Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Evening Reading
Keep yourselves in the love of God.—JUDE 21.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
The fruit of the Spirit is love.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.—Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.—God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.—God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
John 15:4,5.Gal. 5:22.John 15:8-10. -I John 2:5.John 15:12. -Rom. 5:8. -I John 4:16.
Spurgeon's Evening Reading
“Behold the man!”
John 19:5
If there be one place where our Lord Jesus most fully becomes the joy and comfort of his people, it is where he plunged deepest into the depths of woe. Come hither, gracious souls, and behold the man in the garden of Gethsemane; behold his heart so brimming with love that he cannot hold it in—so full of sorrow that it must find a vent. Behold the bloody sweat as it distils from every pore of his body, and falls upon the ground. Behold the man as they drive the nails into his hands and feet. Look up, repenting sinners, and see the sorrowful image of your suffering Lord. Mark him, as the ruby drops stand on the thorn-crown, and adorn with priceless gems the diadem of the King of Misery. Behold the man when all his bones are out of joint, and he is poured out like water and brought into the dust of death; God hath forsaken him, and hell compasseth him about. Behold and see, was there ever sorrow like unto his sorrow that is done unto him? All ye that pass by draw near and look upon this spectacle of grief, unique, unparalleled, a wonder to men and angels, a prodigy unmatched. Behold the Emperor of Woe who had no equal or rival in his agonies! Gaze upon him, ye mourners, for if there be not consolation in a crucified Christ there is no joy in earth or heaven. If in the ransom price of his blood there be not hope, ye harps of heaven, there is no joy in you, and the right hand of God shall know no pleasures for evermore. We have only to sit more continually at the cross foot to be less troubled with our doubts and woes. We have but to see his sorrows, and our sorrows we shall be ashamed to mention. We have but to gaze into his wounds and heal our own. If we would live aright it must be by the contemplation of his death; if we would rise to dignity, it must be by considering his humiliation and his sorrow.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - Deuteronomy 15
15. Cancelling Debts
Laws concerning the Sabbatical Year
15
Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts.2And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed.3Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you.4There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy,5if only you will obey the Lord your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today.6When the Lord your God has blessed you, as he promised you, you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
7 If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.8You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.9Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, “The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,” and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt.10Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.11Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”
12 If a member of your community, whether a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and works for you six years, in the seventh year you shall set that person free.13And when you send a male slave out from you a free person, you shall not send him out empty-handed.14Provide liberally out of your flock, your threshing floor, and your wine press, thus giving to him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you.15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; for this reason I lay this command upon you today.16But if he says to you, “I will not go out from you,” because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you,17then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his earlobe into the door, and he shall be your slave forever.
You shall do the same with regard to your female slave.
18 Do not consider it a hardship when you send them out from you free persons, because for six years they have given you services worth the wages of hired laborers; and the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do.
The Firstborn of Livestock
19 Every firstling male born of your herd and flock you shall consecrate to the Lord your God; you shall not do work with your firstling ox nor shear the firstling of your flock.20You shall eat it, you together with your household, in the presence of the Lord your God year by year at the place that the Lord will choose.21But if it has any defect—any serious defect, such as lameness or blindness—you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God;22within your towns you may eat it, the unclean and the clean alike, as you would a gazelle or deer.23Its blood, however, you must not eat; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
New Testament in Four Years - 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
5. Our Heavenly Dwelling
6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—7for we walk by faith, not by sight.8Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.10For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 4
4. Psalm 4
Psalm 4
Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1
Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2
How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?Selah
3
But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4
When you are disturbed, do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.Selah
5
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
6
There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
7
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
8
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.