“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
True blessing comes to those who read, study, and meditate in God’s Word and heed its message rather than to those who heed the counsel of the world and live according to the ways of the unbelieving.
O God, grant that I read and study Your Word and walk according to it, repenting of my sinful ways and looking in faith to Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:8
Do we become children of God by being descended from Abraham or by trusting in God’s promise of a Savior to atone for our sins? It is not the children of the flesh but those of faith in God’s promises. In Galatians 3:26, we read, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Grant that we not trust in our heritage but in Your promise of a Savior to redeem us, O God. We pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son and our Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Romans 9:6-7
To truly be a part of God’s people of Israel, it is not enough to be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; one must share in the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and trust in God’s promise to send a Savior to redeem fallen mankind. The same is true today. Holding membership in a Christian church does not make one a Christian; one must repent of his sinful ways and trust in Christ Jesus and His cross for forgiveness and life to be a true Christian and child of God (cf. Gal. 3:26ff.).
O Spirit of God, through Your life-giving Word, create in me faith in Christ Jesus that I might be a true Israelite and true Christian. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
How important it is to guard our hearts — to fill them with the Word of God and to keep them from the allurements of this world! If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit by continuing in His Word, we will reap life everlasting through faith in Christ Jesus!
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I guard my heart and let it be filled with the truth of Your saving Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” John 1:46
Even though Philip yet had much to learn about Jesus, he told Nathanael they had found the one about whom Moses and the prophets had written. When Nathanael questioned him, Philip simply responded, “Come and see.” Even if we cannot answer every question about Jesus, who He is, and what He has done, we can still invite people to “come and see.”
Lord God, grant that we believe that Jesus is our God our Savior and invite others to “come and see.” Amen.
