<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+1:12-20">James 1:12-20</span></span></p><p>Yesterday we saw that the first step the psalmist took, the step which helped to save him from spiritual disaster, was most surprising. In the midst of overwhelming temptation, he says to himself: "If I give expression to my doubts and speak out of my envious, discouraged heart, I will put a stumbling-block in someone else's path - hence I will not say anything at all" (paraphrase mine). Now as we said yesterday, many people may find it difficult to accept this as the first step on the road to recovery - but it worked, nevertheless. Listen to what one commentator says about this first step: "Our reaction to the discovery of what his first step was in his process of recovery will be a very good test of our spiritual understanding." What does he mean? He means that if we fail to see that the steps of faith are sometimes very ordinary, then we are not as spiritual as we imagine. It's all right to have your head in the clouds, but make sure your feet are firmly planted on the earth! Keep in mind, then, that the thing which stopped the spiritual slide of the psalmist was very simple and ordinary - he made a decision not to say what was on the tip of his tongue. He stopped to think. Rather than spread his unbelief, he determined to keep his mouth shut; rather than threaten someone else's spiritual understanding, he resolved not to act on impulse. It might not have been a particularly high spiritual motive, but it was the thing that prevented him from falling. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Gracious and loving Father, help me grasp this point that sometimes t he first step towards spiritual recovery is one that is simple, practical and ordinary. Save me from becoming so super-spiritual that I neglect the commonplace. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1pe+3:8-15">1 Peter 3:8-15</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+13:3">Proverbs 13:3</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+21:23">Proverbs 21:23</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What are we to do with our tongue?</li><li>How are we to give an answer?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

" Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry " (v. 19) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+1:1-18">James 1:1-18</span></span></p><p>The Bible is replete with instances of God's wisdom moving men and women through the most difficult times to the most wonderful ends. Take Abraham for example. Although he is known in Scripture as the "the friend of God," he was capable of some shabby behavior. On one occasion he actually compromised his wife's chastity  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+12:10-20">Genesis 12:10-20</span>), and later, submitting to her pressure, fathered a child by Hagar, their maid  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+16:1-16">Genesis 16:1-16</span>). Then, seeking to avoid Sarah's hysterical recriminations, he allowed her to drive Hagar away from their household  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+21:8-21">Genesis 21:8-21</span>). Clearly, Abraham was not a man of strong principle and there were great flaws in his character. But God in wisdom dealt with this man and brought him through some great trials until he was changed from a man of the world to a true man of God. The same wisdom which ordered the path Abraham trod orders our lives. We should never be taken aback when unexpected and upsetting things happen to us. We should recognize that no matter how hard the trial, God's power will be there to get us through, and God's wisdom will ensure that the trial will be worth more than it costs. I like the almost tongue-in-cheek way Jim Packer describes what may be God's design when He permits us to go through trials: "Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility, or meekness by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under specially difficult situations." "Some extra practice." Some of us, myself included, sorely need it.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, help me grasp this truth once and for all, that Your wisdom ensures the trials I go through are worth far more than they cost. You are more committed to making me like Jesus than I am myself. It hurts sometimes, but deep down I am grateful. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+48:1-10">Isaiah 48:1-10</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+66:10">Psalm 66:10</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mal+3:3">Malachi 3:3</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1pe+1:7">1 Peter 1:7</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What process is God's testing likened to?</li><li>What is the end result?</li></ul></div></div>

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds " (v. 2)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+10:19-31">Hebrews 10:19-31</span></span></p><p>The Bible is a veritable mine of information on the fact of God's faithfulness. More than 4,000 years ago He said: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+8:22">Genesis 8:22</span>). Every year furnishes us with fresh evidence that He has not gone back on His Word. In  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+15:13-14">Genesis 15:13-14</span>God declared to Abraham: "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and ill-treated four hundred years. But  afterwards they will come out with great possessions." Did that happen?  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ex+12:41">Exodus 12:41</span> says: "At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord's divisions left Egypt." The prophet Isaiah predicted that a virgin should conceive and bear a son whose name would be Immanuel  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+7:14">Isaiah 7:14</span>). Centuries later the prediction came to pass. In  <span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+4:4">Galatians 4:4</span> we read: "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman ." I wish I had the space to take you through the pages of Scripture and show you how faithful God has been to His Word. But you have a Bible for yourself; study it. Read it to know God. It is absolutely imperative that we who live in an age when unfaithfulness abounds, should acquaint ourselves with the fact of God's faithfulness. This is the basis of our confidence in Him. And this is why the Bible fairly bulges with this great and gripping truth. The more of God's truth we pack into our souls, the better equipped we are for the road that lies ahead.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Gracious and loving Father, the more I learn about Your nature and character the more I want to know. Just these glimpses I am getting set my soul on fire to know You more intimately. Take me deeper, dear Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mal+3:7">Malachi 3:7</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+103:17">Psalm 103:17</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+102:27">Psalm 102:27</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+1:1-17">James 1:1-17</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What did the Lord declare to Israel?</li><li>How did James put it?</li></ul></div></div>

