July 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 12:20-36:

²⁰And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
²¹The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
²²Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
²³And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
²⁵He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
²⁶If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
²⁷Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
²⁸Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
²⁹The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
³⁰Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
³¹Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
³²And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
³³This he said, signifying what death he should die.
³⁴The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
³⁵Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
³⁶While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Devotional

Christ has obtained a complete and glorious victory over our deadly enemies, the devil, the world and our own flesh. Dr. Eugene Caldwell used to say, that in the cross Christ delivered a "knockout blow" to the devil. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." When the seventy returned from their missionary tour with joy, they said, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name." Jesus said unto them, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." On another occasion He said, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." And again, "The prince of this world is judged." Satan's power is broken, however active he may still be for a while.

The world is overcome too. Jesus said to his disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Christ has also overcome sin as it dwells in our flesh by nature, and in which Satan manifests his power. He partook of our flesh and blood, "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."

Prayer

Born Thy people to deliver,
   Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us for ever,
   Now Thy gracious kingdom bring:
By Thine own eternal Spirit,
   Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine own sufficient merit,
   Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

While we sojourn here on earth so rule us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live unto Thee. Whatsoever we do in word or deed, may we do all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. When we come to the end of our life's journey, receive us up into the heavenly mansions to praise and glorify Thee for ever. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 1 John 3:8; Luke 10:17f; John 14:30; 16:11; Rev. 20:10; John 16:33; Heb. 2:14; 2 Cor. 2.

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