not wait that long. As soon as the men were gone, Rahab bound that scarlet line in the window. She wanted to be sure that she and her family were safe! It is the same for you and me. God’s time to be saved is now, not later when judgment is about to come. We never know what may happen during our life down here; it is good to be ready to meet God.

Sunday, August 9, 2026

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“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23).

Isaac Watts lived a long time ago, back in the 17th and 18th centuries. He was born in 1674, and died in 1748. He lived all of his life in England, and if you ever get a chance to go to London, England, the cemetery where he is buried is worth a visit. His grave is in Bunhill Fields cemetery, where many good Christian hymn-writers are buried.

He was a very clever boy, and was able to write decent poetry by the time he was seven years old. As a teenager, his spiritual and poetical mind was upset by the poor quality of the hymns that they had in those days. One day he complained to his father about those hymns, and his father’s reaction was, “Then give us something better!” Isaac took up the challenge, and the next Sunday he presented his father with a good hymn, which they proceeded to learn. He went on to write many hymns throughout his lifetime, and today he is known as the father of English hymns. It was his example that provided the leadership and encouraged others also to start writing good hymns. As a result, there are probably more good Christian hymns in the English language than in any other single language in the world. You probably know some of his hymns, such as, “When we survey the wondrous cross,” “Alas! And did my Saviour bleed,” and “O God our help in ages past.”

You might wonder why I am telling you the story of Isaac Watts, but here was a boy who did what the Lord had given him to do, and he did it “with his might.” He used the ability that the Lord gave him, and used it in the right way. He brought blessing to countless numbers of people, and we are still singing his hymns today.

The Lord has something for each of us to do, and He wants us to do it well. Today there are some young people who do not take the trouble to do things well, and sad to say, there are older ones who do their work in a sloppy way too. Let us remember to do everything as if we were doing it for the Lord. He is the One we should really want to please.

Saturday, August 8, 2026

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“And he [Elisha] went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed [became] warm” (2 Kings 4:34).

“Meditate upon these things” (1 Timothy 4:15).

In this story, Elisha the prophet has a call for his help, and performs a miracle. If you read the whole of the 4th chapter of 2 Kings, you will find a very touching story. This lady, called the Shunamite woman, so very badly had wanted a son. Elisha heard about this wish, and in return for all the kindnesses she had shown to him as he traveled, Elisha told her that the Lord would give her a child. How very happy she must have been!

Several years pass by and the little boy is old enough to go out into the fields to help his father. He becomes sick in the heat, and dies shortly after, cuddled on his mother’s knees. Devastated, she rushes off to the place where the prophet is and asks him to come to help. Elisha sends his servant on ahead and tells him to lay his staff (walking stick) on the child. Elisha and the mother hurry up behind. No, sadly, the staff has done nothing to bring the little boy back to life.

Elisha goes into the room, closes the door and prays. Then he stretches himself on the little boy as in our verse today. The child becomes warm. Elisha pauses and goes for a walk around the house and then returns and does the same thing again. This time the child sneezes seven times, and opens his eyes. He is alive and is handed back to an overjoyed mother! That is the end of the account, but it sure has given us some things to “meditate” about.

Why did the staff laid on him do no good? Why ever did Elisha, a grown man, have to make himself fit to the little boy’s size? And why the sneezing?

I would encourage you to think about the stories and verses that you read in your daily Bible readings. Think, What is the Lord saying to me in this? This is what is meant by “meditating,” as we are told to do in our 2nd verse today. When you have the Holy Spirit living in you, once you are saved, He is able to interpret and make what we read become a blessing to us in a practical way.

Perhaps we can think of this story as someone being “restored” to the Lord after getting away from Him. When the servant lays his staff on him, it did no good. If we have lost our joy in the Lord, it rarely is helpful if someone confronts us with a stick (or in a harsh way)! But Elisha got right down to where the boy was … right to his size! It was as though he was trying to understand where the boy was in his life. He was listening for signs of life. With prayer, it produced results. The boy sneezed. A sure sign of life! He did not immediately sit up smiling, but you have to have life to sneeze. So, even in some of these wonderful Old Testament stories we can find help and encouragement for every day in this century. Develop the habit of meditating.

