<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+40:21-31">Isaiah 40:21-31</span></span></p><p>T he man-centered focus that is creeping into today's Church must be resisted at all costs. Such matters as disciplining children, marital problems and establishing proper priorities should be addressed also, but we must be careful that "market forces" do not mold our theology. People may want to know about these issues, but what they need, primarily, is to know God. It could be argued that our problems are so acute because we are deficient in our knowledge of God. The context in which we think and feel is so limited that it is no wonder our souls feel stifled and claustrophobic. One preacher describes our condition in this way: "We are like Peter trying to walk on the water but becoming so engrossed in the winds and the waves that we lose sight of the all-sufficient Christ who is right there beside us. The immediate environment has blotted out the sense of the eternal." This is why I have chosen today's reading from the magnificent book of Isaiah. The prophet does what a doctor would do upon visiting a patient with a minor sickness and finding the windows shut fast and the room lacking in oxygen. He would throw open the windows and invite the patient to inhale the purer air. "Take a deep breath of the oxygen of the Spirit," Isaiah is saying in effect. "See how great and powerful God is. Set your problems in the context of His might and omnipotence." We become like the thing we focus on. If we center on man rather than God then we ought not be surprised if we finish up off center - eccentric.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O God, save me from being an off-center Christian and thus an eccentric Christian - the true meaning of that term. May my primary focus be always on You. Grant it, dear Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray. 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="2co+4:13-18">2 Corinthians 4:13-18</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+3:1">Hebrews 3:1</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+12:2">Hebrews 12:2</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+141:8">Psalm 141:8</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 was Paul's focus?</li><li>What is the exhortation of the writer of Hebrews?</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

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers." (v. 22)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="1th+5:12-28">1 Thessalonians 5:12-28</span></span></p><p>We continue meditating on the importance of looking at life "steadily and whole". I venture to suggest that people who are not Christians are unable to see life as a whole. How can they, when their thinking takes place only on the level of the natural? Natural thinking is notoriously partial and incomplete. Take, for example, the field of medicine. A generation ago doctors treated the symptoms that people presented to them, but now, with a clearer understanding of how the mind affects physical health, they have come to see that this approach was partial. One doctor said: "At long last the medical profession has discovered that the patient himself is important." Medicine is fast moving towards what is described as a "holistic" approach as more and more doctors begin to realise that it is not enough to treat the problem, we must also treat the person. They are still far from seeing that there is also a spiritual element in the person that has to be considered, but perhaps in time that will come. Christian counselling suffers from the same problem - it does not see the whole picture. I am tired of reading books on Christian counselling that give just one side of the issue and suggest that problems can be resolved by applying one special technique. Man was created as a whole person and he will never be helped back to wholeness unless every part of his being is treated - spirit, soul and body. God wants to restore His image in us: not in part of us but in the whole. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, forgive us that so often we settle for the half view of things rather than the whole. Quicken my spiritual understanding so that I have Your view on all things - the "whole" view. In Jesus' Name I ask it. 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="2co+4:1-16">2 Corinthians 4:1-16</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+20:27">Proverbs 20:27</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ec+12:7">Ecclesiastes 12:7</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 is man primarily?</li><li>What was Paul's testimony?</li></ul></div></div>

"May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 23)

<p>Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. § Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<br><br>We walk by faith, not by sight. § We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. § An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away [is] reserved in heaven for you.</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

 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 

<p>Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. § You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.<br><br>All things are yours: whether … the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. § All things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.<br><br>My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.</p>

 We know that all things worktogether for good to those who love God. 

<p>In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them. § He whom You love is sick. § “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” … Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. § I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.<br><br>We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. § In Him we live and move and have our being. § He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. § The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.</p>

Evening Daily Light

 The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. 

<p>We have the same spirit of faith.<br><br>As chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. § We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body … Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.<br><br>Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.</p>

 “Is it well with you?” . . . And she answered, “It is well.” 

<p>O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” … Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. § Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.<br><br>We know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens … So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord … We are … well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.<br><br>Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.</p>

 As the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that … He might …release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">16 </sup>Therefore we do not lose heart.   Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly   we are being renewed   day by day. </span></p>

Therefore we do not lose heart.<cr>1</cr>  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly<cr>2</cr>  we are being renewed<cr>3</cr>  day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

 16 Therefore we do not lose heart.   Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly   we are being renewed   day by day.

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

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

<p><span class="bible-text ">Therefore we do not lose heart.   Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly   we are being renewed   day by day. </span></p>

 Therefore we do not lose heart.   Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly   we are being renewed   day by day.

Bible Verse of the Day

December 19, 2016

2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

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