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)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks

The Essential Nature of the Christian

...The Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. (Colossians 2:19)

What is the believer? In God's sight the believer is one in whom Christ is implanted, and God never looks at Christ in a limited way. He always looks at Him in an absolute way, and when Christ is implanted at the beginning of our life it is not as though God implanted Him in a fragmentary way. God's thought was that the end should be bound up with the beginning, and that Christ should be All and in all. That is why conversion is never an end in itself. It is only the first step toward the full end of God. It defines the nature of the believer in God's sight, that it is of Christ. You cannot make that. No decision cards can accomplish that. You can never make men and women Christians by inviting them to make certain decisions, to assent mentally to certain propositions of Christian doctrine, though perfectly true as to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. There has to be something which constitutes in that individual, right at the very center of the being, a living union with Christ, and a deposit of Christ. Anything other than that is a false conversion. It is the depositing of Christ at the very center of the being, with a view to His spreading to the very circumference, that is the nature of a believer....

You see the pathetic hopelessness of trying to propagate anything by organized means and methods which really is all of God. It simply has to grow, it simply has to be. Ah, but when it is so it is mighty, it is indestructible, it is incorruptible. Nothing can stand in the way of Christ. It is that which rouses hell and the energies of the Devil. He does not mind all the other: doctrine, work,  profession. That may often serve his ends as a great deception and misrepresentation; but bring Christ in, bring Christ through, realize Christ, and then you meet every force in this universe which is antagonistic to Christ.

Bible verses: Colossians 2:19
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

A bondservant of Jesus Christ.

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. § If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. § 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. § Having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. § You are no longer a slave but a son.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. . . . For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.

Rom. 1:1;  John 13:13;   John 12:26;  Matt. 11:29,30;  Phil. 3:7;  Rom. 6:22;  John 15:15;  Gal. 4:7;   Gal. 5:1, 13
Bible verses: Romans 1:1
Topics: Jesus
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel.

His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor. § Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding. § Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. § Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. § Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. § Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. §  He knows the way that I take. §  A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?

You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. § This is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.

Ps. 16:7;  Isa. 9:6;  Prov. 8:14;  Ps. 119:105;  Prov. 3:5,6;  Jer. 10:23;  Isa. 30:21;  Prov. 16:3;  Job 23:10;  Prov. 20:24;  Ps. 73:24;  Ps. 48:14

Bible verses: Psalm 16:7
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford

Selfless Service

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will!” (Eph. 1:11).

It is easy to just "let George do it," but it is so unrewarding. There is a Christ-honoring ministry of being and sharing awaiting each believer, and the secret is to let Christ do it!

"Our Father has a different line of things for everyone, and each of us has been sent into the world for some special mission. It is not a question whether it is great or small; it may be only a flower to shed fragrance, though this is really the greatest of all.

"There is no higher service than moral influence, thy whole body . . . full of light'; and this, of all the highest moral order, is within the compass of all. Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or by death' (Phil. 1:20)." -J.B.S.

"A mark of the true servant is that he is consciously nothing. John could speak of himself as only a voice,' and a greater than John was consciously less than the least of all saints.' The moment we think ourselves to be anything, we are out of the servant's true position and spirit. There is a beautiful contrast between John's account of himself, and the Lord's description of him (John 1:22;27; Luke 7:26;28). The more worthy we are of the Lord's commendation, the less do we think of ourselves." -C.A.C.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10).

Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth

His Threefold Name - Man’s Nature and Destiny (8)


A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny

Threefold Name

Our triune God created triune man: spirit, soul, and body for a threefold purpose:-salvation, sanctification and service, for time and through eternity. God in His mercy and wisdom gave His only begotten Son to be Son of God and Son of Man, with a threefold ‘name’:- Lord – Jesus – Christ.

Person and Purpose

Lord Jesus Christ: given to identify His person and to define His purpose. Lord Jesus Christ, given to designate a believer’s relationship to Him. Lord: His family name to identify His eternal heritage: Lord God Almighty and King of Kings. Jesus: His given name: you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins (Saviour) and Christ the anointed Messiah of God: His occupational name and title that announces His vocation (Messiah). The Lord Jesus Christ was manifest in the flesh for a threefold purpose.

“Lord”

When we refer to Him as ‘Lord’ we recognise His glorious heavenly position, and how we need to worship at His feet, for He is Jehovah, the omnipotent God. All those who placed their faith in Him during His earthly walk called Him ‘Lord‘ – worshipping Him, for He is Yahweh incarnate. And when we call Him ‘Lord’ we acknowledge His deity.

“Jesus”

When we refer to Him as ‘Jesus’ we recognise His humble earthly position. We thrill that He shall be called ‘Jesus’, the name given by heavenly instruction: He shall be called ‘Jesus‘, a name so wonderfully expressive of His humanity. A name so inspiringly magnificent: for He shall save His people from their sins.  A name so spectacularly awesome that it communicates His blessed calling; a name so stunningly majestic that at His name every knee will humbly bow – a name so astonishingly breathtaking and yet He chose me to be His bride.

“Christ”

When we refer to Him as ‘Christ’ we express His mission, function and life-work. This title expresses in glorious technicolour what He came to achieve.. His role.

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Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

Clean Vessels

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
Psalm. 6:2

Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
Lamentations 3:40

Scriptural self-Examination

There is a place for Scriptural self-examination in the Christian life. We read in 1Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself.”  Self-examination is not a focus on self. Self-examination is not an unhealthy introspection, but an examination of the inward heart. A searching of the heart, guided by His Holy Spirit; a testing of the mind and the soul; a proving of our attitudes and motives; an examination of our ways and our walk in case we stray from His chosen path. “Behold, You desire truth in the inward part and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” Psalm.51:6

Submit To The Spirit

Scriptural self-examination starts with submission to the Spirit’s investigations. Consenting to His scrutiny of our innermost thoughts.. desiring His inspection of the hearts deepest secrets.. surrendering to His deep probings in the secluded recesses of our hidden mind – a willing submission to His piercing eyes.. to uncover lurking lusts of fleshly inclinations. It is yielding as He searches the heart to detect any wicked way or wrong attitudes. “Search me O Lord and know me. Discover any evil lurking in my heart.” Psalm 139:23

Test the Heart

Scriptural self-examination is conducted in His presence – a testing of the heart, presided over by the purer eyes of the Lord. An examination of the soul carried out in the light of His Word. It is a probing of the innermost secrets, examined through His eyes of ‘flaming fire – for we are reminded that we are to examine ourselves and explore our hearts. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 2Corinthians 11:31 And remember…. Scriptural self-examination needs to embrace ALL areas of our lives – both outward and inward.

Personal Conduct

Our outward conduct, in the daily round, needs to be tried and tested. Our walk, our ways, and our words..all need to be examined.

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