Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Evening Reading
The day of temptation in the wilderness.—HEB. 3:8.
Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.
They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
He himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.—Simon, Simon, . . . Satan hath desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.
Jas. 1:13-15.Psa. 106:14.Luke 4:1-3.Heb. 2:18. -Luke 22:31,32.
Spurgeon's Evening Reading
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
Matthew 4:1
A holy character does not avert temptation—Jesus was tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; but in Christ’s case, it was like striking sparks on water; yet the enemy continued his evil work. Now, if the devil goes on striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it when he knows what inflammable stuff our hearts are made of. Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Ghost, expect that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. In the haunts of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not guard us from the same trial. Jesus Christ was led away from human society into the wilderness, and was tempted of the devil. Solitude has its charms and its benefits, and may be useful in checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life; but the devil will follow us into the most lovely retreats. Do not suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritual-minded persons endure the same; and in the holiest position we may suffer the darkest temptation. The utmost consecration of spirit will not insure you against Satanic temptation. Christ was consecrated through and through. It was his meat and drink to do the will of him that sent him: and yet he was tempted! Your hearts may glow with a seraphic flame of love to Jesus, and yet the devil will try to bring you down to Laodicean lukewarmness. If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - Genesis 16
16. Hagar and Ishmael
The Birth of Ishmael
16
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar,2and Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.3So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.5Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!”6But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her.
7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.8And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.”9The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.”10The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.”11And the angel of the Lord said to her,
“Now you have conceived and shall bear a son;
you shall call him Ishmael,
for the Lord has given heed to your affliction.
12
He shall be a wild ass of a man,
with his hand against everyone,
and everyone’s hand against him;
and he shall live at odds with all his kin.”
13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?”14Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
15 Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.
New Testament in Four Years - Romans 5:18-21
5. Peace and Joy
18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.19For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.20But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,21so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 31
31. Psalm 31
Psalm 31
Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
2
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.
3
You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6
You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
7
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
8
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
9
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
10
For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
11
I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13
For I hear the whispering of many—
terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
14
But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
17
Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,
for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
18
Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.
19
O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
20
In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
from contentious tongues.
21
Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was beset as a city under siege.
22
I had said in my alarm,
“I am driven far from your sight.”
But you heard my supplications
when I cried out to you for help.
23
Love the Lord, all you his saints.
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
24
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord.