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Prayer - Tuesday
Tuesday - Give thanks to God for those who have recently recovered from sickness. - Pray for those who are sick or receiving treatment in our congregation. - Pray that we each would walk close to God, putting off sins that easily beset us and that we would daily give thanks for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (1. John 1.3; Hebrews 12.1; 1 Thes. 5.16.) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Job acknowledgeth God's justice, wisdom, and power, against which there is no contending: he disclaimeth all thought of justifying himself; but insisteth that a man's innocency is not to be judged by the good or evil that befalls him in this world: he bringeth evidence of his own misfortunes, but will not presume to dispute with the author of them, who is so much above him. Job 9 Preface - Subjection to magistrates enforced. We must render to all their dues: only love is a debt we must always owe, and virtually containeth the whole law. Rioting, drunkenness, and other works of darkness, must be put away, as much out of season under the gospel. Romans 13 Daily Light - Morning The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. - We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image... even as by the Spirit of the Lord. - God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him....that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Lu. 11.34; 1 Co. 2.14; Ps. 119.18 Jn. 8.12; 2 Co. 3.18; 2 Co. 4.6 Eph. 1.17,18 Daily Light - Evening He smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. All our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. - One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. - He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. - My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. - Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Ps. 78.20; 1 Co. 10.1-4; Jn. 19.34; Isa. 53.5 Jn. 5.40; Jer. 2.13 Jn. 7.37; Rev. 22.17 A Puritans Catechism Q 10 - How did God create man? A - God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 5 We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts. (8) 8 - John 16:13-14; 1 Cor. 2.10-12; 1 John 2:20,27 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings He's preparing a place In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14 v 2 When a family are going to emigrate to a foreign shore, often the elder brother goes before to prepare a place for his younger brethren. This is what Christ has done. He does not intend that we should live here always - He has gone a far journey if order to prepare a place for us: 'I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.' Oh, Christians! believe in Christ preparing a place for you. It will greatly take away the fear of dying. It is an awful thing to die, even for a forgiven and sanctified soul to enter on a world unknown, unseen, untried. One thing takes away fear: Christ is preparing a place quite suitable for my soul. He knows all the wants and weaknesses of my frame. I know He will make it a pleasant home to me.
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Daily Prayer - Monday
Monday Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone in Jesus Christ. Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) Pray for the Lord’s blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Bildad sheweth God's justice in dealing with men according to their works: he appealeth to antiquity to prove the certain destruction of the hyprocrite: he applieth the argument of God's just dealing to the case of Job. Job 8 Preface -Paul exhorteth to holiness and conformity to God's will: and to think soberly of the gifts allotted every man respectively. We are all members of one body in Christ, and should diligently exercise our several gifts for the common benefit. Various practical duties recommended. Revenge is specially forbidden, and to do good for evil injoined. Romans 12 Daily Light - Morning Now he is comforted. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. - He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth. - These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters. - God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Lu. 16.25; Isa. 60.20; Isa. 25.8; Rev. 7.14-17; Rev. 21.4 Daily Light - Evening The night cometh, when no man can work. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord....they....rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. - There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. - Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. - The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Jn. 9.4; Rev. 14.13; Job 3.17; 1 Sa. 28.15 Ec. 9.10; Ps. 115.17 2 Tim. 4.6-8 He. 4.9-10 A Puritans Catechism Q 9 - What is the work of creation? A - The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 4 The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God. (7) 7 2 Pet. 1.19,20,21; 2 Tim. 3.16; 2 Thes. 2.13; 1 Job. 5.9 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Where you are .... and to every man his work .... Mark 13 v 34 Learn, my dear friends, to keep to your own work. When the Lord has hung up a lamp in one corner, is there no presumption in removing it to another? Is not the Lord wiser than man? Every one of you have your work to do for Christ there as much as the highest servant of Christ in the world. The smallest twinkling star is as much a servant of God as the mid-day sun. Only live for Christ where you are. Daily Prayer - Sunday
Sunday Give thanks to God for His character, perfect, unchangeable, the same yesterday today and forever. Give thanks to God that we can meet in the church and have fellowship with one another. Pray the Lord would grant the preaching of his word power and clarity, and there are ready ears to hear and believe it. (2 Thes. 3.1.). Pray we would receive faithful ministry and spiritual food from God’s Word (1 Pet 2.2.) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Job excuseth his desire of death by representing the extreme restlessness of his condition: he expostulateth with God for so severely visiting him. Job 7 Preface - God hath not so far cast off all Israel, but that a remnant is saved by grace, not by works. The judicial blindness of the rest is prophesied of in scripture. The consequence both of their fall and conversion with regard to the Gentile world. The Gentiles are cautioned not to insult the Jews, but to make a proper us of the example both of God's goodness and severity. The Jews may, and shall in time, believe and be saved. God's judgments and ways are unsearchable. Romans 11 Daily Light - Morning henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called your friends. The LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? - It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. - God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. - Even the hidden, wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and casuest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. - The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. - I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that hou didst send me. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Jn. 15.15; Ge. 18.17; Mt. 13.11; 1 Co. 2.10; 1 Co. 2.7 Ps. 65.4; Ps. 25.14; Jn. 17.8 Jn. 15.14 Daily Light - Evening Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. - If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion. Isa. 60.18; Rev. 21.14 Eph. 2.19-22; 1 Pe. 2.3-5 Ps. 65.1 A Puritans Catechism Q 8 - How doth God execute his decrees? A - God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 3 The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings. (6) 6 Luke 24-27,44; Rom. 3.2 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings More blessed to give ... It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20 v 35 These words form part of a most touching address which Paul made to the elders of Ephesus, when he parted with them for the last time. He took them all to witness that He was pure from the blood of all men: 'For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.' It is deeply interesting to notice that the duty of giving to the poor is marked by Him as one part of the counsel of God; so much so, that He makes it His last word to them: 'I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.' These words, which he quotes from the mouth of the Saviour, are nowhere to be found in the Gospels. It is the only traditional saying of our Lord that has been preserved. It seems to have been one of his household words, a common-place, uttered by Him again and again: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive. Daily Prayer - Saturday
Saturday - Give thanks to God that we have good news of salvation to tell that the repentant sinner might have everlasting life through Jesus Christ. (John 3.16.) - Pray the Lord would bless the Gospel outreach by the church in Westminster. Both on Saturday mornings and at services. - Pray the Lord would work in the contacts we have made both on Saturday mornings and at services; through personal conversations and online contacts. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Job sheweth that his complaints are not causeless: he wisheth for death, wherein he is assured of comfort: he reproveth his friends of unkindness. Job 6 Preface - Paul's prayer for Israel, who were misled by blind zeal. The difference between justification by the law and by faith explained from scripture Salvation open to all that believe, both Jews and Gentiles. The necessity of preaching to the Gentiles inferred. God's acceptance of the Gentiles known before to the Jews; as also their own refusal of his offered mercy. Romans 10 Daily Light - Morning When thou has eaten and are full... thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God. - One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. - He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks. - The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul....who forgiveth all thine iniquities....who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Deu. 8.10; Deu. 8.11; Lu. 17.15-18 1 Tim. 4.4-5; Ro. 14.6; Pro. 10.22 Ps. 103.1-2,3,4 Daily Light - Evening Jesus....was moved with compassion toward them. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. - We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. - Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way. - He cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Mt. 14.14; He. 13.8; He. 4.15; He. 5.2; Mk. 14.37-38 Ps. 103.13-14 Ps. 86.15-16 A Puritans Catechism Q 7 - What are the decrees of God? A. - The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel for his own will, whereby for his own glory he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 2 Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these: Of the Old Testament Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiates, The Son of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habukkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Of the New Testament Matthew, Mark, Luke, Joh, The Acts of the Apostles, Pauls Epistle to the Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, to Titus, to Philemon, the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second and third Epistles of John, the Epistle of Jude, the Revelation. All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life. (5) 5 2 Tim. 3.16 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Soul thirst As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42 v 1 These are supposed to be the words of David when he fled from his son Absalom. He seems to have been wandering in some solitary wild on the side of Mount Hermon, the stream of Jordan flowing at his feet. David seems to have been full of pensive meditation: for his enemies reproached him daily, saying: 'Where is thy God? 'nay, even God seemed to forget him, all his waves and billows were going over him; when suddenly a deer bounded past hm. It had been sore wounded by the archers, or pursued by some wild beast on the mountains of the leopards. Faint and weary, he saw it rushing towards the flowing stream, and quenching its thirst in the water brook. His soul was quickened by the sight. Is not this just a picture of what I should be? Is not my God all to me that the flowing stream is to that wounded deer? 'As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.' Daily Prayer - Friday
