July 25 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

By God’s Word and Spirit the world was made, and he uses the same tools to rebuild the creaking cosmos. God does not save some souls from the wreckage of the planet; instead, the whole groaning creation must be delivered from bondage by the love and power of God.

Bible Reading:

1 Timothy 4:1–5

Bible Text:

Everything God created is good.... If it is received with thanksgiving ... it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer (1 Tim. 4:4–5).

Devotional:

In the New Testament church, no one may teach that God has forbidden certain types of food or drink. Nobody may teach that sexuality is sinful or that marriage is undesirable for Christian men and women (v. 3). Those who teach such things, says Paul, are ignorant of the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ our Lord.

By Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, the curse has been lifted. We may again eat of all the trees in the garden. There are no holy foods and unholy foods, no holy body parts and unholy body parts, no holy places and unholy places. Nor are there holy days and unholy days. The only distinction we may make is between holy people and unholy people.

Holy people are women, men, girls, and boys of all nations who have been washed by the blood of Christ and who have the Holy Spirit in their hearts. These people live in God's presence today. They will continue to do so tomorrow. And they will dwell in God's house for ever and ever.

Holy people may eat and drink what they like, for they love what their Father loves and hate what he hates. Everything and all of life is now consecrated by the gospel and by prayer. By the gospel life is redeemed, and by prayer communion with God is exercised.

In this freedom we live. In this holy life we persevere.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.