This weeks devotions: Sunday – Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday – Saturday
Daily Devotional Materials
– Friday –
Devotion
Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it. – Luke 11:28.
So with Christ. But where have we the Word of God? In Holy Scripture, or the Bible. What is the Bible? It is the Word of God. It is a collection of books written by the Prophets of God in the Old Testament and by the Apostles and Evangelists in the New Testament, by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Thus the Bible is the Word of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” says the Apostle Paul concerning the writings of the Old Testament. (2 Timothy 3:16.) “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” says the Apostle Peter concerning the same writings. (2 Peter 1:21.) Every word in these writings is the Word of God. When referring to one particular word, the Lord Jesus says: “And the Scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35.) Just so it is with the writings of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul says: “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.” (2 Corinthians 2:13.) So the whole Bible is the Word of God. It does not merely claim this for itself, but it proves itself to be such by its great holiness, which cannot be man-made, but must be of God; and by the Holy Ghost, who witnesses and operates through it. “It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (2 John 5:6.) And for what purpose did God in the Old and the New Testament give His Word? Thereby to “make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:16.) Jesus Christ is the nucleus, the pith and marrow, not only of the New Testament, but also of the Old. “Search the Scriptures,” says Christ, speaking of the Old Testament; “and they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39.) Yes, blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it. Hear it and keep it, my dear Christian!
PRAYER. – Almighty and most gracious God, I thank Thee that to all the world and to me Thou hast given Thy Word, which makes me wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Give me Thy Holy Spirit, that I may gladly hear and learn Thy Word, read and study it daily, and keep it in an honest and good heart, and obtain eternal salvation. Amen.
How precious is the Book divine, By inspiration given;
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine, To guide our souls to heaven.
Its light, descending from above, Illumes this world so drear,
Displays a Savior’s boundless love, And brings His glories near.
It shows to man his wandering ways, And where his feet have trod;
And brings to view the matchless grace Of a forgiving God.
O’er all the straight and narrow way Its radiant beams are cast;
A light whose never weary ray Grows brightest at the last.
It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and joy it still imparts, And quells our rising fears.
This lamp, though all the tedious night Of life, shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light Of an eternal day
Hymn 111. (ELHB)
Bible Readings
FIRST READING:
Acts 17:1-34
17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.33 So Paul departed from among them.34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
SECOND READING:
Psalm 119:1-16
119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
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