[Sample]
Daily Devotional Materials
for the
Week of the
Ninth Sunday after Trinity
– Wednesday –
Devotion
The just shall live by faith. – Romans 1:17.
Man is justified before God and saved, not through any work, action, or conduct, but alone through faith in Jesus Christ. This is what our text teaches. This article of justification and salvation through faith is the chief article, the very heart of Christian doctrine. This is the only saving faith. This, therefore, is the faith of all the children of God, both before and after Christ’s incarnation. This is what Adam believed, and Abraham, and David, and many thousands. This the robber on the cross believed, and Peter, and Luther, and many thousands. This is the doctrine of the Prophets and of the Apostles. By this article of faith the Christian Church distinguishes itself from all false religions. By this faith all true Christians distinguish themselves from false Christians. If you would be a Christian and be righteous in the sight of God, and obtain eternal salvation, you must hold fast to this article. If, as a Christian, you would be a useful member of God’s kingdom, you must do your utmost to have this article retained and preached in the Church in all its purity. As your eye cannot bear to harbor a grain of dust, just so impossible must it be for you to allow this article to be darkened, obscured, attacked, or injured in the slightest degree. By this article alone all true glory is given to God. By this article alone true and enduring comfort is afforded poor sinners who long for salvation. It is awful how furiously Satan rages against this article through his servants, the false teachers. It is awful how people, both young and old (pity on them!) are led away from this faith. Hold fast, hold fast to this blessed truth, that you are justified before God, and will be saved, not through any work, action, or conduct of yours, but solely through faith in Jesus Christ. “The just shall live by faith.”
PRAYER. – Lord, this is Thy word of grace for all sinners from the beginning until the end of the world: “The just shall live by faith.” This I will wrap about me, as it were; I will hold fast to it; I will die trusting in it, yes, and appear before Thy judgment-seat and obtain life everlasting. So help me, O faithful God! Let this Word be proclaimed to the end of days, O merciful God! Amen.
By grace! Our works are all rejected,
All claims of merit pass for naught;
The mighty Savior, long expected,
To us this blissful truth has brought,
That He by death redeems our race,
And we are saved alone by grace.
Hymn 311, 2.(ELHB)
Bible Readings
MORNING:
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
EVENING:
1 Kings 5:1-18
5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. 6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians. 7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. 9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. 12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;16 Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.18 And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
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Posted in 3 DAILY DEVOTIONS, 9-Trinity---Wednesday, 9-Trinity---Week