Dawn 2 Dusk The Seal That Won’t SlipSome days faith feels steady; other days it feels like you’re holding on by your fingertips. Ephesians 1:13 pulls our attention away from our grip and onto God’s grip—how the gospel comes to us, how we respond in faith, and how God answers with something sure: His Spirit as a seal. Hear the Word of Truth God doesn’t ask you to build your life on vague spirituality or religious noise, but on “the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation.” The Christian life starts with news, not advice: something has happened in Christ, and it changes everything. “Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). If your heart feels dull, don’t begin by trying to manufacture feelings—begin by listening again. And hearing isn’t merely collecting information; it’s receiving a Person. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). When Scripture is open, God is not merely giving directions—He is giving Himself, shaping your mind, exposing lies you’ve gotten used to, and re-centering you on what is real. Believe the Gospel, Not Your Mood Ephesians 1:13 is wonderfully plain: you heard, you believed. Not “you achieved,” not “you proved yourself,” not “you cleaned up first.” Salvation is received. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith is not pretending you’re strong; it’s admitting Christ is enough. When doubts flare, remember what God wants you to know: “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). The gospel doesn’t rise and fall with your emotional temperature. Your assurance rests on Christ’s finished work, and your faith—however small—lays hold of a Savior who never fails. Live as the Sealed and Sent God’s response to believing isn’t merely a pat on the back; it’s a permanent mark: “you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). A seal speaks of ownership, protection, and authenticity. God has not simply welcomed you into His house; He has put His Spirit within you. “He has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge” (2 Corinthians 1:22). So today, don’t live like you’re trying to earn a place you already have. The Spirit not only assures you—“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16)—He also leads you into a new way of life. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). Your choices matter, not because you’re trying to become God’s, but because you already are. Father, thank You for saving me through the gospel and sealing me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me hear Your truth, believe Your promises, and live today in a way that honors Your name. Amen. Evening with A.W. Tozer Being Determines DoingTo teach that the filling with the Holy Spirit is given to the Christian to provide power for service is to teach truth, but not the whole truth. Power for service is but one effect of the experience, and I do not hesitate to say that it is the least of several effects. It is least for the very reason that it touches service, presumably service to mankind; and contrary to the popular belief, to serve this present age is not the Christian's first duty nor the chief end of man. As I have stated elsewhere, the two great verbs that dominate the life of man are be and do. What a man is comes first in the sight of God. What he does is determined by what he is, so is is of first importance always. The modern notion that we are saved to serve, while true, is true only in a wider context, and as understood by busy Christians today it is not true at all. Redemption became necessary not because of what men were doing only, but because of what they were. Not human conduct alone had gone wrong but human nature as well; apart from the moral defect in human nature no evil conduct would have occurred. Fallen men acted in accord with what they were. Their hearts dictated their deeds. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth (Genesis 6:54). That much any moral being could have seen. But God saw more; He saw the cause of man's wicked ways, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (6:5). The stream of human conduct flows out of a fountain polluted by evil thoughts and imaginations. To purge the stream it was necessary to purify the fountain; and to reform human conduct it is necessary to regenerate human nature. The fundamental be must be sanctified if we would have a righteous do, for being and doing are related as cause and effect, as father and son. Music For the Soul The Promise of the PentecostIs the Spirit of the Lord straitened? - Micah 2:7 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:4 WHAT did the Pentecost declare and hold forth for the faith of the Church? I need not dwell at any length upon this thought. The facts are familiar to you, and the inferences drawn from them are commonplace and known to us all. But let me just enumerate them as briefly as may be. " Suddenly there came a sound, as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." And there came " cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." What lay in that? First, the promise of a Divine Spirit whose symbols express some, at all events, of the characteristics and wonderfulness of His work. The "rushing of a mighty wind " spoke of a power which varied in its manifestations from the gentlest breath that scarce moves the leaves on the summer trees to the wildest blast that casts down all which stands in its way. The