Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Morning Reading
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.—REV. 1:5.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. Love is strong as death.—Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.—In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Ye are washed, . . . ye are sanctified, . . . ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.—Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.—I beseech you . . . brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Song 8:7,6. -John 15:13.I Pet. 2:24. -Eph. 1:7.I Cor. 6:11. -I Pet. 2:9. -Rom. 12:1.
Spurgeon's Morning Reading
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Hebrews 1:14
Angels are the unseen attendants of the saints of God; they bear us up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone. Loyalty to their Lord leads them to take a deep interest in the children of his love; they rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father’s house below, and they welcome the advent of the believer to the King’s palace above. In olden times the sons of God were favoured with their visible appearance, and at this day, although unseen by us, heaven is still opened, and the angels of God ascend and descend upon the Son of man, that they may visit the heirs of salvation. Seraphim still fly with live coals from off the altar to touch the lips of men greatly beloved. If our eyes could be opened, we should see horses of fire and chariots of fire about the servants of the Lord; for we have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers and protectors of the seed-royal. Spenser’s line is no poetic fiction, where he sings—
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“How oft do they with golden pinions cleave The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant Against foul fiends to aid us militant!” |
To what dignity are the chosen elevated when the brilliant courtiers of heaven become their willing servitors! Into what communion are we raised since we have intercourse with spotless celestials! How well are we defended since all the twenty- thousand chariots of God are armed for our deliverance! To whom do we owe all this? Let the Lord Jesus Christ be forever endeared to us, for through him we are made to sit in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. He it is whose camp is round about them that fear him; he is the true Michael whose foot is upon the dragon. All hail, Jesus! thou Angel of Jehovah’s presence, to thee this family offers its morning vows.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - 1 Samuel 5
5. Ark Captured
The Philistines and the Ark
5
When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod;2then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.4But when they rose early on the next morning, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and struck them with tumors, both in Ashdod and in its territory.7And when the inhabitants of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his hand is heavy on us and on our god Dagon.”8So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The inhabitants of Gath replied, “Let the ark of God be moved on to us.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath.9But after they had brought it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic; he struck the inhabitants of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.10So they sent the ark of the God of Israel to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “Why have they brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people?”11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there;12those who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
New Testament in Four Years - Ephesians 3:7-13
3. Prayer for the Ephesians
7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.8Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,9and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;10so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,12in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.13I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 69:19-36
69. Psalm 69
19
You know the insults I receive,
and my shame and dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20
Insults have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none;
and for comforters, but I found none.
21
They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22
Let their table be a trap for them,
a snare for their allies.
23
Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24
Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25
May their camp be a desolation;
let no one live in their tents.
26
For they persecute those whom you have struck down,
and those whom you have wounded, they attack still more.
27
Add guilt to their guilt;
may they have no acquittal from you.
28
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
29
But I am lowly and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, protect me.
30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31
This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32
Let the oppressed see it and be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33
For the Lord hears the needy,
and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
34
Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah;
and his servants shall live there and possess it;
36
the children of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall live in it.