Daily Devotion: Divine Council (Part 1 of 2) by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Psalm 82:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods."
- Psalm 82:1 KJV

Psalm 82:1 is a verse you likely never paid much attention to. If you have read the Bible from cover to cover, you likely just read it and moved on. If you paused and reread it, you likely just shrugged your shoulders and said, 'Must be one of those things we were not meant to understand.' But is it?

Daily Devotion: Jesus Feeds The Multitude by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: John 6:7-14 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would."
- John 6:11 KJV

Jesus himself wrought the miracle—but he did it through his disciples. That is his usual way. When he wants to take care of a little baby, and train it for a worthy mission, he puts a portion of his own love and gentleness into a mother's heart, and commissions her to train the child for him.

Daily Devotion: Safe Walking by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Psalm 25:3-10 KJV

Key Verse:  "
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."
- Psalm 25:10 KJV

The paths of the Lord! My soul! never follow your own paths. If you do, you will be in danger often of following sight rather than faith — choosing the evil, and refusing the good. But "commit your way unto the Lord — and He shall bring it to pass." Let this be your prayer, "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths." Oh! for Caleb's spirit, "to wholly follow the Lord my God" — to follow Him when self must be sacrificed, and hardship must be borne, and trials await me. To "walk with God" — to ask in simple faith, "What would You have me to do?" — to have no will of my own — but this, that God's will is to be my will. Here is safety — here is happiness!

Daily Devotion: Fear And Other Passions by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:3-9 KJV

Key Verse:  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
- Proverbs 1:7 KJV

Four things I should fear—God, myself, temptation, and sin. I should fear God, for his greatness; self, for its infirmity; temptation, for its danger; and sin for its defilement. I should fear God with love; myself with caution; sin with hatred; and temptation with resolution. The fear of God will take away the fear of man; the fear of self will moderate the love of self; the fear of sin will make watchful against sin; and the fear of temptation will be an antidote against temptation. My fear of God should be constant with cheerfulness; of self, constant with trembling; of sin, constant with watchfulness; and of temptation, constant with vigilance. The first is my attainment; the second is my duty; the third is my wisdom; and the fourth is my prudence.

Daily Devotion: Born Crucified, Yet Alive In Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Galatians 2:14-21 KJV

Key Verse:  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
- Galatians 2:20 KJV

The Christian life is a daily putting off all that belonged to the unregenerate old self and constantly putting on all that belongs to the new life in Christ. The cross and the resurrection extend their power and influence over the believer’s entire life.

Daily Devotion: Throne Of Grace Is Near by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: Isaiah 65:18-25 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
- Isaiah 65:24 KJV

Remember, the throne of grace is near at hand. You have not to travel far to reach it: no lengthy and painful journey; no wearisome and mortifying pilgrimage. It is near at hand. Lying down or rising up- going out or coming in- in the streets or in the house- in public or in private- in the chamber or in the sanctuary, God is everywhere; and where He is, there is a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. In a moment, in the greatest emergency, you may lift up your heart to the Lord, and in a moment your cry shall be heard, and your request shall be granted.

Daily Devotion: The Loving Kindnesses Of The Lord by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Isaiah 63:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses."
- Isaiah 63:7 KJV

And can you not do this? Are there no mercies which you have experienced? What though you are gloomy now, can you forget that blessed hour when Jesus met you, and said, "Come unto me!" Can you not remember that rapturous moment when He snapped your fetters, dashed your chains to the earth, and said, "I came to break your bonds and set you free!" 

Daily Devotion: What Would Have Happened If Jonah Did Not Repent by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Jonah 1 KJV

Key Verse:  "And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah."
- Jonah 1:7 KJV

The story of Jonah and the whale is probably one of the most beloved Bible stories. Every Sunday School class of small children has heard the story many times. The children in the class can lovingly recite the story back to their teacher without missing any details. But the story of Jonah is not just for children.

Daily Devotion: With The Lord There Is Hope, Mercy And Redemption by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Psalm 130:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption."
- Psalm 130:7 KJV

"Let Israel hope in the Lord." Has she ceased to hope in the creature? Does she despair of salvation from any other source or quarter but the blood of the Lamb? Is she crying, sighing, longing, panting, and begging of the Lord to appear in her soul? "Let Israel," then, "hope in the Lord—for with the Lord there is mercy." He will not spurn his waiting Israel from his feet; he will not smite her with the lightnings of his wrath; he will show mercy to the poor, guilty sinner that comes with dust upon his head, clothed with sackcloth and ashes, mourning and lamenting his vileness before the Lord. There is no wrath in the bosom of the Lord against him; there is mercy, pardoning mercy in the bosom of Jehovah for Israel; therefore "let Israel hope in the Lord."

