Verse of the day — Matthew 5:20
For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20(HCSB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
Our Secret Relationship
The Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing. (John 5:20 NLT)
Only those who are absolutely one with God can take responsibilities for Him. Whatever we may call ourselves, however great may be our activity for the Lord, God does not take account of that. It is no use coming to Him and saying: ow Lord, You know that I am engaged in this work, and therefore I want You to help me in this.That is no reason why He should help us. God stands by His children and only works with them on the basis of an inward relationship. Some person who is not in an fficialposition may be far more useful to the Lord than many who have an official ministry and position. What matters is not our spiritual knowledge or official ministry, but our secret relationship with God. God fits us spiritually for His service and upholds our sonship, not our office. He will see to our position if we see to our relationship with Him.
God called Israel His firstborn. He stood by His people on the basis of that sonship. Therefore Israel could take an important and significant position among the nations. It was the chosen vessel of God testimony in the earth. But the day came when it ceased to go on with God as His firstborn. Its inward relationship to God became merely an outward form and God had to withdraw from His people and send them into captivity. It would have been useless if Israel had turned to the Lord with this complaint, hy are You dealing with us in such a way? Are we not Your representatives among the nations?God answer would have been, he official position is nothing to Me. I cannot help you as long as your relationship to Me is not right, as long as you are not in that which your sonship means and demands.You see our position and vocation is in relation to sonship. For that very reason the Lord Jesus put the emphasis upon sonship. He never said that the Father loved the ministry He had come to fulfill on this earth. But He said: i>The Father loves the Son.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. § Abstain from every form of evil. § If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you … But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. § Become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. § Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Bind [mercy and truth] around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. § Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy– meditate on these things.
Titus 2:10; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 5:22; 1 Peter 4:14,15; Phil. 2:15; Matt. 5:16; Prov. 3:3,4; Phil. 4:8
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth. § The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word … Your word has given me life … Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You … I will not forget Your word … I trust in Your word … The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver … I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life … How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
John 6:63; James 1:18; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 5:25,26; Eph. 5:27; Ps. 119:9; Ps. 119:50; Ps. 119:11; Ps. 119:16; Ps. 119:42; Ps. 119:72; Ps. 119:93; Ps. 119:103,104
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Light And Shadow
Before I was afflicted l went astray: but now have I kept Thy word" (Ps. 119:67)
The head-knowledge of Spirit-taught study becomes the heart-knowledge of Spirit-led life, via Romans 8:28 and 29. How good it is to have a sovereign Father controlling all!
"You will find that no one learns truth easily. He who built on the rock was not secure merely because he built on the rock; but he also digged deep. What springs up quickly has no root. The more you understand the nature and scope of the Word, the more will you see the demand it makes on you and how unreserved must be your subjection to it; while as you are subject to it, you learn the blessedness and virtues of it.
"The true value of anything is known only when it is wanted. For this reason bright days must be succeeded by dark ones. In the dreary and desolate hour to nature, we begin to know the value of the truth communicated to us in the bright day. The learning is at one time, and the proving at another. In fact, we ought to be prepared for the dark hour; so that, though it be dark, there is something so blessed, so suited, pouring its comfort and sustenance on our souls, that, after all, the dark and dreary hour becomes a more really festive time to the heart, because of the virtues of the truth now made known, than the time of its reception, which was so happy and exhilarating." -J.B.S.
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while . . . stablish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Pet. 5:10).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
Developing Faith - Grace Thru Faith- study [2]
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Trusting the Word
Faith is simply standing on the facts of the Word of God. But too often our emotions and developed biases prevent us from such trust. We look at our situations and can’t imagine how God could intervene. We look at the world and become confused when God doesn’t seem to interpose. We look at our own needs and like to apply a range of unscriptural 'texts'. Unscriptural 'texts' like “God helps those who help themselves”. Well – possibly in His grace He may…. but maybe, in His sovereignty, He won’t. What we need is to accept the truth of the Scriptures. We need to trust in His Word.
Depending on God
God in His knowledge, wisdom, and love knows what we need. God in His grace knows we need to depend completely upon Him. And we have been so designed to function in total dependence upon the Lord. But the enemy of our souls distorted this truth in His attack on the race in Eden – causing most of us to explore all other avenues, before we finally accept His Way. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, but the Holy Spirit is working in us, to prepare us for that heavenly home. And the most vital area of work in each of us is faith.. that’s trusting His Word.
Pleasing our God
We know that without faith it’s impossible to please God... and yet we ignore His instruction and seek to correct the ills of this world our way. And we sidestep His truth, by trying to sort out our lives, our own way, and it just doesn’t work!!!
A Common Thread
In my life, I have been blessed to read the works of many such saints, and there is one common thread that traverses through each godly life. They all started out, often for decades, trying to live for God their way.. until they came to an end of themselves, and finally accepted God’s way. People like- Muller;
Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Let Us Pray
In everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made know unto God
Philippians 4:6
Reasons to Pray
There are many reasons to pray – indeed we are commanded to pray. We are to pray in spirit and truth; to pray without ceasing; to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ; to pray for our families and leaders of the nation.. to pray for our enemies and those that are lost in their sins. And we are to pray steadfastly and in faith to our Father, Who art in heaven. If we are sick, we are to call mature believers or elders of the churches to pray for us and if we are troubled or happy, suffering hardships or experiencing joy, we should pray at all times to our heavenly Father.
Throne of Grace
Christ’s death on the cross as the Sacrifice for sin tore down the unscalable wall of division that separated a holy God from a sinful race of men, and opened up, to all who would believe in His name, God’s eternal throne-room of grace: let us, therefore, approach God’s throne of grace with confidence and grateful hearts, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 And Jesus reminded us that men ought always to keep on praying and not to lose heart in the process – for God is willing and able to answer all our cries for help and our impossible pleas.
Man of Prayer
Paul was a great example of a man that prayed to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. His prayers were those of thanksgiving for the saints, as well as an earnest desire that they have victory in their earthly walk. He prayed that they might be endued with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding so that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened – to know the hope to which they had been called and the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in his holy people. He prayed that they would be kept safe
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