Friday - Give thanks to God for many good things we enjoy and daily blessings. - Pray the Lord would supply the needs of those in the congregation at Westminster and guide us as we help those destitute and suffering (Numbers 6.24-26). - Pray for the ministry among the children in the Sunday School and Friday Bible Club and that they would know Christ from a young age. A rich blessing in this troubled world - Pray for the evangelistic work, that people would know the greatest blessing of all: salvation by the grace of God through Christ. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Eliphaz proceedeth to shew that the end of the wicked is certain misery: that man is born to trouble: that God should be sought to in time of affliction. The happy end of God's correction. Job 5 Preeface - Paul professeth an unfeigned sorrow for the Jewish nation: but proveth by instances from scripture that the promise of Abraham did not necessarily include all his descendants: asserting that there is no unrighteousness in God's bestowing his unmerited bounty on whom he pleaseth: and that he was unquestionably free to suspend his judgments, where deserved, either for the more signal display of his power in taking vengeance on some, or of his mercy in calling others to glory. The calling of the Gentiles, and rejection of the Jews, foretold. Accordingly the Gentiles have attained the righteousness of faith, which the Jews refused. The cause of such refusal. Romans 9 Daily Light - Morning The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye though his poverty might be rich. - Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 1 Tim. 1.14; 2 Co. 8.9; Ro. 5.20 Eph. 2.7-9; Ga. 2.16; Titus 3.5-6 Daily Light - Evening I am...the bright and morning star. There shall come a Star out of Jacob. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. - Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come. I am the light of the world. - I will give him the morning star. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore...lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Rev. 22.16; Nu. 24.17 Ro. 13.12; Son 2.17 Isa. 21.11-12 Jn. 8.12; Rev. 2.28 Mk. 13.33-37 A Puritans Catechism Q 6 - How many persons are there in the Godhead? A - There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 2 Whereas there is none that does good and does not sin, 2 and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall in to great sins and provocations; God has, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation. 3 2 Eccles. 7:20 3 Luke 22:31–32 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Growing day If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord. Isaiah 58 v 13 & 14 There was a time when Sabbath days were growing days. Hungry souls came to the Word, and went away filled with good things. They came like Martha, and went away like Mary. They came like Samson, when his locks er shorn, and went away like Samson when his locks were grown. Daily Prayer - Thursday
Thursday - Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world. - Give thanks to God for the freedoms we have to share the Gospel in England and pray that it may continue. - Pray for missionaries across the world who are seeking to preach the Gospel and establish a faithful church. - Pray for those in persecuted countries who have to meet in secret. Even those who are now in prison for their faith. Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Eliphaz reproveth Job for want of religious trust: he remindeth him that God's judgments are not for righteous, but for the wicked.His fearful vision, designed to humble the vain opinion of man's excellency in the sight of his Maker Job 4 Preface - under the gospel we are free from condemnation, walking after the Spirit The evil of being carnally minded, and the good of being spiritually minded. Christians have God's Spirit to guide and assist them; by which if they mortify the flesh, they shall live. For they that are led by the Spirit are sons of God, and heirs of glory; and even they who have the firstfruits of the pirit do still long after it; the Spirit in the mean time aiding their infirmities in prayer: Nevfertheless the final good of them that fear God is all along pursued being foreordained of God, and brought about according to the course of his providence. The ground and assurance of the Christian's hope. Romans 8 Daily Light - Morning I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. - She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - If by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. - Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. - Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Jn. 10.10; Ge. 2.17; Ge. 3.6 Ro. 6.23; Ro. 5.17; 1 Co. 15.21-22; 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Jn. 5.11-12; Jn. 3.17 Daily Light - Evening The judgment seat. We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth. - When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. - Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. We are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 2 Co. 5.10; Ro. 2.2; Mt. 25.31-32 Mt. 13.43; Ro. 8.33-34; Ro. 8.1 1 Co. 11.32 A Puritans Catechism Q 5 - Are there more Gods than one? A - There is but one only, the living and true God. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 2 Whereas there is none that does good and does not sin, 2 and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall in to great sins and provocations; God has, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation. 3 2 Eccles. 7:20 3 Luke 22:31–32 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Precious to Him The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! Lamentations 4 v 2 How amazing the love of Christ, that He died for us - such poor, weak flowers, and worms of a day! How safe are we in Jesus! Although we are nothing - fleeing like a shadow - yet in Him we abide for ever. Our very dust is precious dust to Him. Body and soul he will bring with Him, and we shall reign for ever and ever. O you that are in Christ, prize Him! You that are in doubt, solve it now by hasting to Him, choose Him now. Daily Prayer - Wednesday