Daily Devotion: Christ Calls Peter, Andrew, James, And John by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Matthew 4:18-25 KJV

Key Verse:  "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers."
- Matthew 4:18 KJV

Was it not a high honor to follow the Lord Jesus from place to place, to hear his word both in private and public, and to behold his works of power and love? Whom did he call to enjoy this honor? Poor ignorant fishermen; these became his intimate companions, his bosom friends, and his holy apostles. Thus, our glorious Lord stained the pride of all human glory; as he had done before, by lying in a manger, and as he did afterwards, by dying on a cross between two thieves. 

Daily Devotion: Don't Waste The Fragments by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: John 6:5-12 KJV 

Key Verse:  "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."
- John 6:12 KJV

It seems remarkable, that he who so easily could multiply the five loaves into an abundant meal for thousands, should be so particular about 'saving the fragments'. But Jesus would teach us economy. No matter how great our abundance, we should take care of the 'fragments'. After we have eaten at our tables, there are hungry people who would be glad for the pieces that are left over.

Daily Devotion: Providential Overruling by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Romans 8:28-35 KJV 

Key Verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
- Romans 8:28 KJV

My soul! be still! You are in the hands of your Covenant God! Were all the strange circumstances in your history the result of accident, or chance — you might well be overwhelmed! But "all things," and this thing (be what it may) which may be now disquieting you — is one of these "all things" that are so working mysteriously for your good. Trust your God! He will not deceive you — your interests are with Him in safe custody.

Daily Devotion: Slander by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Proverbs 10:18-25 KJV 

Key Verse:  "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool."
- Proverbs 10:18 KJV

What a wicked world do we live in! If happy and successful—we are envied; if miserable—we are despised; and in every condition—slandered. With the psalmist of old, I may say, "the mouth of the slanderer is opened against me." With him I may add, "They have spoken against me without a cause." O that, with him, I could also say, "But I gave myself to prayer!"

Daily Devotion: Blessings out of Buffetings by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:4-11 KJV 

Key Verse:  "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
- 1 Peter 5:10 KJV

What is your response to suffering? There is no escape from intense pressures in this life, but it helps when we get God into the picture.

The apostle Peter wrote to a group of suffering Christians with words of encouragement. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).

Daily Devotion: Satan Is Given Too Much and Too Little Credit by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
- 1 Peter 5:8 KJV

How most people view Satan, also known as the Devil,  is a bit of a paradox. They attribute more power to him than he actually has, while seeing him as a bit of prankster. In fact, he is neither, but has a plan that he is working to bring on Armageddon using the people on earth. 

Daily Devotion: The Chastening Hand Of God by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: Psalm 89:30-37 KJV

Key Verse:  "Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes."
- Psalm 89:32 KJV

Divine love chastens, because it sees the necessity for the correction. The Lord's love is not a blind affection. It is all-seeing and heart-searching. When has He ever shown Himself blind to the follies of His people? When has His love been ignorant of their sinful departures? Was He blind to the unbelief of Abraham? He chastened him for it. Was He blind to the deception of Jacob? He chastened Him for it. Was He blind to the impatience of Moses? He chastened him for it. Was He blind to the self-applause of Hezekiah? He chastened him for it. Was He blind to the adultery and murder of David? He chastened him for it. Was He blind to the idolatry of Solomon? He chastened him for it. Was He blind to the disobedience of Jonah? He chastened him for it. Was He blind to the self-righteousness of Job? He corrected him for it. Was He blind to the denial of Peter? He rebuked him for it.

Daily Devotion: Don't Allow Service To Override Communion by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Luke 10:35-42 KJV

Key Verse:  "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."
- Luke 10:40 KJV

Her fault was not that she served—the condition of a servant well befits every Christian. "I serve," should be the motto of all the princes of the royal family of heaven. Nor was it her fault that she had "much serving." We cannot do too much. Let us do all that we possibly can; let head, and heart, and hands, be engaged in the Master's service. It was no fault of hers that she was busy preparing a feast for the Master. Happy Martha, to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy, too, to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement. Her fault was that she grew "cumbered with much serving," so that she forgot Him, and only remembered the service. She allowed service to override communion, and so presented one duty—stained with the blood of another.

Daily Devotion: All Things Work Together For Good by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Romans 8:26-33 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
- Romans 8:28 KJV

To look at all our varied circumstances; and then to believe that if we are the lovers of God, all things we experience are working together for our spiritual good, what a view does it give us of the wisdom, grace, and power of a wonder-working God! And we are to measure this good, not by what the creature thinks, but by what God himself has declared to be good in his word, and what we have felt to be good in our soul's experience.

