Daily Devotion: Chastening Love by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Revelation 3:15-22 KJV 

Key Verse:  "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
- Revelation 3:19 KJV

Do the well known tones of a mother's voice hush the , that has been startled from its couch by unquiet dreams? These two "thoughts of God" above — the voice of our heavenly Parent — may well lull our tossed spirits to rest, and lead us to pillow our heads with confidence in His holy will.

Daily Devotion: Are You Truly Saved? by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: 1 John 5:12-21 KJV 

Key Verse:  "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
- 1 John 5:13 KJV

The Bible tells us that very few people are truly saved. Matthew 22:14 states "For many are called, but few chosen." Matthew 7:14 says "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Very few people will make it into heaven; many will be surprised when they don't. So how can you determine if you are saved?

Daily Devotion: All of Grace by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
- Ephesians 2:8 KJV

Grace—what a sweet fragrance. It is the greatest theme in the Bible.

Abounding grace, wondrous grace, boundless grace, fountain of grace, unfailing grace, unmeasurable grace, electing grace, matchless grace, overflowing grace, redeeming grace, pardoning grace, plenteous grace, unfailing grace, fullness of grace, efficacious grace, magnified grace, refreshing grace, sovereign grace, and salvation by grace, grace rich and free!

Daily Devotion: Consider Jesus as Forsaken by Man by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: Matthew 26:50-56 KJV 

Key Verse:  "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled."
- Matthew 26:56 KJV

What a sad contrast does this picture present to the one we have just been viewing--"Jesus, our fellow-sufferer." His time of suffering has now come, but, lo! "all His disciples have forsaken Him, and fled." Is there nothing, my soul, in this affecting and significant fact from which you may gather much that is instructive and consolatory concerning your own condition? We have been contemplating the sympathy of Jesus with His afflicted saints. And oh, what heart can conceive, or imagery portray, the reality, humanity, and tenderness of that sympathy! In all our afflictions He is afflicted, in all our trials He is tried, in all our persecutions He is persecuted, in all our temptations He is tempted. My soul! there is no sympathy among men, saints, or angels, that can compare with Christ's. And yet how thankful should you be for the smallest measure of human sympathy given you. It may have been, and doubtless was, but as a drop in comparison of the ocean-fullness of Christ's; nevertheless, that drop has proved inexpressibly and immeasurably soothing, sweetening many a bitter trial, gilding many a cloud, and lighting the pressure of many a burden. For this uplift your praiseful heart to God.

Daily Devotion: The Iniquity of the Holy Things by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Exodus 28:36-43 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord."
- Exodus 28:38 KJV

What a veil is lifted up by these words—and what a disclosure is made! It will be humbling and profitable for us to pause awhile, and see this sad sight. The iniquities of our public worship—its hypocrisy, formality, lukewarmness, irreverence, wandering of heart and forgetfulness of God—what a full measure have we there! The iniquities of our work for the Lord—its ambition, selfishness, carelessness, slackness, unbelief—what a mass of defilement is there! Our private devotions—their laxity, coldness, neglect, sleepiness, and vanity—what a mountain of dead earth is there! If we looked more carefully—we would find this iniquity of the holy things, to be far greater than appears at first sight.

Daily Devotion: Treasure In Earthen Vessels by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV

Key Verse:  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV

Be not surprised if you feel that in yourself you are but an earthen vessel; if you are made deeply and daily sensible unto what a frail body God has communicated light and life. Be not surprised if your clay house is often tottering; if sickness sometimes assails your mortal tabernacle; if in your flesh there dwells no good thing; if your soul often cleaves to the dust; and if you are unable to retain a sweet sense of God's goodness and love. Be not surprised nor startled at the corruptions of your depraved nature; at the depth of sin in your carnal mind; at the vile abominations which lurk and work in your deceitful and desperately wicked heart. Bear in mind that it is the will of God that this heavenly treasure which makes you rich for eternity should be lodged in an earthen vessel.

Daily Devotion: The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ by Favell Lee Mortimer

Bible Reading: Luke 2:1-7 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
- Luke 2:7 KJV

It is very interesting to observe the providence of God with regard to the place of Christ's birth.

The prophet Isaiah had said that the Savior should be born in Bethlehem, (v. 2.) Yet Mary lived in Nazareth, about seventy miles distance from Bethlehem. God could easily have commanded Mary to go to Bethlehem—but instead of doing this, he caused circumstances to happen which induced her to go there.