Daily Devotion: Christ Risen The Firstfruits by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 KJV 

Key Verse:  "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV

Christ risen is the firstfruits of that mighty crop of buried dead whose remains still sleep in the silent dust, and who will be joined by successive ranks of those who die in him, until all are together wakened up in the resurrection morn. The figure is that of the sheaf of the firstfruits which was waved before the Lord before the harvest was allowed to be reaped (Lev. 23:10, 11). This offering of the wave sheaf was the consecration and dedication of the whole crop in the field to the Lord, as well as the manifest pledge that the harvest was fully ripe for the reaper's sickle.

Daily Devotion: Parables Of The Mustard-Seed And Leaven by Favell Lee Mortimerw

Bible Reading: Matthew 13:31-35 KJV

Key Verse:  "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:"
- Matthew 13:31-35 KJV

We will now consider several short parables that our Savior related, but of which he gave no interpretation; still we may endeavor from other parts of Scripture to discover their meaning. The seed of the mustard-tree is smaller in proportion to the size of the tree it produces, than any other seed. In eastern countries the mustard-tree has immense spreading branches, which afford a fit shelter for the birds.

Daily Devotion: Forgiveness by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32 KJV

Key Verse:  "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
- Ephesians 4:32 KJV

Forgiveness is one of the clearest marks of a heart transformed by grace. It does not come naturally to the flesh, which desires justice, vindication, and repayment. Yet Scripture teaches that forgiveness flows from remembering how much we ourselves have been forgiven by God.

Daily Devotion: A Hope Of Resurrection by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: Acts 24:14-21 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."
- Acts 24:15 KJV

A hope of resurrection to a believer in Christ—ought to be a wonderful inspiration in the earthly life. The grave is not the end; we shall come again from it in new beauty, and shall live on forever. Not only did Christ teach that the dead shall rise again—but he himself went down into the grave and then came out again, after three days, alive! Thus he showed the reality of resurrection; one man died and rose again, and may not all? But his resurrection meant more than that. He was the head of his people, and as such—his victory was for them. He met and conquered death for them.

Daily Devotion: A Loving Purpose by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Psalm 35:21-28 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
- Psalm 35:27 KJV

What is "prosperity?" Is it threads of life weaved into a bright outcome? a full cup? ample riches? worldly applause? an unbroken circle? No! these are often a snare; received without gratitude; dimming the soul to its nobler destinies. Often spiritually, it rather means God taking us by the hand into the lowly Valleys of Humiliation; leading us as He did His servant Job of old; out of his sheep, oxen, camels, health, wealth, children; in order that we may be brought before Him in the dust, and say, "Blessed be His holy name!"

Daily Devotion: The Soul's Growth by James Meikle

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV 

Key Verse:  "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
- 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV

When I look back a few years, I recollect, that my thoughts about common things were much contracted to what they are now. "When I was a child, I thought as a child;" for though I heard surrounding sounds, and the speeches of all about me, yet they were too vast for me to comprehend; nor could I convey my ideas to them in articulate words. Yes, when I rose a little from this infantile state, I could not shake myself free of my ignorance, nor from any proper notion of the embelting oceans, opposite poles, and the earth hung upon nothing. Still I knew nothing of the heavenly bodies, of the glorious sun, splendid moon, or sparkling stars; of the beauteous rainbow, falling showers, and flashing thunders. These things, then too sublime for me to think on, are now, in some sense, both intelligible and familiar; and this arises, not from any addition of new powers—but from an increase of the faculties of my soul.

Daily Devotion: Dying Daily and Our Life in Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV 

Key Verse:  "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." - 1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV

Spiritual growth is making real in our daily experience what is already true for us in Christ. Our progressive sanctification is an ever putting off all that belongs to the old man, and putting on all that belongs to the new man in Christ.