Bible League: Living His Word This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24 ESV On the morning I'm writing this, I woke up feeling a gentle breeze coming through the open window that carried a hint of rainfall. Looking outside, I saw tiny white clouds floating against the blue skies. It was refreshing after a week of unusual heat and drought. "The LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain" (Jeremiah 5:24). With the fresh morning air in my lungs, I went to the bathroom for a shave and a shower. The power was on, and the water ran smoothly. A glass of cold water, a cup of freshly ground coffee – everything was just there for me, giving me what I expected it to give. "His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22—23). Now, sitting in my home office, writing this devotional, I realize I feel healthy and well and have been doing so for multiple days in a row. My laptop works, the ink in my pen hasn't dried out (I prefer to write manually), and my chair is as comfortable as ever. And suddenly, I think, why? Why on earth do I experience all these blessings while millions of other people around the world do not? What have I done to deserve this goodness? For a moment, I almost feel guilty for my health and wealth. It reminds me of a ministry field trip to Mozambique, where I visited a small bush village. I had to sit on a chair at a table under a tree and enjoy a meal of rice and roasted goat while all the other people were seated on the ground, waiting for me to finish. Initially, I felt highly uncomfortable because I knew eating fresh meat and rice was a privilege most villagers couldn't afford. However, Jaime, my host, told me that declining the food would be a severe offense to their hospitality. I should simply accept everything as a token of the people's appreciation of my visit. That taught me the true meaning of gratitude. It was a humbling experience. With that in mind, I now humble myself before the Lord, praying, "Thank You, my heavenly Father, for all You've given me this morning already. I'm not taking it for granted. You are the One Who provides, and I acknowledge that with deep gratitude. Thank You for the gift of life today. Thank You, above all, for the gift of eternal life in Christ. As I warm myself in Your love, may my words, thoughts, and deeds glorify Your Name. Amen." Today, I purposely want to thank God for even the smallest of His gifts. For this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Are you with me? By Anton de Vreugd, Bible League International staff, the Netherlands Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 20, 21 Ezekiel 20 -- God Refuses the Elders of Israel; Destruction and Restoration of Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 21 -- Parable of the Sharp and Bright Sword NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading James 1 James 1 -- Trials and Temptations; Be Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.Insight How can you hold on to a good conscience? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish. Challenge As you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner tugs so that you do what is right—then your conscience will remain clear. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Job 23:3 O that I knew where I might find him!In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father's face. His first prayer is not "O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!" nor even "O that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!" but the first and uppermost cry is, "O that I knew where I might find Him, who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!" God's children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. "He that hath made his refuge God," might serve as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job's desire to commune with God was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, "O that I knew where I might find my God!" Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth's hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize God's presence with us. Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for his dear sake. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 60:13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, The juniper, the box tree and the cypress together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I shall make the place of My feet glorious.Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? 2 Chronicles 6:18 "But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. Haggai 2:6,7,9 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. • 'I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. • 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts." Revelation 21:1,3 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. • And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 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. 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