Daily Devotion: Bible Word – Propitiation by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Romans 3:25 KJV

Key Verse:  "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
- Romans 3:25 KJV

Propitiation is a deep and powerful word that means the turning away of wrath by the offering of a sacrifice. In the Bible, it refers to how Jesus Christ satisfied the righteous judgment of God against sin. God is holy and just, and sin must be punished, but in His love, He provided a way for that judgment to be fulfilled without destroying us. Jesus became that sacrifice.

Daily Devotion: What Are We Then To Seek by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 45:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."
- Jeremiah 45:5 KJV

Whatever schemes and projects the Lord's people may devise that they may prosper and get on in the world, he rarely allows their plans to thrive. He knows well to what consequences it would lead--that this ivy creeping round the stem would, as it were, suffocate and strangle the tree. The more that worldly goods increase, the more the heart is fixed upon them; and the more the affections are set upon idols, the more is the heart drawn away from the Lord. He will not allow his people to have their portion here below. He, therefore, says to them in his providence, as well as in his word, "Seek them not."

Daily Devotion: Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Mark 5:35-43 KJV 

Key Verse:  "While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"
- Mark 5:35 KJV

With what eagerness the ruler must have watched the Savior's progress towards his house! It must have been a trial to him to see the steps of his deliverer retarded by the surrounding crowd. But what a blow it was to hear his child was actually dead! Those who brought the message thought that Jesus could not now relieve the poor father. They said, "Why trouble you the Master any further?" Yet why did they speak thus? Is there anything too hard for the Lord? If he could heal by his power, could he not also restore life by the same power?

Daily Devotion: Thoughts Of Peace And Not Of Evil by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 29:8-15 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
- Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

It is better that we should not know our future. If we did, we would often spoil God's plan for our life. If we could see into tomorrow, and know the troubles it will bring, we might be tempted to seek some way of avoiding them, while really they are God's way to new honor and blessing.

Daily Devotion: Deliverance In Trouble by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Psalm 50:15-23 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
- Psalm 50:15 KJV

How varied are our days of trouble! Sickness, with its hours of restlessness and languor. Bereavement, with its rifled treasures and aching hearts. Loss of substance; the curtailment or forfeiture of worldly possessions; riches taking to themselves wings and fleeing away! Or, more severe than all — the wounds from friends; abused confidence; withered affections; hopes scattered like the leaves of autumn!

Daily Devotion: Mercies Abused by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us," - Ephesians 2:4 KJV

Many are the mercies we receive from heaven. It is shocking to think how we convert these mercies into an occasion of sin, and make them the cause of awful miseries. By the senses of the body the soul is wounded. Our eyes, which should look straight on, and by which we may search the scriptures of truth—are full of adultery, and used only in conveying vain objects to our mind. Our ears, which should hear the sound of the everlasting gospel, the words of life—take in only blasphemies, backbitings, evil reports, impure discourse, vain blasphemies, and contentions; and, alas! are entertained with these evil things! Our lips and tongues, which should move only to mutual edification—are employed in detraction and slander, and dwell on profane and trifling themes. Our feet, that should carry us to the house of God, and about our lawful affairs—run only to mischief, and are swift in the ways of wickedness.

Daily Devotion: Evidence that Demands Our Faith by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-8

Key Verse:  "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
- Hebrews 12:2 KJV

How do I know that God has fully accepted the death of Jesus Christ as payment for my sins? “When Jesus died, He died as my representative, and I died in Him; when He rose, He rose as my representative, and I rose in Him. . . . I look at the cross of Christ, and I know that atonement has been made for my sins; I look at the open sepulcher and the risen and ascended Lord, and I know that the atonement has been accepted. There no longer remains a single sin on me, no matter how many or how great my sins may have been. My sins may have been as high as the mountains, but in the light of the resurrection the atonement that covers them is as high as heaven. My sins may have been as deep as the ocean, but in the light of the resurrection the atonement that swallows them up is as deep as eternity” (R. A. Torrey, The Bible and Its Cross, pp. 107-08).