Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Evening Reading
They sang as it were a new song.—REV. 14:3.
A new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us.—Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.—By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.—Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.—Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.—I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, . . . cried . . . saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Heb. 10:20. -Tit. 3:5,6. -Eph. 2:8,9.Psa. 115:1. -Rev. 1:5,6. -Rev. 5:9. -Rev. 7:9,10.
Spurgeon's Evening Reading
“Abide in me.”
John 15:4
Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it be the wormwood of woe, or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight, close fellowship with the Lord Jesus will take bitterness from the one, and satiety from the other. Live near to Jesus, Christian, and it is a matter of secondary importance whether thou livest on the mountain of honour or in the valley of humiliation. Living near to Jesus, thou art covered with the wings of God, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Let nothing keep thee from that hallowed intercourse, which is the choice privilege of a soul wedded to the well-beloved. Be not content with an interview now and then, but seek always to retain his company, for only in his presence hast thou either comfort or safety. Jesus should not be unto us a friend who calls upon us now and then, but one with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road before thee: see, O traveller to heaven, that thou go not without thy guide. Thou hast to pass through the fiery furnace; enter it not unless, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thou hast the Son of God to be thy companion. Thou hast to storm the Jericho of thine own corruptions: attempt not the warfare until, like Joshua, thou hast seen the Captain of the Lord’s host, with his sword drawn in his hand. Thou art to meet the Esau of thy many temptations: meet him not until at Jabbok’s brook thou hast laid hold upon the angel, and prevailed. In every case, in every condition, thou wilt need Jesus; but most of all, when the iron gates of death shall open to thee. Keep thou close to thy soul’s Husband, lean thy head upon his bosom, ask to be refreshed with the spiced wine of his pomegranate, and thou shalt be found of him at the last, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Seeing thou hast lived with him, and lived in him here, thou shalt abide with him forever.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - Genesis 34
34. Dinah and the Shechemites
The Rape of Dinah
34
Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the region.2When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the region, saw her, he seized her and lay with her by force.3And his soul was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the girl, and spoke tenderly to her.4So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl to be my wife.”
5 Now Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah; but his sons were with his cattle in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came.6And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him,7just as the sons of Jacob came in from the field. When they heard of it, the men were indignant and very angry, because he had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.
8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The heart of my son Shechem longs for your daughter; please give her to him in marriage.9Make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.10You shall live with us; and the land shall be open to you; live and trade in it, and get property in it.”11Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor with you, and whatever you say to me I will give.12Put the marriage present and gift as high as you like, and I will give whatever you ask me; only give me the girl to be my wife.”
13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.14They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.15Only on this condition will we consent to you: that you will become as we are and every male among you be circumcised.16Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people.17But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”
18 Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem.19And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his family.20So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying,21“These people are friendly with us; let them live in the land and trade in it, for the land is large enough for them; let us take their daughters in marriage, and let us give them our daughters.22Only on this condition will they agree to live among us, to become one people: that every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised.23Will not their livestock, their property, and all their animals be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will live among us.”24And all who went out of the city gate heeded Hamor and his son Shechem; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
Dinah’s Brothers Avenge Their Sister
25 On the third day, when they were still in pain, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city unawares, and killed all the males.26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away.27And the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.28They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.29All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and made their prey.30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites; my numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”31But they said, “Should our sister be treated like a whore?”
New Testament in Four Years - Romans 8:26-27
8. Life Through the Spirit
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 46
46. Psalm 46
Psalm 46
God’s Defense of His City and People
To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.Selah
4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.Selah
8
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
11
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.Selah