September 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Hebrews 13:9-21:

⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
¹¹For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
¹⁴For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
¹⁸Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
¹⁹But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
²¹Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Devotional

Elijah the prophet "came unto all the people of Israel, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." Today we might come with the same question to the people: How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Christ of the Bible be God, follow him; but if the Christ of science (falsely so-called), then follow him. We should "be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight (artful trick) of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." We should not be beguiled with enticing words, nor be taken in "through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." We should not believe "every spirit, but try the spirits (test them) whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." And they will deceive many.

Surely then it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; that Christ dwell in our hearts by faith; that we may be rooted and grounded in love; yea, rooted and built up in Christ; and established in the faith. Then man-made rules, as to outward conduct, will not unsettle us. For we know that "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Prayer

Our Father, grant that our faith fail not, and that we be so established in the faith, that no one and nothing can lead us astray. May Thy Word of truth be a light unto our path. Grant that we in true faith cling to Jesus Christ our only Saviour, and follow him; for then we shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. May we walk as children of light, proving what is acceptable unto Thee. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 1 Kings 18:21; Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:3, 8; 1 John 4:1; Matt. 24:5, 11, 24; Eph. 3:17; Col. 2:7; Rom. 14:17.

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