Dawn 2 Dusk Held by the Maker of All ThingsThere are days when the world feels like it’s spinning out of control—news headlines shift, circumstances blindside us, and even our own hearts feel unsteady. Psalm 146:6 quietly pulls us back to reality: the God we trust is the One who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them, and He has bound Himself to be faithful forever. This isn’t abstract theology; it’s the solid ground under your feet today. The hands that shaped galaxies are the same hands that hold your life. The Creator Who Refuses to Be Distant The Bible opens with a thunderous sentence: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Psalm 146:6 echoes this truth and then makes it intensely personal. The One who spoke stars into existence is not an impersonal force or a distant clockmaker. He is the LORD—personal, present, involved. Psalm 121:2 says, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth”. Notice that: your Helper is the Maker. The title that describes His power also describes His closeness. If He made everything, then nothing in your life lies outside His reach. The hospital room, the classroom, the cubicle, the kitchen sink—He designed the atoms that make them up. That means your worries are never competing with bigger “global issues” on God’s agenda. He can uphold galaxies and still listen intently when you whisper His name. When you pray today, you are not tossing words into the air; you are speaking to the Creator who chose to draw near. Faithful Forever in a World That Forgets The second half of Psalm 146:6 is like a rock in a river of change: “He remains faithful forever”. People move away. Friends disappoint. Leaders fail. Our own hearts wander. But God’s character does not shift with the seasons. Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us, “Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”. What you woke up to today was not a tired God, but fresh mercy. When you stumble, there is a quiet lie that whispers, “This time you’ve gone too far. God must be done with you.” But that’s reading God through the lens of human fickleness. Scripture says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). His faithfulness is not fragile because it’s grounded in who He is, not in how steady you feel. So instead of running from Him in shame, run to Him in repentance—and discover that His forever-faithfulness is not just a doctrine, but a door that is still open. Living Like Everything Belongs to Him If God is the Maker of heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them, then nothing in your life is truly “yours.” It’s all His—entrusted to you for a short time. Romans 11:36 declares, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen”. Your time, your bank account, your abilities, your family, your dreams—these are not possessions to cling to, but gifts to manage under His authority. That changes how you plan your day: “Lord, what do You want to do with what is Yours?” This truth also gives courage. If the One who commands the oceans calls you to obey Him—whether that means confessing sin, reconciling with someone, giving generously, or taking a step of faith—He can handle the fallout. Jesus promised, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). You don’t have to secure your own life by compromise or fear. You seek His kingdom; the Maker of all things will take care of what you need. Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, thank You that You remain faithful forever. Help me today to trust Your power, rest in Your promises, and live as a bold steward of all You have placed in my hands. Amen. Morning with A.W. Tozer God's Highest WillLet us consider three simple things reinforced in the Word of God for those who would discern God's highest will. First, be willing to put away known sin! Second, separate yourself from all of the attractions of the world, the flesh and the devil! Finally, offer yourself to your God and Savior in believing faith! God has never yet turned away an honest, sincere person who has come to know the eternal value of the atonement and the peace that is promised through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The only person who will never be cleansed and made whole is the one who insists he or she needs no remedy. The person who comes in faith to God and confesses, "I am unclean; I am sin-sick; I am blind," will find mercy and righteousness and life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior, the Cleanser. He is the Purifier, the Healer. He is the Sight-giver and the Life-giver. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Music For the Soul Fear Not: Only BelieveJesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole. - Luke 8:50 This is the word of cheer which sustains a staggering faith. How preposterous this rekindling of hope must have seemed to Jairus when the storm had blown out the last flickering spark! How irrelevant, if it were not cruel, the "Fear not" must have sounded when the last possible blow had fallen. And yet, because of the word in the middle, embedded between the obligation to hope and the prohibition to fear, neither the one nor the other is preposterous. "Only believe."’ That is in the centre; and on the one side, "Fear not!" - a command ridiculous without it; and on the other side, hope! - an injunction impossible apart from faith. Jesus Christ is saying the very same things to us. His fundamental commandment is, "Only believe"; and there effloresce from it the two things, courage that never trembles, and hope that never despairs. " Only believe." Usually He made the outflow of His miraculous power contingent upon the faith either of the sufferer himself or of some others. There was no necessity for the connection. We have instances in His life of miracles wrought without faith, without asking; simply at the bidding of His own irrepressible pity. But the rule in regard to His miracles is, that faith was the condition which drew out the miraculous energy. The connection between our faith and our experience of His supernatural sustaining, cleansing, gladdening, enlightening power is closer than that. For, without our trust in Him, He can do no mighty works upon us; and there must be confidence on our part before there is in our experience the reception into our lives of His highest blessings; just because they are greater and deeper, and belong to a more inward sphere than these outward and inferior miracles of bodily healing. Therefore the connection between our faith and His gifts to us is inevitable and constant, and the commandment, "Only believe," assumes a more imperative stringency in regard to our spiritual experience, than it ever did in regard to those who felt the power of His miracle-working hand. So it stands for us as the one central appeal and exhortation which Christ, by His life, by the record of His love, by His Cross and Passion, by His dealings and pleadings with us, through His Spirit, and His providence to-day, is making to us all. "Only believe" - the one act that vitally knits the soul to Christ, and makes it capable of receiving unto itself the fulness of His loftiest blessings. Spurgeon: Morning and Evening Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge. The word refuge may be translated "mansion," or "abiding-place," which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we "fear no evil." He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the "secret of the Lord is with them that fear him," the secrets of them that fear him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labor. