Dawn 2 Dusk When Fruit Tells the True StoryPhilippians 1:11 paints a picture of a life so filled with Jesus that it naturally produces visible, lasting fruit—righteousness that doesn’t originate in us, but flows through us. It’s the kind of life that quietly but unmistakably points beyond self-improvement to God’s glory. The Fruit That Proves the Root God isn’t merely interested in us looking “better”; He is growing something real in us—fruit that comes from being connected to Christ. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). That’s both humbling and freeing: humbling because we can’t manufacture righteousness, freeing because we don’t have to pretend. So ask yourself: what is my life organically producing right now? Not what do I intend, or what do I post, but what grows in my reactions, my habits, my conversations, my private decisions. Scripture names fruit that only the Spirit can cultivate: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). If the fruit feels scarce, the answer isn’t striving harder—it’s abiding deeper. Righteousness That Comes Through Jesus Philippians 1:11 anchors righteousness “through Jesus Christ,” which protects us from two traps: pride and despair. Pride says, “Look what I’ve achieved.” Despair says, “I’ll never change.” The gospel says, “Christ is my righteousness, and Christ is changing me.” “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Your standing is secured by His work; your growth is powered by His life. And this doesn’t make obedience optional—it makes it possible. When we trust Him, we also learn to walk with Him. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10). Good works don’t replace grace; they reveal grace at work. Today, don’t settle for external polish. Ask for internal renewal that produces unmistakable fruit. Glory and Praise, Not Personal Applause The aim of a fruitful life is not admiration, but worship—“to the glory and praise of God.” That changes how we measure success. We stop asking, “Did I impress people?” and start asking, “Did my life make God look great?” Jesus put it simply: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Real fruit redirects attention upward. This also reframes hardship. God can grow fruit in seasons we would never choose, and He is not wasting your pressure. “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). When your life points to God in the middle of trials—through trust, humility, forgiveness, endurance—that kind of fruit carries a fragrance that comforts others and honors Him. Father, thank You for giving me righteousness through Jesus. Fill me with the fruit You desire today—help me abide, obey, and live for Your glory; use my life to point someone to You. Amen. Evening with A.W. Tozer After Winter the Eternal TomorrowTo the man out of Christ, the fall of the year, in spite of its many charms, must surely bring with it a deep and hidden terror. For it speaks of the approaching end, the time when it may be said, "The summer is ended, and we are not saved." It would be good indeed if the autumn winds could preach to the lost soul of the brevity of life and the long winter ahead. The true Christian will not be saddened by the winds that herald the approach of winter. Like the wise ant he has made his preparation, and while the gusty tempest howls over him, he will sleep sweet in Christ while the circle of the heavens moves on toward the consummation of all things of which Moses and the prophets have spoken.
Happy man who knows that everything is well with him and that he will be among the blessed in that day when the breath of Jesus, like a breeze of spring, shall stir the sleeping dead to life again after the long night.
