July 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:

¹Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
²I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
³And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
¹⁴Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
¹⁵Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
¹⁶For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
¹⁷Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
¹⁸But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
²⁰Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
²¹Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
²²All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
²³The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Devotional

Where in this sin-cursed world shall we find the things that are true, honest, just, pure, of good report? They surely do not come out of the heart of the natural man. Christ said, "Out of the heart, (and that means the heart of every man), proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."

Paul tells us, "There is none righteous . . . they are all gone out of the way . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one . . . whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness . . . The way of peace have they not known; there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Please read the whole passage of Romans 3:9-19).

The things mentioned above are found only in the lives of those whose heart has been regenerated, in whom the Spirit of God dwells, who produces in them the things that are pleasing to God. They delight in the law of the Lord after the inward man. And delighting in the law of the Lord, they meditate in his law (in his Word) day and night. They are the ones that think on these things. And thinking on these things and beholding the works of the Lord, they rejoice not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth. And rejoicing in the truth they give thanks to God the Father by Jesus Christ.

Prayer

O God our Father, Thou art the source of all truth, justice, purity and all good. We are all polluted by sin. We thank Thee that we know that the blood of Jesus Christ, thy Son, cleanses us from all sin, and that through him we have righteous­ness and eternal life. We pray Thee, deliver us from worldly mindedness, and help us to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth. May we have true fellowship with Thee and Thy Son Jesus Christ while we sojourn here below, until we see Christ face to face. Graciously pardon our sins. We ask it in his name and for his sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Matt. 15:19; Rom. 7:22; Ps. 1:2; 1 Cor. 13:6; Col. 3:17.

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