Devotional for April 9

Those in Whom the Lord Has Pleasure 

147 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. Psalm 147:1-7, 11-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The definition of a good day is one spent pressing toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Stop trying to figure out all the mysteries of God with your head and pray for God to reveal Himself to you in your heart (Psalm 131; John 14:21). Strengthen the good tree, eat the fruit thereof, and wait on the Lord (Luke 13:6-9; Proverbs 18:21; Luke 8:15). God has given us faith, now let us also ask Him for the hunger and the thirst necessary to pursue a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 12:3; Matthew 5:6). Let knowing about Christ blossom into the mature fruit of an intimate knowledge of Christ to the praise and glory of God (Ephesians 3:14-19). Jesus Christ, the same sovereign Lord yesterday, today, and forever, can be known personally be each of us (Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:8, 3:20). This is the very heart of the gospel and nothing in life is more important (Colossians 1:25-28; Mark 8:38). To know our Lord Jesus Christ, this is the one essential (Isaiah 42:3; Luke 10:42; John 6:37). Get out of your own head and call out to Jesus with your whole heart (Acts 17:16-33).

Question

How can we know Jesus Christ?

Answer

Repent and believe the good report of the gospel (Matthew 28:1-8; 1 John 1:9-10; Romans 10:5-17). We must believe first, only then can we come to know Him (Hebrews 11:6).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer