Christ … loved the church and gave Himself for her, … that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. § Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. The peace of God … surpasses all understanding. § Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body. May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. § [God] will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved  blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. § He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. § Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

 The Lord is at hand. 

<blockquote>
 But ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (<a id="verse_1632879569158524" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/6/11">1 Cor. 6:11</a>).
</blockquote>The fact of our position, which we can see in the Word, may take years to realize in life. Many believers feel that their appropriation of a truth must result in same-day experience of that doctrine. It is true that we are often given a foretaste, a brief experience of its reality, but we must then settle down to the daily processing of the Spirit, whereby He slowly and thoroughly translates the apprehended truth into character and walk. Paul testified, "I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (<a id="verse_1632879569178096" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Philippians/3/12">Phil. 3:12</a>). He pressed toward the mark."As a gift of grace, sanctification is conferred on each believer as soon as he believes. But it is a gift yet held on deposit, hid with Christ in God,' to be appropriated through daily communion and gradual apprehension. So, while the believer's realized sanctification appears painfully meagre, at most a thin line of light, like the crescent of the new moon, yet he sees it ever complemented by the clear outlines of that rounded wholeness which is his in the Lord Jesus, and into which he is to be daily waxing till he grows to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (<a id="verse_1632879569372266" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/4/13">Eph. 4:13</a>)" -A.J.G."And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (<a id="verse_1632879569948748" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Thessalonians/5/23">1 Thess. 5:23</a>).

A 365 day devotional that will help you in your Christian growth and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  This devotional is a collection of quotes from some of the best authors in the realm of Christian growth that has been organized by Miles J Stanford.  This devotional study is divided into 12 sections each containing 31 daily portions.

None but the Hungry Heart

 Worth Waiting For 

I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples… You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. Sanctified by God the Father. § Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. § May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus… that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. §  Our… Savior Jesus Christ … gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. § Both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. § For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. § In sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

 I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” § Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? “I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He.” Sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. The God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. § He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. § Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?§ The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Evening Daily Light

 Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 

May your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT)

You see that God never takes our
will away, nor our mind, nor our heart. Some people expect God to
come and do all their choosing for them, and all their desiring
for them, and all their deciding for them, while they are simply
to be poor things picked up by God and put into things which He
desires and wills. God never does that. He is developing a
humanity. Were we spirits I do not know how we might act; we
might act spontaneously. But we are not. God has created a kind
of being with a rational mind. The three-fold element of spirit,
soul and body is still to be found, yet not now in Adam, but in
Christ. God is developing the Christ mind; how He thinks, judges,
understands, and when we see the Lord's mind we see how very
different it is from our own natural mind; and our own natural
mind is beside the mark altogether, and we must repudiate it.
This is spiritual understanding, the mind of the Spirit. 

The same thing applies to our
feelings and our desires. They may lead us all astray. There is a
new outfit in Christ for our hearts, but there is always the
necessity for our standing with the Lord in what is of Himself.
Passivity may be a most ruinous thing. In all the values of
Christ risen there has to be a taking of that risen Life for the
equivalent need of mind, heart, will; of spirit, soul, and body.

This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.