Friday, August 7, 2026

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“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

I am sure that you have all seen a relay race, where several people participate. As they run around the track, they carry a baton which they have to pass on to the next runner, who in turn passes it on to another one. Often there are four different runners, and each must do his or her part well. When the baton is passed from one runner to another, the first runner does not pass it to someone who is sitting beside the track, or even someone who is just standing there. No, the second, third, and fourth runners are already running alongside the one with the baton, so that no time is lost.

If you look carefully at our verse for today, you will see that four generations are involved. First there is the Apostle Paul, then Timothy, then “faithful men” to whom he would pass on the truth, and finally others who would be taught by those faithful men. It was in this way that the Lord intended that the truth of God should be passed on. Sadly, this did not always happen. After some time, when all the apostles were with the Lord, and men like Timothy had gone to be with the Lord too, the truth of God was corrupted. All those who heard it were not faithful in walking in it and passing it on.

However, when Paul was speaking to the older ones in Ephesus, we find that he did not depend even on faithful men. Rather he said, “I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). Even if others are not faithful, we always have God and His Word, and these never change. We can always go to God’s Word, and to the Lord Himself, to learn the precious truth He has given us.

Most of you who read this are young people, and if the Lord does not come, you will someday have the responsibility of walking in the truth you have received, and passing it on to others. Are you ready to do that?

Thursday, August 6, 2026

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“For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land … a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey” (Deuteronomy 8:7-8).

“We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick” (Numbers 11:5).

We all like to eat unless we are sick, and we all have our favorite foods. We know too that other countries and different parts of the world like different foods. Sometimes we like food from foreign countries, but perhaps there are some things we do not like. I occasionally visit countries where they eat hot, spicy food, with lots of chili peppers in it. Since I have a sensitive throat, that hot spicy food makes me cough, so I sometimes ask them to put fewer chili peppers in it. But most of the time I like to try something new.

In our verses today, we find two different kinds of food. Some of it was the food of the land of Canaan — the promised land where the Lord wanted to bring the children of Israel. The second verse describes the food of Egypt — the country where the children of Israel had been slaves, and from which God had delivered them. Can you notice a difference between the food of Canaan and the food of Egypt?

If you look at them carefully, all the food of Canaan grows above the ground, and it requires effort to get it. Wheat and barley must be threshed, then ground into flour, before it can be used to make bread. Grapes must be picked and crushed, in order to make grape juice and wine. Figs must be picked, and also pomegranates. Olives must be picked and then crushed to make olive oil. Honey is perhaps the hardest to get, for you must dress up very carefully so that the bees do not sting you when you come and take the honey they have made. The food of Canaan is a picture of heavenly things, and teaches us that the things of Christ often require some effort to enjoy. They are above the ground; they are not connected with this world.

But the food of Egypt grows either on the ground, or in the ground, except for the fish. They are of course in the water. This food speaks of the things of this world. They are relatively easy to enjoy, for it does not take much effort to pick a melon and eat it, or to enjoy a cucumber. Also some of the things of Egypt, like onions and garlic, leave a taste in your mouth, and have an odor to them. That odor tells other people what you have been eating! My wife tells me that after I eat garlic, she can smell it on my breath for two days! It is like that with the things of this world; other Christians can soon tell that we have been feeding on those things.

It is important to feed on the things of Christ, and not on the things of this world. It may take more effort, but it is well worth it!

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

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“God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men … Then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction” (Job 33:14-16).

All of us have dreams at some time or other, and most of the time they do not mean anything. Often they are ridiculous, and although they usually involve people and places that we know, yet they are obviously just disordered thinking in our minds when we are asleep. Sometimes of course a dream can be very frightening, and we are glad when we wake up and realize that it is only a dream.

