February 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 119:89-104:

⁸⁹For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
⁹¹They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
⁹²Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
⁹³I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
⁹⁴I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.
⁹⁵The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
⁹⁶I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
⁹⁷O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
¹⁰¹I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
¹⁰²I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Devotional

I am called a Christian, because by faith I am a member of Christ and thus a partaker of his anointing. We are united to him as the branch to the vine. And in him we bear much fruit. We are good trees, and hence the fruit is good. The fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Who can improve this fruit, or add anything thereto? "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them." Whatever is not fruit of the Spirit is works of the flesh. But believers have "crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

Of course, by nature we are carnal, and in our flesh dwelleth no good thing. But because the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, we delight in the Law of God after the inward man. Hence arises the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. But the Spirit leads us into all truth. He works in us heartfelt sorrow for our sin, and also causes us to delight in living according to the will of God in all good works.

By the grace of the Holy Spirit we become "more and more changed into the image of God, till we attain finally to full perfection after this life."

Prayer

O God, help us to serve Thee with gladness. May the joy of the Lord be our strength. May we delight in Thy law after the inward man. Help us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. And in our temptations and tribulations and conflicts of life, may we not be overcome, but may we in all these things be more than conquerors through him that loved us. O God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. For Christ's sake. Amen.

---

Scripture in Devotional: John 15; Gal. 5:20; Eph. 2:10; Gal. 5:24; Rom. 7:18, 22.

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