Daily Devotion: A Condition In Chastisement by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:"
- 1 Peter 1:6 KJV

Three gracious words! Not one of all my tears has been shed for nothing! Not one stroke of the rod has been unneeded — or might have been spared! Your heavenly Father loves you too much, and too tenderly, to bestow harsher correction than your case requires!

Daily Devotion: The Soul's Enlargement In Heaven by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
- Genesis 1:1 KJV

Here the soul, confined to to its clay tenement, is like a royal personage in prison, whose grand attendance is not seen, because he cannot come abroad. While this heaven-born excellency is here below, wisdom differs but a little from folly: understanding is but a few degrees removed from ignorance: and all the mental powers are feeble. But O the enlargement of the soul in heaven! This map of future glories, now folded up in flesh, shall be extended in breadth and length above. How penetrating then shall wisdom be! how active every power! how vigorous the flame of love! how enlarged the understanding! and how beautiful in the heights of glory shall the whole soul appear!

Daily Devotion: But I Don’t Have Enough Faith by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
- Romans 5:1 KJV

I often hear people say, “I am afraid I don’t know if I have enough faith.” How much faith do you need in order to be saved? The Bible does not teach that you are justified because of your faith. Faith is not works.

Daily Devotion: What Happens When You Put Your Family Before God by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:32-38 KJV 

Key Verse:  "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
- Matthew 10:37 KJV

We have all seen it. People will continuously miss assembling themselves together in the house of God as commanded in Hebrews 10:25 to go to family reunions, ballet recitals, music recitals, ballgames, birthdays, weddings, etc. when it involves a child, grandchild or other family members. Everyone will miss an occasional service for a significant family event, but it should never be a regular or a routine part of our lives. So let's look in the Bible to see what happens when family is put before God.

Daily Devotion: Do You Love Your Brother by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: 1 John 3:14 KJV

Key Verse:  "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
- 1 John 3:14 KJV

For it is a thing of whose possession the believer may be assured. He can speak of its possession with holy boldness and with humble confidence. The life of God in the soul authenticates itself. It brings with it its own evidence. Is it possible that a believer can be a subject of the quickening grace of the Holy Spirit, and not know it? Possess union with Christ, and not know it? The pardon of sin, and not know it? Communion with God, and not know it? Breathing after holiness, and not know it? Impossible! 

Daily Devotion: Your Heavenly Father by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:24-31 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
- Matthew 6:26 KJV

God's people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call Him, "Our Father in heaven." Father! Oh, what precious word is that! Here is authority: "If I am a Father—where is my honor?" If you are sons, where is your obedience?

Daily Devotion: The Words That I speak Unto You, They are Life by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: John 6:63 KJV 

Key Verse:  "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
- John 6:63 KJV

It is through the word that the soul in the first instance is cleansed. It is by the word that the soul is begotten again unto eternal life. It is, also, by the word applied to the heart that the blessed Spirit from time to time keeps alive communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Is it not so in vital experience? Some passage of Scripture drops into the soul, some promise comes warm into the heart, and as it comes it makes way for itself. It enters the heart, breaks down the feelings, melts the soul, and draws forth living faith to flow unto and center alone in the "altogether lovely One."

Daily Devotion: Christ Casts out A Devil In The Synagogue by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Mark 1:21-28 KJV

Key Verse:  "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him."
- Mark 1:25 KJV

Though the Lord was continually working miracles, yet the miracle here related seems to have caused unusual amazement. And it might well do so, for in it Christ's power over the devil was displayed. One of the most mysterious subjects in the Bible is the manner in which devils possessed men in former times. It is so mysterious, that some have chosen not to believe it; but if we were to believe nothing that we could not clearly understand, how little we would believe! We would not believe in our own existence, for we cannot tell how we live, or what life is; yet we know that we do live. It is very reasonable to suppose, that when Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, that wicked spirit would make great efforts to resist him. Some have thought that the people possessed with devils were in a state of insanity; but we find that the insane or lunatic are mentioned by Matthew, separately from those possessed with devils; therefore insanity is a different calamity from being possessed of devils. (Matthew 4:24.)

