Daily Devotion: The Faithful Promiser by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:22-29 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"
- Hebrews 10:23 KJV

The following are a few gleanings from the Promise Treasury — a few "crumbs from the Master's Table," which may serve to help the thoughts in the hour of closet meditation, or the season of sorrow.

Daily Devotion: The Disposal of Providence Always Best by James Meikle

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"
- 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

Why would I still take the government of myself out of your hand, and choose according to my fond desires? Can my ignorance penetrate through the thick darkness of futurity? Who would choose a blind mad-man to guide him through some lonely ways and intricate meanders, with which neither the traveler nor the guide are acquainted in the least: since he might lead him where he desires, and stab him as he strays?

Daily Devotion: Attitude Of God Toward The Saved by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Romans 8:22-29 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
- Romans 8:29 KJV

Was the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross all-sufficient for God to save the sinner? Was His sacrifice sufficient for God to justly keep the sinner saved? Is God lacking in wisdom and power to fulfill His eternal purpose for the saved sinner?

Daily Devotion: Consider Jesus - In The Power Of His Resurrection by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: Philippians 3:8-15 KJV

Key Verse:  "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
- Philippians 3:10 KJV

Is there not some danger of lingering too exclusively at the cross, to the exclusion of the grave of Jesus? In other words, do we give the subject of Christ's RESURRECTION that place in our faith and meditation which we give to His Death, and which God gives it in the great scheme of our salvation? Essential and precious as the atoning Death of Jesus is, it had availed us nothing apart from His Resurrection. We needed more than death--we needed life! We needed more than the bond presented by Divine justice, and paid--we needed the seal of its acceptance on the part of God. This was given when God raised up Jesus from the dead, "who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Daily Devotion: God Will Help You by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10-17 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
- Isaiah 41:14 KJV

This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: "I Myself will help you." "It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! not help you? I have died for you! And if I have done the greater—will I not do the lesser? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose you. I made the covenant for you. I laid aside My glory and became a man for you. I gave up My life for you. And if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help—I would give it to you. You require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need—but it is nothing for me to bestow. 'Help you?' Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of your granary, asking for help—it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat! Just so, you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency. 'I Myself will help you.' "

Daily Devotion: God's Omnipotent Power by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:6-13 KJV 

Key Verse:  "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:"
- Ephesians 1:11 KJV

By these words the apostle brings before our eyes God's omnipotent power as carrying into effectual performance the counsel of his own will towards the objects of his distinguishing favor. An especial blessing is couched in this. Next to a believing view of the purposes of God's grace, and a sweet persuasion of our interest in them, nothing is more strengthening and encouraging than a realizing apprehension of the power of God to carry them into full execution.

Daily Devotion: Jesus' Sinless Life by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

The Bible teaches that Jesus lived a life free from sin, which is a testament to His divine nature. This sinless life is essential for our salvation, as it allowed Him to become the perfect (unblemished) sacrifice for our sins. Jesus though tempted in every way as we are, never committed a sin. The apostle Peter stated it clearly in 1 Peter 2:22 KJV, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” Indeed, Jesus Christ is God. In looking at His sinless life, consider these three points:

Daily Devotion: Science for God by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: Genesis 9:11-18 KJV

Key Verse:  "And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth."
- Genesis 9:11 KJV

Science now explains so many things, which devout people in the past loved to look upon as the very acts of God, that some have begun to wonder whether after all our Father really has anything to do with nature. But what is nature? It is God's handiwork. The powers that work so mightily in earth and air—God put there. Can these powers be greater than he who lodged them in his works? We need never fear that any scientific discovery shall show us a universe without a God. We know, too, that the God who controls all the forces and energies of nature, holding all in his hands—is our Father!

Daily Devotion: Mourning Ended by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Isaiah 60:15-27 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
- Isaiah 60:20 KJV

We have traced, in previous meditations, God's thoughts towards us from a past eternity — loving us with an everlasting love. We have pondered some of His present thoughts of tenderness, kindness, and sympathy, towards His suffering and sorrowing, His tried and tempted people. But as His thoughts have been from everlasting, so are they to everlasting. "He who loved His people out of darkness," says a now glorified saint, "loves them into everlasting light!"

