Devotional for May 23

The Unfailing Love of the Lord Is With Us

31 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Psalm 31:1, 4, 18-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Jesus Christ came from the Father to provide us the true light of the kingdom view. This world we currently live in is passing away, bur love, faith, and hope will abide. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love not the things of this world. Have faith in God, because God alone is worthy. Hope in the full salvation of Christ to be revealed with eager expectation, because vain is the hope in anything else. Strive to enter in through the straight gate, and let us not grow weary of following the narrow path. God has never failed anyone who has placed his love, faith, and hope in Him. God is true. His mercy and goodness endures forever. The Father calls. Keep your head up, shoulders back, chest out, and eyes fixed upon Christ Jesus. Rest, O ye branches, in our heavenly Vine and bear much fruit. Now go to work in absolute dependence on God to make of you all that He created you to be and do. 

Question

How can we love God when we can’t see Him?

Answer

Love doesn’t depend on physical sight (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:21; 1 John 2:15-17). Love depends on an intimate knowledge of the person loved (1 John 2: 3-5).  The best source for the knowledge of God is the entire Holy Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Go to Bible determined to find out WHAT to believe and it will be opened to you (Revelation 3:20). The one who goes to the Bible to decide IF they are going to believe it, will find it to be closed like a locked door without a key (John 20:24-29, 14:21-24). Start with the four gospels of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-17; Mark 10:46-52). Know that every command of God is also a promise (Matthew 22:36-40). The commands of God require our willingness to obey (Psalm 18:1), and from God comes the promise to enable us to obey (Philippians 2:13). Both the Bible and the Holy Spirit have been given to fulfil the prophecy spoken long ago (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 1 John 2:21-29). Whoever hears and believes, shall receive the blessing (Matthew 13:9-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.