natural symbolism of the wind, the least material to the popular apprehension of all material forces, and of which the connection with the immaterial part of a man’s personality has been expressed in all languages, point to a Divine, to an immaterial, to a mighty, to a life-giving power which is free to blow whither it listeth, and of which men can mark the effects, though they are all ignorant of the force itself. The twin symbol, the fiery tongues which parted and sat upon each of them, speak in like manner of the Divine influences, not as destructive, but full of quick rejoicing energy and life, the power to transform and to purify. Whither soever the fire comes, it changes all things into its own substance. Whither soever the fire comes, there the ruddy spires shoot upwards towards the heavens. Whither soever the fire comes, there all bonds and fetters are melted and consumed. And so this fire transforms, purifies, ennobles, quickens, sets free; and where the fiery spirit is, there is energy, swift life, rejoicing activity, transforming and transmuting power which changes the recipient of the flame into flame himself. In the fact of Pentecost there is the promise of a Divine Spirit which is to influence all the moral side of humanity. This is the great and glorious distinction between the Christian doctrine of inspiration and all others which have, in heathen lands, partially reached similar conceptions, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has laid emphasis upon the Holy Spirit, and has declared that holiness of heart is the touchstone and test of all claims of Divine inspiration. Gifts are much, graces are more; an inspiration which makes wise is to be coveted, an inspiration which makes good is transcendentally better. And there we find the safeguard against all the fanaticism’s which have sometimes invaded the Christian Church, that the Spirit which dwells in men, and makes them free from the obligations of outward law and cold morality, is a Spirit that works a deeper holiness than law dreamed, and a more spontaneous and glad conformity to all things that are fair and good than any legislation and outward commandment can ever enforce. Spurgeon: Morning and Evening Psalm 103:3 Who healeth all thy diseases. Humbling as is the statement, yet the fact is certain, that we are all more or less suffering under the disease of sin. What a comfort to know that we have a great Physician who is both able and willing to heal us! Let us think of him awhile tonight. His cures are very speedy--there is life in a look at him; his cures are radical--he strikes at the centre of the disease; and hence, his cures are sure and certain. He never fails, and the disease never returns. There is no relapse where Christ heals; no fear that his patients should be merely patched up for a season, he makes new men of them: a new heart also does he give them, and a right spirit does he put within them. He is well skilled in all diseases. Physicians generally have some speciality. Although they may know a little about almost all our pains and ills, there is usually one disease which they have studied above all others; but Jesus Christ is thoroughly acquainted with the whole of human nature. He is as much at home with one sinner as with another, and never yet did he meet with an out-of-the-way case that was difficult to him. He has had extraordinary complications of strange diseases to deal with, but he has known exactly with one glance of his eye how to treat the patient. He is the only universal doctor; and the medicine he gives is the only true catholicon, healing in every instance. Whatever our spiritual malady may be, we should apply at once to this Divine Physician. There is no brokenness of heart which Jesus cannot bind up. "His blood cleanseth from all sin." We have but to think of the myriads who have been delivered from all sorts of diseases through the power and virtue of his touch, and we shall joyfully put ourselves in his hands. We trust him, and sin dies; we love him, and grace lives; we wait for him and grace is strengthened; we see him as he is, and grace is perfected forever. Spurgeon: Faith’s Checkbook Be of Good CheerMy LORD’s words are true as to the tribulation. I have my share of it beyond all doubt. The flail is not hung up out of the way, nor can I hope that it will be laid aside so long as I lie upon the threshing floor, How can I look to be at home in the enemy’s country, joyful while in exile, or comfortable in a wilderness? This is not my rest. This is the place of the furnace, and the forge, and the hammer. My experience tallies with my LORD’s words. I note how He bids me "be of good cheer." Alas! I am far too apt to be downcast. My spirit soon sinks when I am sorely tried. But I must not give way to this feeling. When my LORD bids me cheer up I must not dare to be cast down. What is the argument which He uses to encourage me? Why, it is His own victory. He says, "I have overcome the world." His battle was much more severe than mine. I have not yet resisted unto blood. Why do I despair of overcoming? See, my soul, the enemy has been once overcome. I fight with a beaten foe. O world, Jesus has already vanquished thee; and in me, by His grace, He will overcome thee again. Therefore am I of good cheer and sing unto my conquering LORD. The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer The Just Shall Come Out of TroubleTHE Lord’s people are justified by grace, through faith, in the righteousness of Jesus; and all who are thus justified and created anew, have immortal principles of holiness and justice implanted in their hearts, so that they hate sin, follow holiness, and walk uprightly. Sin has not dominion over them, nor will they be slaves to lust. They meet with many troubles, they have to pass through fire and water, but they shall come out into a wealthy place. They shall not perish in their affliction, for the Lord upholdeth them with His hand. Beloved, look beyond your present trials; remember if you suffer as a Christian, you suffer with Christ; and if you suffer, you shall also reign with Him. Your God is able to deliver; He has promised to do so; trust in Him without wavering; yield not to temptation; avoid the appearance of evil; and your God will bring you out of trouble. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. You shall also forget your misery, or remember it as waters that pass away. Present troubles will end in everlasting peace. Millions who now His throne surround, Here sought relief, here mercy found; The Lord dispell’d their gloomy fears, Heal’d all their wounds, and dried their tears; And thou shalt also mercy find, For God is faithful, just, and kind. Bible League: Living His Word "How long will these evil people continue to complain against me? I have heard their complaints and their griping."— Numbers 14:27 ERV The people of Israel were about to enter the promised land. Before they did, the Lord told Moses to send twelve spies to explore and study the land. When they returned from their expedition, ten of the spies gave a bad report about the Israelite's prospects for the conquest of the land. They said, "The people living there are very powerful. The cities are very large and strongly defended." They also said, "We cannot fight those people... We saw the giant Nephilim people there... We felt like little grasshoppers. Yes, we were like grasshoppers to them!" (Numbers 13:28-33). That's when the people began the complaining and griping mentioned in our verse for today. They said, "We should have died in Egypt or in the desert. Did the LORD bring us to this new land to be killed in war? The enemy will kill us and take our wives and children! It would be better for us to go back to Egypt," (Numbers 14:2-3). Despite the fact that Caleb, one of the twelve spies, said to them "We can easily take that land," they even took steps to select a leader to replace Moses and lead them back to Egypt (Numbers 14:4). You have an opportunity to grumble and complain as well. You may be working your way through your own version of the wilderness. The wilderness isn't easy; there are many trials and tribulations to go through. There are enemies that must be taken on and they may seem like giants. Don't give in to the temptation to grumble and complain. Trust your Leader. The Israelites had Moses and Joshua, but we have King Jesus. He sustains us in the wilderness. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.James 1:6-8 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. • For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, • being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Galatians 1:6-8 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; • which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. • But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Galatians 5:4,7 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. • You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? John 15:4,7 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. • "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 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 God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. Insight Jesus began his sermon with words that seem to contradict each other. But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's. Challenge If you want to live for God, you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world. You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you. Devotional Hours Within the Bible The Baptism and Temptation of JesusFor thirty years the beautiful life of Jesus had gone on in Nazareth. He differed not from the other children, with whom He played and attended school, except in the stainlessness and sinlessness of His life. He grew up among plain people. The village where He lived was small, and everyone knew all the neighbors. Jesus was a carpenter, as Joseph had been. We may be sure that His work in the shop was always well done. He never did it carelessly. A man’s religion is shown in the way he does the tasks of his trade or business or other occupation, quite as unmistakably as in his church attendance, his devotions, and his Sunday duties. Jesus did His carpentering conscientiously, honestly, skillfully. He was prompt and did not break His promises nor fail to finish His work at the time He said He would. But one day He went away from His shop for the last time, closed it up, and left Nazareth. He had a call to higher and larger work. The time had come for Him to take up His mission as the Messiah. We are not told how this call came to Him, or anything of the spirit in which He answered it. But no doubt He knew what the call meant, and went eagerly to take up its tasks. It seems strange to us, that Jesus should need to be baptized. The use of water implied symbolically, that