Verse of the day — 2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10(NASB)
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

Fear not, I am the first and the last

“Fear not, I am the first and the last.”

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest…. But you have come to Mount Zion… and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.—Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.—For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”—Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?—“For who is a God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?”

Rev. 1:17;   Heb. 12:18;  Heb. 12:22,23;  Heb. 12:24;  Heb. 12:2  Heb. 4:15;16;  Isa. 44:6;  Isa. 9:6;  Hab. 1:12;  2 Sam. 22:3

Bible verses: Revelation 1:17
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks

The Power Of The Risen Life

I want to know Christ yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. (Philippians 3:10 NIV)

Do recognize that the Cross is the end of the risen life, and not only the beginning. If you forget everything else, remember that. The Cross is the end of the risen life, as well as the beginning: "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed unto His death." People have been to me with Philippians 3 and have asked: "Why did Paul put death at the end? Surely it ought to be right the other way round 'That I may be conformed to His death, and know Him in the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.'" No, there is no mistake. The order is of the Holy Spirit. The power of His resurrection presupposes that there has been a death, but the very resurrection-life leads to the Cross. The Holy Spirit in the power of the risen life is always leading you back to the Cross, to conformity to His death. It is the very property of Life to rule out all that belongs to death. It is the very power of resurrection to bring us back to the place where death is constantly overcome.

That place is none other than the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ where the natural life is put aside. So Paul says: "...becoming conformed unto His death," which means: to have the ground of death continuously and progressively removed; and that, again, as we have said, is the fruit of living union with Him. It would be a poor look-out for you and for me were we to be conformed to His death in entirety apart from the power of resurrection in us, apart from our already knowing the Life of the Lord. Where would be our hope? What is it that is the power of our survival when the Cross is made more real in our experience? There would be no survival were it not that His risen Life is in us. So Paul prays: "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection..." and that means conformity to His death without utter destruction. The end of the risen life is the Cross. The Holy Spirit is always working in relation to the Cross, in order that the power of His resurrection may be increasingly manifested in us.

Bible verses: Philippians 3:10
Topics: Life
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. § He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. § Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. § You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat.

Who is a rock, except our God? § They shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. § Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let be ashamed of my hope. § This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.

Ps. 61:2;  Phil. 4:6,7;  Ps. 142:3;  Job 23:10;  Ps. 90:1;  Isa. 25:4;  Ps. 18:31;  John 10:28;  Ps. 119:116;  Heb. 6:19
Bible verses: Psalm 61:2
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford

Internal Priority

Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).    

Beware! The world, both secular and religious, is seeking to destroy your individuality by conforming you to the mass of faceless ones. But our heritage and destiny in the Lord Jesus Christ is to be conformed to His image - not at the loss of our individual personality, but by the gain of His nature and character. "I in you"; "Christ liveth in me" (John 15:4; Gal. 2:20).

"Something has got to be done in us as well as for us. We want to proceed on the line of having things done for us, heaven intervening for us, our difficulties removed for us, having a straight path made for us. Heaven may be ready to come in, the Lord may be prepared to work for us, but it is not sufficient for Him - and it would not prove good enough for us - if that were all. The very principle of spiritual growth and maturity demands that He keep the objective and the subjective balanced; that is, that something is done in us as well as for us." -T. A-S.

"We are apt to think that if and when the circumstances and conditions of our lives are changed and we are in another position than the one we now occupy, then something will happen, the purpose of God will begin to be fulfilled. But the Lord says, No, it is not circumstances, not conditions, at all; it is you.'"

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth

Established Need - Grace Thru Faith- study [23]

Grace Thru Faith - STUDY

God’s Principle

Bring up a child in the way he should go…is God’s principle for His own children. He knows the way we should go and has set this eternal principle in our heart. He knows that only as His children submit to His leading will they be truly content, for He knows that only as our 'Jehovah Jirah', will our needs be satiated – only as He is our soul  Supplier – our sole  Provider will we grow in grace.

God’s Peace

He knows that the only peace with God a sinner will know, is His forgiveness, but He also knows that the only path for His children is their need of Him – for it is only as we rest in Him will we find the true peace OF God. It is only as we discover our need of His work – and will in us, will we grow. It is only then that we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, for without Christ we can do nothing John.15:5, but I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. Phil.1:13

Early Life

In the first flush of the Christian journey, the saved saint rejoices in God his Saviour, and God’s grace is experienced as prayers are answered and love starts to bud. And the believer’s early path becomes a way of joyful expectation and euphoric bliss.. others are told of the gospel of grace and others find rest in the same God of our salvation. But God established His principle – that new converts must grow and mature. But WHY? Because God knows that it is love for the Giver more than love of gift that counts.

Establishing Life

God established His principle – that new converts must grow and mature. But HOW? WellGod knows that a sturdy oak is only established amidst the storm’s pressure.. so God set need of Himself deep in the bowels of each believers’ heart - a need to know Him;  a need to

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Bible verses: John 15:5Philippians 1:13
Topics: GraceFaith
Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

Meekness, The Adornment Of The Heart

But the fruit of the Spirit is :-LOVE:- joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
Galatians 5:22

Do not let your adornment be merely outward but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3:4

Godly Graces

Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. Love is not arrogant 1Cor.13:4 – But as for you, O man of God… pursue righteousness; godliness; faith; love; steadfastness; gentleness. 1Tim.6:11. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt.11:29

Dictionary Definition

The dictionary definition of MEEKNESS is.. yielding; obedient; compliant; biddable; tractable; acquiescent; deferential; unassuming; timid; unprotesting; unresisting; like a lamb to the slaughter; quiet; mild; gentle; docile; lamb-like; shy; diffident; tame; self-effacing.. Its antonym is assertive, self-confident; bold; decisive; authoritative; self-assured; self-possessed; forthright; firm; insistent; determined; strong-willed; forceful, assured, commanding; emphatic; pushy..

A Gracious Attribute

So often meekness is aligned with weakness rather than controlled strength. Some consider meekness is thinking meanly about oneself – or others. The picture is often of rather a pathetic, timid little creature.. that wouldn’t say ‘boo’ to a goose. And yet Moses was meek – and Jesus was “meek and lowly of heart,” – and we are told to learn of Him. And we are told to take His yoke of meekness on our shoulders. So meekness is not an inferiority complex or mean thinking or self or others.

An Indefinable Gift

Meekness requires a sober contemplation about ourselves and others too. Indeed in its scriptural context, meekness is a truly gracious virtue.. a special quality that beautifies the character of the one that is meek. An indefinable grace that beautifully augments other godly traits and gifts. A man or woman ‘gifted‘ in the areas that the world holds dear..includes.. intellectual capability; physical beauty; athletic prowess; charismatic charm; artistic capacity; superior oratory skills; business acumen – technical understanding. Many become

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