October 3 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

1 Peter 5:

¹The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
²Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
³Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
⁵Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
⁹Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
¹¹To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
¹²By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
¹³The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
¹⁴Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Devotional

When we have become children of God through faith in Christ we may not in the least trust in our own strength. "We are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment; while our deadly enemies, the devil, the world and our own flesh assail us without ceasing." We are exposed to danger every moment. There is our natural pride. We want to be something. But God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. There are our worldly cares. But we should cast all our cares upon him for He careth for us. There is the devil, who as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour. We cannot overcome him with our might, with physical or intellectual power; but we must re­sist him in faith. There are afflictions to be endured, and we are to be patient in tribulation. How shall we be able to do all this? How shall we fight the fight of faith and come out victorious? We cannot, unless the God of all grace strengthens us with might by his Spirit in the inner man. He is able to keep us from fall­ing, and to make us "perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is wellpleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ," and to "present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." To him be glory for ever and ever.

Prayer

Our Father we thank Thee that Thou hast called us unto Thy eternal glory. We pray Thee, help us to walk before Thee in true humility. Keep us from anxious cares. May we roll all our burdens upon Thee. When we have to pass through sor­row and tribulation, when we have to endure suffering and pain, may we not grow weary, nor faint, nor murmur; but may we endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. May we re­member that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But may we also remember that the Lord shall de­liver us from every evil work, and will preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 1 John 5:1; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 3:16; Heb. 13:21; Jude 24; Heb. 13:21.

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