Music For the Soul Despising the ShameThey therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. - Acts 5:41 The struggles of the Captain of our salvation are the pattern for His people, in what I may call the wholesome and wise contempt for the ills that bar His progress: " Despising the shame." Contempt is an ugly word, but there are things which deserve it; and though we do not often associate the idea of it with the meek and gentle Christ, there were things in His life on which it was exercised. He despised the contumely. That is to say, He reduced it to its true insignificance by taking the measure of it, and looking at it as it was. And that is what I want you to feel we have all of us in our power. There are hosts of difficulties in our lives as Christian men, which will be big or little just as we choose to make them. You can either look at them through a magnifying or a diminishing glass. The magnitude of most of the trifles that affect us may be altered by our way of looking at them. Learn the practical wisdom of minimizing the hindrances to your Christian career, pulling them down to their true smallness. Do not let them come to you and impose upon you with the notion that they are big and formidable; the most of them are only white sheets, and a rustic boor behind them, like a vulgar ghost. You go up to them, and they will be small immediately! ’’Despise the shame!" and it disappears. And how is that to be done? In two ways. Go up the mountain, and the things in the plain will look very small; the higher you rise, the more insignificant they will seem. Hold fellowship with God, and live up beside your Master, and the threatening foes here will seem very, very unformidable. Another way is: pull up the curtain, and gaze on what is behind it The low foot-hills that lie at the base of some Alpine country may look high when seen from the plain, as long as the snowy summits are wrapped in mist; but when a little puff of wind comes and clears away the fog from the lofty peaks, nobody looks at the little green hills in front. So the world’s hindrances, and the world’s difficulties and cares, they look very lofty till the cloud lifts. And when we see the great white summits, everything lower does not seem so very high after all. Look to Jesus, and that will dwarf all difficulties. Spurgeon: Morning and Evening 2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Israelites? so am I. We have here a personal claim, and one that needs proof. The apostle knew that his claim was indisputable, but there are many persons who have no right to the title who yet claim to belong to the Israel of God. If we are with confidence declaring, "So am I also an Israelite," let us only say it after having searched our heart as in the presence of God. But if we can give proof that we are following Jesus, if we can from the heart say, "I trust him wholly, trust him only, trust him simply, trust him now, and trust him ever," then the position which the saints of God hold belongs to us--all their enjoyments are our possessions; we may be the very least in Israel, "less than the least of all saints," yet since the mercies of God belong to the saints as saints, and not as advanced saints, or well-taught saints, we may put in our plea, and say, "Are they Israelites? so am I; therefore the promises are mine, grace is mine, glory will be mine." The claim, rightfully made, is one which will yield untold comfort. When God's people are rejoicing that they are his, what a happiness if they can say, "So am I !" When they speak of being pardoned, and justified, and accepted in the Beloved, how joyful to respond, "Through the grace of God, so am I." But this claim not only has its enjoyments and privileges, but also its conditions and duties. We must share with God's people in cloud as well as in sunshine. When we hear them spoken of with contempt and ridicule for being Christians, we must come boldly forward and say, "So am I." When we see them working for Christ, giving their time, their talent, their whole heart to Jesus, we must be able to say, "So do I." O let us prove our gratitude by our devotion, and live as those who, having claimed a privilege, are willing to take the responsibility connected with it. Spurgeon: Faith’s Checkbook He Always ListensThe experience here recorded is mine. I can set to my seal that God is true. In very wonderful ways He has answered the prayers of His servant many and many a time. Yes, and He is hearing my present supplication, and He is not turning away His ear from me. Blessed be His holy name! What then? Why, for certain the promise which lies sleeping in the psalmist’s believing confidence is also mine. Let me grasp it by the hand of faith: "The LORD will receive my prayer." He will accept it, think of it, and grant it in the way and time which His loving wisdom judges to be best. I bring my poor prayer in my hand to the great King, and He gives me audience and graciously receives my petition. My enemies will not listen to me, but my LORD will. They ridicule my tearful prayers, but my LORD does not; He receives my prayer into His ear and His heart. What a reception this is for a poor sinner! We receive Jesus, and then the LORD receives us and our prayers for His Son’s sake. Blessed be that dear name which franks our prayers so that they freely pass even within the golden gates. LORD, teach me to pray, since Thou hearest my prayers. The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer He Hath Done All Things WellTHIS was the testimony of the multitude concerning