Meditate
with a daily devotion
Daily Light's Evening Reading
There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.—I COR. 12:5.
Over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses . . . Jehonathan: and over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri: and over the vineyards was Shimei. These were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.
Spurgeon's Evening Reading
“He himself hath suffered being tempted.”
Hebrews 2:18
It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the weary heart—Jesus was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is something sweeter yet—Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in his power his members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they mistake; there is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus, though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as he overcame, so surely shall his followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for his people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory. Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defence. Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour’s love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for he can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succour every tried and tempted one.
Old Testament Chapter a Day - 1 Samuel 5
5. Ark Captured
The Philistines and the Ark
5
When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod;2then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.4But when they rose early on the next morning, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and struck them with tumors, both in Ashdod and in its territory.7And when the inhabitants of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his hand is heavy on us and on our god Dagon.”8So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The inhabitants of Gath replied, “Let the ark of God be moved on to us.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath.9But after they had brought it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic; he struck the inhabitants of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.10So they sent the ark of the God of Israel to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “Why have they brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people?”11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there;12those who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
New Testament in Four Years - Ephesians 3:7-13
3. Prayer for the Ephesians
7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.8Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,9and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;10so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,12in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.13I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
Psalm a Day - Psalm 69:19-36
69. Psalm 69
19
You know the insults I receive,
and my shame and dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20
Insults have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none;
and for comforters, but I found none.
21
They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22
Let their table be a trap for them,
a snare for their allies.
23
Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24
Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25
May their camp be a desolation;
let no one live in their tents.
26
For they persecute those whom you have struck down,
and those whom you have wounded, they attack still more.
27
Add guilt to their guilt;
may they have no acquittal from you.
28
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
29
But I am lowly and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, protect me.
30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31
This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32
Let the oppressed see it and be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33
For the Lord hears the needy,
and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
34
Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah;
and his servants shall live there and possess it;
36
the children of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall live in it.