Morning, February 6
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Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.  — Ephesians 6:18
Bible League: Living His Word
Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this, God showed how much He loves us.
— Romans 5:7-8 ERV

We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. Each of us bears the shame of sin. And we are unified in bearing it from our own choices and those of our entire race. Sin leaves pain, and ultimately leads to both spiritual and physical death. God didn’t want His dear ones to feel pain and darkness and death, because He loves us so dearly. But, for reasons we don’t fully understand, He chose to give us a choice. He doesn’t rob us of our will. As C.S. Lewis noted, maybe God didn’t want us to be “automatons,” or robots that were pre-programmed to always do His will. Maybe He receives greater pleasure when we choose to trust in and surrender to Him, than if we had been pre-programmed to always do the right thing.

Somehow, in God’s mind, that pleasure was worth the risk and pain of our sometimes choosing to sin and turn our backs on Him. Sadly, for some, that choice is eternal. It’s beyond our comprehension. But aren’t there so many aspects of God that we don’t understand? Paul alludes to this, “Now we see God as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see Him right before our eyes. Now, I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as God has known me,” (1 Corinthians 13:12 ERV). Meanwhile, man continues to go his own way.

Unified in our dire situation, we, as followers of Christ can relate to the lyrics of the 80s tune “Love Comes to Town” by the rock band U2 accompanied by renowned blues artist B.B. King:
I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew His sword
I threw the dice when they pierced His side
But I’ve seen love conquer the great divide.

When love comes to town, I’m gonna catch that train
When love comes to town, I’m gonna catch that flame
Maybe I was wrong to ever let you down
But I did what I did before love came to town.


Jesus came to town for each of us. Even His name, “Immanuel,” means “God with us.” He came for us. He is with us. Despite what we’ve done, He loves us. Will we choose love?

By Chaney Rader, Bible League International staff, Kansas U.S.
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Exodus 39, 40


Exodus 39 -- The Priestly Garments; Moses Inspects the Completed Work

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Exodus 40 -- Tabernacle Erected and Filled by the Glory of the Lord

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Matthew 24:1-22


Matthew 24 -- Christ Foretells the Destruction of the Temple and His Glorious Return

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
LORD, have mercy on me.
        See how my enemies torment me.
        Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
        Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem's gates,
        so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.
Insight
All of us want God to help us when we are in trouble, but often for different reasons. Some want God's help so that they will be successful and other people will like them. Others want God's help so that they will be comfortable and feel good about themselves. David, however, wanted help from God so that justice would be restored to Israel and so that he could show others God's power.
Challenge
When you call to God for help, consider your motive. Is it to save yourself pain and embarrassment or to bring God glory and honor?
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Ephesians 6:18  Praying always.

What multitudes of prayers we have put up from the first moment when we learned to pray. Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when he had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers for ourselves. We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we have been led to crave for a fresh assurance of faith, for the comfortable application of the promise, for deliverance in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for succor in the day of trial. We have been compelled to go to God for our souls, as constant beggars asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God, you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water of which it has drank has flowed from the living rock--Christ Jesus the Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner upon the daily bounty of God; and hence your prayers have ascended to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable, and therefore the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers have been as varied as the mercies have been countless. Then have you not cause to say, "I love the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplication"? For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God's answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and helped you, even when you dishonored him by trembling and doubting at the mercy-seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Daily Light on the Daily Path
1 Timothy 1:14  and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Romans 5:20  The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

Ephesians 2:7-9  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. • For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; • not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. • For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Galatians 2:16  nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Titus 3:5,6  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, • whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

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.

Evening February 5
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