Verse of the day — Jude 1:2
May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Jude 1:2(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
The Incomprehensible Impass
Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off. (Isaiah 33:17)
There is a phrase in the Word: "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty;they shall behold the land of far distances," and thattwo-fold statement can quite truly, and rightly, be applied toHim. He is the King in His beauty; and He is also the Land of FarDistances.
Now, to come into a livingrelationship with the Lord Jesus is to come, sooner or later, tothe impasse of the incomprehensible, and we just have to say:"Lord, You are beyond me! Lord, I cannot comprehend; You aretoo much for me!" That, of course, on the one side, meansdifficulties, for it puts us into a difficult position in that wecannot trace Him, follow Him, and understand Him. But, on theother side, we would not have it otherwise; we would nothave a 'little' Christ whom we could comprehend and altogetherunderstand with our little minds. No, He is beyond us altogether,and what you and I, as His people, are destined to come to if wego on with Him, is just this: that He is ever reaching fartherand farther beyond us, and drawing us out beyond ourselves,beyond our resources of mind and will, yet drawing us on, andmaking us know that we have got to go on. We just cannot standstill; we have to go on.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.
O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. § Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. § You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. § Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. § The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Ps. 48:14; Isa. 25:1; Ps. 16:5; Ps. 23:3,4; Ps. 73:23,26; Ps. 33:21; Ps.138:8
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me! § Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.
I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. § If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God … and it will be given to him.
Who is sufficient for these things? § I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells. § My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you. Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Ps. 94:19; Ps. 61:2; Isa. 38:14; Ps. 55:22; 1Kings 3:7; James 1:5; 2Cor. 2:16; Rom. 7:18; 2Cor. 12:9; Matt. 9:2, 22; Ps. 63:5,6
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Freedom To "Be"
Having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6, ASV).
The law was applied to the natural man, that he might produce; grace is given to the spiritual man, that He might produce."Almost every believer makes the same mistake as the Galatian Christians. Very few learn at conversion at once that it is only by faith that we stand, and walk, and live. They have no conception of the meaning of the Word about being dead to the law, freed from the law - about the freedom with which Christ makes us free (Rom. 7:6). Regarding the law as a divine ordinance for our direction, they consider themselves prepared and fitted by conversion to take up the fulfillment of the law as a natural duty. They cannot understand that it is not to the law, but to a living Person, that we are now bound, and that our obedience and growth are only possible by the unceasing faith in His power and life ever working in us (Phil. 2:13)." -A.M.
"Good and holy and perfect as the law of God is, it is entirely powerless either to justify or sanctify. It cannot in any way make the old nature better; neither is it the rule of the new nature. The old man is not subject to it, and the new man does not need it. The new creation has another object before it, and another power that acts upon it, in order to produce what is lovely and acceptable to God - Christ the object, realized by the power of the Holy Spirit." -W.K.
"Not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life" (Heb. 7:16).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
Blind Faith (JOB-study 2)
A Full Study Of JOB
Spiritual Conflict
Job’s belief was that God only blessed and prospered the upright, man of faith – but calamity after contradictory calamity conflicted with his creed. Job’s comforters believed that God only punished wicked men of sin – as disaster after devastating disaster reinforced this foolish notion. But Job had entered into a spiritual conflict between God and Satan – a spiritual battle that would encompass the 6000 years of 'Man’s Day'. And never once did God make it clear to Job the battle that raged in the spiritual realm.
A Dark Glass
And though Job lost his plain, precise, exact, explicit hold on God…. (that is his 'creed' – his limited understanding of God) – yet Job maintained his unshakable, unqualified, implicit, hold on the Lord…. ( that is his FAITH – his trust in God.) Though he slay me yet shall I TRUST Him. (AV) Job 13:15 Though He slay me yet shall I WAIT for Him. (RV) Job 13:15. It seems that Job was never made aware of his role in the raging, spiritual battleground.. when without warning his life is overturned into incomprehensible havoc. In this violent combat zone, the odds seem so long to prevail in Satan’s favour. And as the devil sneered in taunting scorn – it seemed God looked on helplessly!
Spiritual Victory
Yet unbeknown to Job and evil’s cruel plan – Christ’s It Is Finished cry, would pierce the far reaches of creation’s extremity. A plan conceived in eternity past. A plan conducted and concluded in present time. A plan continuing into eternity’s future. Yes, calamity after contradictory calamity conflicted with Job’s creed, for Job had a limited revelation of Who God was and what God’s character was. Job’s understanding of God was limited. Job’s revelation of the Lord was incomplete, yet Job held fast to his creed, despite overwhelming odds – triumphant in faith, as God (over time) unfolded more and more of His revelation to Job’s spiritual eyes.
Unfolding Plan
Prophets of old down through centuries continued to
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Reaching The Goal
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14RUN, that ye may obtain.
1 Corinthians 9:24Demas has forsaken me..having loved this present world.
2 Timothy 4:10Hold that fast which thou hast... that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 3:11
Long Distance
In a long-distance race it is not the start that hurts, nor even the steady pace of the long stretch. It is as the finishing post is approached and comes into view. That heart – nerves – courage and muscles are strained; strained, almost to breaking point; strained almost beyond human endurance.
Spiritual Race
So now in this spiritual race.. have not the nerves been jangled, and the heart racked with pain, now that the race is nearly run? How often, as the end is in view, have the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.. tempted you to all but fall into the arms of the seductress? Has not your panting soul cried out in anguish, how long, oh Lord before you judge and avenge the wicked?
Stand Firm
Courage, stand firm, dear brother. Courage, be resolute, dear sister. Heed God’s words of encouragement: I am with you always. Listen to God’s Voice of instruction: this is my Beloved Son, hear Him. Obey God’s Command to resolutely stand, and to stand, and to stand firm... and having done all… to stand.
Keep On
In the annals of heaven, the saddest records must be those.. that tell of a race well run.. of those who sped along life’s journey with brave heart and stout will… until in sight of the goal; until the finishing post loomed into view; until their courage failed; until they submitted to the world, the flesh, the tempter, the failing nerve.
Hold Fast
How the host of heaven who rejoices over one sinner that repentd, must long to cry out how close is the end and the goal; to implore that last spurt of strength. But they stumbled and fell... never to realise, until the last
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