January 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 73:16-28:

¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
¹⁸Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
²⁰As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
²¹Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
²²So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
²⁴Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
²⁸But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Devotional

True blessedness, peace, and fulness of joy can be experienced only in fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. "There is no peace, saith the Lord to the wicked." "The Lord is far from the wicked." "Lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a-whoring from thee."

"But the Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him." In our text we read, It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. Every sinner may draw near to God, trusting in his promised grace, "wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Should we not put our whole trust in him? We have the assurance: "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." And surely the saved, the redeemed of the Lord, should declare all works of their Redeemer. "Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing."

Prayer

Our Father, we cannot sufficiently thank Thee that Thou hast loved us with an everlasting love; that Thou hast provided full and free salvation for us through Jesus Christ; that Thou hast chosen us, and causest us to approach unto Thee, that we may dwell in Thy courts, and shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple. May we realize how blessed it is to dwell in Thy house, and may we praise Thee continually, until Thou dost call us to the heavenly mansions above to dwell with Thee for ever, to sing praises unto Thee, and give Thee glory world without end. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 48:22; Prov. 15:29; Ps. 73:27; 145:18-20; Eph. 1:6,7; Ps. 34:18; 107:22.

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