Devotional for June 20

Tell the Coming Generations

78 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. Psalm 78:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The body should by strengthen by diet and exercise to extend youthfulness, and there is no reason to fear getting older when your heart is strengthen by the grace of Jesus Christ. Expect the Lord to guide you. There is no need to steer a parked car, however, so move forward toward the mark of your calling in Christ Jesus. Go slow when you are unsure. There will be time to go faster once the assurance of faith is received. Don’t despite taking baby steps. One step, fall down, get back up, take two, maybe fall again, and then get back up again. That’s how every baby learns to walk. It is natural for childhood to give way to adulthood over time. In the same way, it is normal for the Christian to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ more and more with each passing day. Jesus is the Rock which can never be shaken. Love the Lord with your whole heart and be blessed whether young or old, whether full or empty, come rain or shine. Let all who willingly submit to the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Question

How do we grow spiritually?

Answer

We can grow IN grace, but we cannot grow INTO grace (John 1:17; Romans 8:3-4). Therefore, we must first be born again (John 3:1-12). Then we must be nourished (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 13:18-23; 1 John 3:9). The mal-nourished spirit of the child left on his own will not thrive (Proverbs 29:15-18; 3 John 2:2; Proverbs 3:5-8). Next we must exercise our spiritual muscles (Philippians 3:7-15; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 2 Peter 1:3-13; 1 Timothy 4:8; Proverbs 24:5). And lastly, we need to develop patience, which is simply consistency with the passing of time (Mark 4:25-34; Hebrews 5:12-14; James 1:2-8; Luke 8:15; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Ephesians 6:10, 3:14-21).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.