Wednesday - Give thank to God for the Bible its inspiration and preservation for us to read it today. (2 Timothy 3.16, Proverbs 30.5.) - Give thanks to God that we have easy access to the Scripture in English, in our mother tongue. - Pray the Lord would bless us as we study the Bible through the ministry this coming year. That as we work through a book of the Bible the Lord would continue to help us to grasp God's truth. - Pray for the Lunchtime outreach service and those who attend; pray that more from the offices nearby and Christians who commute are able to join us. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Job curseth the day of his birth, and wisheth he had never been roused out of the quiet sleep of the grave: he complaineth of life because of his anguish. Job 3 Preface - No law having power over a person longer than he liveth, we therefore, being become dead to the law by the body of Christ, are left free to place ourselves under a happier dispensation. For the law through the prevalency of corrupt passions could only serve as an instrument of sin unto death; although it be in itself holy, and just, and good; as is manifest by our reason approving the precepts of it, whilst our depraved nature is unable to put them in practice. The wretchedness of man in such a situation, and God's mercy in his deliverance from it through Christ. Romans 7 Daily Light - Morning The LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly. - Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. - The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. - No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. - Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Deu. 17.16; He. 11.15-16; He. 11.25-26; He. 10.38-39; Lu. 9.62 Ga. 6.14; 2 Co. 6.17 Phil. 1.6 Daily Light - Evening They talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. He which covereth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. - Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. Let us not....judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. - We....that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Charity....rejoiceth not in iniquity. - Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Ps. 69.26; Zech. 1.15 Ga. 6.1 Jas. 5.20; 1 Th. 5.14 Ro. 14.13; Ro. 15.1 1 Co. 13.4,6; 1 Co. 10.12 A Puritans Catechism Q 4 - What is God? A - God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 6 The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. (9) Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, (10) and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed. (11) 9 - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Gal. 1:8,9 10 - John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:9-12 11 - 1 Cor. 11:13,14; 1 Cor. 14:26,40 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings A peculiar people Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord .... 2 Corinthians 6 v 17 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people (Hosea 7 v 8). This was the peculiar character of the Jews: 'The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.' But when they mixed themselves among the nations, then grey hairs began to appear. So it is with Christians, they are a peculiar people. Jesus said of them: 'They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.' We are as completely separated from the world as Christ was; we have got his blood upon us, and the Holy Spirit in us; we have peculiar joys and peculiar sorrows; we are a praying people, a praising people. But the moment we begin to mix with the ungodly, grey hairs begin to appear - our souls wither. Prayer - Tuesday
Tuesday - Give thanks to God for those who have recently recovered from sickness. - Pray for those who are sick or receiving treatment in our congregation. - Pray that we each would walk close to God, putting off sins that easily beset us and that we would daily give thanks for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (1. John 1.3; Hebrews 12.1; 1 Thes. 5.16.) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Satan appeareth again before God, and is allowed to make further trial of Job. He smiteth him with sore boils from head to foot. Job rebuketh his wife, who moved him to curse God. Three of his friends visit him, and condole with him in silence. Job 2 Preface - Though justified by grace, we may not live in sin; since the very figure of baptism requireth us to die with Christ unto sin, that we may lead a new life of holiness unto God. The dispensation of grace freeth us from the dominion of sin; but we are still the servants of sin, if we obey it; therefore being freed from sin, we are bound unto holiness. The end and wages of sin is death; but the fruit of holiness through God's grace is eternal life. Romans 6 Daily Light - Morning He led them forth by the right way. He found [Jacob] in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him. - Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. - For this GOD is our GOD for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. - Who teacheth like him? Ps. 107.7; Deu. 32.10-12; Isa. 46.4 Ps. 23.3-4 Isa. 58.11; Ps. 48.14; Job 36.22 Daily Light - Evening What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?... Lord, that I may receive my sights. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. - The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name....shall teach you all things. - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory...give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Lu. 18.41; Ps. 119.18 Lu. 24.45; Jn. 14.26; Jas. 1.17 Eph. 1.17-19 A Puritans Catechism Q 3 - What do the Scriptures principally teach? A - The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 5 We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts. (8) 8 - John 16:13-14; 1 Cor. 2.10-12; 1 John 2:20,27 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings O happy believer ... and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16 v 20 Become one with Christ, and even this moment you are lovely in the sight of God - comely, through His comeliness put upon you. You are as much accepted in the sight of God as is the Son of Man, the Beloved that sits on His right hand. The Spirit shall be given you, as surely as He is given to Christ. He is given to Christ as the oil of gladness, wherewith he is anointed above his fellows. You are as sure to wear a crown of glory, as that Christ is now wearing His. You are as sure to sit upon Christ's throne, as that Christ is now sitting on His Father's throne. O weep for joy, happy believer! O sing for gladness of heart: 'For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Daily Prayer - Monday
