Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Morning Reading
Ever follow that which is good.—I THES. 5:15.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; . . . but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.—Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Spurgeon's Morning Reading
“I am the Lord, I change not.”
Malachi 3:6
It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed—all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn-out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth—“I am the Lord, I change not.”
The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian’s hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Whatever his attributes were of old, they are now; his power, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, are alike unchanged. He has ever been the refuge of his people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and he is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in his love. He has loved his people with “an everlasting love”; he loves them now as much as ever he did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, his love will still wear the dew of its youth. Precious is the assurance that he changes not! The wheel of providence revolves, but its axle is eternal love.
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“Death and change are busy ever, Man decays, and ages move; But his mercy waneth never; God is wisdom, God is love.” |
Old Testament Chapter a Day - Jeremiah 40
40. Jeremiah Freed
Jeremiah with Gedaliah the Governor
40
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound in fetters along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.2The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God threatened this place with this disaster;3and now the Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said, because all of you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice. Therefore this thing has come upon you.4Now look, I have just released you today from the fetters on your hands. If you wish to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take good care of you; but if you do not wish to come with me to Babylon, you need not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go.5If you remain, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the towns of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or go wherever you think it right to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go.6Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
7 When all the leaders of the forces in the open country and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon,8they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, they and their troops.9Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan swore to them and their troops, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall go well with you.10As for me, I am staying at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and live in the towns that you have taken over.”11Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and in Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan as governor over them,12then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been scattered and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah; and they gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.
13 Now Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah14and said to him, “Are you at all aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one else will know. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered around you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?”16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.”
New Testament in Four Years - Matthew 8:23-27
8. Jesus as Healer
Jesus Stills the Storm
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.24A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.25And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”26And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.27They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Psalm a Day - Psalm 92
92. Psalm 92
Psalm 92
Thanksgiving for Vindication
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.
1
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5
How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
6
The dullard cannot know,
the stupid cannot understand this:
7
though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever,
8
but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
9
For your enemies, O Lord,
for your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10
But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11
My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12
The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14
In old age they still produce fruit;
they are always green and full of sap,
15
showing that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.