Daily Devotion: Christ Takes Up His Abode At Capernaum by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations."
- Isaiah 9:1 KJV

The Lord Jesus chose to reside principally in the most ignorant part of Canaan; he selected the part at the greatest distance from Jerusalem, and which bordered on the wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon. And what led him to do this? Was it not pity for the ignorant and neglected? There are some who are now employed in visiting the courts and alleys of great cities, and some who are going into desolate villages, and some who are leaving their country to dwell among the heathen. Are they not walking in the steps of their Master?

Daily Devotion: Prove Him by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: John 6:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do."
- John 6:6 KJV

Jesus is continually testing his disciples, putting them to the test to draw out their faith. He is constantly bringing before us cases of need, sorrow, and trial—to test us. He wants to draw out our love, our sympathy, our tenderness, and train us to do the works of love which he leaves us in this world to do.

Daily Devotion: Another Comforter by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: John 14:14-21 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"
- John 14:16 KJV

Blessed Spirit of all grace! how often have I grieved You! resisted Your dealings, quenched Your strivings; and yet You are still pleading with me! Oh! let me realize more than I do — the need of Your gracious influences. Ordinances, sermons, communions, providential dispensations, are nothing without Your life-giving power!

Daily Devotion: Secret Societies-Freemasonry by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Leviticus 5:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these."
- Leviticus 5:4 KJV

Introduction1

Freemasonry and other similar "secret" organizations appear to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in God. However, upon closer examination, we find that the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a "Supreme Being", which includes the "gods" of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. The unbiblical and anti-Christian beliefs and practices of this organization are partially hidden beneath an outward appearance of a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith.

Daily Devotion: Love In Its Fourfold Extension by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV 

Key Verse:  "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"
- Ephesians 3:17 KJV

Some things may have—height as the heavens, depth as the sea, and breadth and length as the earth. But divine love has a height which cannot be seen, a depth which cannot be sounded, a length which cannot be limited, and a breadth which cannot be measured! O Lord! may I know your love in its depth, in bringing me out of the lowest hell; in its height, in setting me on the Redeemer's throne; in its breadth, in making me an heir of God; and in its length, in eternalizing my bliss in the regions of glory! This love, in its depth, recovers and restores fallen man to endless felicity; in its height, crowns and confirms the church of the first-born; the inhabitants of the better country walk at liberty in its breadth, and rejoice in its length, its eternal duration.

Daily Devotion: Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Acts 17:27-34 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
- Acts 17:31 KJV

God does not intend for His saved child to live the Christian life without the blessed assurance of eternal life. The apostle Paul had a profound conviction that nothing will be able to separate the believer from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:31-39).

Daily Devotion: Christ Is All, And In All by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:9-16 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."
- Colossians 3:11 KJV

Anything, even if it be the blessed production of the Eternal Spirit of God, which takes the place of Christ, which shuts out Christ from the soul, is dangerous. In the great work of salvation, Christ must be everything or nothing; from Him solely, from Him entirely, from Him exclusively, must pardon and justification be drawn. 

Daily Devotion: God Delivers His People by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Psalm 91:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence."
- Psalm 91:3 KJV

God delivers His people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From, and out of. First, He delivers them from the snare—He does not let them enter it. Secondly, if they should be caught therein, He delivers them out of it. The first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others. "He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler." How?

Daily Devotion: By The Revelation of Jesus Christ by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Galatians 1:6-13 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
- Galatians 1:12 KJV

When I speak of a revelation of Christ, I am not contending for anything visionary. Dreams, voices, appearances in the air, sights and sounds, crosses in the sky, and apparitions at the bedside, I must leave to others. I believe that for the most part they are the portion of dreamers and enthusiasts, for we have all these in the visible Church of God, as well as Pharisees and hypocrites, Arminians and Antinomians. I will not indeed deny that the Lord may have wrought by them in some peculiar instances, as in the cases of Augustine and Colonel Gardiner. But taking the generality of God's people and the ordinary mode of divine operation, the revelation of Christ to the soul is a gracious internal discovery by the power of the Spirit, revealing him to the eyes of faith. 

Daily Devotion: Christ Preaches At Nazareth by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Luke 4:14-32 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."
- Luke 4:16 KJV

The people of Nazareth were much offended with the Lord for not visiting them immediately after his return from Jerusalem. They thought they had the best right to his presence. What a temper of mind was this! Had they any right to Jesus, because he had condescended to be brought up among them? What pride there was in the thought!

Daily Devotion: Conspitatoral History by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Psalm 2:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,"
- Psalm 2:2 KJV

God is outside of time and is not constrained by it. When the world was created He knew every event that would occur and every step that will be taken to bring this world to an end when Jesus returns. God can not be surprised.

Daily Devotion: Jebusites Are Still A Stronghold by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither."
- 2 Samuel 5:6 KJV

The Jebusites still held a stronghold in the heart of the country, never having been dislodged. There are 'Jebusites' in every Christian community, and also in every Christian heart. For example, there is worldliness, which has its Jebusites everywhere.