Daily Devotion for October 2, 2017
Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
What fear can overtake my vision?
What doubt can overcome my faith?
What strife can silence all my singing?
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
What thief can steal my heart's possession?
What pow'r can overwhelm my soul?
What shame can silence my confession?
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
And what unspeakable mercy has emptied heaven's reserve?
And what Redeemer so worthy has covered sin with such love?
And what unsearchable riches, far beyond human words?
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
What lie can sever what is certain?
What storm can wash away my hope?
What threat of death can take my freedom?
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
And what unspeakable mercy has emptied heaven's reserve?
And what Redeemer so worthy has covered sin with such love?
And what unsearchable riches, far beyond human words?
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
Lord, Your wounds have paid my ransom.
Music and Lyrics by Phil Madiera,
Cindy Morgan, and Cliff Duren
Prayer of the Ancient Christians
I give you thanks Holy Father, for your holy name which you have caused to dwell in my heart, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you have made known to me through Jesus your servant; to you be the glory forever.
You, almighty Master, created all things for your name's sake, and gave food and drink to men to enjoy, that they might give you thanks; but to me you have graciously given spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through your servant Jesus. Above all I give thanks because you are mighty; to you be the glory forever.
Remember your church, Lord, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in your love; and gather it, the one that has been sanctified, from the four winds into your kingdom, which you have prepared for it; for yours is the glory forever.
May grace come, and may this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not, let him repent. Come, oh Lord!
For Humility
Heavenly Lord, no matter what I do or which way I turn, my pride raises its ugly head to damage my life. It tells me that my opinions are correct, no matter how ill-informed I might be. I fail to appreciate my stupidity, my weakness, my self-deception and rationalization for my many errors and shortcomings. Help me, O Holy Spirit, to see my fault. Instruct me in my error and support me in my efforts to follow your commandments; for I truly love you, Lord God, and want to grow in service and faith. In the name of Christ, forgive me and bring me closer.
Benediction
And now, as a little child, let me abide in you all this day, oh Christ, so that when you appear I may have confidence and not shrink from you in shame at your coming. For I know that you are righteous, and I am sure that I will be made righteous only by my life in you.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Today’s “Remember the Bible” Question
Where do we find the teaching, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”?
Proverbs 15:28 (NKJV)
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
1 John 5:6-12 (ESV)
Testimony Concerning the Son of God
This is he who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Notes on the Scripture
he word “testimony” has become such a staple of the Christian vocabulary that we forget exactly what it means. It is a solemn statement of facts given to a court. A jury does not know what has happened in a court case, and the only way they can discern the truth is if people who know something relevant come to the courtroom and testify.
And so it is with Christ, and especially the Holy Spirit. People in the world want to know the truth. We are born ignorant, and people say many different things. So those of us who know the truth must be willing to be witnesses.
John says that Christ came by water and blood, which are metaphors or symbols. Receiving the belief that leads to salvation is symbolized by baptism, for as Christ put it, when we believe in Him, we drink the water of life. Blood represents Christ’s sacrifice of pain and death, as the propitiation for our sins.
Remember, John is writing partially to squash false teachings that Christ was not flesh and blood. The “water and blood” poured out of Christ’s side, from a wound made by a Roman spear. He gave back a human life as his own body poured out onto the ground. The blood imagery is kind of gross, but it is important, because it connects the material aspect of our own physical life to the miracle of eternal life in the spirit.
The water, the blood, and the Holy Spirit are all God’s testimony to us. They are His proof to us that life will continue to exist after our bodies die, and that such life can exist in great joy and happiness through the miracle of salvation.
But in our daily lives, it is the third gift that becomes most important: the Holy Spirit. We know the Holy Spirit directly. It is the “living” aspect of the living God. It is not just something we are told about; it is something we can know first-hand.
In other words, the Holy Spirit testifies to us that God lives with us and in us. And through us, through our testimony in word and deed, the Holy Spirit reaches out to the world.
If it occurs to us to wonder, “Why do I believe in God and Christ,” it is because the voice of the Holy Spirit testifies to us. It is not a voice we hear with our ears, but with our heart.