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to him strengthens us. We think of him in the person of his dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labor in his cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father's heart to make glad by bringing home his wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge! Spurgeon: Faith’s Checkbook Walk Without StumblingIf the LORD will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it. How greatly would they rejoice if they could give us a disgraceful fall, drive us from our position, and bury us out of memory! They could do this to their heart’s content were it not for one hindrance, and only one: the LORD will not suffer it; and if He does not suffer it, we shall not suffer it. The way of life is like traveling among the Alps. Along the mountain path one is constantly exposed to the slipping of the foot. Where the way is high the head is apt to swim, and then the feet soon slide; there are spots which are smooth as glass and others that are rough with loose stones, and in either of these a fall is hard to avoid. He who throughout life is enabled to keep himself upright and to walk without stumbling has the best of reasons for gratitude. What with pitfalls and snares, weak knees, weary feet, and subtle enemies, no child of God would stand fast for an hour were it not for the faithful love which will not suffer his foot to be moved. Amidst a thousand snares I stand Upheld and guarded by thy hand; That hand unseen shall hold me still, And lead me to thy holy hill. The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer I Say Unto All, WatchThe hour of death is uncertain, and the second coming of Jesus is equally so; therefore we are commanded to be always ready, and to be on the WATCH. His coming is the grand object of our hope, and should be our daily desire and prayer. It will be awfully grand. We are deeply interested in it. It is certain, necessary, and will be sudden. We know not the day, month, or year. God has purposely concealed it, in wisdom, in mercy, and for our good. He commands us to awake, and keep awake. To be at our post, and employed in our calling. In order to our watching we must be daily believing Jesus will come; thinking and praying to be found ready. We should watch the signs of the times; the workings of our own hearts; and over our daily conduct. We should walk as we wish death or Jesus to find us; and transact every business as though Jesus was at the door. Would you, beloved, wish to be found idle--contentious--at enmity--or murmuring--or indulging in any sin? If not, watch against these things; put off the old man, and put on the new. Behold, the awful day comes on, When Jesus on His righteous throne Shall in the clouds appear: With solemn pomp shall bow the sky And in the twinkling of an eye, Arraign us at His bar. Bible League: Living His Word Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.— Isaiah 38:19 NLT Our scriptural setting finds King Hezekiah sick and facing imminent death. Helpless and depressed, he prayed to God. In answer to that prayer, God promised to extend his life another 15 years and to use him to lead Judah through a season of conflict with Assyria. King Hezekiah understood that his sickness had been ordained by God for his faith to be strengthened, as it would be needed in the years ahead. His response to this miracle of God was to sing out praise. He was alive, and he promised to praise God not only privately before his family and children, but also corporately in the temple. "The living, only the living" is a statement of truth about relationship with God. The living can praise a god, but only one who is alive not only physically, but spiritually, can praise the true God in spirit and truth (John 4:23—24). For the believer today, to praise God in spirit and truth is to be in Christ. One's righteous standing and relationship with God is through Jesus Christ, from which grace is obtained and mercy is experienced. As I am a sinner today, unworthy of God's grace and mercy, I am yet saved and alive in Christ. So, I will thank Him and praise Him all my days before whoever will hear in the public square and in the privacy of my home. At this time in Hezekiah's life, it is generally agreed that he had no children but knew the value of parents' influence. He declares that fathers are to share their faith with their children and to let them know of the faithfulness of God's promises which are for every generation. Beloved in Christ, this day be sure to take the time to sincerely thank and praise our Lord God. He is your very breath and life as you hold on to the confession of your faith without wavering, for your God who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). And be sure to tell someone about it. By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California U.S. Daily Light on the Daily Path Colossians 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;Romans 12:1,2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. • And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Galatians 6:15,16 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. • And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. John 15:8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 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 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.Insight Thankful people can worship wholeheartedly. Gratitude opens our hearts to God's peace and enables us to put on love. Discontented people constantly calculate what's wrong with their lot in life. Challenge To increase your thankfulness, take an inventory of all you have (including your relationships, memories, abilities, and family, as well as material possessions). Use the inventory for prayers of gratitude. On Sunday, before worship, quit rushing around; instead, take time to reflect on reasons for thanks. Declare Sunday as your “thanks, faith, and hope” day. Celebrate God's goodness to you, and ask in prayer for all your needs for the week ahead. Devotional Hours Within the Bible Jesus Appears to JohnJesus appears here to John in his banishment and reveals to him many things which John was to write and send to the churches. The writer identifies himself with the Christians to whom he sends the messages, “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” It