Devotional for November 16

The Meditation of My Heart

49 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. Psalm 49:1-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Faith is the spiritual substance through which our hearts catch on fire with the love of God. Faith comes from hearing the Word, and hearing comes from accepting the Word just as it is, the infallible truth of God. Anything that ignores or fails to acknowledge the sovereign Most High God amounts to a lying vanity. Faith affirms the Word in speech and deeds. Break up the stony ground, weed out the thorns, and fan into flame the faith of the Son of God to which you have been called. The harvest is meant to be bountiful. The quality of the crop depends on the quality of the seed used to produce it. If you just want weeds, anything the wind blows around will work. Thoughts are seeds, and the highest quality comes from thinking the thoughts of God after Him. The Word of God is forever true. By feeding on His Word constantly, the heart is prepared to do the will of God. This is a glorious promise of the gospel. Believe the gospel, know God, and live by faith. With the flesh bound man this is too high to obtain, but with God all things are possible. God has spoken, it has been made plain in the Holy Scriptures, and that settles it.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 7-8; Hebrews 11

Amos 5; Luke 1:1-38

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.