Verse of the day — James 1:19

This you know, my beloved brethren But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

James 1:19(NASB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks

Emancipation In Christ

Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don get tied up again in slavery to the law. (Galatians 5:1 NLT)

Legalism always crucifies Christ afresh because legalism cuts out the greatest word in Christianity. The word over the door into true Christianity is the word: "Grace." Legalism always wipes out "Grace," and puts in its place "Law." Grace is the chief word in the vocabulary of the Christian. Do you notice that where legalism reaches its fullest expression, it always puts the crucifix in the place of the empty tomb? The badge of the Christian is the empty tomb. That is "Life from the dead." The badge of legalism is a crucifix, "a dead Christ." Legalism always brings death, and the chief thing about Christ is resurrection. It is Life from the dead. This was something that Paul came to see when it pleased God to reveal His Son in him. And he said, "Let me get out of all this legalistic system. Jesus of Nazareth Whom we crucified is alive. He has been revealed alive in my heart."

If we really see the Lord Jesus, we shall be emancipated. Some of us have had that experience. We were in legal systems; our horizon was that system. Then the day came when the Lord opened our eyes to really see the significance of Christ. And that whole system fell away as being all nonsense. No, it is not our business to say, "Come out of this and that, and come into this other." The word "must" or "thou shall" does not belong to this realm. That belongs to the old legal realm. The "must" becomes a spiritual thing, not a legal thing. We could say of Paul, there was a mighty "must" in his spirit. "I have seen the Lord, and I am seeing more and more of what the Lord is, and this is creating in me this great imperative. 'This one thing I do, leaving the things which are behind, I press on toward the mark of the prize of the on-high calling.'" So we do not say, "Change your system." But we do say, "Ask the Lord to reveal His Son in you." Then the great work of emancipation will begin.

Bible verses: Galatians 5:1
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

He … preserves the way of His saints.

The Lord your God … went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day. § As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him. § The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. § Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. § For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. § We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. § With us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.

The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness.

Prov. 2:8;  Deut. 1:32,33;   Deut. 32:11,12;  Ps. 37:23,24;   Ps. 34:19;  Ps. 1:6;  Rom. 8:28;  2 Chron. 32:8;  Zeph. 3:17
Bible verses: Proverbs 2:8
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him … The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all … For the transgressions of My people He was stricken … It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.

Jesus our Lord … was delivered up because of our offenses. § Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. § [He] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

Matt. 27:46;  Isa. 53:5,6;  Isa. 53:8,10;  Rom. 4:24,25;  1 Peter 3:18;   1 Peter 2:24;  2 Cor. 5:21;  Gal. 3:13
Bible verses: Matthew 27:46
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford

Responsibility

These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace" (John 16:33)

There are far too many irresponsible believers. At the same time, there are far too many over-responsible believers who are seeking to carry out the Lord's responsibilities. Our primary concern is to trust Him, and rest in Him, while  it is God who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us...in Christ" (2 Cor. 1:21, Amp.).

"The good fight is the fight of faith. Nothing is easier than to step out of faith into feeling, or sight. But then it is failure, and no longer a fight of faith. When we abide in the Lord Jesus, the force of the assault is borne by Him. He takes the strain and the burden; whilst the believer passes into His triumphs, and is kept in perfect peace through it all.

"The believer then understands the meaning of Asa's words:  Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power....O Lord, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee... (2 Chron. 14:11). Against us? No; against Thee! Why? Because the battle is the Lord's! How often we have looked at the battle as ours and have asked that man shall not prevail against us. But perhaps you are not wholly on the Lord's side; and this may be the secret of your failure. If you want continuous victory, you must be on the side of Him who knows no defeat. The question is not whether the Lord is on your side, but whether you are on the Lord's side." -C.A.F.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isa. 26:3).

Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth

God, My Purity (Study In God - All I Need-21)

Study - GOD, All I Need

Born Dead in Sin

The great desire of the so many saintly people is for purity of heart – for in Matthew we read,  blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8  Born, dead in trespasses and sins, there is a gulf betwixt man and God – a gulf so huge that none but God’s perfect Sacrifice alone, could bridge that gap. Sin in all its ugly shades of black darkness, hangs shroud-like over humanity’s head – but thanks be to God, that in His grace, He has given the way to bring us back to Himself – through the blood of Christ – (incarnate God and perfect Man)

Washed Clean in Blood

The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. 1John 1:7 "Washed in the blood of the Lamb  .." – Such hymns are rarely sung today, for the truth – the shocking truth, that God should die for me is overwhelming. In all its bloody truth, man prefers to hide the truth of God’s eternal sacrifice. Grace is indeed a free gift, but at what tremendous cost. The price paid by the God of the universe was the blood of His only begotten Son. Unless washed in that Blood there can be no peace with God, nor purity of heart – for there is none good – no not one. Romans 3:1

Call to Holiness

The Word of God goes to many lengths to emphasise the need for purity… Be holy for I Am holy 1 Peter 1:16– occurring and reoccurring as a call to come and wash and be cleansed.

Step to Holiness

Man of himself remains dead in trespasses and sins… unless

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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

A Secure Home

Set your affections on things above not on things of the earth.
Colossians 3:2

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.
Psalm 37:25

Wrong Perspective

How our hearts cleave to the dust of this world. How frequently we become unduly occupied with the things of this world. How we cling to the properties and possessions of this life. How we focus on the interests of this life at the expense of the life to come.

Focussed Attention

Are your affections too easily taken up with the froth of this world system? Are you preoccupied with the goods that chain hearts to this realm? Are you choked with the junk and wares that demand your affection? It is true that all good gifts around us are indeed sent from the heavenly Giver, and we thank Him for the day by day protection and provision that He affords us. But does this fluff and flitter claim our focused attention and do we cling to them as our viable security?

Heavenly Perspective

How we need to continually lift our hearts heavenward. How we need to look away from the world to the One Who truly provides. How we need to focus our hearts on Him, Who is our Provider. This calls for a deliberate act; a determined act; a purposeful act – an habitual act, where day by day we consciously, steadfastly, unfaltering look to Him... where we look to Him Who is our all in all; where we look to Him Who is the Lord of Glory. We look to Christ – to Christ alone. He will not fail you and He will not forsake you.. I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor have I not seen his seed begging for bread. Psalm 37:25

Life of Faith

We are called to live by faith.. to live by faith and not by sight.. to trust in the One Who is to be trusted. We are also called to live a life of faith.. a life that relies on

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