Verse of the day — Colossians 1:5
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about [this hope] in the message of truth, the gospel
Colossians 1:5(HCSB)
Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
The Meaning of Divine Life
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:13)
We have to put back all our schemes, and all our plans, and all our arrangements, and all our programs for the Lord, and in the secret place with the Lord get into the value of true, living, spiritual union with Him, that the purpose may not commence with us in our thought, in our desire, in our will but may begin with God and find a registration in us from God. He would have us see with spiritual perception what He is doing, and do it, and "in like manner"; for God is as particular about His method as He is about His purpose. The question is not one of doing a thing for God, but of God. That is why the Apostle adds that governing clause to his great statement about the new creation, when he says, "If any man be in Christ there is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things are become new. But all things are of (out from) God...." In the new creation all things are out from God.
There is a Man in the work of God. There is a Man to whom all the works of God are entrusted. There is one Man, only one. All the works of God are bound up with that Man in the glory. The important thing for us is to see what Christ is; not only who Christ is (though it is important to see that Christ is God), but what Christ is, that Christ is an inclusive new-creation Man; that He is a Divine humanity now, and that He fully and utterly, conclusively and finally, expresses the thought of God. There is no expression of God apart from Jesus Christ, so far as the new creation is concerned. God's thoughts, God's will, God's desires, God's works, are finished in Him. He is the First and the Last, and you cannot get outside of that.
Morning Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. § By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.
Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.§ Christ … will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. § As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
1 John 3:2; John 1:12; 2 Peter 1:4; Isa. 64:4; 1 Cor. 13:12; Phil. 3:20,21; Ps. 17:15
Evening Daily Light by Samuel Bagster
“The Man . . . is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts.
In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. § I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. § I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me.
Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh. § Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. § To the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”
Let all the angels of God worship Him.
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Zech. 13:7; Col. 2:9; Ps. 89:19; Isa. 63:3; 1 Tim. 3:16; Isa. 9:6; Heb. 1:3; Heb. 1:8; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 19:16
None but the Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford
Plus, Or Minus?
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6).
Grace + Law = Death. Grace - Law = Life!
"Covenant theology, which has molded the major theological conceptions for many generations, recognizes no distinctions as to ages, therefore can allow for no distinctions between law and grace. This dominating attitude of Covenantism must account for the utter neglect of life truth (growth) in all their works of theology.
"No more representative theological dictum from the Covenant viewpoint has been formed than the Westminster Confession of Faith, which valuable and important document recognizes life truth only to the point of imposing the Ten Commandments on Christians as their sole obligation, and in spite of the teachings of the New Testament which asserts that the Law was never given to Gentile or Christian." -L.S.C.
"While freeing believers from the bondage of Rome, the Protestant Reformation brought them back, in large measure, under the bondage of Sinai. The Reformation took away one set of bindings, but bound the believers with another - and this has atrophied the spiritual life of multitudes." -D.G.B.
"Not a single cluster of living fruit ever was, or ever will be, culled from the tree of legality. Law can only produce dead works,' from which we need to have conscience purged just as much as from wicked works.'" -C.H.M.
"Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free" (Gal. 5:1).
Devotional Studies by Elizabeth Haworth
God’s Divine Omnipotence - Character and Attributes of God (1)
STUDY - Character and Attributes of GOD
The Key to Success
Knowledge, we are told, is the key to success, and knowledge is acquired from teachers, books, and the circumstances of life. And a greater knowledge is built upon a lesser knowledge.. but the frail human mind, intricate though it is, cannot secure all knowledge!!
God’s Knowledge
But God is the Omnipotent One Who knows all things with perfect knowledge.. yet God is and has been, and ever shall be the all-knowing Omnipotence – never learning, nor being taught, for His knowledge is eternally all-perfect. He knows each creature and every one. He knows every power and principality. He knows each law, every mystery, every cause, and effect – each desire and secret. He knows everything visible and invisible; natural and spiritual; good and evil – in time and in space and in eternity. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows the thoughts of every heart. He knows the very number of our hairs and the secret longings of each heart.
God’s Wisdom
He knew us as we were secretly being formed in the womb of our mother. He scheduled each day of our lives and knows the future plans He has for each of us. He knew us before the worlds began, and He chose us then, to be His bride. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.. how unsearchable are His judgments – and His ways past finding out! Rom.11:33. That is a God that is worth knowing.
God Incarnate
It is good to learn what we can about Him, for it does give us understanding. And it is good to search the scriptures daily to find out all that God has told us. But the vital necessity of each child of God is to know this Divine Omnipotence. And God in His perfect grace and consummate love made Himself known, in and through the person of the lovely Lord Jesus Christ – the Word made flesh.
Knowing Him
But how few want to know Him. How very few
read more
Knowing Jesus Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth
The Choice of Trust
Sanctification Foundations
Paul was given the foundations upon which the sanctified life rests. A believer can choose to apply those sanctification doctrines, or not. Ignoring them can never affect the eternal security of the one that is born again, but ignoring them can affect the believers' promised reward.
Sanctification Principles
Believers that apply sanctification principles God’s way, grow in grace. They grow in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are trained as children, in obedience and long-suffering. They become mature believers and are treated as sons, through child-training. Sons are perfected in Christ, for this is God’s route to full sanctification. Those that apply sanctification principles, God’s way, attain unto spiritual maturity.
Sanctification Route
Believers that don’t apply sanctification principles God’s way can’t grow in grace, for they are carnal and living a life that is focused in the old, self, Adamic life. Eternally saved but not growing into a full knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternally saved but they don’t become mature believers in Him. Eternally saved but refusing the training given to sons, for sons are trained in obedience and long-suffering, and sons are perfected in Christ – for this is God’s route to sanctification. Those that don’t apply sanctification principles in God’s way, don’t mature spiritually.
Abraham’s Promise
In Hebrews 11 we are told that Abraham did not receive the promise. The promise to Abraham was not fulfilled in this world.. in this mortal life. Abraham died before fulfilment of God’s promises to him were achieved, and 4000 years have passed and Abraham’s full promise remains unfulfilled. So a human mind could accuse God as One Who reneged on His promises, and yet we know from scripture that God is not a man that He should lie. But Abraham chose to continue to trust God, even though it was yet unfulfilled. Abraham chose to trust in God’s Word, even though yet unfulfilled. Abraham believed what God said. Abraham trusted His word. Abraham was a man of faith, and it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
Abraham’s Faith
Abraham, and all the lives of the
read more