Open Windows

The Risen Lord and the Things Which Cannot be Shaken - Chapter 3

 The Developing Man 

Luke 1:5-23There was a wonderful preparation of the world for Christ before He came. There was a Jewish expectation of the Messiah. This hope had been diffused throughout the nations by the wide dispersion of the Jewish people, who carried their religion with them and had synagogues in every city, where also their holy books were read. It is wonderful to think what the world owes to the influence of the Jewish people. Amid the hills of Palestine were written a few little books or tracts whose teachings, like leaven, permeated the great nations of Asia and Europe in the time before Christ was born - and prepared the world to receive Him.Rome also had done much to prepare the world for Christianity. It had brought all lands under one government. It had built roads everywhere, which became highways for the messengers of Christ. The Greek language was spoken everywhere, thus giving a medium for the carrying of the gospel to all the nations. These and other conditions were favorable to the dissemination of Christianity. This preparation was not accidental, a mere coincidence of events. There is evidence that the preparation was divine. The hand of God was in it!"In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." Luke 1:5-6We have a picture here, of the godly home - yet the times were not favorable to this. It is not hard to live a beautiful life amid kindly and favoring circumstances. If a child has a sweet home with only gentle influences about it - an atmosphere of love and prayer - it is not strange that the child's life grows up into beauty. On the other hand, if the home is cold and unkindly, without love and prayer and godliness, it seems to us almost a miracle if a child grows up in it loving God and with a true and beautiful character.The "time of Herod" were not times when it was easy to be godly. The times were ungodly and the prevailing spirit was unrighteous. The holy lives which we find here in this story - are like lamps shining in the darkness. Amid the almost universal corruption of the priesthood, and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees; this old priest and his wife lived in piety and godly simplicity. The lesson is, that we may be holy and may live saintly lives - though everyone around us is evil. We need not be like those among whom we live. No matter how corrupt the times, or how unholy the influences, we ought always to strive to be holy and pure.It is important to know the name and the character of the woman who helps to make the home. "Her name was Elisabeth." A great many Elisabeths will study this lesson. It is pleasant even by a name to be reminded continually of some other one who has lived a noble and beautiful life in the past. No thoughtful Mary can be altogether forgetful of the Marys of the New Testament, especially the Mary who was the mother of our Lord, "blessed among women," and the other Mary whom Jesus loved so tenderly, who sat at His feet as a learner and then anointed His feet with her ointment. There is ever an aroma of sacredness about this name.Just so, the Elisabeths may catch an inspiration from the Elisabeth of this story. We are not told much about her. We know, however, that she was a godly woman, one who walked in God's commandments in times when such godliness was rare.In these days, we are hearing a great deal about 'the new woman'. Some people think that woman heretofore has been living in a kind of darkness, not making much of herself, not realizing the possibilities of her life and her position. She has not understood herself and her power - and has been content to stay in obscurity - when she might have stood forth in splendor. Now, however, she has come to a time when she may make more of her life in many ways.No doubt some phases of the thought of 'the new woman' are excellent. The last quarter century has been a wonderful era in woman's history. In all ways, women have moved forward with tremendous strides. Our colleges have given women opportunities for acquiring an education they could not get before. In church life and work, women have advanced to marvelous power and usefulness. In associated work in benevolence, women have shown great energy and wisdom. All this is very beautiful.But 'the new woman' is not in all things so lovely as this. There are some things in her - of which the better women do not approve. She discards some of the most gentle refinements of the truest type of womanhood. "She tramples on the traditions of the mother who kissed her in the cradle and made a woman of her," says Mrs. Booth. "Such a woman could never be Christ like, because she is not tender enough. Her will is too strong to bow down to God." Let the new woman be as beautiful as she can make herself with the help of Christ - but let her be always a woman. A woman needs God to make her life in the way it should be, to give her the beauty and the glory which is her true heritage. A woman owes everything to Christ, who has redeemed her - and she needs Christ as her Teacher, her Master, her Friend, that she may reach the only worthy possibilities of womanhood.They were truly mated, this godly pair. "Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." It is a beautiful thing when both husband and wife are godly. Then they can bow together in prayer and together read God's Word, and together go to the church and sit together at the Lord's table. Too often only one of the wedded pair is a Christian. Sometimes it is the husband - and the wife does not enter into his Christian life. Far more often, however, it is the wife only that loves Christ, while her husband leaves her to walk alone in all her inner spiritual life. In either case, the marriage lacks one of its holiest and most sacred bonds. The union of wedded life may yield much joy and very sweet happiness, where the two enter together into the holy of holies of prayer. The union means far more when they are one in trusting God and in communing with Him in all the great concerns of life. When both are Christians and walk side by side in all obedience, service, and worship, praying together, heaven's sweetest blessing rests over the home!It is a beautiful thing, also, that we read of this godly old couple, that they were "righteous before God ." Some people