Verse of the day — Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
The Lord's Hidden Work
You died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 NLT)
It is a tremendous thing to live in this dispensation when the Lord, though having acquired the rights of the universe, of the whole creation, by His Cross, is specifically concentrated upon the treasure now, to get it out of the creation. "The kingdom of heaven (it should be in the plural, the kingdom of the heavens) is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid...." The Lord is doing a secret work in relation to the Church. It is always a dangerous thing to bring what we conceive to be the Church out into a conspicuous place, and make a public thing of it. The real Church is a secret, hidden company, and a hidden and secret work is going on in it. That is its safety. When you and I launch out into great public movements, displaying and advertising, we expose the work of God, and open it to infinite perils. Our safety is in keeping where God has put us, in the hidden, secret place with Himself....
All the way through this life we have to learn the change from what is, after all, ourselves in relation to God, to what is God Himself in us. There is a great deal that is of ourselves in relation to God, and I expect there will be in some measure right to the end. There is still something of our minds at work on God's things. We may be thinking that they are God's thoughts, God's mentality, but there is still much that is of our human mind, the mental make-up of ourselves in relation to the things of God, and we shall always find that God's mind is other than that, and we have to give place to new conceptions of the Lord.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
His name will be called Wonderful.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. § For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
“They shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” § Call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. God … has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. § Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet. § He had a name written that no one knew except Himself … : KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him. § What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?
Isa. 9:6; John 1:14; Ps. 138:2; Matt. 1:23; Matt. 1:21; John 5:23; Phil. 2:9; Eph. 1:21,22; Rev. 19:12, 16; Job 37:23; Prov. 30:4
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
The Lord’s portion is His people.
You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. § I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. § I am his. § The Son of God … loved me and gave Himself for me.
Your body is … not your own. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. § The Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day.
You are God’s field, you are God’s building. § Christ [is] a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. § You also, as living stones, are … a holy priesthood.
“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels.” § And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. § The glory of His inheritance in the saints.
Deut. 32:9; 1 Cor. 3:23; Song 7:10; Song. 2:16; Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 6:19,20; Deut. 4:20; 1 Cor. 3:9; Heb. 3:6 1 Peter 2:5; Mal. 3:17; John 17:10; Eph. 1:18
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Satisfying Portion
God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever" (Ps. 73.26).
Finally, when all else fails us, we find that God is enough. That which we most need in life - love, unfailing love - is abundantly and satisfyingly ours in the Lord Jesus. But we so often seek it elsewhere."Nothing can be sweeter than the repose in divine love when it is known and the heart is free to rest in it. The soul may have a long journey to reach it experientially; there may be many needs and exercises to be met and removed on the way; self and the world will have to be learned; but the great end of all our exercises - and, I may add, of all our deliverances - is that we rest in the thoughts of divine love, and that love becomes in a very real way the portion of our hearts. If our hearts are not in the circle of divine love they have really got nothing, for as Christians we have no portion on earth. Thank God! it is a blessed and satisfying portion." -C.A.C.
"There is no reserve in God's love; He has given the best in heaven for the worst on earth, and in this way has rebuked distrust and established confidence, so that the works of the devil' might be undone in our hearts. If we only want what God gives us we shall be perfectly happy. Nothing is of real value to us that we cannot take from our Father's hand and thank Him for."
"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God" (2 Thess. 3:5).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
(JOB-intro)
A Full Study Of JOB
Our Examples
Some of the best guidance for believers in living the Christian life are through 'types'. In 1 Corinthians 10:6 we read this:- Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Old Testament history exemplifies New Testament truths – truths for spiritual living. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for, 1. doctrine, 2. for reproof, 3. for correction, 4. for instruction in righteousness.
Types of Christ
Adam:- the first man was a wonderful type of Christ, Who was the second Man and last Adam - Who was made sin for the bride, that God chose for Him. Eve:- who was taken from the side of Adam – what an astonishing type of the Church - Eve who was bone of His bone, and who became one with her Bridegroom. Abraham:- the one who so clearly typifies the deep love of God the Father – Abraham who in faith, gave his only begotten son as an offering.
Other Types
Hagar:- the bondwoman who so exemplifies Israel and the covenant of LAW – fleshly Hagar and the law – which was set aside for spiritual Israel and grace. Sarah:- the free-woman so exemplifying spiritual Israel and the covenant of GRACE – chosen Sarah; the barren wife who was set aside and buried by her husband. Keturah:- the second wife of Abraham – who exemplifies Israel’s future role – a fruitful people, restored to favour. A people who will be the head and not the tail. Gomar:- the adulterous wife of Hosea – restored to fellowship with her husband.. like Israel, the adulterous wife of Jehovah – also to be reunited with her Lord. Then Joseph:- who in hundreds of ways is a glorious type of our Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph, the beloved firstborn son.. rejected and ‘killed’ by his jealous brothers. Joseph, the one so despised and rejected became governor of all Egypt.
Consider Job
And Job. Have you considered
read more
Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Joy Knocks at the Door
Rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that.. when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:13Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
His Peace
God tells us that life with Him is never immune from difficulties, but He also tells us that He gives us peace – peace, within our stresses and strains. Our difficulties, doubts, stresses, and strains can be underpinned with His peace, for He is our peace – and peace can become our vesture in the turmoil of life.
His Joy
And joy is the result of faithful, trusting acceptance of His will. Though it may not be understood.. though is may not seem joyous at all, He is our joy.
His Hope
And He gives us hope.. even though the way is strewn with impossibilities, for tribulation worketh patience.. and patience.. experience; and experience.. hope' and hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.
Through Suffering
He is indeed our hope, and faith develops through patient endurance. His guidance, however, is often through the barred doors. Love often slams shut doors, firmly fast – as well as opening them wide. He is the love in our life. For our light afflictions which is but for a moment, worketh in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where-unto ye do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19