<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+6:1-18">Galatians 6:1-18</span></span></p><p>Whenever I hear a person saying that all religions are the same, my mind runs immediately to the cross. If what is found here is true (and I believe it is), and represents the meaning of life, then clearly all religions are not the same. No authentic note of divine self-sacrifice comes from other faiths. The cross stands out in absolute uniqueness. As Toplady put it in his beautiful hymn: In the Cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time, All the light of sacred story Gathered round its head sublime. For weeks and months after I became a Christian I wondered why anyone should preach anything except the cross. The redemptive glowing mystery of it took hold of me in the early days of my conversion, and I think I can honestly say it has never ceased to magnetize my heart. Among the ancient inscriptions and paintings on the tombs of Egyptian kings, so I am told, one finds everywhere the symbol of the key of life. Strangely enough, it is in the form of a cross. Christ's cross is the only true key to life. This and this alone unlocks the doors to some of life's greatest mysteries. Other religions try, sometimes with great sincerity, to unlock the doors to these profound mysteries, but they are unsuccessful because they do not have the right key. They do not have a cross. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, how can I cease thanking You for the cross? For in it I find the key that unlocks the door of many a mystery, not least the mystery of Your nature - a nature shot through with eternal love. Help me see it even more clearly. In Christ's 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="php+3:1-18">Philippians 3:1-18</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="col+2:14">Colossians 2:14</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+12:2">Hebrews 12:2</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 brought Paul to tears?</li><li>What has the cross abolished?</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

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ..." (v. 14) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+1:18-31">1 Corinthians 1:18-31</span></span></p><p>Another of the chief differences between Christianity and the world's religions, and something which adherents of other faiths find a major stumbling block, is the cross, which humbles all pride and dashes all hope of self-salvation. It also speaks of the tremendous and uncalculating generosity of God in providing for us a salvation that is without price. Kagawa, the great Japanese Christian, said that it was in the cross that he found Christianity's greatest uniqueness. Listen to his words, spoken some time before his death in 1960: "I am grateful for Shinto, for Buddhism and for Confucianism. I owe much to these faiths. Yet these three faiths utterly failed to minister to my heart's deepest needs. I was a pilgrim journeying upon a long road that had no turning. I was weary, I was footsore. I wandered through a dark and dismal world where tragedies were thick. Buddhism teaches great compassion ... but since the beginning of time, who has declared 'this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many unto the remission of sins'?" Islam, of course, proclaims the mercy of God. Each chapter of the Qur'an is introduced by the words "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful." But they do not tell of a costly and historic display of God's mercy as portrayed by the cross and spoken of in each Gospel. In Islam, Allah is merciful to the meritorious, those who pray, give alms, and fast in Ramadan. In Christianity God is merciful to sinners not because of their good works but because of Christ's sacrifice for them on the cross. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Gracious and merciful Lord, through the cross I see right into Your heart. And what I see there sets my heart on fire. I see Love bleeding for me, saving me, delivering me. Now I can never be the same again. Thank You, dear Father. In Christ's 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="ga+6:1-14">Galatians 6:1-14</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+2:14-16">Ephesians 2:14-16</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="col+1:20">Colossians 1:20</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How did Paul view the cross?</li><li>What is at the heart of the message of the cross?</li></ul></div></div>

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing ..." (v. 18) 

<font size="2" face="Verdana">
<p align="justify">
<i>I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan 
might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 
2:10,11 NIV)</i></p>










<p align="justify">Perhaps one of the most <em>significant</em> things 
to any who are “not ignorant of his (Satan’s) devices” is that there never has 
been a specially spiritual movement of God in the earth, calculated to serve Him 
in a particularly useful way, but what Satan’s animosity thereto has been 
manifested along the line of division, schism, discord, separation, and a 
breaking down of fellowship. And how often has the real sting and stigma been 
modified by a feigning love unbroken and preserved, when the divided parties 
should have no association with each other in the things of God. Love, let us 
again say emphatically, is incumbent upon the Lord’s people toward “all men,” 
whether of the “household” or otherwise (Gal. 6:10), but fellowship is something 
more. It is the most spiritual things which suffer the greatest shocks in this 
matter, and again we say this carries its own satanic significance.</p>
<p align="justify">The methods of the enemy are numberless, the “wiles” 
unfathomable by human wit. A suggestion of suspicion, if it finds lodgment, is 
enough to completely paralyze the work of God and spiritual progress. Have a 
doubt and you are done. There never was a time when positive spiritual work was 
more jeopardized by suspicion than now. It would seem that hell is largely 
employed in issuing forth smoke, clouds, vapors, mists of suspicion, question, 
reservation, in order to infect with uncertainty, mystification, prejudice, 
fear, discrediting, distrust, aloofness. It is in the “heavenlies” that this is 
most registered; that is, the higher ranges of spiritual things. It is an <em>atmosphere</em>, 
and it is everywhere. You sense it wherever you go. In some places it is 
stifling – there is no clear breath of the Spirit, and a word of Life is almost 
choked back. Of course, this is no new thing, although now so intensified. The 
New Testament is full of it. The Lord Jesus met it – not in spiritual people, 
only in religious people. John met it. Paul met it in every direction. It was 
made to circle round his person, his methods, his character, and his message.</p>


</font>

<p>This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” </p><p>Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.</p>

Open Windows

God's Reactions to Man's Defections - Chapter 3

 A More Excellent Ministry 

<p>He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. § In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.<br><br>Such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. § That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.<br><br>Jesus of Nazareth … went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. § Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. § That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. § You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.</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

 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

<p>Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. § As you … have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. § He who endures to the end shall be saved. § The ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.<br><br>By faith you stand.<br><br>I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.<br><br>He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.</p>

 Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. 

<p>Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. § They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind. § He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.<br><br>He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. § He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.<br><br>There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. § He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.</p>

Evening Daily Light

 Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">10 </sup>Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good   to all people, especially to those who belong to the family   of believers. </span></p>

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good<cr>1</cr>  to all people, especially to those who belong to the family<cr>2</cr>  of believers.

Galatians 6:10

 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good   to all people, especially to those who belong to the family   of believers.

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, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

<p><span class="bible-text ">Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good   to all people, especially to those who belong to the family   of believers. </span></p>

 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good   to all people, especially to those who belong to the family   of believers.

Bible Verse of the Day

February 3, 2020

Galatians 6:10 NIV

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