December 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 119:81-96:

⁸¹My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
⁸²Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
⁸³For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
⁸⁴How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
⁸⁵The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
⁸⁶All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
⁸⁷They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
⁸⁸Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
⁸⁹For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
⁹¹They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
⁹²Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
⁹³I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
⁹⁴I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.
⁹⁵The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
⁹⁶I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Devotional

"God is not a man, that He should lie." He cannot lie. He promised eternal life before the world began. He has made an eternal covenant, and He says, "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Yes, He has sworn that He will not lie. We read in Hebrews: "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability (the unchangeableness) of his counsel, con­firmed it by an oath . . . that we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." This anchor holds within the veil. The psalmist says, "Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens." "The word of the Lord endureth for ever." It stands. It can never be destroyed. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto us. God has settled it in heaven from all eternity, that He would save us. This salvation He has promised us in the Gospel. That promise can never be broken. Our salvation is sure. What a strong consolation!

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can He say, than to you He has said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Prayer

Our Father we thank Thee that from all eternity Thou hast loved us in Christ Jesus; that Thou hast predesti­nated us unto eternal life, and hast given us the assurance of salvation in the Gospel. Give us a childlike faith to believe the gospel, and may we give diligence to make our calling and election sure. Help us to fight the fight of faith, and grant us the victory through Thy grace. And at last, when the fighting is over, may an entrance be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We ask it in his name. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2; Ps. 89:34, 35; Heb. 6:17-19; Ps. 89:2; 1 Pet. 1:25.

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