However, God has used dreams to speak to people for thousands of years, and some of those dreams are recorded in the Bible. God has a way of making a person realize that sometimes a dream is more than just something silly, and that it is directly sent to them from God for a purpose. You will remember that Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, had dreams, but when he told them to his brothers, they were angry with him, and even his father did not understand. Later, when he was in prison in Egypt, the chief butler and the chief baker each had a dream, and Joseph was able to interpret the dreams for them. Later still, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had dreams, and he too realized that those dreams meant something. Joseph was able to interpret those dreams too.

In the New Testament the Lord spoke to the wise men, warning them not to go back and speak to King Herod again. He also spoke to Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was the mother of the Lord Jesus, warning him to flee into Egypt until Herod was dead. Later still, the Apostle Paul had a number of visions during his life, when the Lord spoke directly to him. The Lord also spoke to the Apostle Peter in a vision.

Now that we have the complete Word of God, and are indwelt with the Spirit of God, the Lord does not usually speak to us in dreams and visions. However, in places in the world where they do not have the Bible, and perhaps cannot get one, the Lord still speaks in dreams, in order to draw them to the Lord Jesus, and make them realize that they need to be saved.

As we see in our verses today, sometimes people do not pay enough attention when the Lord is speaking to them, but they will be held responsible if the Lord allows a dream in order to warn them. When God speaks, He always wants our blessing through it all, and it is important to listen.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

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“Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven” (Judges 16:22).

“And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God … strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes” (Judges 16:28).

“So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life” (Judges 16:30).

When Samson was in prison, his hair began to grow again. This is a picture of restoration in his soul, for it appears that Samson realized that he had failed in being a true Nazarite. If you and I fail in being totally devoted to the Lord, we may suffer for it, as Samson did. But the Lord is gracious, and Samson begins to recover some of his strength.

Sometime later the Philistines held a big party, and sacrificed to their false god Dagon. There were thousands of them, all gathered together to honor their god. They praised him, for they said that it was Dagon who had allowed them to capture Samson, and humiliate him. Then they called for Samson to be brought into the big arena where they were gathered, so that they could make fun of him. Apparently they put Samson between two of the big pillars that supported the arena.

The Lord was going to show those Philistines who the true God was. It was the Lord who had allowed poor Samson to be captured, but He would not allow the Philistines to say that it was the power of their false god that had done this for them. When Samson prayed to the Lord, He strengthened Samson so that he broke the two main pillars of the place, and of course it fell down, killing thousands of people. But Samson died too.

Again, all this is a lesson to us. The Lord proved that He was the true God, but Samson died too, and he was probably still a young man. However, it is interesting to notice that he killed more Philistines when he died, than in the whole of his life before. His end was better than his whole life, for the Lord was gracious to him. But it was a sad way to end up. He could have led a far more victorious life if he had been obedient.

Monday, August 3, 2026

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“And he [Samson] told her [Delilah] all his heart … if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man” (Judges 16:17).

“And she [Delilah] made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his [Samson’s] head … and his strength went from him” (Judges 16:19).

Twice before, Samson had become involved with worldly women — Philistine women, and the Lord had graciously delivered him. It seems that Samson did not learn his lesson, and when he got involved with a third Philistine woman, the Lord allowed him to tell her the secret of his strength. She arranged to cut his hair off, and he lost his strength. You can read about what happened to him in the rest of Judges 16. This third woman did not really love Samson, but it says that he loved her. The leaders of the Philistines had promised her a lot of money if she could find out why Samson was so strong. Finally Samson told her, and he lost his strength.

This is a picture of what happens to us if we become too friendly with people of this world, and get involved with them. They may seem very nice, but they will deceive us if we trust in them. Samson trusted Delilah, but she was really only trying to find out his secret so that she could get that big gift of money from the Philistine leaders. As you read the rest of the chapter, you will find out that poor Samson ended up in prison, working hard to grind corn (wheat) for the Philistines.

