August 11 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 5:17-29:

¹⁷But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
¹⁸Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
¹⁹Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
²⁰For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
²¹For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
²²For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
²³That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Devotional

Death is a terrible thing: Physical death, the separation of soul and body; spiritual death, the separation of the sou! from God; eternal death, the separation of the soul from God for ever and ever. Separation from God means separation from all good; but it means also condemnation, that is, suffering the consequences of our transgressions. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." "For the wages of sin is death." Death is represented as reigning. All by nature are in the power of death, and are unable to deliver themselves. But thanks be to God, the gift of God is eternal life. Wages is something you deserve; but a gift is gra­ciously bestowed upon you. But how is this gift bestowed? Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whose obedience we are made righteous. "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Jesus Christ tasted death for us. He "hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Now every one that believes on Christ "hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." In the holy city, the new Jerusalem, there shall be no more death, but life, abundant life, for ever.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee that death is swallowed up in victory; that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; that it is Thy will, that every one, who sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life, and that Thou wilt raise him up at the last day. We thank Thee, that we need no longer fear death, the grave, eternal condemnation; but that right­eousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are ours, and life everlasting. Unto Thee be glory and honor and praise and adora­tion now and for ever. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Rom. 5:12; 6:23; 5:14; 6:23; 5:19, 21; Heb. 2:9; 2 Tim. 1:10; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; John 5:24; Rev., 21:4; John 10:10.

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