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (v. 23)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation: </span><span class="italic"><span class="scriptRef">1 Corinthians 9:15-27</span></span></p>
<p>We continue meditating on the idea that everything we do represents a goal. In fact, most of the frustration we experience in life comes from wrong goals and blocks to those goals. Let me illustrate. Cast your mind back to the last time you were angry. If you can identify your goal and what blocked your goal, then you have the clue to what produced your anger and frustration.</p>
<p>A man once asked me if I could explain what caused his deep-seated anger. It soon became apparent that his anger was due to a blocked goal. His goal in life was to make money. He reasoned: "If I can make plenty of money, then everyone will see that I am a successful and important person." When he encountered blocks to this goal, such as his wife's insistence that he cut down on the amount of time he was spending in his business, he would erupt in anger.</p>
<p>I pointed out that the way to deal with the anger was to establish a goal that no-one could block. And what was that? To please the Lord. He resisted that idea at first, but when he came to realize that his goal in life was unbiblical and that his anger resulted from others blocking his unbiblical goal, he made a new commitment to God and found happiness and release. From then on his goal was not to make money, but to please the Lord.</p>
<p>I has to point out that there is nothing wrong with wanting to make money - it is a legitimate human desire - but it must remain a desire and never become a goal.</p>
<p class="mlr40 mtb20"><strong>Prayer:</strong> O God my gracious Father, help me never to turn what can be a legitimate human desire into a life goal. Save me from pursuing unbiblical objectives, and guide me toward the truth which alone can make me free. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p>
<p class="mlr40 mtb20">&nbsp;</p>
<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around">
<div>
<div class="fs-17 fg-mustard"><strong>Additional Verses</strong></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px;">
<li><span class="scriptRef">James 1:9-20</span></li>
<li><span class="scriptRef">Psalm 37:8</span></li>
<li><span class="scriptRef">Proverbs 14:17</span></li>
<li><span class="scriptRef">Proverbs 16:32</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div class="fs-17 fg-mustard"><strong>Questions to Consider</strong></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px;">
<li>What does an impatient man do?</li>
<li>Who will 'take the city'?</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>

Run in Such A Way As To Get The Price -  1 Corinthians 9:15-27

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+149:1-9">Psalm 149:1-9</span></span></p><p>We come now to Christ's third prescription for happiness: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+5:5">Matthew 5:5</span>). How we have shied away from that word "meek". We have thought of meekness as weakness and thus have a totally wrong concept of what Jesus meant. The Amplified Bible translates it thus: "Blessed are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth." The dictionary defines "meek" as "humble, compliant and submissive". Does this mean that Jesus expects the children of the kingdom to be like subdued puppies who crawl into their master's presence and cower at his feet? Or to become the type of people who lack inner fortitude and gumption, who can be easily pushed around and manipulated? The truly meek person - in the Biblical sense of the word - is not timid, shy, hesitant and unassuming, but trusting, confident and secure. The root meaning of the word "meekness" is that of yieldedness or surrender - a characteristic without which no real progress can be made in the Christian life. What happens, for example, to the scientist who approaches the mysteries of the universe in a manner that is aggressive and belligerent? He discovers nothing. But what happens to the scientist who approaches the mysteries of the universe in a spirit of meekness? He finds its richest secrets unfolding themselves to him and he is able to harness the mighty forces around him to advantage. The Christian who approaches life in the same spirit - the spirit of meekness and submission - discovers the true meaning of his existence and the purpose of God in all his affairs. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Gracious Father, help me to understand clearly the difference between meekness and weakness. And show me how to apply this principle in all I say and in all I do. This I ask in Christ's powerful and precious Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+1:12-21">James 1:12-21</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="zep+2:3">Zephaniah 2:3</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+5:22-23">Galatians 5:22-23</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1pe+3:4">1 Peter 3:4</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What are we to receive with meekness?</li><li>Does the Biblical definition of meekness fit you?</li></ul></div></div>

"For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." (v. 4, AV)