Daily Devotion: Communion With God, What It Is by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Genesis 18:26-33 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place."
- Genesis 18:33 KJV

Communion with God is an expression often in my mouth—but which sinks no further. I may know the word—but neither its blessed import, nor glorious extent. My prayers and practice jar; for while I beg it with my lips, I study not to attain it in my life. Ah! what a stranger am I to that which I would gladly have flattered myself that I am acquainted with! Alas what do I know of walking with God—of that joy which is found in believing? What do I know of the lasting and abiding impressions of his inexpressible love! What do I know of that transforming vision, and assimilating sight which is enjoyed below, whereby the soul is changed into God's image, from glory to glory! What do I know of dwelling in his presence all the day long! What of pouring out my soul in prayer to him! and wrestling with him for the blessing! How seldom is my meditation of him sweet!

Daily Devotion: Attitude of Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:5-12 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
- Philippians 2:5 KJV

The Christian faith of the first century of Christianity was centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. The preeminence of Christ was the focus of the early preaching in the church.  Christianity is Christ, and as in many other passages, Philippians 2:5-12 makes this emphatically clear.

Daily Devotion: Consider Jesus - In His Atoning Blood by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: 1 John 1:3-10 KJV 

Key Verse:  "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
- 1 John 1:7 KJV

The blood of Jesus is everything. It is the central doctrine of our faith, the present and eternal life of our souls. There is no pardon, no salvation, no heaven but by blood--the blood of the Lord Jesus. Were we to relinquish every other revealed truth, and concentrate upon this one our supreme and lasting study, resolving all our knowledge of the Bible into an 'experimental and personal acquaintance' with ATONING BLOOD--as, like a purple thread, it runs from Genesis to Revelation, it would not be a too exaggerated view of this vital and momentous subject. The blood is everything to us--it is everything to God. He provided it, is satisfied with it, beholds it, and when He sees it on the soul, that soul becomes a living and a lovely soul in His sight. May our meditation on atoning blood exalt our views of its dignity, increase in us its power, and endear to our hearts the preciousness of Him who shed it!

Daily Devotion: Prayer Is The Safest Reply To Hatred by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Psalm 109:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer."
- Psalm 109:4 KJV

Lying tongues were busy against the reputation of David—but he did not defend himself; he moved the case into a higher court, and pleaded before the great King Himself. Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred. The Psalmist prayed in no cold-hearted manner—he gave himself to the exercise—threw his whole soul and heart into it—straining every sinew and muscle, as Jacob did when wrestling with the angel. Thus, and thus only, shall any of us benefit at the throne of grace. As a shadow has no power because there is no substance in it, even so that supplication, in which a man's heart is not thoroughly present in agonizing earnestness and vehement desire, is utterly ineffectual, for it lacks that which would give it force. "Fervent prayer," says an old divine, "like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open."

Daily Devotion: Jesus' Virgin Birth by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38 KJV 

Key Verse:  "To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."
- Luke 1:27 KJV

The virgin birth of Jesus is extremely important. The virgin birth was first prophesied in the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14, which was later quoted in Matthew 1:23 as, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

Daily Devotion: The Temptation of Christ by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Matthew 4:1-10 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil."
- Matthew 4:1 KJV

We have read of the great honor that Christ received at his baptism. Immediately afterwards, he was exposed to terrible sufferings and temptations. It is God's method often to prepare his people for great sufferings, by granting them great consolations beforehand. Jesus was "led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." He fasted forty days and forty nights. He was alone amid the wild beasts of the desert; as it is written in Mark 1:13, "he was with the wild beasts." This wilderness was probably the same as that through which Moses led the Israelites. We are told in Deut. 8:15, what kind of a place it was; a place "wherein were fiery serpents, scorpions, and drought, where there was no water." The prophet Jeremiah calls "it a land of deserts and pits; of the shadow of death, that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt," (2:6.) But what was more terrible than all, when Jesus was there, Satan came to assail him with temptations. He had just heard the Father's voice; he had just been anointed by the Holy Spirit! Behold him now in this horrible place, with his more horrible enemy, Satan.

