Morning, July 20
Jump to: BLTyndaleSpurgeonDaily LightRdg plan


who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.  — Ephesians 1:14
Bible League: Living His Word
Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.
— Philippians 2:13 ERV

You're not alone and you're not on your own. There's something bigger at work in you. If you're a Christian, then God is at work in you. God is fulfilling His will and purpose through you. This doesn't mean, of course, that God is doing all the work and you have nothing to do. He doesn't work instead of you, He works in you and through you. Whenever you try to do what's right and good, whenever you make an effort to that effect, God is at work in you. This should be a source of confidence and assurance for you!

How does He work in you and through you? First of all, the Spirit is transforming your heart and will to desire to please God. Whenever you try to do what's right and good, whenever you make an effort to follow God's commands, God has nurtured that desire in you; He has inspired you to do the things that please Him. That's why Paul can say in the previous verse that you should "continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation" and that you should "Do this with fear and respect for God" (Philippians 2:12), because if you do these things, then you can be sure that you are being transformed.

Secondly, He works in you by giving you the power to do what pleases Him. It takes power to fight against temptation and peer pressure, so you need all the power you can get. You need more than the power you can muster on your own. You need divine, supernatural power, the kind that makes you realize that you're not on your own (Philippians 3:12).

Today, therefore, go and live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation, with fear and respect for God, and you will experience God Almighty at work in you.
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Psalm 31, 32, 33


Psalm 31 -- In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed.

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Psalm 32 -- Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Psalm 33 -- Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright.

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Acts 21:15-40


Acts 21 -- Paul Sails from Miletus to Jerusalem, Seized in the Temple

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”
        Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
Insight
Jesus was speaking to people who put extremely high value on family ties. Their genealogies were important guarantees that they were part of God's chosen people. A man's value came from his ancestors, and a woman's value came from the sons she bore. Jesus' response to the woman meant that a person's obedience to God is more important than his or her place on the family tree.
Challenge
The patient work of consistent obedience is even more important than the honor of bearing a respected son.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Ephesians 1:14  The earnest of our inheritance.

Oh! what enlightenment, what joys, what consolation, what delight of heart is experienced by that man who has learned to feed on Jesus, and on Jesus alone. Yet the realization which we have of Christ's preciousness is, in this life, imperfect at the best. As an old writer says, "'Tis but a taste!" We have tasted "that the Lord is gracious," but we do not yet know how good and gracious he is, although what we know of his sweetness makes us long for more. We have enjoyed the firstfruits of the Spirit, and they have set us hungering and thirsting for the fulness of the heavenly vintage. We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption. Here we are like Israel in the wilderness, who had but one cluster from Eshcol, there we shall be in the vineyard. Here we see the manna falling small, like coriander seed, but there shall we eat the bread of heaven and the old corn of the kingdom. We are but beginners now in spiritual education; for although we have learned the first letters of the alphabet, we cannot read words yet, much less can we put sentences together; but as one says, "He that has been in heaven but five minutes, knows more than the general assembly of divines on earth." We have many ungratified desires at present, but soon every wish shall be satisfied; and all our powers shall find the sweetest employment in that eternal world of joy. O Christian, antedate heaven for a few years. Within a very little time thou shalt be rid of all thy trials and thy troubles. Thine eyes now suffused with tears shall weep no longer. Thou shalt gaze in ineffable rapture upon the splendour of him who sits upon the throne. Nay, more, upon his throne shalt thou sit. The triumph of his glory shall be shared by thee; his crown, his joy, his paradise, these shall be thine, and thou shalt be co-heir with him who is the heir of all things.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
John 17:16  "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Isaiah 53:3  He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

John 16:33  "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Hebrews 7:26  For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

Philippians 2:15  so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

Acts 10:38  "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Galatians 6:10  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

John 1:9  There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Matthew 5:14,16  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; • "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

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 July 19
Top of Page
Top of Page