DAY 293 Read Matthew 19:3-30; Mark 10:2-31; Luke 18:1-30.
Today's reading: For the last time Jesus leaves His beloved Galilee and sets out for Jerusalem, knowing full well the fate that awaits Him there. Tucked in among other teachings, we find a story about two men and their prayers.
Memory gem: "The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13).
Thought for today:
Do you find that your prayers fall short of what you really want to say? Do you ever feel a deep heart longing to speak to God, but just can't find the words? It has always comforted me to know that God has made provision for us even in this. Sometimes we do not know what to pray for as we ought to, and we may say things that God knows are not the things we meant to say. And there is His good Word: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26, 27).
Think of it! Our poor, stammering, human prayers are translated by the Spirit into the very language of heaven and presented according to the will of God! Prayers are heard that come up before the Lord according to His will. Oh, how we need the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives every day! We all should feel as earnest about our need as did Isaac Watts when he wrote his great hymn:
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove
With all Thy quickening powers;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.
God loves us. John 3:16 proves it. Christ loves us. The Holy Spirit loves (see Romans 15:30). Why should we not respond to this triple love and give our hearts to the Lord?
----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Luke 18:3. "Avenge me"--better: Do me justice.
Today's reading: For the last time Jesus leaves His beloved Galilee and sets out for Jerusalem, knowing full well the fate that awaits Him there. Tucked in among other teachings, we find a story about two men and their prayers.
Memory gem: "The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13).
Thought for today:
Do you find that your prayers fall short of what you really want to say? Do you ever feel a deep heart longing to speak to God, but just can't find the words? It has always comforted me to know that God has made provision for us even in this. Sometimes we do not know what to pray for as we ought to, and we may say things that God knows are not the things we meant to say. And there is His good Word: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26, 27).
Think of it! Our poor, stammering, human prayers are translated by the Spirit into the very language of heaven and presented according to the will of God! Prayers are heard that come up before the Lord according to His will. Oh, how we need the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives every day! We all should feel as earnest about our need as did Isaac Watts when he wrote his great hymn:
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove
With all Thy quickening powers;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.
God loves us. John 3:16 proves it. Christ loves us. The Holy Spirit loves (see Romans 15:30). Why should we not respond to this triple love and give our hearts to the Lord?
----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Luke 18:3. "Avenge me"--better: Do me justice.
RSS Feed
