“A sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18).
There are a number of sacrifices mentioned in the Scriptures besides those appointed through Moses: sacrifices which we can now offer: In Romans 12:1 our body is spoken of as a “living sacrifice,” and this sacrifice is also said to be ‘acceptable to God.’
In Hebrews 13:15 we are exhorted to offer “the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”
Then in the next verse we are told not to forget to offer the sacrifice of “doing good and having fellowship, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”.
This is exactly the sacrifice the Philippians had offered, and it is described in almost the same words: “God is well pleased” “Well pleasing to God”.
These three sacrifices are are ones that almost all can offer,
if they do not “forget.”
if they do not “forget.”
Even a Christian child can offer its body; and its praise, the fruit of its lips; and most children have as much money as the poor widow who offered the two mites, and found it more acceptable to God than all the great offerings of the rich.
(G. Christopher Willis)
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“O Lord God . . . I pray Thee, send me good speed this day.”
(Genesis 24:12)
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth
what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him."
(Matthew 6:7-8)
Our Lord told His disciples that there was no need for many words when they prayed.
A brief prayer goes straight to the heart of God.
Abraham’s servant teaches us a prayer we can pray at all times,
however pressed for time we may be.
It covers everything.
“O Lord God, send me good speed this day.”
Give me success today, in my prayer life, in my
work, in what I think and say and do, in what I am.
It is a telegram prayer. Let us use it at moments of sudden need.
We know it will be answered, for “our Father knows”
our needs long before we ask Him.
(Amy Carmichael)
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"If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he
put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious.”
(Ecclesiastes 10:10, 12)
A word is such a potent thing;
A careless word may break a heart;
A bitter word may burn and sting;
A word can rip a home apart —
And yet a word can comfort bring;
So, Lord of words, please grant to me
The speech that spreads tranquility.
(Anon)
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July 1
“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
(Matthew 11:29)
All power and real effective service will be found to spring from entire submission.
Circumstances would not trouble if they did not find something in us contrary to God;
they would rustle by as the wind.
Until the will has been crushed in the presence of the majesty
of God, there cannot be a right state before God.
(Pilgrim Portions for the Day of Rest - JND)
July 2
“After that Jesus put His hands again upon his eyes,
and made him look up: and he was restored,
and saw every man clearly.”
(Mark 8:25)
Why wasn’t this blind man healed completely the first time Jesus laid his hands on him?
Perhaps it is to emphasize the progression of the Christian life.
Our knowledge of Him constantly progresses and grows.
Then there is the progression of following Him, learning
just how far His followers have to go:
“Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself,
take up His cross, and follow Me.”
So the illustration of the blind man’s progression represents each of us.
Do we see any progression in our lives for Christ?
(Tom Steere)
We thank Thee for the smile and frown, and for the gain and loss;
We bless Thee for the future crown, and for the present cross.
(J. Crewdson)
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July 3
“The multitude of them that believed were
of one heart and soul.”
(Acts 4:32)
The root of all discords in the church of God is the lack of the Spirit’s power;
where He works unhinderedly in any company of saints,
because ungrieved, there must be unity. . . .
The lack of enjoyed unity in any company is due to the absence
of the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Edward Dennett)
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July 4
“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen,
unto the glory of God by us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:20)
Prayer must be based upon promise, but,thank God,
His promises are always broader
`than our prayers.
No fear of building inverted pyramids here,
for Jesus Christ is the foundation and this and all the other
“promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
So it shall be unto His glory to fulfill this one to us and to answer
our prayer for a kept or established heart.
And its fulfillment shall work out His glory,
not in spite of us, but by us.
(Frances Ridley Havergal)
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July 5
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
(Ephesians 3:20)
“Now unto Him that is able to do above all we ask”; is that what is written? No; that is not enough.
Is it, “Able to do abundantly above all we ask?" That is not enough.
Is it, "Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask?" Still that does not reach the limit.
“Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” You need not fear to come to God about anything.
Are you troubled about present circumstances? Have you availed yourself of the abundant resources of God?
If things are right in your heart and you come to God and make connections there, you can be sure of a wonderful answer.
"Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” — this divine energy which works through poor feeble creatures such as we are— “unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.”
