August 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 119:25-40:

²⁵My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
²⁶I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
²⁷Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
²⁸My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
²⁹Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
³⁰I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
³¹I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
³²I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
³³Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
³⁴Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
³⁶Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
³⁷Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
³⁸Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
³⁹Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
⁴⁰Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Devotional

"All we like sheep have gone astray." Jesus says, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day." The Father draws with cords of love. He will overcome all our opposition. He draws us by his Word and Spirit. His grace is irresistible. When He draws us, we will run after him. We will follow whither­soever He leads. Notice, please, it does not say, Draw me, and I will run after thee; but draw me, and we will run after thee. When one is drawn and follows Christ, others will follow also, drawn by the testimony o£ the one. And they will follow after that, for which they are apprehended of Christ Jesus. The bride "shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the king's palace." In the king's chambers they shall rejoice in his love.

The upright love thee. We love him because He first loved us. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Thus our joy is complete in his perfect love, and to him belongs all the praise.

Prayer

O God, our Father, we thank Thee for Thine in­finite love in Christ Jesus, for the intimate fellowship we may have with him, for the joy of salvation. Help us to bear joyful testimony to the truth, so that others through us may learn to know the way of salvation and become followers of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Bless Thy Church; preserve and increase her. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that exalteth itself against Thee, and all wicked devices formed against Thy holy Word; until the full coming of Thy kingdom, wherein Thou shall be all in all. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 53:6; John 6:44; Hos. 11:4; Phil. 3:12; Ps. 45:14, 15; 1 John 4:19; Eph. 2:4-6.

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