November 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 103:

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
¹⁹The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
²⁰Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
²¹Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
²²Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Devotional

A father sits at the bedside of his sick and suffering child. His heart goes out to his offspring. He is moved with pity towards the child. What would he not do or suffer to have his sick child restored to health? There you have a weak illustration of God's love and pity for his children. He yearns for them, even when they have gone astray. Listen: "Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly re­member him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? Mine heart is turned within me. And look at the prodigal son. "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him!" And before the son could complete his confession of sin, the father said, "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry." That is the way God feels towards repentant sinners. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I will "be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Prayer

O God, our Father, we thank Thee, that Thou dost not deal with us after our sin, nor reward us according to our iniquities. If we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and just to forgive them, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Father, we pray, receive us prodigals into Thy eternal home. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

---

Scripture in Devotional: Jer. 31:20; Hos. 11:8; Luke 15:2, 22, 23; 1 John 1:9; 2 Cor. 6:18.

Click here for background on Light and Comfort and the author.