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Daily Light's Morning Reading

Let us go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.HEB. 13:13,14.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.—As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.—Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

I Pet. 4:12.13. -II Cor. 1:7.I Pet. 4:14.Acts 5:41. -Heb. 11:25,26.

Spurgeon's Morning Reading

“Your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 6:26

God’s people are doubly his children, they are his offspring by creation, and they are his sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call him, “Our Father which art in heaven.” Father! Oh, what precious word is that. Here is authority: “If I be a Father, where is mine honour?” If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered—which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience which God’s children yield to him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster’s toil, but run in the way of his commands because it is your Father's way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is your Father’s will, and his will should be the will of his child. Father!—Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that the King’s crown is forgotten in the King’s face, and his sceptre becomes, not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy—the sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of him who wields it. Father!—Here is honour and love. How great is a Father’s love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father’s heart and hand must do for his sons. They are his offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of that word—Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can demand; all my wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity when I can say, “Father.”

Old Testament Chapter a Day - Zechariah 9

Zechariah 9

9. Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

 9

An Oracle.

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach

and will rest upon Damascus.

For to the Lord belongs the capital of Aram,

as do all the tribes of Israel;

2

Hamath also, which borders on it,

Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

3

Tyre has built itself a rampart,

and heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4

But now, the Lord will strip it of its possessions

and hurl its wealth into the sea,

and it shall be devoured by fire.

 

5

Ashkelon shall see it and be afraid;

Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish;

Ekron also, because its hopes are withered.

The king shall perish from Gaza;

Ashkelon shall be uninhabited;

6

a mongrel people shall settle in Ashdod,

and I will make an end of the pride of Philistia.

7

I will take away its blood from its mouth,

and its abominations from between its teeth;

it too shall be a remnant for our God;

it shall be like a clan in Judah,

and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.

8

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,

so that no one shall march to and fro;

no oppressor shall again overrun them,

for now I have seen with my own eyes.

 

The Coming Ruler of God’s People

9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!

Lo, your king comes to you;

triumphant and victorious is he,

humble and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10

He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the war-horse from Jerusalem;

and the battle bow shall be cut off,

and he shall command peace to the nations;

his dominion shall be from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

 

11

As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

12

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;

today I declare that I will restore to you double.

13

For I have bent Judah as my bow;

I have made Ephraim its arrow.

I will arouse your sons, O Zion,

against your sons, O Greece,

and wield you like a warrior’s sword.

 

14

Then the Lord will appear over them,

and his arrow go forth like lightning;

the Lord God will sound the trumpet

and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.

15

The Lord of hosts will protect them,

and they shall devour and tread down the slingers;

they shall drink their blood like wine,

and be full like a bowl,

drenched like the corners of the altar.

 

16

On that day the Lord their God will save them

for they are the flock of his people;

for like the jewels of a crown

they shall shine on his land.

17

For what goodness and beauty are his!

Grain shall make the young men flourish,

and new wine the young women.

 

New Testament in Four Years - Romans 1:21-25

Romans 1:21-25

1. God's Wrath Against Mankind

21for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened.22Claiming to be wise, they became fools;23and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves,25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Psalm a Day - Psalm 9

Psalm 9

9. Psalm 9

Psalm 9

God’s Power and Justice

To the leader: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

1

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

2

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

 

3

When my enemies turned back,

they stumbled and perished before you.

4

For you have maintained my just cause;

you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.

 

5

You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;

you have blotted out their name forever and ever.

6

The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;

their cities you have rooted out;

the very memory of them has perished.

 

7

But the Lord sits enthroned forever,

he has established his throne for judgment.

8

He judges the world with righteousness;

he judges the peoples with equity.

 

9

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

10

And those who know your name put their trust in you,

for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

 

11

Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.

Declare his deeds among the peoples.

12

For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;

he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

 

13

Be gracious to me, O Lord.

See what I suffer from those who hate me;

you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,

14

so that I may recount all your praises,

and, in the gates of daughter Zion,

rejoice in your deliverance.

 

15

The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;

in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.

16

The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment;

the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.Higgaion. Selah

 

17

The wicked shall depart to Sheol,

all the nations that forget God.

 

18

For the needy shall not always be forgotten,

nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

 

19

Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;

let the nations be judged before you.

20

Put them in fear, O Lord;

let the nations know that they are only human.Selah

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