appear to men to be righteous, who before God have no such record. Our real character is what our hearts are. So we ought not to be satisfied with doing well the things that men can see us do; we ought to work and live ever for God's eye. Sometimes we say it does not matter how we do certain things, because no one will see them; but God will see them, and we should never do careless, faulty work - for His eye.The word "commandments" suggests that the holiness of these people, was of a very practical kind. Some people's religion is chiefly notional or emotional or sentimental. They talk about loving God - but they pay little heed to His commandments. They may worship together in formal ways - but they are not careful to do the things that are right, that please God. There are too many whose religion is of this kind - all devout feelings - only the observance of forms of worship - but little practical Christian living. They go from fervent worship services - to practice selfishness, greed, dishonesties, and inhumanities. God is pleased with ardent devotion - but he wants us to prove our religion by obedience, by doing the things He gives us to do, by fidelity in all Christian duty .<div class="center-it mtb10">Another beautiful word in the description of these good people is the word "blamelessly." Of course, this does not mean sinless, absolutely faultless - but only that their lives were so beautiful, so sincere, and faithful - that there was nothing in them to blame or rebuke. It is in this way that God wants all His children to live. He wants them to be unrebukable. "That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." (Ephesians 1:4). "That you may be blameless in the day of our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:8). "That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke" (Philippians 2:15). "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). These are a few of the words of Holy Scripture, which indicate the kind of life we are expected as Christians to live in this world.</div>There was one thing lacking in this godly home. "But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years." They were not young. They had been married many years - but no child had come to gladden them. Children are a great blessing in a family. They give much joy to their parents. They brighten the home into which they come. They cost much care and toil; but no true parent ever counts such cost - for love rejoices in making sacrifices. The hearts of parents are made glad by the presence of a little child in their home.The old priest was in his place in the temple that day, and his particular duty was to burn incense on the golden altar. Incense was a symbol of prayer. While the priest was offering it on the altar the people were standing outside, engaged in prayer. The prayers arose to God purified and sweetened by the holy offering. It is a beautiful thought that prayers rise up to God - as perfume ; that true prayer is fragrant in heaven. This symbol of incense teaches the acceptableness of prayer as it goes up to God.There is another thing that we should remember, however, in this connection. The burnt offering was offered at the same time that the incense was burning, and the incense itself was kindled by fire brought from the altar of burnt offering. Prayer needs the efficacy of Christ's atonement to make it acceptable. We can pray only in Christ's name and in dependence on His sacrifice.The vision of the angel that Zacharias saw awed him. "When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear." We do not know in what form the angel appeared. He was a messenger from God, however, and had come to announce to the priest that he was to have the high honor of being the father of the forerunner of the Messiah.Sometimes God seems to wait a long time before He gives us what we ask for. One reason is to teach us faith and patience. Another reason is because He has a time for giving us blessing. John could not be born until the date fixed in God's plan, for he was to be forerunner of the Messiah. We always see in the end, that God's time for blessing us - is the right time. We may be sure that when God puts it into our heart to pray for something - He means to give us that thing in due time.The angel told Zacharias that now a son was about to born to him, and he would have joy and gladness. It makes great joy in any true home, when a child is born. In this case the joy was unusual, since the birth of John was the token of the speedy coming of the long-promised Messiah. It was like the rising of the morning star, which heralds the approach of the day. Not only would the parents rejoice - but many would mingle in the rejoicing.Every child should seek to be a joy to parents, not only in its infancy - but always. Children hold in their hands, the happiness of their parents. It is in their power, too, to give them great grief and sorrow. Many children do indeed break the hearts of their parents. Many do it by their bad conduct, their wrong actions. Then there are many children who make great joy for their parents. They do it by their gratitude and love, and by lives that are full of beauty and honor, of which their parents cannot be anything but thankful. All children should seek to live in this way. Then it should be the aim, too - to live so that others shall have occasion to rejoice over their birth, because they are blessing in the world.The angel said further, that John should be great in the sight of the Lord. There are people who are great in their own eyes or in the eyes of their friends - who in God's sight are very small. It is well to have people's approval of us and our work - but it is incalculably better to have God's approval. We should strive always to be and to do - what Christ would have us to be and to do. It is well to ask ourselves quiet often - what God thinks of us. We like to please men; let us seek to please God.Zacharias asked for a sign to prove to him that this astonishing thing should be fulfilled. His request was granted, and the sign given to him was that he should be speechless until the child was born. God wants us to believe His promises without a shadow of doubt, no matter how extraordinary they may be. We should trust God implicitly. Unquestioning faith is not presumptuous; it honors God and brings fullest blessing.