He is the One in whom God will find His pleasure throughout all eternity.
(H. A. Ironside)
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July 6
"For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen,
unto the glory of God by us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:20)
The destinies of man under God are alike in Him yea, and in Him amen.
There was dominion in Adam; Government in Noah;
Fatherhood in Abraham; Judgment in David; and Royalty in Solomon.
In Christ all these glories will meet and shine together. In Him,
and under Him, will be ’the restitution of all things.’
Many crowns He will wear, and
many names He will bear.
(The Son of God - J. G. Bellett)
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July 7
"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God:
on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if
thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
(Romans 11:22)
In any ordinary person, goodness and severity might be seen as conflicting,
but in the character of the Lord Jesus they are
compatible and consistent.
God’s severity with Israel opened up a means of blessing for Gentiles.
If that be so, the apostle argues, when the Jews are restored,
the blessing for Gentiles will be immeasurable!
We recall that our God is both righteous and good and whichever He manifests
in our circumstances is for our ultimate blessing.
(Roy Hill)
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
(Joshua Oatman)
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July 8
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with
promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long in the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3)
“The principle of submission and obedience is the healing principle of humanity.”
Sin is disobedience and came into the world through disobedience. Ever since, the essence of sin has been man doing his own will and refusing to be subject to God.
An insubject wife will make a miserable home; an insubject child will be an unhappy child; and a
world not subject to God must be an unhappy and miserable world.
Not until the world is brought into subjection to God, under the reign of Christ, will its sorrow be healed.
Christianity teaches this subjection, and the Christian home should anticipate something of the blessedness of a subject world under the reign of Christ.
The obedience of the child is, however, to be "in the Lord.”
This supposes a home governed by the fear of the Lord,
and therefore according to the Lord.
The quotation from the Old Testament (Exodus 20:12), which connects the promise of blessing with obedience to parents, shows how greatly God esteemed obedience under law.
Though in Christianity the blessing is of an heavenly order, yet in the governmental ways of God the principle remains true that honouring parents will bring blessing.
(Hamilton Smith)
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July 9
Testing and Teaching
“The devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain.”
(Matthew 4:8)
“He went up into a mountain, opened His mouth and taught.”
(Matthew 5:1-2)
Wouldst thou teach others? There is need,
But ponder well the thought —
Thy Lord Himself, the living Truth,
First practised, then He taught.
Think not to climb where Jesus sat
in moral elevation,
Till, like Him, you’ve triumphant left
The mountain of temptation.
Dare one exhort, “For food, for drink,
For raiment, have no care,”
Who ne’er himself a desert trod,
Fasting, yet trusting, there?
None may with power divine unfold
The Heavenly Kingdom’s story,
Save those who’ve scorned the kingdoms of
This world, and all their glory.
(Bells & Pomegranates - James M. S. Tait)
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July 10
"O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not;
until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation,
and Thy power to every one that is to come.
(Psalms 71:17-18)
The Psalmist was so well educated by God in his youth that he continued to declare
His wondrous works throughout his years.
Later when he realized that age was catching up with him and his strength fading,
he determined still to show forth God’s power
to everyone he came in contact with.
No matter what age we are, do we have such a determined goal in our life for God?
(K. C. Ung)
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!
(B. M. Ramsey)
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July 11
“Jesus answered and said unto (Nicodemus), Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when
he is old? can he enter the second time into
his mother’s womb, and be born?”
(John 3:3-4)
Surely not. There would be no more gained by a second natural birth than by a first.
If a natural man could enter, ten thousand times, into his mother’s womb and be born
again, he would be nought but a natural man after all;
for “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.”
Do what you will with flesh—with nature, and you cannot alter or improve it.
Nothing could change flesh into spirit.
You may exalt it to the rank of a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, a master of Israel—and
you can hardly make it higher—but it will be flesh, notwithstanding.
If this were more generally and clearly apprehended,
it would prove the saving of fruitless labour to hundreds.
Flesh is of no value whatever.
In itself, it is but withered grass; and as to its most pious
endeavours, its religious advantages and attainments, its works of righteousness,
they have been pronounced by the pen of inspiration to be as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6)
(C. H. Mack1intosh)
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July 12
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