<p>The attribute of God which describes Him as changeless is called His immutability. He does not change in His essential being. He does not change in His attributes. He does not change in the principles by which He operates.</p><p>The psalmist contrasted the changing destiny of the heavens and earth with God's changelessness: "They shall be changed, but thou art the same" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+102:26-27">Psalms 102:26-27</span>). James describes the Lord as "the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+1:17">James 1:17</span>).</p><p>There are other Scriptures that remind us that God does not repent. "God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="nu+23:19">Numbers 23:19</span>). "The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1sa+15:29">1 Samuel 15:29</span>).</p><p>But what, then, do we do with verses that say that God does repent? "It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ge+6:6">Genesis 6:6</span>). "The Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1sa+15:35">1 Samuel 15:35</span> b). See also <span class="scriptRef" ref="ex+32:14">Exodus 32:14</span> and <span class="scriptRef" ref="jon+3:10">Jonah 3:10</span>.</p><p>There is no contradiction. God always acts on these two principles: He always rewards obedience and always punishes disobedience. When man shifts from obedience to disobedience, God must still be true to His own character by shifting from the first principle to the second. This seems like repentance to us, and it is so described in what we might call the language of human appearance. But it does not indicate regret or changeableness.</p><p>God is always the same. In fact, that is one of His names. "…thou, the Same, thou alone art the God of all the kingdoms of the earth" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+37:16">Isaiah 37:16</span>, Darby). That name is also found in <span class="scriptRef" ref="2sa+7:28">2 Samuel 7:28</span> Margin, <span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+102:27">Psalms 102:27</span> and <span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+41:4">Isaiah 41:4</span> Margin, all in Darby's translation.</p><p>The immutability of God has been a comfort to His saints in all ages, and a theme of their song. We celebrate it in the immortal lines of Henry F. Lyte:</p><p>Change and decay in all around I see - </p><p>O thou who changest not, abide with me!</p><p>It is also a quality for us to imitate. We should be stable, constant and stedfast. If we are vacillating, fickle and mercurial, we misrepresent our Father to the world.</p><p>"Be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+15:58">1 Corinthians 15:58</span>).</p><p> </p>

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"I am the Lord; I change not." (Malachi 3:6)

<p>Temptation is not of God. What constitutes a thing tempting is something in the man or woman that looks upon it, namely, a disposition more or less active to transgress, and take what is forbidden. The fruit is suspended on the tree for an admirable purpose; namely that men may have an opportunity of evincing their fidelity towards God, and thus may obtain a crown of life. The same thing is to one man a temptation, to another a good gift of God, by means of which his walk of righteousness is made more steadfast and honorable. What ever cometh down from above is good, unexceptionably good; whatever evil thing exists, it has its origin elsewhere. Sin is the devourer of the gifts of God, and the uncompromising enemy of his beneficence. </p><p>It is not enough that God has created a thing. Has he given it to you, to me, is the question. His gifts are perfect - that is, all their tendencies are good. And if we find some of the tendencies of certain things are not good, we may conclude that this is not one of God's gifts to us. </p><p>But all gifts are useless, if we have not the gift of the Holy Ghost. By this we are enabled rightly to judge of other things called gifts, and to know which are really sent us from above. Without this we know not the proper use of anything, and are sure to appropriate heaven's bounties to inferior ends. We are to covet earnestly the best gifts. We are often permitted to make our choice among the collections of precious things on exhibition around us. Now, the wise man will say, These are all very good, but the blessing connected with each one depends upon the character of the chooser and the circumstances in which it is to be used; I need to know which among all these will be of highest profit to me, and this by my own wisdom I cannot know; wherefore I ask God to tell me which is the perfect gift designed for me. </p><p>Innumerable objects of luxury attract the attention even of the Christian, in this day; and he is ready to say, " My Father hath bestowed these; let me take them in all gratitude." But first ask thy Father, if these be the best, the perfect gifts; if thy circumstances and thy profession make these most desirable. </p>

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." - James 1:17. 

<p>Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.<br><br>By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. § Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.<br><br>Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. § Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. § [Be] filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.<br><br>Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 The God of peace … make you complete in every good work to do His will. 

<p>The Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. § Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.<br><br>His truth shall be your shield and buckler.<br><br>God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.<br><br>The faithful God … keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. § All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. § Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God … who keeps truth forever.</p>

 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. 

<p>Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. § But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. § Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.<br><br>God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory … give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.</p>

Evening Daily Light

 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 

<p>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. § But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.”<br><br>You will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins.<br><br>Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. § A woman . . . cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” . . . But He answered her not a word.<br><br>The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes.</p>

 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 

<p>Return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously.”<br><br>Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God.” … But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed … Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.<br><br>Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! § It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. § Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?<br><br>Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation … My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.</p>

 I sought him, but I did not find him. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">17 </sup>Every good and perfect gift is from above,   coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,   who does not change   like shifting shadows. </span></p>

Every good and perfect gift is from above,<cr>1</cr>  coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,<cr>2</cr>  who does not change<cr>3</cr>  like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,   coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,   who does not change   like shifting shadows.

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

<p><span class="bible-text ">Every good and perfect gift is from above,   coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,   who does not change   like shifting shadows. </span></p>

 Every good and perfect gift is from above,   coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,   who does not change   like shifting shadows.

Bible Verse of the Day

August 15, 1889

James 1:17 NIV

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