Daily Devotion: Bread From Heaven by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: John 6:31-38 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread."
- John 6:34 KJV

That was a good prayer. It is just the prayer for each one of us—every day! But the people who made it first, did not know what they were asking. It is often so in our praying. We have a dim, glimmering vision of something very beautiful—but it is only a shadowy vision to us. The thing we think we want, is not the thing at all that God had in mind in his promise. He meant something most worthy—but we have in our mind the thought of something material and earthly. It is well that we have an Intercessor into whose hands all our requests must pass, who will take our poor, mistaken prayers—and interpret them aright for us, giving us, not what we thought we would get—but something better, diviner!

Daily Devotion: Love In Chastisement 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: Divine Council (Part 2 of 2) by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Psalm 82:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."
- Psalm 82:6 KJV

In the previous devotional we learned that the sons of God are divine beings under the authority of the God of Israel. You should be aware of some of the ways the clear meaning of Psalm 82 is distorted by interpreters and why it isn’t teaching polytheism.

Daily Devotion: Universal Improvement by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:14-21 KJV

Key Verse:  "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
- Ephesians 5:16 KJV

As there is not a moment of time but I must account for, so there is nothing that happens me but I should improve. Miseries I should improve—to remind me of my pedigree, that my first father has sinned. Mercies I should improve—in admiring the fountain whence, and the freeness with which they flow. Prosperity I should improve—in cheerful devotion. Adversity I should improve—in consideration. Riches I should improve—in charity. Poverty I should improve—in contentment. 

Daily Devotion: Born of God by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: John 3:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
- John 3:6 KJV

How are individuals made alive spiritually? "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 KJV).

Daily Devotion: He Speak In Righteousness, Mighty To Save

Bible Reading: Isaiah 63:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
- Isaiah 63:1 KJV

Let us glance at the authoritative manner with which He executes His mighty acts of grace. Mark His deportment. Was there anything that betrayed the consciousness of an inferior, the submission of a dependant, the weakness of a mortal, or the imperfection of a sinner? Did not the God shine through the man with majestic awe, when to the leper He said, "I will, be clean;"- to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch forth your hand;"- to the blind man, "Receive your sight;"- to the dead man, "I say unto you, Arise;"- and to the tumultuous waves, "Peace, he still"? 

Daily Devotion: God's Law by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Romans 3:24-31 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
- Romans 3:31 KJV

When the believer is adopted into the Lord's family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God's child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit—you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave—but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish, the least intimation of His will. Does He bid you fulfill a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your Father! 

Daily Devotion: The Heavenly Blessings by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:24-31 KJV

Key Verse:  "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

- 1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV

Consider what heavenly blessings there are for those who have a living union with the Son of God. Everything is provided for them, that shall be for their salvation and their sanctification—not a single blessing has God withheld that shall be for their eternal good.

Daily Devotion: The Miraculous Catch Of Fish by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: John 21:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."
- John 21:6 KJV

As these disciples had toiled all night and had caught nothing, it is probable they were in need of food when Jesus bid them launch into the deep. Was it only to supply their temporal wants that He caused them to enclose so large a multitude of fish? No! for though he delighted in relieving their bodies, he delighted more in helping their souls. By this wonderful catch of fish, he taught them many great truths—he taught them something of the greatness of his power; he taught them something of the blessedness of obedience. Peter had said, "At your word I will let down the net." How richly was his obedience rewarded! The apostles were to become fishers of men. Who could enable them to catch men, that is, to convert souls? None but Jesus. Though ministers preach—until God pours down his Spirit, no souls are converted; yet ministers, like Peter, should be obedient, and continue patiently to let down the net of the Gospel.