Daily Devotion: Why Does God Allow Us To Suffer Through Trials, Tribulations And Tests by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: John 15:20-27 KJV

Key Verse:  "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
- John 15:20 KJV

We will all face trials, tribulations and tests in our lives. As noted in our key verse above, if God's Only Begotten Son, Jesus, was persecuted, they will also persecute us. So, why does God allow us to suffer through Persecution, Trials, Tribulations and Tests? Let us consider four reasons why.

Daily Devotion: Solomon's Wives Turned His Heart To Other Gods 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 Unveiled Dealings by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: John 13:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."
- John 13:7 KJV

O blessed day, when the long sealed book of mystery shall be unfolded, when the "fountains of the great deep shall be broken up," "the channels of the waters seen," and all discovered to be one vast revelation of unerring wisdom and ineffable love! Here we are often baffled at the Lord's dispensations; we cannot fathom His ways — like the well of Sychar — they are deep, and we have nothing to draw with. But soon the "mystery of God will be finished;" the enigmatical "seals," with all their inner meanings, opened. When that "morning without clouds" shall break, each soul will be like the angel standing in the sun — there will be no shadow; all will be perfect day!

Daily Devotion: The Excellent Happiness Of The Blessed by James Meikle

Bible Reading: James 4:10-17 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
- James 4:14 KJV

Time is short, and eternity is long! Yet, in this short time, I must prepare for long eternity! O! what a duration is before me! But what a foolish infatuation is within me—that I should mind the trifling things of time, and forget the great concerns of eternity! Truly, when I compare eternity and time, I am astonished that eternity does not swallow up time in my concerns and meditations. With what deceptive phantasies and delusive dreams—are we entertained here—in comparison to that divine understanding, intuitive knowledge, spiritual discoveries, vigor and activity of soul, we shall be possessed of, when we awake to immortality, from all the slumbers of a transitory life!

Daily Devotion: Christianity is Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Acts 11:23-30 KJV

Key Verse:  "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
- Acts 11:26 KJV

There is no other way to say it. Christianity is Christ. Christianity is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. If the focus is on anything else it is not Christianity. That great truth is stated throughout the New Testament. In fact, everything in the Old Testament leads up to that great truth regarding His person and work.

Daily Devotion: He Will Guide You Into All Truth by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: John 16:12-19 KJV

Key Verse:  "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
- John 16:13 KJV

New and enlarged views of the Holy Spirit mark a regenerate mind. Having received the Holy Spirit as a quickener, he feels the need of Him now as a teacher, a sanctifier, a comforter, and a sealer.

Daily Devotion: Jesus Answered by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:25 KJV

Key Verse:  "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."
- Matthew 11:25 KJV

This is a singular way in which to commence a verse, "At that time, Jesus answered." If you will look at the context, you will not see that any person had asked Him a question, or that He was in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, "Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father." When a man answers, he answers a person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? His Father! Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with His Father, and that God spoke into His heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance singular enough to be recorded. It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with His Father.