A unique type of devotional from the writings of James Russell Miller, published between 1908 and 1913.

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

Luke 1:5-23

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

1 Thessalonians 5:14-28The Bible touches life at every point. While its great principles cover all moral acts in a general way, it descends to particulars in many cases, giving special instructions of great value. The passage noted above contains golden counsels for the common days, and for the common experiences of life.<div class="center-it mtb10">"We urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle." 1 Thessalonians 5:14. There is a duty of warning others. We may not always speak words of commendation and approval. When Christian people are living in a sinful way, that is, not living in harmony with the divine laws, they are to be admonished. We must make sure, however, that we do this in the spirit of Christ - in love, in order to help and save those we admonish. No duty requires more wisdom and more grace - than that of telling others of their faults.</div>"Encourage the timid." Then, we should always be encouragers, for there are many timid, faint-hearted people who continually need to be lifted up and helped onward. We should never be discouragers. There are those, too, who are weak and need the strength and support which we can give them. The strong should help the weak. We should bear each other's burdens."Be patient with everyone." We are also to be patient towards all, no matter how they may treat us. This is one of the great lessons which Jesus taught in His own life - to bear sweetly and patiently with those who are unkind and injurious. It is not easy - but we are not Christians if we are not trying to live after this law of love."Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong." The teaching of Christ also requires us to render always good for evil; never evil for evil. This is a very practical counsel, and it is never easy to follow it. Yet it is an inseparable part of all Christian life. If one strives for the heroic in Christian character, nothing could be more heroic than this! To return love for hate, kindness for injury - is far braver than to be angry and resentful, demanding satisfaction."Always pursue what is good for one another." We should always strive after that which is for the good of others, and in all things make this our aim. Anything that would injure or harm another, is absolutely unchristian."Rejoice always!" Joy is never to be left out of any scheme of Christian life. We are to rejoice, not now and then only - but always. Even our sorrows should not hush the songs in our hearts. This element of joy, can be only in the life in which Christ lives and rules. There is a difference in people in the matter of joyousness - but true Christian joy is not that which the world gives, nor that which nature inspires - but the joy which conies from the heart of God - and which nothing ever can overcome or destroy."Pray without ceasing." Prayer is another essential element in every true Christian life. Not to pray - is not to live at all as a Christian, for prayer is "the Christian's vital breath." The exhortation to pray without ceasing may seem a strange one. It means, however, that our communion with God never need be broken, never should be broken. We cannot always be on our knees; for we have work to do, duties to perform, which we may not neglect, and which are just as sacred as praying. But we may pray at our work, by keeping always close to Christ, so that anywhere, any moment, we can look up into His face and speak to Him and get an answer."Give thanks in everything." Thanksgiving should never be lacking in a Christian life. It is not enough to observe one day in the year for 'Thanksgiving', although it is a very beautiful thing to do. Nor is it enough to put a sentence of thanksgiving into our daily prayers, although this also is proper. It is the grateful heart that pleases God, the heart that is always full of praise. There should be a note of thanksgiving running through all our life. Too many of us go to God only with requests, with our burdens, our worries, our troubles; while we but rarely go to Him with any word of thanks. We are not to be thankful only for our prosperities and for the pleasant and agreeable things that come into our days - we are to be thankful, too, for the things that appear to us as adversities."Give thanks in everything." That means in the sad days as well as in the glad days, when clouds are in the sky, as well as when the sunshine is pouring everywhere. It is specially said here that this is the will of God for us. This is the way God wants us to live - always giving thanks. A rabbinical teaching says that the highest angel in heaven is the angel of praise. The Christliest note is one that is always keyed to the note of praise and thanksgiving."Do not quench the Spirit." It is the glory of our Christian life, that God lives in it. Paul said, "Christ lives in me!" A fire burns in our hearts which is fed from heaven. We live at our best, only when we let this flame burn brightly in us. We are exhorted here, not to quench the Spirit. Fire is quenched by pouring water upon it, or by covering it up so as to exclude the air. The Spirit may be quenched in us by sin, by worldliness, by evil thoughts, by bad passions, by resistance. To quench this heavenly flame, is to put out the light of life, leaving the darkness of death within us. "Do not quench the Spirit."We are also exhorted not to "despise prophesyings." Prophesyings, in a general way, are divine teachings, the message of God to us. The Bible - is a book of prophesyings. All heavenly instructions, counsels, warnings, from whatever source, may in a sense, be called prophesyings.We should keep our minds and hearts always wide open to receive the Words of God, and to welcome all divine influences and impressions and inspirations, whether they are spoken by the Spirit of God or by a human friend. "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," is the true attitude of every believing heart toward the truth, however it is spoken."Test all things." Not all voices, however, that speak in this world, are divine voices. Not all words that fall upon our ears, are words from heaven. We should test all things to see whether they are of God or not.Then we should "Hold fast to what is good." We should judge carefully between genuine and counterfeit coins. Put to the test of truth - all counsels that are given to you. Not all such counsels are from God. It is said by our Master of His sheep, that "they will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." We should make sure that the voice which we hear is our Master's own voice; that it is the voice of one who counsels us wisely, and not the voice of a stranger speaking to us in unheavenly words, to draw us away from the truth."Abstain from every form of evil." We are accustomed to think of some violations of God's Word - as only slightly evil; while we imagine that other transgressions are very black in their sinfulness.Some people appear to think that if we keep ourselves from the worst kinds of evil - that we need not be so watchful against the minor forms of misconduct. They will not lie, nor steal, nor swear, nor do other things which would brand them in the eyes of the community as 'wicked'. But meanwhile they are ungentle, unkind, selfish, bad tempered, and loving the world.But Paul's exhortation is, "Abstain from every form of evil." We are not to pick out certain sins and condemn these alone as evil, abstaining from them; meanwhile indulging in pet vices and sinful habits of our own. Whatever is wrong in even the slightest way - is to be abstained from. There really are no little sins, no 'little white lies', no slight deviations from right and purity. Even evil thoughts, our Master says, break His commandments!"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." This prayer for consecration is very comprehensive. It is that we may be sanctified, that is, set apart wholly for God and God's use. We belong to God, for He has bought us with a price, and we should make ourselves altogether God's by keeping ourselves separate from sin, and from the world. It is a prayer that our whole being, spirit, soul and body - shall be kept pure and holy, amid all the world's evil; preserved entire, without blame, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.It may seem impossible for anyone to realize this high ideal of living. It is impossible for us thus to keep ourselves. But the words which follow tell us how it becomes possible. "The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." We are safe in this world, therefore, when God keeps us - when His sheltering, protecting love enfolds us!