Daily Devotion: In Him Was Life by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: John 1:3-10 KJV

Key Verse:  "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
- John 1:4 KJV

Life is a mystery. We can note its manifestations—but we cannot find its source. We see that a man lives—we see it in his actions; but we cannot tell what it is, that keeps the heart beating, beating, beating, without pause, for sixty, seventy, years. We can read the poet's lines, and look at the artist's pictures, and hear the musician's songs; but what do we know of the inner mental life that produced the poem, the pictures, the songs? It is hidden life.

Daily Devotion: Divine Treasures by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Malachi 3:11-18 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."
- Malachi 3:17 KJV

The preceding context tells us of "a book of remembrance" that was "written before Him, for those who feared the Lord, and who thought upon His name." That book of remembrance was a record of the believer's "thoughts" towards God. We have here the wondrous counterpart — God's thoughts towards the believer. We have two beautiful pictures of earth and Heaven! On earth, His children are gathered together, speaking "often one to another" — of the great and glorious Being they delight to serve. In Heaven, He who sees in secret, "hearkens" — and thus records His own gracious thoughts respecting them in the book of life, "They shall be Mine, says the LORD Almighty, in that day when I make up My jewels!" (or "My precious treasure"

Daily Devotion: Death by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:21-28 

Key Verse:  "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"
- Hebrews 9:27 KJV

If there is a time to rejoice, there is also a time, yes, many a time to mourn. And God has set the one over against the other, that men may not forget eternal realities. This day I have attended the funeral of a friend, who is carried away from his weeping widow, and fatherless children, who all bewail him; yes, sighs may be heard, and sorrow seen in the countenances of his loved ones.

Daily Devotion: As You Have Received Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Colossians 2:6-13 KJV 

Key Verse:  "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:"
- Colossians 2:6 KJV

The only way you can live the Christian life is by divine provision.  Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33 KJV).

Daily Devotion: Consider Jesus - As Receiving Sinners by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: Luke 15:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."
- Luke 15:2 KJV

Nothing gave greater offence to the scribes and Pharisees than the divine mission of Jesus to save sinners. No greater and more virulent accusation could they allege against Him, than that, He extended His compassionate regards to the vile and the wretched, admitting the most flagrant offenders to His mercy, and inviting the most notorious sinners to His fellowship. And yet this, His greatest reproach, was His highest honor. Pluck this jewel from His mediatorial crown, and it has lost its costliest gem. Extract this note from the "joyful sound," and you have hushed its sweetest melody. Remove this object of His mission from His coming, and you have reduced His incarnation, sufferings, and death to a gigantic waste.

Daily Devotion: One God In Three Distinct Persons by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Matthew 28:13-20 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
- Matthew 28:19 KJV

The Trinity is one God existing in three distinct Persons. The word Trinity is not used in the Bible, but the concept is throughout the New Testament and has its foundation in the Old Testament. Our finite minds struggle to comprehend the many nuances of the Trinity.

Daily Devotion: The King's Daughter by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Psalm 45:9-16 KJV 

Key Verse:  "The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold."
- Psalm 45:13 KJV

This is a beautiful description of the bridal garments of the Church as the queen. The gold was to be wrought into her clothing, the clothing to be of needlework, intimating that her robe of justifying righteousness was wrought, as it were, as in needlework, stitch by stitch; yet that every thread was embroidered with gold. Here we have the thread of the humanity, in union with the gold of Deity--and yet each in such close union that the thread is but one. In gold thread the beauty, the value is in the gold; yet how close the union. Gold by itself could not be made into embroidery. So Deity cannot suffer, bleed, or die; but humanity can in union with it. Thus, as our blessed Lord went through the whole work which the Father gave him to do, his Deity, being in union with his obeying, suffering humanity, stamped each successive movement, as he went through it, with all the value and validity of Godhead. It is this union of Deity with humanity which made the work of redeeming love so unspeakably glorious, and so meritoriously efficacious. As Deer says, "Almighty God sighed human breath."

