Daily Devotionals for April 25, 2024

It is generally understood that Paul here borrows a figure from the victory parade of a military leader just returned from a foreign conquest. The general is at the head of the parade, savoring the sweet satisfaction of victory. Behind him are his jubilant troops. Then behind them are the prisoners-of-war, slated for punishment, perhaps death. All along the parade route are incense burners, filling the air with aroma. But the aroma means different things to different people, depending on...

For Reading and Meditation:     Matthew 15:1-20

Today we come to the Beatitude which is considered by many to be the most sublime of them all: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). First we ask: What is meant by the term "heart"? According to the general use of the word in Scripture, it...

Christianity today is so entangled with this present world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere-but actually no real union between the world and the Church is possible. When the Church joins up with the world it is the true Church no longer but only a pitiful hybrid thing, an object of smiling contempt to the world, and an abomination to the Lord! Nothing could be clearer than the pronouncements of the Scriptures on the...

2 Kings 6:8-23

Two gentlemen - one a clergyman, the other a prominent business man - were conversing together about foreign missions. They were speaking especially of India .

"Sir," said the business man, "you cannot convert India to Christ in ten thousand years."

"Isn't that rather hard on God!" asked the minister.

"O, I hadn't thought of Him!" said the business man.

No doubt the king...

Little know we what sorrow may be upon the sea at this moment. We are safe in our quiet chamber, but far away on the salt sea the hurricane may be cruelly seeking for the lives of men. Hear how the death fiends howl among the cordage; how every timber starts as the waves beat like battering rams upon the vessel! God help you, poor drenched and wearied ones! My prayer goes up to the great Lord of sea and land, that he will make the storm a calm, and bring you to your desired haven! Nor ought...

And the servant of the Lord must not strive" (2 Tim. 2:24).

Our one responsibility, that of concentrating upon the Lord Jesus, has a three-fold result: (1) fellowship with Him; (2) growth in His image; (3) ministry of life to others.

"The love of the Lord culminates in this,...

The meaning is, forget not any, remember all. The right recollection of a benefit is all but equal to a new benefit. As God is the same, as the expressions of his goodness are expressions of eternal goodness, the recollection of a past benefit may well be cherished since it is in a certain sense not past but present. Each token of love let down by God into my life, projects itself forward indefinitely, and accompanies me on an undying mission, to declare that God and I are friends through...

Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before him. If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running...

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. • Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. § Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made...

For some queer reason, we seem to love people more when they are not too perfect.

In the presence of a faultless saint, the average one of us feels illat ease. We are likely to be discouraged rather than inspired by the sight of a character too impeccable to be human. We draw more help from a man if we know that he is going through the fire along with the rest of us, and we may even take courage from the fact that he does not enjoy it any more than we do.

This may be the...

"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him." Proverbs 20:7

Anxiety about our family is natural, but we shall be wise if we turn it into care about our own character. If we walk before the LORD in integrity, we shall do more to bless our descendants than if we bequeathed them large estates. A father's holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.

The upright man leaves his heirs his example, and...

THERE is a wide difference between a Christian and a worldling; the one is dead in trespasses and sins, the other is alive unto God, by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has been quickened by the Son of God, is born of the Spirit, and taught by the eternal Father. He is a new creature, being created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before ordained that we should walk in them. Who made this difference? You are at once ready to answer, if really taught of God, "By the grace of God I...

You know that He was manifested to take away our sins. § That we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness. § He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed…  The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. § Thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer . . . that repentance and remission of...