1 Thessalonians 5:14-28

Paul's Counsel to the Thessalonians

<div class="center-it mtb10">And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 </div>A PRIEST must be pure. And Christ washes us from all stain, and clothes us in priestly garments of holiness, which is better than innocence; for His blood cleanses from all sin, and the spirit which He puts within all who have faith in Him makes them love righteousness and hate iniquity. Thus consecrated, admitted to the innermost shrine, appointed to offer the richest sacrifice of self, and clothed in purity, they who were captives of sin are made priests of the Most High God. Their double dignity is but part of their assimilation to their Lord. Every one that is perfect shall be as his Master, and even here on earth the Christian life is the life of Christ in the soul, and consists in growing likeness to Him. Is He a King? So are we. Is He a Priest? So, therefore, are we. Is He a Son? So are we. Is He the Heir? So are we. Is He the "Anointed?" "He that in Christ hath anointed us is God." His offices, His dignity, His character, His very life becomes ours, if we are His. This royal diadem and priestly mitre are offered to us all. They are the prerogative of no class. Earthly royalties have no place within the church of the redeemed, where all are brethren; and not even an apostle has "dominion over " his brethren's "faith." There is no place in it for human priests who offer outward sacrifices and claim a special standing as channels of sacramental grace. We may all have Christ's hand laid on our heads, which will make us kings and priests to God by a true coronation and ordination. If we come to Him in penitence and faith, as knowing our sins and looking to Him to loose us from them by His own blood, He will set us on high to reign as the vassal kings of His great empire, and bring us near, that we may stand ministering before the Lord the sweet savored offering of our ransomed selves. Thus we shall be kings and priests here, and look forward to dim glories yet to come, when we shall reign with Him as kings, and as His servants shall do priestly service in the Eternal Temple. The one question for us all is. Do our eyes fix and fasten on that dear Lord, and is it the description of our whole lives, that we see Him and walk with Him? Oh! if so, then life will be blessed, and death itself will be but as "a little while," when we "shall not see Him," and then we shall open our eyes and behold Him close at hand, whom we saw from afar, and with wandering eyes, amidst the mists and illusions of earth. To see Him as He has become for our sakes is heaven on earth. To see Him as He is will be the heaven of heaven; and before that Face, as the sun shining in his strength, all sorrows, difficulties, and mysteries will melt as morning mists.

A daily readings for a year from the writings of the Rev. Alexander Maclaren, D.D., selected and arranged by the Rev. Geo. Coates.

Music For the Soul

 THE CHRISTIAN'S CHARACTER

For Reading and Meditation:      Matthew 28:1-20We ended yesterday with the words of Augustine that if we want to see the Trinity in action then all we have to do is to go to the River Jordan. It was Augustine who pointed out also that the Trinity can be seen in the verse that is before us today, which we call "the baptismal formula." Note that we are bidden to baptize in the Name (not "names") of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, indicating their essential unity and oneness. I know there are many in the Christian Church who do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity and this makes me very sad. I just wish they would look at the matter again, for I have found it to be one of the most satisfying of doctrines as it meets the greatest needs of my soul. George Matheson spoke for me and millions of other Christians when he said: Some seek a Father in the heavens above, Some ask a human figure to adore, Some crave a Spirit vast as life and love, Within thy mansions we have all and more. Alfred Tennyson, a man with an incisive mind who saw deep into the creation, put it like this: "Though nothing is such a distress of soul to me as to hear the divinity of Christ assailed, yet I feel I must never lose the unity of the Godhead, the three persons being like three candles giving together one light." Note his words: "I must never lose the unity of the Godhead." I would simply add: neither must we. Neither must we.Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I freely confess my mind finds it difficult to comprehend how You can be Three in One, and One in Three. Yet this is the teaching of Scripture. So I believe; help Thou mine unbelief. In Jesus' Name. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>2 Corinthians 13:1-14</li><li>1 Thessalonians 5:19-24</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How does Paul affirm the truth of the Trinity?</li><li>How does he illustrate it?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

" baptizing  in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit " (v. 19)

For Reading and Meditation:      1 Thessalonians 5:12-24Now that we have spent a few days meditating on the fact that the Beatitudes provide us with the right mental and spiritual attitudes for healthy and abundant living, we are ready to begin focusing on the first of these profound statements: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3). Some translations read, "Happy are the poor in spirit '", and one goes so far as to say, "Congratulations to the poor in spirit '" It is important to keep in mind that the word "happy" (Greek makarios) carries a far richer tone than we commonly attach to the word. It suggests a deep, abiding happiness, not just a temporary emotional lift. In the very first words of the Sermon on the Mount, therefore, Jesus puts His finger on one of life's most vital issues - individual and personal happiness. We all want to be happy - and rightly so. The longing for lasting happiness is a deep-rooted instinct that has been built into us by the Creator Himself. The God who made the sunset, painted the rose, put the smile on a baby's face, gave the gift of playfulness to a kitten and put laughter in our souls is surely not happy when we are unhappy. Although it is a God-given instinct to be happy, we must also see that it is only God who can make us happy. Apart from Him and His redemptive love as expressed through the cross and the resurrection, we would be "most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19, AV). As someone once confessed: "Now that I know Christ, I'm happier when I'm sad than before when I was glad." Thank You, my Father, that You not only command me to be happy but provide me with the resources which make it gloriously possible. One touch of Your gladness and my heart sings for ever. I am so deeply, deeply thankful. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Romans 14:1-18</li><li>Isaiah 12:3</li><li>John 16:24</li><li>1 Peter 1:8</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is the kingdom of God?</li><li>What is this joy full of?</li></ul></div></div>

"Be happy ' at all times." (v. 16, Phillips)

For Reading and Meditation:      1 Thessalonians 5:12-28We continue meditating on the importance of looking at life "steadily and whole". I venture to suggest that people who are not Christians are unable to see life as a whole. How can they, when their thinking takes place only on the level of the natural? Natural thinking is notoriously partial and incomplete. Take, for example, the field of medicine. A generation ago doctors treated the symptoms that people presented to them, but now, with a clearer understanding of how the mind affects physical health, they have come to see that this approach was partial. One doctor said: "At long last the medical profession has discovered that the patient himself is important." Medicine is fast moving towards what is described as a "holistic" approach as more and more doctors begin to realise that it is not enough to treat the problem, we must also treat the person. They are still far from seeing that there is also a spiritual element in the person that has to be considered, but perhaps in time that will come. Christian counselling suffers from the same problem - it does not see the whole picture. I am tired of reading books on Christian counselling that give just one side of the issue and suggest that problems can be resolved by applying one special technique. Man was created as a whole person and he will never be helped back to wholeness unless every part of his being is treated - spirit, soul and body. God wants to restore His image in us: not in part of us but in the whole. O Father, forgive us that so often we settle for the half view of things rather than the whole. Quicken my spiritual understanding so that I have Your view on all things - the "whole" view. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>2 Corinthians 4:1-16</li><li>Proverbs 20:27</li><li>Ecclesiastes 12:7</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is man primarily?</li><li>What was Paul's testimony?</li></ul></div></div>

"May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 23)

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1604, King James I of England authorized that a new translation of the Bible into English be started. It was finished in 1611, just 85 years after the first translation of the New Testament into English appeared (Tyndale, 1526). The Authorized Version, or King James Version, quickly became the standard for English-speaking Protestants. Its flowing language and prose rhythm has had a profound influence on the literature of the past 400 years. The King James Version present on the Bible Gateway matches the 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States.

OT: Masoretic Text, some LXX and Vulgate influence.
NT: Textus Receptus, similar to the Byzantine text-type; some readings derived from the Vulgate.
Apocrypha: Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV

1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV

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