Daily Devotion: The Baptism Of Jesus by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Matthew 3:10-17 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him."
- Matthew 3:13 KJV

One of the most wonderful events ever transacted on this earth is recorded in this passage. We behold the Son of God in great humility coming to be baptized by John, as though he had been a sinner—and we behold the Everlasting Father and the Spirit, honoring him with unspeakable honor. Well might John be surprised to see the Son of God apply to him for baptism! He objected to baptizing one so much greater than himself, saying, "I have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" It appears, therefore, that John knew who he was; yet we read in John's gospel (1:33) that he knew him not; God therefore must have made John know him at the time of the baptism. It may appear strange that John would not have known him, as Elizabeth, his mother, was the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus; but then we must remember that they had been brought up in distant parts of the land. God had wise reasons for not permitting them to be known to each other until this time. If John had known Jesus before as a relative, it might then have been supposed that he had been deceived by Jesus—but since that he had never seen him, no deception could be suspected.

Daily Devotion: All Things Were Made By Him by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: John 1:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
- John 1:3 KJV

We like to look at a beautiful piece of workmanship, and remember that some beloved friend of ours fashioned it. This makes it more precious and sacred.

Daily Devotion: Guidance In The Dark by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Isaiah 42:9-16 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
- Isaiah 42:16 KJV

There are times when God's dealings with His people are perplexing — His thoughts very deep — His ways past finding out — when the present is full of difficulty, and the future is full of anxiety. Their condition is that of blind men groping about — the whole of life a mazy labyrinth, of which they have lost the guiding thread. Their path seems shut up. Pharaoh is behind, and the raging Red Sea in front — their feeling is, "We are entangled; the wilderness has shut us in."

Daily Devotion: Love in God by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Romans 8:32-39 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Romans 8:39 KJV

Love in the saints is a noble grace—but superlatively glorious in God. On it angels look, and admire; and I should look, and adore. Everything in God has the majesty of a God. Hence, his mercy is in the heavens; his truth reaches to the clouds; his justice is like majestic mountains; his judgments are a great deep; his pity is like that of a father; his patience great to a miracle; he is ready to forgive; his goodness is abundant unto all; and his love, in height, breadth, depth, and length—past knowledge.

Daily Devotion: Ascension of Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Acts 1:6-13 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
- Acts 1:9 KJV

“And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Daily Devotion: Jesus Is Both God And The Son Of God by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: John 10:26-33 KJV 

Key Verse:  "I and my Father are one."
- John 10:30 KJV

Most "Christian" cults will readily say that Jesus is the Son of God, but will stop short of saying that Jesus is God. One of the defining attributes of a cult is that they deny the deity of Jesus - simply put, they do not believe that Jesus is God. 

Daily Devotion: Lord Do As You Have Said by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 7:22-29 KJV

Key Verse:  "And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said."
- 2 Samuel 7:25 KJV

God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He intended that they should be used. God's gold is not miser's money—but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better, than to see His promises put in circulation. He loves to see His children bring them up to Him, and say, "Lord—do as You have said."

Daily Devotion: Inward Trials and Afflictions by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Proverbs 14:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."
- Proverbs 14:1 KJV

I believe no true Christian can be satisfied with a notional religion--though a miserable backslider, and driven into the fields to feed swine, he cannot feed on their husks, but sighs after the bread of his Father's house. The eyes being enlightened to see the nature of sin, the justice and holiness of God, and the miserable filthiness of self, the quickened soul can find no rest in anything short of a precious discovery of the Lamb of God; and the more that the soul is exercised with trials, difficulties, temptations, doubts, and besetments of various kinds, the more does it feel its need of that blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Daily Devotion: John Instructs The People by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Luke 3:10-17 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?"
- Luke 3:10 KJV

We have seen that John the Baptist was a very faithful preacher, one who spoke to the rich as well as to the poor of their sins. But we do not hear that the Pharisees and Sadducees took warning from his sermons—yet there were some people who did. The people (that is, the common people—as they are called) said, "What shall we do, then?" What did they mean by this question? Did they mean, "What shall we do to be saved?" No, that was not the question. We read, in the Acts, of a penitent jailer who said to the apostle Paul and his friend Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." (Acts 16:31.) No doubt John would have answered the people in the same manner, if they had asked him the same question; he would have said, "Believe in him who comes after me."