Jesus, He did many things, but He did every thing well. Cannot we bear the same testimony this morning? He called us by His grace, and when we reflect upon the means, the manner, and the period, must we not say, " He did it well?" He has tried us in many ways; but when we think of His design, the mercies He mingled with the afflictions, and the deliverance He granted us out of them, must we not say, "He hath done all things well?" If we look back, and see Him standing forward as our SURETY with the Father in eternity; or if we behold Him taking our nature, bearing our sins, procuring our righteousness, and sending His Holy Spirit to sanctify and save us; must we not say, " He hath done all things well." And when our mansions are prepared, our bodies raised from the grave, and our persons are perfectly conformed to His image; when we hear Him say, "Come, inherit the kingdom;" oh, with what rapture, gratitude, and love shall we shout, "HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL!" How sovereign, wonderful, and free, Is all His love to sinful me; He pluck’d me as a brand from hell!-- My Jesus hath done all things well. And since my soul has known His love, What mercies has He made me prove; Mercies which all my praise excel-- My Jesus hath done all things well. Bible League: Living His Word Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. — Psalms 30:5 ESV Mourning does not last forever. The psalmist said, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” There was sorrow in the psalmist's heart, but it did not last. What we need to understand is that the problems are temporary and have an expiration date. Only God is eternal. It is normal that when you are in difficulty, you feel anxious. It is not a lack of faith to say, “Lord, my heart is heavy. I am saddened.” When Jesus was on His way to be crucified, He fell under the weight of the cross. He is the Son of God. However, in His human body, He had no strength. God didn't say, “Son, what's wrong with you? You need to be stronger.” No, God sent a man named Simon (Matthew 27:32) to carry the cross for Him. Sometimes you can't carry the weight of the problems you are under. You can't take the pressure. Seek help, counsel. God will find someone to help you. What I love about God is that He is merciful. He doesn't demand perfect performance, to never complain, to always have strong and unwavering faith, none of us would have succeeded. God knows when the pressure is too strong, the weight is too heavy for you to carry yourself. But the psalmist did not speak only of mourning. Herein lies the promise: joy comes in the morning. No “maybe,” no “I hope it can happen like that.” It's not a good chance, but a promise from God Most High that joy is on the way. You will rejoice again, you will dream again, you will succeed again. You will see God’s blessing in such a way that all you can do is laugh. Rejoice in wonder, rejoice in gratitude, rejoice in God's goodness. Pastor Sabri Kasemi, Bible League International partner, Albania Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 10:20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,Genesis 4:16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 2 Timothy 1:10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, Matthew 27:51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Matthew 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Psa 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. 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. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.Insight Jesus made it clear that having the wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. Challenge If possessions or money become too important to us, we must re-establish control or get rid of items. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures. Devotional Hours Within the Bible Poverty and RichesThe Beatitudes are glimpses of heaven ; that is, the conditions they describe are qualities which belong to the heavenly life. Those who live there are lowly, are meek, are pure in heart, hungering after righteousness, and are merciful. We cannot think of any people in heaven who are proud, resentful, or unmerciful, who thirst after worldly power or fame. To get the Beatitudes of the New Testament into our hearts and lives, even as beginnings, is to enter upon the heavenly life. “Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God.” This beatitude is not pronounced on the poor in worldly circumstances; for one may be very poor and yet very proud; or one may be rich in worldly goods and yet be very poor in spirit. Nor is it on the poor in mind ; for mental poverty is not necessarily a state of blessedness; and ignorance certainly is not desirable. It is the poor in spirit, in disposition, on whom the beatitude is pronounced; that is, the lowly in heart, the humble, those who are conscious of their unworthiness. Humility is an attitude that bows reverently before God, and then holds its most divine gifts as not too good or too fine to be used in Christ’s name in the service of the lowliest of God’s creatures. The bible everywhere speaks it praises of humility. God dwells with the humble. Christ only once opens a window into His own heart, and through this window it is this picture that we see, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). To be poor in spirit is to be rich toward God; while pride of heart is spiritual poverty. Humility is the key that opens the gate of prayer; while to the loud knocking of pride there comes no answer. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are humble. They may wear no earthly crown but a real crown of glory, unseen by men, rests even here upon their heads! We are sure always of Christ’s sympathy with the poor. He was Himself brought up in poverty. His mother could bring only the offering of the poor when she brought her child to present Him to the Lord. In His public ministry, He said He had nowhere to lay His head. He rode on a borrowed donkey, on His triumphal entry. He slept in a borrowed grave, when He was dead. He understands poverty’s conditions. He is the poor man’s friend. Poverty itself is not a blessing; but the poor who love Christ and follow Him have many blessings. “Blessed are you who hunger now for you will be satisfied.” Hunger means dissatisfaction, craving, desire, yearning, longing. It strikes us somewhat strangely at first, that there should be a beatitude for dissatisfaction. We know that peace is promised to the Christian, and peace is calm repose and satisfied restfulness. The word “hunger” appears to suggest experiences incompatible with rest and peace. But when we think a little more deeply we see that spiritual hunger must form a part of all true Christian experience. In all of life hunger is a mark of health. It is so in physical life; the loss of appetite indicates disease. So a healthy mind is a hungry one; when one becomes satisfied with one’s attainments then one ceases to grow. The same is true in spiritual life; hunger is health. If we become satisfied with our faith, love, obedience, our communion with God, and our consecration to Christ we are truly in a sad condition. We have ceased to grow. Often invalids die amid plenty, die of starvation, not because they can get no food but because they have no appetite. There are many professing Christians who are starving their souls in the midst of abundance of spiritual provision, because they have no hunger. There is nothing for which we should pray more earnestly, than for spiritual longing . “Blessed are you that weep now for you shall laugh.” Weeping is not usually considered a blessed condition. We do not think of those having sorrow as fortunate. We pity them, and think their condition most unenviable. Here, however, is a special beatitude for mourners. Probably Jesus meant particularly, those who are sorrowing on account of their sins. In all this world there is nothing so precious before God as tears of contrition ; no diamonds or pearls shine with such brilliance in His sight! It was Jesus Himself who said that there is joy in the presence of God over one sinner that repents on their earth. Truly blessed, therefore, are those who grieve over their sins ; a holy light shines from heaven upon all such mourners. They are comforted with God’s pardon and peace . But the beatitude refers also to those who are in sorrow. Blessing is never nearer to us than when we are in affliction. Someday we shall see that we have received our best things from heaven not in the days of our joy and gladness but in the time of trial and affliction. Tears are lenses through which our dim eyes see more deeply into heaven and look more fully upon God’s face than in any other way. Sorrows cleanse our heart of earthliness and fertilize our life. The days of pain really do far more for us than the days of rejoicing. We grow best when clouds hang over us, because clouds bear rain, and rain refreshes. “Blessed are you when man shall hate you.” We do not like to be hated. Nor can everybody who is hated take shelter under this beatitude. Many people deserve to be hated. It is only those who are hated for being and doing good who can claim this blessing. If any of us are suffering in this way here is comfort for us. There have been times in the history of the Church, and in the history of almost every great reform when those who would be loyal and true could be so, only at the cost of losing their friends, often at the cost of property and reputation, even of personal liberty sometimes of life itself. We must read down to the end of the verse, before we begin to congratulate ourselves, that the hatred we find in our neighbors toward us is a mark of God’s favor. “For the Son of man’s sake,” the verse reads. “Woe unto you that are rich! For you have received your consolation.” Evidently it is not very safe to be rich. It is not easy to be rich and to be a godly Christian. Jesus said a great many words about the rich and about riches which show that those who have wealth are in a perilous position. People would not think of a prosperous man, a man growing rich, as especially needing the prayers of a congregation. Yet perhaps this is the very man in all the community, who most needs to be remembered with prayer. Those who are rich or getting rich would better look well to their spiritual state. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 20, 21, 22 2 Chronicles 20 -- Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon; His Prayer and Return to Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 21 -- Jehoshaphat's Death; Jehoram's Wicked Reign in Judah; Edom Rebels NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 22 -- Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram in Judah, Reigns Wickedly; Athaliah and Joash NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 16:1-15 John 16 -- Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit, Foretells His Death and Resurrection NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. |
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