We are to preach the gospel to the people of this world, and be a help to them if they are in trouble. All this is good for us to do as Christians. But it is not good to become involved with them socially, and to try and form close relationships with them. Those who do not know the Lord cannot possibly understand a Christian, for they have no new life in Christ, as a believer does. Samson’s history is a good warning for all of us, for we will lose our spiritual strength if we get involved with this world.

Sunday, August 2, 2026

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“For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb” (Judges 13:5).

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14).

Our first verse today was spoken by an angel to Samson’s mother, when he told her that she would have a son. Up to that time she had no children. However, the angel also told her that her son would be a Nazarite, and that his hair was never to be cut. But in the New Testament, we read in our second verse that it is a shame for a man to have long hair. Why would the Lord tell Samson’s mother not to cut his hair, if it would be a shame for him always to have long hair?

God gave the instructions for a Nazarite back in the law of Moses, in Numbers 6. There were three things he was to do, and one of them was not to cut his hair. See if you can find the other two things he was not to do. A man could choose to be a Nazarite for a period of time, but in the case of Samson, he was always to be one.

For a man not to cut his hair is a picture of someone who gives up his dignity and rights as a man. When a Nazarite did this, it was a picture of a man who was totally devoted to the Lord, and who gave up his own rights, in order to follow the Lord. Samson was to do this, but as we read about his life, we find that he did not do a very good job of being a Nazarite. All too often he wanted his own way, instead of the Lord’s way.

There were other people in the Bible who were Nazarites, such as John the Baptist, but the true Nazarite was the Lord Jesus Himself. The Bible does not say that he never cut his hair, nor did He avoid the other things a Nazarite was not to do. But He was the only true Nazarite in His heart, for He could say, “I do always those things that please Him (God the Father)” (John 8:29).

You and I are to be Nazarites too. Our outward appearance as Christians is important, but we are Nazarites mainly by being totally devoted to the Lord in our hearts.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

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“And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28).

“Go your way into the village over against you … ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him … and they brought the colt to Jesus … and He sat upon him” (Mark 11:2, 7).

Here we have two different situations, hundreds of years apart, yet both involving a donkey. What is interesting is that both of these donkeys did something totally against their natural way.

In the case of Balaam, he was clearly going against the mind of the Lord, for he wanted to curse the people of Israel. The king of Moab had promised him a lot of money if he would do this. But the Lord had sent an angel to block Balaam’s way, and although Balaam did not see the angel, the donkey saw him, and would not go ahead. Balaam then hit the donkey with a stick to make it go, and suddenly the donkey spoke to him with a human voice. What a surprise that would have been! But Balaam was so intent on having his own way that he did not realize at first the seriousness of what was happening, and he actually carried on a conversation with his donkey, as if it were the most normal thing in the world! Eventually he saw the angel, and was very frightened.

When the Lord Jesus was going to ride into Jerusalem, He told His disciples to go and get a young donkey on which no one had ever ridden. Normally a man could not simply get on that kind of a donkey and begin to ride; it would probably buck him off quickly. To ride a young horse or donkey, you have to begin slowly, and go through what is called “breaking them in.” Gradually the horse or donkey gets used to having someone on its back, and accepts it. But the Lord Jesus simply sat on the donkey, and it quietly carried Him into Jerusalem without any trouble.

Both of these stories show us that God has control over His creation. When He wished, the Lord could give the donkey a human voice, and cause it to speak to Balaam. He should have immediately recognized that only the Lord could do this, but Balaam was so anxious to get that money that he could not see the angel of the Lord standing there in front of him with a sword in his hand.

The Lord Jesus rode the young colt into Jerusalem when no one had ever ridden it before, yet it went along without jumping, kicking, or bucking Him off. This showed clearly who the Lord Jesus was, yet still most of the people in Jerusalem did not believe in Him. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior?