July 25 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 6:20-36:

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
²⁴But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
²⁵Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
²⁶Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
²⁷But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
²⁸Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
²⁹And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
³⁰Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
³¹And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
³²For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
³³And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
³⁴And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
³⁵But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
³⁶Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Devotional

Not to those that say, "I am rich . . . and have need nothing" belongs the kingdom of God; but to the poor and contrite of heart. Jesus pronounces his woe upon the rich. He says, "woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consola­tion . . . . Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger." But the poor in spirit He pronounces blessed; "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." What is the spoil of the proud compared with the kingdom of God? "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." "For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Think of it! The high and holy God that inhabits eternity condescends to dwell with the poor and lowly. The eyes of the Lord are continu­ally upon him. He says, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Somebody has translated the word 'Blessed' by 'O the happiness of!' O, the happiness of the poor in spirit! God dwells with them. His eyes are upon them and theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How happy and thankful they should be!

Prayer

O God our Father, look down upon us in Thy great mercy. Make us truly humble. Make us conscious of our sinfulness, that with contrition of heart, and with due reverence we may approach Thy throne of grace. We thank Thee that there is forgiveness of sin for the greatest of sinners, not only, but that Christ for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich, and become heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Bless us and keep us. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Luke 6:24, 25; Ps. 51:17; Prov. 16:19; 29:23; Isa. 57:15; 66:2.

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