Monday Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone in Jesus Christ. Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) Pray for the Lord’s blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year Preface - Job's uprightness, family, wealth, and religious concern for his children. Satan appeareth before God, falsely accuseth Job, and obtaineth leave to temt him. Job, receiving successive accounts of the calamities that deprived him of all his substance and his children, in his mourning blesseth God. Job 1 Preface -Being justified by faith, we have peace with God: we glory in our hope; and in present afflictions; from the past experience of God's love, looking with more assurance for final salvation: we glory in God also, to whom we are reconciled by Christ. As sin and death came upon al men by Adam, so the grace of God, which justifieth unto life, cometh more abundantly unto al mankind through Christ. Under the law sin abounded unto death; but grace hath much more abounded unto life. Romans 5 Daily Light - Morning Oh....that thou wouldes keep me from evil. Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. - The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. - I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. - He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. - The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations. 1 Chr. 4.10; Lu. 22.46; Mt. 26.41 Pro. 30.7-9 Ps. 121.7; Jer. 15.21; 1 Jn. 5.18 Rev. 3.10; 2 Pe. 2.9 Daily Light - Evening One star differeth from another star in glory. By the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all. - Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was ade in the likeness of men.... Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 1 Co. 15.41; Mk. 9.34-35; 1 Pe. 5.5-6 Phil. 2.5-6,7,9-10 Dan. 12.3 A Puritans Catechism Q 2 - What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him? A - The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 4 The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God. (7) 7 2 Pet. 1.19,20,21; 2 Tim. 3.16; 2 Thes. 2.13; 1 Job. 5.9 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Face to face And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. Revelation 22 v 4 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace. God calls upon you to mark the death-bed of His children. Sometimes it is triumphant, like Stephen: 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Almost always peaceful - or, if it be that the sun goes down in a cloud, O how sweet the surprise, when the believer finds himself on the other side of Jordan, at the pearly; gate of the New Jerusalem, in the arms of the angels, in the smile of Jesus! 'There is a rest remaining for the people of God.' Daily Prayer - Sunday
Sunday Give thanks to God for His character, perfect, unchangeable, the same yesterday today and forever. Give thanks to God that we can meet in the church and have fellowship with one another. Pray the Lord would grant the preaching of his word power and clarity, and there are ready ears to hear and believe it. (2 Thes. 3.1.). Pray we would receive faithful ministry and spiritual food from God’s Word (1 Pet 2.2.) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00 am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon, between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30 am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards, we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Plan - Second Year 9) Preface - The Jews, assisted by the rulers through fear of Mordecai's power, slay their enemies, and the ten sons of Haman among the rest. Ahasuerus at the request of Esther granteth to the Jews at Shushan another day of slaughter, and causeth Haman's sons to be hanged. The two days of Purim are made anniversary festivals in commemoration of this deliverance. 10) Preface - The greatness of Ahasuerus, and Mordecai's advancement under him. Esther 9-10 Preface - Abraham himself was justified by faith: which was imputed to him for righteousness before circumcision, that he might be the common father of believers, whether circumcised or not. The promise was not given him through the law; else had it been void from the very nature of the law; but being of faith by grace is sure to all the destined seed, and not to those of the law only. The acceptableness of Abraham's faith; which stands recorded not for his sake only, but for the sake of all who shall profess a like faith in God through Christ. Romans 4 Daily Light - Morning Whom having not seen, ye love. We walk by faith, not by sight. - We love him, because he first loved us. - And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. - God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. - Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. 1 Pe. 1.8; 2 Co. 5.7; 1 Jn. 4.19; 1 Jn. 4.16; Eph. 1.13; Col. 1.27 1 Jn. 4.20 Jn. 20.29; Ps. 2.12 Daily Light - Evening THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. We are all as unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. - I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him. - To her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine lines, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus My Lord....that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Jer. 23.6; Isa. 64.6 Ps. 71.16; Isa. 61.10 Lu. 15.22; Rev. 19.8 Phil. 3.8-9 A Puritans Catechism Q 1 - What is the chief end of man? A - Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 3 The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings. (6) 6 Luke 24-27,44; Rom. 3.2 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The love of Christ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3 v 19 Paul says: 'The love of Christ passeth knowledge.' It is like the blue sky, into which you may see clearly, but the real vastness of which you cannot measure. It is like the deep, deep sea, into whose bosom you can look a little way, but its depths are unfathomable. It has a breadth without a bound, length without end, height without top, and depth without bottom. If holy Paul said this, who was so deeply taught in divine things, who had been in the third heaven and seen the glorified face of Jesus, how much more may we, poor and weak believers, look into that love and say: It passeth knowledge! |
