Verse of the day — Ephesians 2:4
But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,
Ephesians 2:4(HCSB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
God's Continuous Work in Man
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:9,10 NIV)
Christ Himself, when He was here, never failed to let people know that when they entered that door, or that straight and narrow way, they were in for trouble. Now that may sound like a very terrible thing to say, especially to you young Christians who are not far inside the door, but be perfectly clear about it; the Lord Jesus never deceived anybody about this, never at all. He let people know that to “follow Him,” as He put it at that time, involved them in difficulty and suffering and persecution and trial and a lifelong thing. There is a cost here, a great cost. And we shall discover that while there are the compensations, for there are undoubtedly the compensations in this life and the mighty compensations for eternity, this is a way which is not easy for the natural man by any means. This work of the Holy Spirit is drastic, exacting, and very trying to the flesh. Make no mistake about it; it will take all the energy that the Holy Spirit Himself has to accomplish this work. It really will. So the Lord Jesus has not left us in any doubt about this.
But note, and I am glad the Apostle Paul puts it like this, because it is so true to experience, “The new man who is being renewed.” Notice, first there was a precise and definite transaction, “Ye put off” and “ye put on,” but now the work that is going on is not a single act of a single moment and a single day, but it is something that is going on in us.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
What is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good. They pass by like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey. § You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: in the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers. § Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away.
The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. § They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. § Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
James 4:14; Job 9:25,26; Ps. 90:5,6; Job 14:1,2; 1 John 2:17; Ps. 102:26,27; Heb. 13:8
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. § Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever.
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful … Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God.
And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18,19; Col. 3:16; Ps. 145:21; Ps. 147:1, 7; Rev. 14:2
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Christian Culture
And He shall stand, and shall feed His flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide" (Micah 5:4, ASV).
To an overwhelming degree "we are what we eat" - spiritually as well as physically. "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts" (Jer. 15:16).
"The best merely human literature that was ever written will not feed the new nature. You may bring the noblest thoughts which ever sprang from a human mind, you may couch them in the most fragrant rhetoric that ever distilled the perfume of literature in the book lover's nostrils and you will not quicken a single pulse of the new and spiritual life. Shakespeare may analyze, Milton soar, Bacon lead us step by step up the royal stairway of induction to the throne of logic, yet not a gleam of light or pulse of strength will be added to the Christ within." -I.M.H.
"With God all is uncultured which is not in accord with the likeness of Christ - of Him in whose image man was first created. Christ is the typical Man, and all in our education which is not after the pattern, after His likeness, is uncultured - only a caricature. We have only that degree of culture which results from the measure in which the image of the Lord Jesus Christ has penetrated us."
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
Dependent Faith - Grace Thru Faith- study [4]
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Need for Faith
Every true-born child of God longs to have faith, more faith, much faith.. so that they too will produce fruit, more fruit much fruit. For without Faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6. For Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. John 15:8. Most of us have prayed for more faith, desiring to be like a spiritual giant in the faith.. often aspiring to spiritual 'success' – without embracing its aggressive pain. Often skipping to the last chapter of the book, without reading the long life-journey.
Growth of Faith
Yet the truth is that real faith is always increased by opposition and trials. But opposition means deep pain, deep despair, deep loss, and deep aloneness.. and trials mean deep disappointments and a deep refining of all that relies on self. Oh 'false' confidence may damage, discourage of even destroy dishonest ‘faith’.. but real faith in the One Who can be trusted – will be sharpened and honed– but it takes time… and it takes pain. Much time and too often deep, deep pain.
Trial of Faith
Every great man of God in Scripture or church history finally saw Peter’s truth. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7
Food of Faith
Saving Faith is instantaneous... and praise God it is finished at the time of rebirth. Sanctifying Faith is the slow, long-term build-up of trust over an entire lifetime.. and little by little; line by line, God slowly delights to increase His children’s faith. Ironically trials, obstacles, difficulties, and even defeats are the food of faith. Paradoxically, the building blocks of trust are what we would prefer to avoid.
God Dependence
But faith is absolute and unconditional dependence upon God – believing His Word. Faith is accepting unquestioningly His Word as fact.. depending upon Him alone. Faith is dependence..
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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
Life Eternal
Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?
John 14:9I am in the Father, and the Father in Me. The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.
John 14: 10This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.
John 17:3
Eye-Witness
Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me? This disciple had been with the Lord for over three years. He has seen Christ's beautiful life. He had felt His gentle touch. He had witnessed His strength and His kindness. He had been an eye-witness to His works of power and His words of wisdom.
Wrong Perception
Surely after such a length of time, this disciple should have known his Lord? Surely after such intimacy, he should have a greater awareness of Who He was? How this must have saddened the heart of the Saviour to say.. hast thou not known me, Philip? Yes, Jesus had to tell him that he did not really know Him at all. How could Philip have been with the Lord so long and yet not know Him? How was this possible?
Warning Word
What a warning to each of us to examine our own walk with the Lord. What a caution for each of us to take note of our spiritual journey with Him. What a lesson to find we can walk a long time with the Lord and not know Him.. not really know Him – not know Him as intimately as He desires to be known.
Gentle Reproof
Jesus loved Philip with a godly love that is impossible to understand. Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as I have loved you.. and yet His gentle reproof to this precious disciple was: have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me? John 14:9
Know or KNOW
Philip 'knew' the man, Jesus of
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