July 31: Cosmic, Creation, Chaos
2 Samuel 23:1–24:25;
Psalm 148
The version of the creation story we typically hear tells how things came to be, which is good. But when the story is cast like it is in
The end of
Sadly, the message of God’s provision for us has become so cliché that it’s easy for us to take for granted. Perhaps that’s why it’s the central message of so many biblical books. For example, when Jude prays for protection for believers, he calls out to Jesus—dedicating his message to Him and His work (
Next time things seem to get rough, try replacing the cliché of
What chaos do you need God to subdue today?
John D. Barry
Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan
Go To Morning Reading
“And these are the singers … they were employed in that work day and night.”
—
Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy endureth forever. As mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by night, so neither did music hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in the ceaseless song of Zion’s temple, thou too art a constant debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity, never faileth. God’s praise is constant in heaven, which is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practice the eternal hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that by the priesthood of the saint's perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving and girdle it with a golden belt of song.
The Lord always deserves to be praised for what he is in himself, for his works of creation and providence, for His goodness towards his creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvelous blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord; it cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and softens sorrow; and over earthly gladness, it sheds a sanctifying radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare. Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances, or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.
Morning, August 1
“Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn.”
—
Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean to-day in the broad field of promise. Here are an abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one:
Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
July 31st
Till you are entirely His
Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect.
Many of us are all right in the main, but there are some domains in which we are slovenly. It is not a question of sin, but of the remnants of the carnal life which are apt to make us slovenly. Slovenliness is an insult to the Holy Ghost. There should be nothing slovenly, whether it be in the way we eat and drink, or in the way we worship God.
Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the external expression of that relationship must be right. Ultimately God will let nothing escape, every detail is under His scrutiny. In numberless ways, God will bring us back to the same point over and over again. He never tires of bringing us to the one point until we learn the lesson because He is producing the finished product. It may be a question of impulse, and again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to the one particular point; or it may be mental wool-gathering, or independent individuality. God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right.
We have been having a wonderful time this Session over the revelation of God’s Redemption, our hearts are perfect towards Him; His wonderful work in us makes us know that in the main we are right with Him; now, says the Spirit, through St. James,
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year
July 31
Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall
Angels fell in Heaven, Adam in paradise, Peter in Christ’s presence.
Theophilus Polwheile
Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody.
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