July 14 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 12:22-40:

²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
²³The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
²⁴Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
²⁵And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
²⁶If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
²⁷Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
²⁸If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
²⁹And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
³⁰For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
³¹But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Devotional

What a comforting word this is! There are many things that cause even children of God to fear. Sometimes there may be anx­iety and fear about outward things, such as food and drink and things to wear. Sometimes spiritual troubles assail us. We may have doubts and fears about our soul's salvation, or God may lead us in ways we cannot understand. It may seem as if God has for­gotten us. It is at such times that God comes and speaks to us, and says, "Fear not."

"Fear not." How often God has spoken these words to his children, when they were in fear and distress. How often has He driven away all fear by his comforting words!

"Fear not, little flock." The word "flock" reminds us, that God is our Shepherd, and we are the sheep of his pastures. He makes us to lie down in green pastures, and leads us beside the still waters.

God's flock is not in the majority. It is only a little flock. It has always been that way. How few believers there were in the time of Noah! Many go in through the wide gate, and walk on the broad way, that leads to destruction. But few find the straight gate and the narrow way, that leads unto life. Christ asked the question: "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Implying there will be but few believers then. Yet, the saved in heaven shall be a great multitude, so great, that no man can number them.

It is the good pleasure of our Father in heaven to give the kingdom to his faithful little flock. If that is his good pleasure. He surely will do it for there is no one that can prevent him. The kingdom is sure to all that shall endure unto the end.

Prayer

O God, our Father, we thank Thee for the great com­fort Thy Word affords us in all our sorrows and tribulations. When we fear and tremble Thou dost hold our hand. Thou dost lead and guide us. We thank Thee, that Thou givest power to the faint, and to them that have no might, Thou increasest strength. Help us to believe and to trust. Dispel all fear from our hearts and grant us Thy peace. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Ps. 23; 1 Pet. 3:20; Man. 7:13, 14; Luke 18:8; Rev. 7:9.

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