January 28 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:

¹But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
²For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
⁴But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
⁵Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
⁷For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
⁸But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
⁹For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
¹⁰Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
¹¹Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
¹²And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
¹³And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
¹⁴Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
¹⁵See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
¹⁶Rejoice evermore.
¹⁷Pray without ceasing.
¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
¹⁹Quench not the Spirit.
²⁰Despise not prophesyings.
²¹Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
²²Abstain from all appearance of evil.
²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
²⁴Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
²⁵Brethren, pray for us.
²⁶Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
²⁷I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Devotional

God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He is the Giver of that unspeakable gift, his only begotten Son. And with him He is willing freely to give us all things. But He wants us to pray, pray perseveringly.

How often we are exhorted to pray! Jesus spoke the parable of the unjust judge: "to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Paul writes to the Ephesians: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Other short exhortations are these: Pray without ceasing. Watch ye therefore, and pray always. Continuing instant in prayer. Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. The Heidelberg Catechism teaches us, that prayer is the chief part of thankfulness, and that God will give his grace and Holy Spirit only to those, who, with hearty sighing unceasingly beg them of him, and thank him for them. Question 116. Yes, "thank him." Thankfulness we must not forget. Prayer and thankfulness go together. Paul says, "Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving." Again he says, "Pray without ceasing," and then adds, "in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

When we consider this, must we not humble ourselves before God, and confess our sins? How often are our prayers so cold and formal, and instead of being thankful we complain and murmur against God. Surely there is great need for us "unceasingly and with hearty sighing" to beg God for his grace and Holy Spirit. And such prayer God will answer.

Prayer

O Lord, pour upon us the Spirit of grace and of supplication. May He show us Thy ways, and teach us Thy paths. Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon our iniquity, for it is great. May we experience joy and gladness, and help us to praise Thy name. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: James 1:17; 2 Cor. 9:15; Rom. 8:32; Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 21:36; Rom. 12:12; 1 Pet. 4:7; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17, 18.

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