Daily Devotions
"I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3 NLT
JANUARY 21
"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."- Ephesians 5:16
To redeem means ‘to rescue from loss. We are to use our time wisely, and not waste it. There are so of so many ways we can spend our time, and after we have spent it, it is gone. One question we can ask ourselves is: "Will I be better off if I apply my time in this way, or is there a better way I could put it to use?" Psalms 90:12
January 21
If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)
CROSS-BEARING is closely related to self-denial, and yet a distinction between them may be noted. Self-denial relates more particularly to passive obedience and endurance for the Lord's sake; cross-bearing has to do more especially with activities in the Lord's service, which we find to be contrary to our natural inclinations. Faithfulness in self-denial means courage and zeal; cross-bearing means victory, overcoming. Our self-denials may be victories in our own hearts, of which others may know nothing, and of which they should know nothing, if we desire to have the fullness of the Lord's blessing. Our cross-bearing, however, may be seen to some extent at least, by those who are in close contact with us, and especially by those who are walking in the same "narrow way."
January 21
The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12
OUR Heavenly Father is deeply interested in everything that relates to us and ours. What thing is too small for his notice who numbers even the very hairs of our heads?...Fallen creatures though we be, from the noble estate in which we were created, God so loved our race, even while we were yet sinners, as to make provision at great cost for our redemption and restitution and subsequent eternal glory. And therefore it is--because he loves us--that through Christ he extends to us the gracious favor of coming to him as children to a father. We need have no fear that he is too busy with other matters of greater importance, or that he is weary of our coming to him repeatedly with things of small importance. It is our privilege to enter into our closets and shut the doors and pray to our Father which seeth in secret, who will reward us openly.
Devotional Books
Exceeding Great and Precious Promises
