Daily Devotion: Christ Enjoins The Forgiveness Of Enemies by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:40-48 KJV

Key Verse:  "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
- Matthew 5:43 KJV

It is written in Lev. 19, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The Pharisees for many ages past had given a very imperfect explanation of this law. They had not explained the term "neighbor" aright. They had declared that it applied to those who loved us, and did not include those who hated us. But this was not true. Every human being is, in one sense, our neighbor. We are therefore commanded to love all. God had never said, "You shall hate your enemy;" for, though he had desired the Jews to form no friendships with heathen nations, he had never commanded them to hate or injure them from feelings of revenge. It was man who had added, "You shall hate your enemy." How easy it was to obey such a law! By nature we love our friends, and hate our enemies. As Christ said, "Even the publicans love those who love them." The publicans were people of very bad character, who generally defrauded in collecting the taxes, and who were therefore much despised—yet even they behaved with kindness and respect to their particular friends. The Pharisees had no reason to be proud of such righteousness as this.

Daily Devotion: Solomon's Heart by J. R. Miller

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 11:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father."
- 1 Kings 11:4 KJV

The Arabs have a tradition that for a long time a little worm was gnawing in the staff on which Solomon leaned, until at last the staff broke and the great king fell. It was at the king's heart—that the worm was really gnawing.

Daily Devotion: The Power Of Prayer by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: John 14:13 KJV

Key Verse:  "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
- John 14:13 KJV

Blessed Jesus! it is You who has unlocked to Your people the gates of prayer. Without You, they must have been shut forever. It was Your atoning merit on earth that first opened them; it is Your intercessory work in Heaven that keeps them open still.

Daily Devotion: Saints Unknown, Stars Unseen by James Meikle

Bible Reading: Psalm 149:1-8 KJV

Key Verse:  "Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints."
- Psalm 149:1 KJV

As there are stars in the sparkling skies of heaven of different magnitudes and glory—so there are saints of different stations in the church of God. Some like stars of the first magnitude, point out the way to bliss; while others, like stars of a second, third, and fourth magnitude, sparkle with an upright walk, and heavenly conversation, and condemn a wicked world. All these glorify God, as it were, in an active manner.

Daily Devotion: Christ Our Sanctification by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:21 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 cross of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of the infinite wisdom of God. Every philosophy of life is proven by what it ultimately produces in a person’s life.  God’s wisdom produces perfect righteousness. God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).