Evening, June 23
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Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  — Romans 8:23
Bible League: Living His Word
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
— Proverbs 11:24 NIV

Some people give freely. Whenever they are asked for a contribution of some kind, they can be counted on to come through. Indeed, it seems like they are always looking for opportunities to give.

Ironically, such people gain even more. They always seem to have enough to give, not lacking in anything. It seems like whatever they may lose by giving to others is always returned to them with interest in some way. It seems like they know this too, and so they can give without fear.

Other people withhold unduly. Whenever they are asked for a contribution, they always have an excuse not to give. When someone in trouble asks for help, they have nothing to give. Beggars beg in vain.

In God’s economy, often such people come to poverty. Even though they hold on to what they have, they lose even that. They complain that they never have enough of what they need, and they can see no advantage to giving.

Why is this so? What makes life work out this way? It’s because of a law in the Kingdom of God: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). God has set it up so that, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17). In fact, the Lord has decreed that the reward of those who lend freely, even to their enemies, without expecting to be paid back, “will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).

In God’s economy, it pays to be generous. As we model Christ to the world, we must look for opportunities to give.
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Esther 7-10


Esther 7 -- Esther Accuses Haman; Haman Is Hanged

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Esther 8 -- Mordecai is advanced; Xerxes allows the Jews to Defend Themselves

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Esther 9 -- The Jews Slay Their Enemies; Purim Instituted

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Esther 10 -- Xerxes' Tribute to Mordecai

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Acts 6


Acts 6 -- The Seven Chosen; Stephen Seized

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
But all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.
Insight
Worldly worries, the false sense of security brought on by prosperity, and the desire for things plagued first-century disciples as they do us today.
Challenge
How easy it is for our daily routines to become overcrowded. A life packed with materialistic pursuits deafens us to God's Word. Stay free so you can hear God when he speaks.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Romans 8:23  Waiting for the adoption.

Even in this world saints are God's children, but men cannot discover them to be so, except by certain moral characteristics. The adoption is not manifested, the children are not yet openly declared. Among the Romans a man might adopt a child, and keep it private for a long time: but there was a second adoption in public; when the child was brought before the constituted authorities its former garments were taken off, and the father who took it to be his child gave it raiment suitable to its new condition of life. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be." We are not yet arrayed in the apparel which befits the royal family of heaven; we are wearing in this flesh and blood just what we wore as the sons of Adam; but we know that "when he shall appear" who is the "first-born among many brethren," we shall be like him, we shall see him as he is. Cannot you imagine that a child taken from the lowest ranks of society, and adopted by a Roman senator, would say to himself, "I long for the day when I shall be publicly adopted. Then I shall leave off these plebeian garments, and be robed as becomes my senatorial rank"? Happy in what he has received, for that very reason he groans to get the fulness of what is promised him. So it is with us today. We are waiting till we shall put on our proper garments, and shall be manifested as the children of God. We are young nobles, and have not yet worn our coronets. We are young brides, and the marriage day is not yet come, and by the love our Spouse bears us, we are led to long and sigh for the bridal morning. Our very happiness makes us groan after more; our joy, like a swollen spring, longs to well up like an Iceland geyser, leaping to the skies, and it heaves and groans within our spirit for want of space and room by which to manifest itself to men.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
RUTH 3:1  Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?

Hebrews 4:9  So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Isaiah 32:18  Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;

Job 3:17  "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.

Revelation 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."

Hebrews 6:20  where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. • "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. • "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Isaiah 30:15  For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing,

Psalm 23:1,2  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. • He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Morning June 23
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