the person baptized was sinful and needed cleansing; but Jesus was without sin. John recognized the apparent unfitness of performing the rite upon Him which he was performing upon those who came confessing sin and repenting of it. John would have hindered Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by you and do You come to me?” Yet Jesus bade John to perform the rite on Him: “Allow it to be so now: for thus it befits us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-17). So John baptized Him. When we ask the reason for this insisting of Jesus that John should baptize Him, several answers suggest themselves. Jesus’ baptism was the consecration of Himself to His Messianic mission. He had come all the way from Nazareth to the Jordan expressly to make this consecration. Shall we then say there is no necessity for public confession, for the declaring ourselves on Christ’s side and taking our place among His people? The baptism of Jesus was His public confession. He accepted the divine call and before all the world declared His acceptance of the mission to be the world’s Redeemer. We are called to follow Christ, and we should not hesitate to obey the call. One meaning of Christ’s baptism was that He was now taking His place as one with us, to be our Redeemer. He had no sin of His own, and yet He stood there that day in the place of sinners. His baptism with water was the shadow of that other baptism into which He entered as our Savior. Then His baptism was His consecration to His public ministry. From the bank of the Jordan He saw through to the end. The shadow of the cross fell on the flowing water; fell also across the gentle and holy soul of Jesus as He stood there. Baptism for us implies also the consecration and devotion of our lives to God. The divine manifestations which attended the baptism of Jesus were wonderful. “He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon Him: and a voice came out of the heavens, You are My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” The descending of the Spirit upon Him, was the anointing of Jesus for His Messiahship. Then the Voice from heaven clearly declared His Messiahship. The Father testified that this was His beloved Son, in whom all the promises of grace were given. Jesus thus entered upon His mission as the Messiah, to be the world’s Redeemer. At once Jesus disappeared from the Jordan. “ Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.” There seems to have been haste the word “immediately” indicates this. His going from the Jordan into the wilderness, was not merely a pleasant saunter of his own for recreation, or to get away from the crowd. The Spirit of God put the impulse into His heart. Notice, too, the strength and urgency of the impulse, “the Spirit drove Him,” away from the Jordan into the wilderness. The word “drove” shows the tremendous divine pressure that was on Jesus, as He hastened from His baptism and the Father’s declaration of His Messiahship. He must pass now instantly to the first step in His preparation. “He was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.” Why must He be tempted? The answer seems clear. He had come into the world that He might destroy the works of the devil. He must meet the leader of the works of darkness, first of all, and enter upon His conflict with him. If he could not overcome Satan, He could not be the world’s Redeemer. The conflict was fierce and terrible. All the power of evil was marshaled for the great battle. Matthew tells in fuller form, the story of the method of the temptation and describes the complete victory which Jesus won. Mark gives details which the other Gospel writers do not give. One is that Jesus was with the wild beasts. It was in the wilderness that He spent the forty days and nights, and the wilderness was the home of beasts. The fact added to the terrors of the temptation. No doubt Jesus was kept in perfect safety in the midst of the wild beasts. Not one of them would harm Him. Mark also makes special note of the ministry of angels to Jesus. His words would seem to indicate that the angels attended Him through all the forty days. Matthew in his account of the temptation puts the ministering of angels at the close, after the period of tempting. But the words imply repeated ministration, as if they had come to strengthen Him at different times, between the several assaults of the tempter. This agrees with Mark’s statement, which implies continuous ministry throughout the forty days. Heaven’s eye was upon Jesus during all the time of His trial, and help was sent in every time of stress. It is the same with us when we are in any struggle or any need. God watches that we shall never be tempted above what we can bear, and that help shall always come at the right moment. We are never left alone in any need or danger. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 1, 2, 3 2 Chronicles 1 -- Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom at Gibeon NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 2 -- Solomon Prepares to Build a Temple and Palace NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 3 -- Solomon Builds the Temple in Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 12:1-19 John 12 -- Jesus Anointed at Bethany; Enters Jerusalem; Sought by Greeks; Foretells His Death NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. |
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