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October 2

RESCUE THE PERISHING
Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives … (Isaiah 61:1 KJV)
One of the most tragic words in our vocabulary is the word perishing. Yet it was a word that Jesus Himself often used (Matthew 18:14; Luke 13:3, 5) to describe people who are spiritually alienated from God.
Fanny Crosby, often called the “queen of gospel music,” recalled how she wrote this challenging hymn:
I remember writing that hymn in the year 1869. Like many of my hymns, it was written following a personal experience at the New York City Bowery Mission. I usually tried to get to the mission at least one night a week to talk to “my boys.” I was addressing a large company of working men one hot summer evening, when the thought kept forcing itself on my mind that some mother’s boy must be rescued that night or he might be eternally lost. So I made a pressing plea that if there was a boy present who had wandered from his mother’s home and teaching, he should come to me at the end of the service. A young man of 18 came forward—
“Did you mean me, Miss Crosby? I promised my mother to meet her in heaven, but as I am now living, that will be impossible.”
We prayed for him and suddenly he arose with a new light in his eyes—“Now I am ready to meet my mother in heaven, for I have found God.”
A few days before, William Doane, composer of the music, had sent Fanny Crosby a tune for a new song to be titled “Rescue the Perishing.” It was to be based on the text “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; back to the narrow way patiently win them; tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
Refrain: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

    For Today: Ezekiel 18:32; Luke 14:23; Romans 9:2, 3; 2 Peter 3:9

Reflect seriously that it is the divine image in every person (Genesis 1:26, 27) that gives life an intrinsic dignity and worth—regardless of race, color, sex, age, or social standing. That’s what makes each person worthy of being rescued from eternal damnation. Sing this musical challenge as you go—

October 1

LORD, SPEAK TO ME
Frances R. Havergal, 1836–1879
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
As Christ’s personal ambassadors, we should be people of double resolve: To hear what God has to say to us and then to share that message with others.
Use me, God, in Thy great harvest field,
Which stretcheth far and wide like a wide sea;
The gatherers are so few; I fear the precious yield
Will suffer loss. Oh, find a place for me!
—Christina G. Rossetti
Effective service must always begin with prayer—asking God to use us to accomplish His eternal purposes in the lives of others. But we must not dictate to our Lord as to how and when we should be used. We are simply to be available whenever He directs in a particular situation. Then our representation for Him is simply to speak His truth boldly but always in love. Imploring lost people to be reconciled to God is far different from merely engaging them in theological arguments. We must always remember that the real need of people is to hear about the historical Christ as a personal Savior and Lord and to be guided to a living and vital relationship with Him.
Frances Ridley Havergal, the author of this text, has often been called the “consecration poet” because of her deep commitment to Christ. This text first appeared in 1872 in leaflet form with the title “A Worker’s Prayer,” accompanied by the scripture verse: “For none of us lives to himself and none dies to himself” (Romans 14:7). These words have since been widely used in leading others to a deeper consecration of their lives to God:
Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of Thy tone; as Thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the wand’ring and the wav’ring feet; O feed me, Lord, that I may feed the hung’ ring ones with manna sweet.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the precious things Thou dost impart; and wing my words that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord, until my very heart o’er-flow in kindling tho’t and glowing word, Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me, just as Thou wilt, and when, and where, until Thy blessed face I see—Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

    For Today: Psalm 119:9–16; Luke 17:21; John 13:15; Acts 1:8; John 2:17

Ask God to engineer the circumstances that will allow you to represent Him effectively to some needy person. Use this musical prayer—

October

• Christian Witness • Christian Warfare • Social Concerns • Reformation Day

1.
Lord, Speak to Me
2.
Rescue the Perishing
3.
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
4.
I Love to Tell the Story
5.
Channels Only
6.
Make Me a Blessing
7.
Stand Up and Bless the Lord
8.
“Are Ye Able?” Said the Master
9.
Ye Christian Heralds
10.
Work for the Night Is Coming
11.
Revive Us Again
12.
Lead On, O King Eternal
13.
Onward, Christian Soldiers
14.
A Charge to Keep I Have
15.
Stand Up for Jesus
16.
Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?
17.
My Soul, Be on Thy Guard
18.
Who Is on the Lord’s Side?
19.
Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
20.
The Son of God Goes Forth to War
21.
Fight the Good Fight With All Thy Might
22.
Soldiers of Christ, Arise
23.
God of Our Fathers
24.
Faith of Our Fathers
25.
Faith Is the Victory
26.
O for a Faith That Will Not Shrink
27.
Rise Up, O Men of God!
28.
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
29.
Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
30.
Hold the Fort
31.
A Mighty Fortress

“This is a Great we read”

A Raging storm, a rebellious prophet, and somewhere out there, a great fish?

This book is a fascinating commentary on the life of the great prophet: Could a man spend three days inside a huge fish? His prayer of deliverance Why did he run from God? The influence of the ancient city, Nineveh Jonah and the twenty-first century

The late scholar and author Dr. Henry Morris believed the biblical account of Jonah was true, and this book will thrill others who believe it, too. Drawing on a lengthy research career, Morris takes the reader on the same wonderful ride on which Jonah embarked. Sure to be a hit for Bible study groups and individuals who find inspiration from a beloved classic.

144 pages 6 x 9 Paperback

Henry Morris, Ph.D. , (deceased) earned the title, “The Father of Modern Creationism,” through with his numerous writings about the creation/evolution debate. He was a respected scientist and wrote, textbook author and the founder of the Institute for Creation Research in California.

September 30

THE SPIRIT BREATHES UPON THE WORD
William Cowper, 1731–1800
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)
The Bible is the only book whose Author is always present when one reads it.
—Unknown
We can never really be exposed to the truths of God’s Word without our lives being affected. Either we become more desirous of becoming like the author of the Book, or we become increasingly hardened to its truths. It has been said that we must know the Word of God in order to know the God of the Word. However, a study of God’s Word must never stop at merely gaining biblical knowledge. It must always lead us to a more intimate relationship with God Himself.
Although William Cowper, the author of this hymn text, was regarded as one of the leading English poets of his day, he suffered periods of severe depression throughout his lifetime. Yet during times of normalcy he wrote great literary works and worked with John Newton to produce the important Olney Hymns hymnal of 1779, to which Cowper contributed 67 texts. “The Spirit Breathes Upon the Word” was from this collection.
This hymn teaches an important truth: The same Spirit of God who authored the Bible is the One who enlightens it for our understanding and guidance—“The hand that gave it still supplies the gracious light and heat.” May we increasingly use this enlightened Word as we pursue the steps of Christ till they lead us to “brighter worlds above.”
The Spirit breathes upon the Word, and brings the truth to sight; precepts and promises afford a sanctifying light.
A glory gilds the sacred page, majestic like the sun: It gives a light to ev’ry age; it gives but borrows none.
The Hand that gave it still supplies the gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise; they rise but never set.
Let everlasting thanks be Thine for such a bright display as makes a world of darkness shine with beams of heav’nly day.
My soul rejoices to pursue the steps of Him I love, till glory breaks upon my view in brighter worlds above.

    For Today: Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 4:4; 24:35; 1 Timothy 3:14, 15; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 1 Peter 2:2

Determine to enter into a fresh study of God’s Word with the desire that the Holy Spirit will bring some new truth and insight into your daily life. Carry this musical truth with you—