is remarkable that in all the Gospel of John, the writer’s name is not once mentioned. He hides himself away and exalts and honors only the one Name. Here, however, he writes in his own name. The reason for this difference may be that now John is speaking as the prophet of Christ and delivering the messages which have been entrusted to him. It was proper, therefore, that he should declare who he was, that the witness might be received with the more confidence by his friends. The words “brother” and “companion” show John’s love for his fellow Christians. He was one of them. He was their companion in the tribulation of persecution this drew him and them close together. The phrase “patient endurance” has in it the thought of suffering which is endured sweetly and victoriously. John refers to his own sufferings, not to plead for pity or sympathy for himself but to honor Christ. It was “for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus” that he had been banished to the Isle of Patmos. It is an honor to be a sufferer in a worthy cause. Paul spoke of the scars and other traces of trials endured as a Christian, as “marks of Jesus.” In the narrative of his vision, John begins by saying that he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Here we have one of the proofs that very early, the first believers began to observe the first day of the week, the day of Christ’s resurrection, rather than the Jewish Sabbath. Though far away from the worshiping assemblies of his fellow Christians, John was in the Spirit on that sacred day. We should all seek to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. During the week our hands are full of work that must be done. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it!” John 17:15-16. Unless we are watchful, the world is apt then to get into our heart and we are apt to become secularized in spirit, made worldly-minded, losing interest in spiritual realities. The trouble is not that we are in the world but that the world too often gets into us! It is a proper enough thing for a ship to be in the sea but when the sea gets into the ship, there is an end to sailing. Christ wants us to be in the world but He does not want the world to get into us! On the Lord’s Day, therefore, we should run our bark just as completely as possible out of the world’s troubled waters into the peaceful bay of spiritual rest and enjoyment. A well-spent Lord’s day, will keep up the spiritual tone of the life, amid the most intense pressure of week-day care. The revelation of John came in a VISION. He saw a cluster of lamps. “I saw seven golden candlesticks.” Christian churches should be like candlesticks. A candle stick itself gives no light but it holds the candle from which the light pours forth. Christ Himself is the light but the light can shine in this world only in the lives of His followers. Every Christian should be a light shining before men. If we live worthily we make the world a little brighter. If we live carelessly or inconsistently, we disappoint Christ. We must notice that the light which shines in these churches all comes from Christ, who is “the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” We can only shine by letting Christ’s light pour through us. John describes also the vision of Christ as He appeared that day in the midst of the golden candlesticks. “His head and his hair were white as white wool,. .. his eyes were as a flame of fire!” The words describe the glorified Christ. When He was on the earth, there was no brightness in His face as men saw Him. Once only, when He was transfigured, did the glory appear for a short time. Now, however, in heaven, all the brightness shines out unrestricted. The vision of John, gives us a glimpse of Christ as we shall see Him when He comes with clouds ! One part of this vision of Christ represented His power. “He had in his right hand seven stars .” The seven stars represent the ministers of Christ on the earth. “The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches.” As Christ held the stars in His hand, so He keeps in His hand the ministers who on the earth witness for Him and serve Him. He keeps them in His care, under His protection. Another thing in this vision, suggests the power of the living Word of Christ. “Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword!” The picture seems strange at first a sword proceeding out of Christ’s mouth. The teaching is, that Christ’s weapon in the conquest of the world is His Word, “the sword of the Spirit.” He sets up no kingdoms like the kingdom of this world, with pomp and pageant, with armies and navies. He rules men’s lives, and the sword He wields is His Word. The sword is sharp and two-edged. It cuts deep. It reveals sin and all lust in the heart. We should learn to use the Word of God with confidence in all our conflicts with sin, and in all our efforts to advance Christ’s kingdom. The effect of this vision upon John was overwhelming. He fell at the feet of Christ as a dead man! With infinite gentleness, Jesus came then and touched him with His right hand, bidding him “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!” Here we see Jesus a way beyond death, and His life has not been harmed by dying. None of His glory was quenched by death’s floods. He still lives and has all the grace, gentleness and love that He had before. Neither does death injure our friends who die in Christ. It robs the believer of no beauty. Indeed, in this world, life at the best is only like an opening bud; in dying, the bud opens into the full-blown rose! Not only is Christ Himself beyond death and its power but He is the “Living one!” That is, the only one who really lives, having life in Himself. He is the great fountain and source of all life. Besides, He has power over all the realm of death. “I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Keys are the symbols of authority. Christ can open the doors of earth’s prison-houses when He will and bring out His people who are under death’s power! He Himself lay in the grave and then arose and came forth. In like manner, in His own time He will call up all who sleep in Him. “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” Another thought suggested by Christ with the keys of death in His hand is, that He is the Guide of His people now in this lonely walk through the valley of death. He knows the way by experience, and thus is prepared to conduct us over it. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLamentations 1, 2 Lamentations 1 -- How lonely lies Zion, that was once full of people! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 2 -- How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with the cloud of his anger! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 7 Hebrews 7 -- Jesus' Priesthood Like Melchizedek's NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. |
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