August 14 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 19:

¹The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
²Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
³There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
⁴Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
⁵Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
⁶His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
⁸The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
⁹The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
¹¹Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
¹²Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
¹³Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
¹⁴Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Devotional

What a wonderful gift is the gift of speech! We can speak words and can communicate thoughts to each other. Yea, and we can speak to God, as He speaks to us. He speaks to us in his Word. Our words do not originate in our mouths, but in our hearts. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Now, the Lord knows our words and our thoughts. "There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether . . . Thou understandeth my thoughts afar off." How necessary it then is to pray: "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." And also: "O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise." If the meditation of our heart shall be acceptable unto God, if our delight is in the law of the Lord, and if we meditate in his law day and night; then our lips shall overflow with praise and thanks­giving: for we realize that God is our Strength, our Rock, and our Redeemer; in him we can trust. "As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." He shall re­deem Israel from all his iniquities. He is Jesus who has delivered us from the wrath to come, and shall deliver us from every evil work and will preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom; to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Prayer

O God our Father, we thank Thee for the gift of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our strength and our Redeemer. We thank Thee that his strength is made perfect in weakness. May we therefore never trust in our strength; but may the power of Christ rest upon us, and out of weakness being made strong, may we be en­abled to do and to suffer, through faith in Christ, whatever Thou seest fit to place upon us. Thus may Thy name through us be honored and glorified. Pardon our sins. For Christ's sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Luke 6:45; Ps. 139:4, 2; Ps. 141:3; 51:15; 1:2; Isa. 47:4; Ps. 130;8; 1 Thess. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:18.

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