Devotions (Page 2)

Treasure In My Heart I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling where with ye were called. Ephesians 4:1 Has it dawned upon me yet that the Spirit of God within me is a Person? I am but an earthen vessel, but in that vessel I carry the treasure of unspeakable worth, even the Lord of glory. All the worry and fret of God’s children would end if their eyes were opened to…

How Big Is God? Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,In the company of the upright and in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord,Studied by all those who delight in them. Splendid and majestic is His work,And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful acts to be remembered;The Lord is gracious and merciful and full of loving compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him [with…

Life In The Son This life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath the life. 1 John 5:11 It is a blessed thing to discover the difference between Christian graces and Christ: to know the difference between meekness and Christ, between patience and Christ, between love and Christ. God will not give me humility or patience or holiness or love as separate gifts of his grace. He is not a retailer dispensing grace to us in packets,…

Highest Honor The Lord (Father) says to my Lord (the Messiah, His Son),“Sit at My right handUntil I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [subjugating them into complete submission].” The Lord will send the scepter of Your strength from Zion, saying,“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Your people will offer themselves willingly [to participate in Your battle] in the day of Your power;In the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn,Your young men are to…

Tempting Or Testing? Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:7 There is a world of difference between tempting God and putting him to the test. The former is forbidden, the latter welcomed. On the surface the two things may appear the same, but they are not. What distinguishes them is a knowledge of God’s will communicated through his Word. Israel and the Egyptians afford an example of this. By…

No Greater Love Book FiveThe Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, And gathered them from the lands,From the east and from the west,From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a [solitary] desert region;And did not find a way to an inhabited city.…

The New Replaces The Old The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 A great burden to the merchants in China used to be the “likin” tax, a law which none could escape, originating in the Ch’in Dynasty and operating right down to our own day. It was an inland tax on the transit of goods, applied throughput the empire, and having numerous barriers for…

No Bottom Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;For His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever! Who can put into words the mighty deeds of the Lord?Or who can proclaim all His praise [that is due Him]? Blessed are those who observe justice [by honoring God’s precepts],Who practice righteousness at all times. Remember me, O Lord, when You favor Your people.Visit me with Your salvation [when You rescue them], That I may see the prosperity…

Illumination Rather Than Introspection Search me, O God…and see if there be any way of wickedness in me. Psalm 139:23 True self-knowledge does not come by our turning within. Introspection never leads to clear understanding. No, it is when there is light coming from God that we see. I think it is so simple. If we want to satisfy ourselves that our face is clean, what do we do? Do we feel it carefully all over with our hands? Of…

The Long View O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;Make known His deeds among the people. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;Speak of all His wonderful acts and devoutly praise them. Glory in His holy name;Let the hearts of those who seek and require the Lord [as their most essential need] rejoice. Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might];Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.…